| The probe bet is a bet designed
to find out information cheaply. Using it properly can save
you a lot of money and tell you a lot about where you stand
in the pot. |
 |
| The point of the probe bet should
be the following: |
| 1 - It is not so small that anyone will
call it with most hands. |
| 2 - It is not so big that people with strong
hands will just flat call it with the intention of raising
you on the turn. |
| Let’s see some examples |
| You flop The top 2 pair on a board of K
10 2. You are in early position and there is $20 in the pot.
There is no flush draw present. |
| Do You |
| a) Bet the pot of $20 |
| b) Check |
| c) Make a Probe bet of $8-$10 |
| Here, the probe bet is a good option. Let’s
see why. |
| a) If you bet the pot, player B, sitting
with his KKK will probably just call you with the intention
of raising you on the turn, he will let you bet his hand for
you. |
| b) If you check the pot and player B bets
the pot of $20, you do not know if he is bluffing, has a worse
two pair, has a drawing hand like JQA or has KKK. You will
now have to put a lot of money in to find out or call the bets
down which is a poor way to play every time. |
| c) If you now make the probe bet of $8,
anyone with KKK or trips should raise to stop you drawing too
cheaply, anyone drawing will probably just call you as you
have shown you have a hand by betting out in early position.
Now, if the next card comes low, you can be quietly confident
that you have the best hand. If anyone raises your probe bet,
they either have you beat or have a good draw to have you beat. |
| The only exception to C is when a good player
picks up on the fact that you fold to a raise after you have
made the probe bet, in this case it is wise to make this same
probe with a nut hand about 20-30% of the time. |
| Summary |
| The probe bet is a very powerful bet to
help you put someone on a hand and gain valuable information
about where you stand in the hand and the relative strength
of your opponents holdings. |
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