Probe Bets

Anyone out there use this strategy?

Would this be a good time to use this? :

One caller from early position
Everyone else folds around to SB and BB
SB Calls
BB (Me holding K7 offsuit checks)

Flops comes 5h Ks 10c
SB checks
BB ???

What if the flop came with an overcard such as 5h Ks Ac?

I bet that every time with only 2 other players in the hand.

First one I do the same as superior says. Add more people to the hand and I check, if it checks around I bet the turn because I assume no-one else has a K.

Second situation I check/fold. Bet the turn if it checks around.

Originally Posted by iRICHeyes

First one I do the same as superior says. Add more people to the hand and I check, if it checks around I bet the turn because I assume no-one else has a K.

Dont you hate it when you do this only to find he holds K8 in the showdown. hehe.

It's not a probe bet if you have top pair. It's not even a probe bet if you have 2nd pair.

It's a value bet.

Originally Posted by Superior

I bet that every time with only 2 other players in the hand.

I have 2 cards too sir, raise.

Go ahead and probe bet, so I can come over the top of you with any two cards just because.

For the people who think that probe bets are weak, how would you handle this situations listed above? I guess by betting 2/3 of the pot you are at least figuring out where you stand in the pot.

This thread is getting a little confusing.

case 1)
1 limper, sb completes, you hold TPWK, no draws out, , sb checks.
Clear value bet situation. Now, whether you bet 1/2 or 2/3rd of the pot probably depends on your past action. I like to bet 1/2 pot here as a value bet, because I also like to make 1/2 pot c-bets and probe bets (say I have 2 cards instead of TPWK). Whether or not I respect your re-raise depends on how often you are limping in MP. There are not alot of K-high hands that open limp (KQs?) so ... you are telling me you have a set? And you didn't slow play it? Maybe. I guess you can make a case for check/calling here against tricky players.

Case 2: same but you hold KX on AKX flop. This is more of a probe bet... vs 2 players I think is OK even if there's an A on the flop. But yeah, I am giving up on a re-raise - so betting out works best on a weak/tight table. Otherwise, check and see... you have alot of options based on a villain bet. Fold/call/bluff raise.

I try to use "probe" bets as sparingly as possible and only against passive opponents. If I use a "probe" bet against aggressives it is because I _want_ a reraise.

I never bet mid pair weak kicker in the second situation, on the flop. There is one person who's put in money voluntarily here, and there is an ace, and everyone loves aces.

My standard action here is 2/3 pot on flop, fold to reraise unless I'm up against a moron. Even if I were up against a moron I'd think twice about calling a reraise if the money was deep. This is not the hand you want to get broke on.

Since I almost always use the 2/3 pot when I find something I like, it's harder for people to reraise me here without actually having something.

T.

Originally Posted by zenbitz

There are not alot of K-high hands that open limp (KQs?)

I regularily see open limps with Kxs, KT, KJ and KQ in early position on some sites. Simply depends on how horrible they are.

T.

Originally Posted by Fnord

I have 2 cards too sir, raise.

Originally Posted by Rondavu

Go ahead and probe bet, so I can come over the top of you with any two cards just because.

To you super LAGs I say I'd check-raise. Ill give you a for sale sign then come over the top of your 2 cards. . . If i wasnt such a coward.

^

Quite frankly that is the mode d'emploi I use. All the time.

T.