Feeler Bets In Texas Hold Em

Feeler bets are also known as Probe bets. They are used primarily when players are meeting for the first time and are not familiar with the characteristics and style of each others play.

Feeler bets play an important part in identifying tics, betting styles, personality traits, and the risk threshold of other players.

Feeler bets identify the strengths and weaknesses of opponents on the playing field. Although they may not show vulnerability, opponents who are aggressive, loose, passive, or tight are easily identified when feeler bets are used effectively.

Once your opponents’ weaknesses have been identified it is much easier to plan a strategy to win. Also, when strengths are identified you have an opportunity to stay away from that area or go there only when necessary.

Using feeler bets to read an opponent when they are forced to make a decision will alert you to their willingness to take risk, their ability to calculate and use the odds to their advantage, and any tells they may have when under pressure. This knowledge puts you in control of the table and will allow you to take more risks in those areas of your opponents’ weakness.

Feeler bets are about increasing your knowledge and control of the table. They can provide you with all of the information you will need to win a hand or the game with relatively small risk.

Control of the poker table using feeler bets requires minimal expenditure of bets, but does allow the pot to be increased. Some opponents who win feeler bets will feel confident and bet more of their stack assuming that you will fold.

By controlling the table this way you are in control without being at the level of risk you would be as an aggressor in play.

It is important that you avoid becoming stuck in a betting rut. Being flexible in your betting when using feeler bets, will keep your opponents from using your feeler bets against you.

You may want to change your game strategy when using feeler bets, betting aggressive through one hand and passive through another, that way your opponents will have a difficult time reading you and anticipating your betting strategy.

Feeler bets should be kept small, usually one-third the size of the pot. Using this as a rule of thumb will give you a good gauge to anticipate the amount of your stack that you will need to set aside for this explicit purpose.

It is important that your feeler bets strategy seem spontaneous so that your opponents will not come to expect a period of feeler bet action and collect information about your characteristics and style and defeat your intent. It is also important that if you feel someone has a stronger hand than you that you fold.

Do not continue to bet, check, call, if you are using your feeler bets simply to collect information. In this way you can control the table without being aggressive or using your stack for uncalculated risk.

Calculating your feeler bets and using them wisely will help you whether you are a new player to Texas Hold’em Poker or are an experienced player.

Feeler Bets Texas Hold Em