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Pattern I've noticed in a variety of different online hold 'em games:

flop:
player 1 (UTG) bets around the size of the pot on the flop.
player 2 (later position) raises by the same amount.
player 1 calls.

turn:
player 1 checks.
player 2 bets hard.
player 1 folds.

Why does player 1 act like this? This pattern is numbingly predictable. If you're going to check/fold the turn, just fold the flop and save some money. Probably some of them (most of them?) are hoping for their hand to improve... well, how often does that happen? If you're lucky and on a strong draw, you have maybe a 1 in 5 shot. If you're a normal guy with a normal hand, like top pair/weak kicker, give up. No help is coming. The one time it does come just costs you money the other 10 times you make that flop call.

have you tried to exploit this pattern by looking for chances to be player 2 (regardless of your cards)? if so how did it go?

I've notice trends like this as well.

Even more so, I see the usual follow-up of preflop aggression. This is an especially effective way to trap aggressive players.

I was sitting in at a $50 NL table some time ago and the same guy would continually bet 2-4 bucks preflop then fire away at the flop no matter what, and the amazing thing was that everyone was folding to him nearly every time. He got lucky once when I fired back at him preflop with AKo and he caught a backdoor flush draw.

I bought back in for the max and tried a new strategy...let him keep doing this and bust him when I picked up a monster...it didn't take long.

I was in the BB with AQ suited...he fired 4 bucks preflop, one person called, then I called. AQJ flopped. I was first to act, so I made a meager 3 dollar bet to look like I was stealing the pot...he rerasied to 14 bucks, and I immediately pushed the rest of my stack in...he called and showed AJo and I took the pot.

Originally Posted by RHCNNN

have you tried to exploit this pattern by looking for chances to be player 2 (regardless of your cards)? if so how did it go?

Oh yes. I was sitting to the immediate left of a player the other day who constantly followed this pattern. I exploited him as often as possible for an hour or more. He played too many hands, always stabbed at the pot when it came to him, and I would always raise him immediately; he would call, then check/fold the turn. I made about $25 off him I think, almost entirely from bluffs.