Explanation of Probe
Players who have been around the game for a while are likely to remember the classic notion of a probe bet as a small wager meant to extract information from opponents. These bets might also be referred to as \"feeler bets\" or \"block bets.\" While this terminology is less common in the contemporary poker landscape, the term probe has been redefined to apply to different situations.
Even though there's no universal agreement on terminology, many dedicated online poker players understand a probe -bet to mean the following -
Probe Bet – A wager made when facing a missed continuation bet while in the out-of-position.
Conversely, if a player bets while in position and the opponent has missed their continuation bet, this action is known as a \"float bet.\" For further clarification on this concept, refer to the glossary entry for float.
There are two distinct types of probe bets: those placed on the turn and those on the river. Let's look at concise examples of each.
Turn Probe Bet Example
Player A open-raises on the BTN.
Player B cold-calls in the BB.
Player B checks the flop OOP.
In this scenario, Player A opts to check back on the flop while playing in position, rather than making a continuation bet.
Player B then takes the initiative by leading out with a bet on the turn when they are out of position, which qualifies as a turn probe bet.
It's important to observe that Player A, despite having the opportunity to place a continuation bet from their positioned advantage, chose to check instead. When Player B subsequently leads on the turn, they are essentially betting out of position against a potential missed continuation bet, classifying their action as a turn probe bet.
River Probe Bet Example
For effectively wagering on the river against a missed continuation bet, it is essential for the opponent to have passed up the chance to place that bet on the turn. To skip the turn bet altogether, they must first have made a continuation bet on the flop. Let's break it down further.
Player A open-raises on the BTN.
Player B cold-calls in the BB.
Player B checks the flop OOP.
Here, Player A places a bet on the flop while in position, marking it as a continuation bet.
Player B calls the flop c-bet OOP.
Player B checks the turn OOP.
Player A then decides to check back on the turn while still holding position, rather than placing another bet.
Player B follows up with a lead bet on the river while out of position, which constitutes a river probe bet.
Usage of Probe in Context -> Since our opponent checked back on the flop, we decided to place a probe bet on the turn.
Incorporating Probe into Your Poker Game Strategy
Thanks to advancements in technology, it has become feasible to scrutinize extensive data collected from numerous hands across a wide range of players. Such analyses clearly indicate that the average player tends to fold too frequently in response to probe bets.
While a Game Theory Optimal (GTO) strategy might suggest implementing low frequencies of probe bets, effective exploitative strategies lean in the opposite direction. Many of the top-performing players are betting aggressively with probes on the turn and river because they recognize that their opponents are overshooting on folding too often.
See Also
Float , Continuation Bet , Cold-Call , Turn , River