Continuation Betting (C-Betting)

Last updated on October 11th, 2024

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Continuation bets in poker are a simple but powerful moves that allows you to control hands and mount pressure on opponents. Correctly using them can win you pots, even when your hand doesn’t improve after a flop. But there’s a catch. If you use it too often or in the wrong spots, experienced players will notice and start pushing back.

Someone placing a bet in to the middle of the poker table

This guide will explore continuation betting, when and how to use it, and advanced strategies to enhance your gameplay.

This Article Will Cover:

What are C-Bets in Poker?
Benefits and Drawbacks
When to Place C-Bets
Advanced Strategies

What is Continuation Betting?

A continuation bet is a bet made by the pre-flop aggressor on the flop, regardless of whether the flop improved their hand.
The primary goal of a c-bet is to maintain the initiative and force opponents to make difficult decisions.

Taking Control of the Hand

By making a continuation bet, you continue to represent strength, forcing your opponents to consider whether their hand is strong enough to continue.
This can often lead to folds, allowing you to take the pot without seeing additional community cards.

Continuation Bet Example

Poker terms can feel a bit overwhelming when you’re just starting, but don’t worry! The example below will help you visualize how C-bets work in real games and give you a clearer picture of this strategy in action.

Preflop Action: Everyone folds, and it’s your turn. You decide to raise.
Blinds Call: Both the small blind and big blind call your raise, so you move to the flop.
The Flop: The dealer reveals the flop, but the cards don’t improve your hand.
Opponent Checks: Both the small blind and big blind check to you, waiting for your next move.
You C-Bet: Even though the flop didn’t help your hand, you make a bet. This is a continuation bet (C-bet) because you’re continuing the aggression from your preflop raise.

This move puts pressure on your opponents and can help you win the pot, even if your hand didn’t improve.

When Should You Use C-bets in Poker?

Knowing when to use a continuation bet is key to making it work. Let’s look at the best situations to fire a C-bet

Board Texture Considerations

The texture of the flop—meaning the types of cards that come up and how they connect—plays a big role in how effective your C-bet will be.

Some flops are “dry” with fewer chances for strong hands, while others are “wet” and offer lots of opportunities for straights or flushes.

Understanding the board texture helps you decide if a C-bet is the right move.

Dry Boards vs. Wet Boards

Dry Boards: Flops like K-7-2 rainbow are ideal for c-betting with a wide range of hands because opponents are less likely to have connected.
Wet Boards: Flops like 9-8-7 with two suited cards requires more caution, as opponents are more likely to have connected with the flop.

Examples of When to C-Bet Based on Board Texture

Dry Board: You raise pre-flop with AQ, and the flop comes K-7-2 rainbow. This is a good spot to c-bet, as the dry board makes it unlikely your opponent has hit a strong hand. Your bet can represent strength and often take down the pot.
Wet Board: You raise pre-flop with AK, and the flop comes 9-8-7 with two hearts. This board is likely to have hit your opponent’s range, so consider checking instead of c-betting. If you c-bet and get raised, you’ll often need to fold.

Player Tendencies

Understanding how your opponents play can make or break your C-bet strategy.
If they tend to fold easily, a C-bet might work, but against aggressive players, you’ll need to be more cautious.

Understanding Your Opponents’ Tendencies

Tight Players: More likely to fold to c-bets unless they have a strong hand. They are good targets for frequent c-bets as they won’t often play back without a solid holding.
Loose Players: More likely to call c-bets with a wide range of hands. Against these players, be more selective with your c-bets and ensure you have a plan for future streets if they call.

Examples of Adjusting C-Bets Based on Opponent Types

Against Tight Players: C-bet more frequently, as they will fold more often without a strong hand. If you know a player only continues with top pair or better, you can c-bet with a wider range.
Against Loose Players: C-bet less frequently and choose your spots more carefully, as they are more likely to call. For instance, if a loose player is likely to call with any pair or draw, be more cautious and c-bet only with hands that have good equity or strong draw potential.

Poker Position

Your position at the table is key when deciding to C-bet. Being in a later position gives you more control, while early positions can leave you more exposed to risk.

Should You Place C-bets out of Position or In Position?

In Position: C-betting is generally more effective when you are in position, as you can better control the pot size and gather information from your opponents’ actions.
Out of Position: C-betting out of position is riskier because you have less information and control over the hand. It can lead to difficult decisions on later streets if your opponent calls or raises.

Examples of C-Betting In and Out of Position

In Position: You raise from the button with J♠️T♠️, and the flop comes Q♥️8♣️2♦️. A c-bet here can represent a strong hand and put pressure on your opponents, making it more likely they will fold.
Out of Position: You raise from the small blind with A♣️K♣️, and the flop comes J♠️9♠️4♦️. This is a tougher spot to c-bet because you are out of position and the board is connected, making it more likely your opponent has hit something.

Bet Sizing

Choosing how much to wager when you C-bet can significantly affect how your opponents respond. The right bet size can pressure your opponents without risking too many chips, making it an important part of a successful C-bet strategy.

How Much Should a C-bet Be?

Small Bets: Use smaller bets (e.g., 1/3 to 1/2 of the pot) on dry boards where your opponents are less likely to have connected. Small bets can achieve the same goal of getting folds without committing too many chips.
Large Bets: Use larger bets (e.g., 2/3 to full pot) on wet boards to protect your hand and charge drawing hands. Larger bets can make it more expensive for opponents to chase their draws.

Examples of Different Bet Sizes and Their Uses

Small Bet: You raise pre-flop with A♠️K♠️, and the flop comes K♦️7♣️2♠️. A small c-bet can extract value while keeping weaker hands in the pot. Betting around 1/3 of the pot can be sufficient to build the pot without scaring off too many hands.
Large Bet: You raise pre-flop with Q♥️Q♣️, and the flop comes 9♠️8♠️4♣️. A larger c-bet can protect your hand from drawing hands. Betting around 2/3 of the pot can make it costly for opponents to continue with draws.

Benefits of Continuation Betting

The main advantage of C-betting is the ability to win pots even when you don’t hit the flop. Below, I’ll break down the specific ways this strategy can improve your chances of success at the poker table.

C-Bets Help You Build the Pot through Strong Hands

By c-betting with strong hands, you increase the pot size, ensuring you can win more money if your hand holds up. This is particularly important when you have a made hand or a strong draw and want to get value from your opponents.

C-Betting for Value

Example: You raise pre-flop with K♣️K♦️, and the flop comes J♠️6♣️2♥️. A c-bet here can build the pot and extract value from hands like Jx or smaller pairs. Betting around 2/3 of the pot can help you build a bigger pot while protecting your hand from potential overcards.

Taking Down the Pot

Even if you miss the flop, a well-timed c-bet can force opponents to fold, allowing you to win the pot without having to show your hand. This is especially effective on boards that are unlikely to have hit your opponents’ ranges.

Successful C-Bet Bluffs

Example: You raise pre-flop with A♣️Q♠️, and the flop comes 8♦️5♣️2♥️. A c-bet can represent a strong hand and force opponents with weak hands to fold. If you bet around half the pot, you put pressure on opponents to continue with only strong hands or draws.

Gaining Information

C-bets can provide valuable information about your opponents’ hands based on their reactions.

How C-Bets Provide Information About Opponents’ Hands

Opponent Calls: Suggests they have a drawing hand or a marginal made hand.
Opponent Raises: Indicates they likely have a strong hand or a strong draw.
Opponent Folds: Indicates they likely missed the flop or have a weak hand.

Using Information from Opponents’ Reactions

Example: You raise pre-flop with T♠️T♣️, and the flop comes Q♦️6♦️3♠️. You c-bet, and your opponent raises. This likely indicates a strong hand, and you might consider folding or proceeding with caution. If they had a weak hand or a draw, they would likely just call or fold.

Advanced Continuation Betting Strategies

Once you’ve mastered the basics of C-betting, advanced strategies can take your game to the next level.
These tactics help you adapt to different opponents, board textures, and situations, allowing you to make smarter decisions and increase your overall success.

Double Barrel and Triple Barrel

Double and triple barreling involve continuing to bet on the turn and river after a c-bet on the flop.

Definition and Strategic Use of Double and Triple Barrel C-Bets

Double Barrel: Betting on the turn after c-betting the flop. This can continue to put pressure on opponents and represent a strong hand.
Triple Barrel: Betting on the river after c-betting the flop and turn. This is often used to represent a very strong hand and can force opponents to fold marginal hands or missed draws.

When to Continue Betting on Turn and River

Double Barrel Example: You c-bet on a K-7-2 flop with A♠️K♠️, and the turn is a 4♦️. A double barrel can extract more value from hands with a smaller kicker like KQ or KJ.
Triple Barrel Example: You c-bet on a Q-9-5 flop with J♠️T♠️, and the turn and river are both blanks. A triple barrel can represent a strong hand and force folds from marginal hands like QJ or 9x.

Balancing Your C-Bets

Balancing your c-bets involves mixing bluffs with value bets to keep opponents guessing.

Importance of Balancing Bluffs and Value Bets

A balanced c-betting strategy prevents opponents from exploiting you by making it difficult for them to put you on a specific hand. This means you should c-bet with both strong hands and bluffs in similar situations.

Balanced C-Bet Strategies

Example: You raise pre-flop with K♠️Q♠️, and the flop comes J♠️9♣️4♦️. C-betting here can be a bluff, but if you mix in c-bets with strong hands like sets or top pairs, opponents will find it harder to exploit you. By betting with both types of hands, you make it difficult for opponents to know if you have a strong hand or a bluff.

C-Betting in Multi-Way Pots

C-betting in multi-way pots requires more caution and consideration.

Adjusting C-Bets in Multi-Way Pots

In multi-way pots, opponents are more likely to have connected with the board, so c-betting should be more selective and often for value. Bluffs are less effective in multi-way pots because at least one opponent is more likely to have a hand worth continuing with.

C-Betting with Multiple Opponents

Example: You raise pre-flop with A♣️K♠️, and two players call. The flop comes K♦️9♠️3♣️. C-betting here can extract value from weaker kings and draws, but be cautious if you face resistance. A bet of around half the pot can build the pot while still being affordable if you need to fold to a raise.

What is a Good C-bet Percentage?

The frequency or percentage of times you use c-bets can impact their effectiveness.

Optimal Frequency for C-Betting

C-betting too frequently can make you predictable, while not c-betting enough can miss opportunities to win pots. Finding the right balance is key to maintaining an effective c-betting strategy.

Adjusting Frequency Based on Game Dynamics

Example: In a game where opponents are folding frequently to c-bets, you can increase your c-bet frequency to take advantage of their tendency to fold. In a game with calling stations, reduce your frequency and focus on value betting. For instance, if you notice that your c-bets are getting called frequently, you might reduce the number of bluffs and only c-bet with hands that have good equity or strong draw potential.

Common Mistakes to Avoid in Continuation Betting

Understanding common mistakes can help you avoid them and improve your c-bet strategy.

Frequent Errors Players Make with C-Bets

Over-C-Betting: Betting too frequently and becoming predictable. Opponents can catch on and start playing back at you more aggressively.
Under-C-Betting: Missing opportunities to take down pots or build the pot with strong hands. This can lead to giving opponents free cards to improve their hands.
Poor Bet Sizing: Using bet sizes that are too small or too large for the board texture and situation. This can either give opponents good odds to call with draws or scare off hands you want to extract value from.

Tips on How to Avoid These Mistakes

Stay Balanced: Mix bluffs and value bets to keep opponents guessing. Ensure you have a mix of hands in your c-betting range to avoid predictability.
Be Selective: Choose your c-betting spots carefully, considering board texture and opponent tendencies. Avoid automatic c-betting and think about how the board and your opponent’s range interact.
Adjust Bet Sizing: Use appropriate bet sizes based on the situation and board texture. Consider the pot odds you’re offering and the types of hands you’re trying to target.

Practical Tips for Mastering Continuation Betting

Improving your c-betting skills requires practice and a solid understanding of fundamental strategies.

Actionable Advice for Improving Your Strategy

Study Opponents: Pay attention to their tendencies and adjust your strategy accordingly. Note which opponents fold frequently to c-bets and which ones call often.
Use Software Tools: Tools like PokerTracker and Flopzilla can help you analyze your c-bet strategy and identify areas for improvement. These tools can show you how often your c-bets are successful and where you might need to adjust.
Review Hands: Regularly review your played hands to identify mistakes and refine your c-betting strategy. Look for spots where you might have missed a good c-betting opportunity or where your c-bet was too predictable.

Exercises and Practices to Enhance Your C-Betting Skills

Hand Reviews: Regularly review your played hands to identify mistakes and areas for improvement. Focus on your c-bet decisions and the outcomes.
Simulation Tools: Use poker simulation tools to practice various c-bet scenarios and improve your decision-making. Run simulations with different board textures and opponent types to see how your c-bets perform.
Practice Games: Play practice games focusing specifically on c-betting to refine your strategy. Take notes on your c-betting frequency, bet sizes, and the reactions of your opponents.

Add C-Bets to Your Poker Arsenal

Continuation betting is a powerful tool in poker that can significantly enhance your game. By understanding when and how to c-bet, balancing your bluffs and value bets, and avoiding common mistakes, you can use c-betting to control the action and increase your winnings. Apply these concepts in your next poker session and watch your skills and bankroll grow.