Updated on August 22, 2025
Players generally have three moves they can make at the table: check, bet, raise, or fold. Players must act in turn, however. A “dark bet” uses a poker player’s position to commit chips for betting before even seeing a flop, turn, or river.
This move could be seen as an aggressive poker bluff or “donk” play by some, but it adds some intriguing dynamics to the action.
These types of players may reveal information about the strength of an opponent’s hand.
Keep reading to learn all about dark bet poker.
Explanation of the Poker Dark Bet
A dark bet is a type of blind bet made without seeing which cards are dealt on the current street. The poker term exists because the player “in the dark” bets before seeing the community cards.
A player might be in the dark about their hand strength, so the dark bet may serve as a feeler to gauge where they stand.
For example, a player cold calls out of position preflop. They announce their intention to donk bet the flop before the dealer has dealt the flop cards.
This player is committing to bet a specific amount before seeing any community cards!
- Is this an assignment of strength?
- Is the player trying to look strong and force the action on an opponent?
- This player may be on tilt and spewing chips that might be there for the taking.
Those are some of the questions a player must ask when facing these types of plays. Many employ this move to use psychology and keep opponents guessing. It’s crucial to have a good read on these players to deduce what they might be doing.
Occasionally, some players will even bet in the dark without looking at their hole cards. This strategy is flawed and can expose a player to significant losses over time. You shouldn't be afraid of playing back at these types of players.
Act as you normally would with your hand. Play solid poker whether it’s in Texas Hold’em or Omaha games, and don’t be afraid of a random dark bet.
Example of Dark Bet Used in a Sentence
Having a grasp of poker lexicon is always a solid idea, and that includes less-used terms like 'dark bet.'
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Here’s a look at “dark bet” in a few example sentences.
- Betting in the dark seems like a good way to make a sub-optimal decision – always look at the cards in play before betting.
- Dark bets are not a good GTO poker
- Jim had too many beers and began betting in the dark without seeing community cards or even looking at his own cards.
- Sally acted first and put in a dark bet even before the dealer had dealt the flop.
- When playing Seven Card Stud, some players bluff with a dark bet when their exposed board cards look scary and connected.
How to Use Dark Bet as Part of Your Poker Strategy
Dark bets are a psychological tactic used to spook and intimidate opponents at the table. You should consider a dark bet strategy when facing weaker and timid players. A well-timed dark-bet bluff can chase away opponents who had the poker probability to continue.
This type of play might signal that you are an unserious player, slinging chips around. That may be the case, but a player betting in the dark may also be setting a trap or feigning strength.
Like other types of blind bets, dark bets are mathematically flawed. Why would you choose to make any decision before considering all the information that you are entitled to?
You can nearly always increase your expectation by waiting to see the cards and using that information to make a logical decision.
Like other types of blind bets, such as the “straddle”, it’s unlikely any perceived benefits outweigh the serious drawbacks of betting “in the dark”.
If you employ this technique, do so with caution and only occasionally.
Misplays can result in significant chip losses.
Check in the Dark
Along with betting in the dark, some players may favour checking in the dark – passing the action to the next player before any community cards.
This move can show weakness, but it can also induce a bluff when you’re strong. A check may imply weakness and coax a big bet from an opponent when you have the goods.
Phil Hellmuth, 17-time World Series of Poker champion, has used this manoeuvre many times in tournament and cash game play.
The check in the dark may leave opponents guessing because Hellmuth hasn’t shown much strength, but his poker hand holdings are a bit of a mystery because of the check.
- Did he land a nice hand on the flop?
- Is he looking to set a trap or slow play a big hand?
Those questions all come into play. However, like betting in the dark, this plan can backfire. Players are not taking advantage of all the available information before acting on their hand.
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