Betting for information

I think one of the major factors that separate intermediate and advanced players is that the advanced players know when and how to bet for information. However I can't seem to find much on this topic. Does anyone know of a good source or have examples of situations where betting for information was used?

If you can't hand read, you cant bet for information as you won't be able to figure out what the information means.

So first learn how to hand read.

I'm pretty new to the concept of betting for information but the term I picked up for it is a probe. Basically you bet about 2-3x bb if you have the chips to get a feel for what your opponent has. Like I said I'm new to it though I'm sure someone else can explain it in depth.

I never have the chips to waste on a probe! Good theory tho!

i'm pretty sure what distinguishes advanced players from the rest is that they DON'T bet for information.

Not true in limit games.

my bad. I only play NL so i wouldn't know. Good point, c9.

Often in Razz or Stud 8, hands run very close in value, that spending an extra small bet on an early street will save you a big bet or two on a later street because your opponent will define their hand.

For a Razz example: A 5♠ raises in late position, and you're the last player to act before the bring in with some cards you want to play. Often you'll re-raise the 5, because most hands you'll want to play aren't a big underdog to even a hand like a 3-card wheel. But most players won't 3-bet you without a strong hand. So the raise defines their hand, and also gets that player to put more money in the pot with their late position stealing range. And it may cost us a fraction of a small bet if we're against an actual big hand, but it might allow us to save a big bet later.

But yes, to get back to what Belgo said, betting for information in a No-Limit game is usually very bad, and even in Limit its rare to raise purely for information. Usually the information you get is often wrong, and its not worth the price you paid for it.

Searching that now...care to share any useful links?

I dont think none of us will know until we are at that level, maybe you are at the level?

let's just say i'm good enough to know that betting for information at NLHE is usually very bad. But of course that doesn't mean much because that's really poker 101.

argeed. i find it often best to get information by paying attention when its someone else doing the betting and i'm not in the hand. let someone else bet and still i get info for free.

By "betting for information" I take it to mean betting from 1xbb to 1/4pot
looking for a reaction, call-raise or fold; not trying to win the hand "NOW'.
Your bet is asking is, " anyone interested in this hand?"

I dont know if you would call it betting for info or not but I definately take stabs at some pots and depending on my opponents reaction I adjust my play.

So yeah I guess I bet for information. So Im pretty sure I havent reached the advanced level of play yet.

betting for information under the pot size is useless in my opinion...first of all...betting at least the pot gives you another option of winning it....a probe bet say 3/4 of the pot will be obvious and get called...lets say you have K9 and the flop comes KJ6...lets say you are in early pos..and want to see if your weak kicker is good enough...you will find out from the actions of the players following you if you bet the pot or even a little more, and also give yourself a chance to take it down by betting stong and representing a strong hand that doesnt want to get outdrawn

cheers and gl
wooter

It's a kissing cousin to the bluff. The difference is that the bluff bet happens when you have nothing, but the info bet/raise comes when you have something but maybe not enough.

The info bet should be used sparingly. For one, you really shouldn't be playing that K5, so you really shouldn't need to find out if, when the K flops, yours has a chance.

The info bet is best used on the flop, when the minimum bet is smaller. It's a lot trickier in NL, and can get you in serious trouble.

I'm not that advanced a player, but I do like utilizing this question-bet occasionally -- especially when the pot is big but the risk is greater.

The most important part, when posing this bet that is a question, is listen to the answer.

I find that often the best way to bet for information is to go all-in. If they call, you get to see their cards, and you will have perfect information.

I say that tongue-in-cheek, but the problem (in NLHE) is that the reliability of the information you get is often proportional to the size of the "information-seeking" bet that you make. Therefore, to get reliable information, you have to make a big bet. And making big bets for information is a very expensive habit.

Advanced NLHE players don't bet for information. They get information out of their bets, but it's never the primary reason for making them.

Well said. I do sometimes bet for information but you are correct this is probably a leak that needs to be plugged. also lol @ all-in .