Texas Holdem Party Tutorial On Continuation Bets
Continuation betting (c bet) is an extremely common and simple play used by all levels of poker player. If you do not understand the c bet, or are not sure when or when not to use it then I am confident this article will go a long way to improving your game.
What is a c bet?
A continuation bet is simply a bet on the flop made after you were the pre-flop raiser regardless of whether you have hit the flop or not. th the strategy and rakeback information on this site, there are a few other useful tools.
The reason a c bet works so well is because a player will miss the flop about 70% of the time. So continuing your pre flop lead and betting, representing a strong hand will make your opponent fold most of the time.
Sometimes when I am in position against one opponent I will c bet slightly less. I will c bet between 50% and 65% of the pot due to it being less likely they have something, and it will still have the same effectiveness in making them fold. A c bet with the same success rate can only be more profitable.
How much should you continuation bet?
When you c bet your bet should be about 75% of the pot most of the time. This amount is high enough to represent a strong hand and therefore will get opponents to fold most of the time when they hold nothing. We don’t want to bet to high because we are putting too much into the hand when we don’t need to. Betting 75% of the pot will have the same effect as 90%. In contrast if we bet to low, 25% for example then we are giving the correct pots odds and therefore inviting callers.
Sometimes when I am in position against one opponent I will c bet slightly less. I will c bet between 50% and 65% of the pot due to it being less likely they have something, and it will still have the same effectiveness in making them fold. A c bet with the same success rate can only be more profitable.
Factors affecting continuation betting?
A continuation bet is a great weapon in a poker player’s arsenal however it can be a leak if used at the wrong times. Let’s take a look at what you need to consider before deciding when to c bet.
- Flop texture
- Number of opponents
- Opponents ability
- Position
Flop texture
Certain flop textures are worth placing a c bet and others are advisable not to. Dry flops are good to c bet, in contrast with a wet flop use a c bet with caution. A dry flop is a flop where there are no straight or flush draws. An example would be a K72 rainbow (all different suited cards) board. It will be very hard for a player to call a c bet unless they have hit the K or better and therefore the c bet success rate will be high.
A wet flop is the opposite: it is a draw heavy flop likely to have hit an opponent’s range and will therefore be hard for them to fold. An example would be Q spades, J spades, 9 diamonds. Often your opponent will be holding a flush draw, straight draw or both, sometimes even with a pair or better and this will be extremely hard for them to fold, causing your c bet to be less successful.
Number of opponents
When faced with only one opponent it’s a lot easier to get them to fold rather than trying to c bet and make three opponents fold. When you are considering whether to c bet, think carefully about the amount of opponents there are in the hand. If you are heads up, c bet more widely, as naturally as your success rate will be higher. With two opponents or more think very carefully about c betting as a lot of the time you will find that one of the opponent will come to the turn with you.
Opponent’s ability
The type and ability of your opponent is a huge factor to take into account. When thinking about whether to c bet, consider whether the opponent is a tight player or a calling station. If tight is the answer then you should c bet more widely as they are more likely to fold. In contrast however, I would not advise c betting against a calling station unless you want to see the turn card. They will not fold a large percentage of the time no matter what they hold and you will find yourself in some sticky situation on furthers streets.
Position
As always poker position is an important factor to consider. If you have position you will see your opponent or opponents act first and you can then decide whether you think your c bet will be successful. If you act first, fire a c bet, get called, unless the turn helps you, you will find yourself playing a guessing game as to what your opponents hand strength is: a situation that should be avoided. Be aware of a player check raising you, generally especially at the lower stakes it is a sign of strength.