Poker, despite having an element of luck, has one of the most intricate and complex strategies of any card game. Many people think poker is similar to gambling, but that could not be farther from the truth. Skill and strategy separate the pros from the rest, and luck matters so little that some consider poker a legitimate sport. The reason for this strategic depth is simple: You play against real players, not the casino itself. Unlike other card games like blackjack, where you are playing against the dealer and at the mercy of the cards, poker makes you consider who you are against. The best poker players know how to change their game plan according to their opponents.
Playing against real people also gives poker an intense psychological aspect. You have no information about the other player’s hole cards, so you must constantly analyze your opponents’ betting actions to get an idea of their cards. Since poker has existed for nearly two centuries, countless betting techniques have served different purposes. Bets to build the pot, bets used as bluffs, bets for gathering information, and more. This poker guide will cover one such betting technique: The probe bet. It will explain a probe bet, why you should use it, and how to use it effectively.
What is a probe bet?
As poker has evolved, this sequence of events has become the standard for most games. One player will make the last aggressive action pre-flop and become the pre-flop aggressor. Moving into the flop, everyone will typically check to the pre-flop aggressor to see what they will do. Likewise, the pre-flop aggressor usually places another bet on the flop, known as a continuation bet. However, another unorthodox course of action would be for the pre-flop aggressor to check instead, allowing everyone to move to the turn for free. That could be for numerous reasons, and it’s hard to tell exactly what your opponent wants to do. A probe bet is an out-of-position bet you make when the pre-flop aggressor checks back on the flop. Even though betting out-of-position is generally discouraged, a probe bet works because of the unique circumstances.
Benefits of probe betting
Probe bets accomplish many things and are a valuable addition to your skill set. Here are a few reasons you should probe bet:
Probe betting tips
While useful, the probe bet takes skill and practice to execute successfully. Here are a few tips to ensure your probe betting success:
Where to practice probe betting
We hope this article showed you how to play Texas Holdem with probe betting. To practice this technique, you should play Texas Holdem on sites like GGPoker, the world’s largest poker room. Online poker gives you convenient games of all stakes and is faster-paced. More games in less time means you will run into more situations where you can probe bet, giving you more practice.