| A probe bet is a bet designed to probe out
or get information. It is designed to get this information cheaply.
A probe bet is normally around 25% of the amount of money in
the pot. So if there is $50 in the pot, a decent probe bet may
be around $12. |
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| You would normally use the probe bet if you
are in early position and wanted to gauge the strength of the
players behind you. If they just call the probe bet, more often
than not, they do not have a great hand and you can put more
pressure on the turn. If they raise the probe bet, you have
good reason to think that they have you beaten and can get away
from the hand cheaply. |
| It is important that you make the same probe
bet with big hands now and again, probably 20-30% of the time
to keep your more savvy opponents guessing and to stop them
raising this bet a s a matter of course whatever they hold. |
| The beauty of a probe bet is in the
fact that ; |
| It does not cost you much in relation
to the pot |
| Someone with a good hand should raise
you to stop you getting the pot odds to outdraw him. |
| Someone without any sort of hand should
not call the bet and fold as the nature of the probe is to get
out the weakest of drawing hands also. |
| Use the probe bet wisely to gain information
from the earlier positions. It is always better to bet in holdem
to find out where you stand that to check and call. |
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