C-Betting

[Pates]

One of the most important plays on the flop is a "C-bet" or "continuation bet".

This bet is used in both cash games and tournaments.

When i play medium-low stakes i find that it is very common for a player to make a big raise preflop with AK/AQ and the flop to miss their hand. They then come out betting 1/4 - 1/2 of the pot or checking it (especially when first to act).

C-betting is the best way to get information on your opponents hand. If you have AQ or AK and you raise 4x BBs preflop and you have 1 caller on the button. The pot will be 12.5 bbs. It is very important that if you miss the flop, you come out betting strong whether you are in position and it is checked to you, or if you are UTG.

The best raise to make here is about 75-85% of the pot to show a lot of strength. You're hoping that the player folds and you take down the pot, if he flat calls you can always make another big stab at it on the turn which would usually get the other player off a lot of medium-strong hands. If the player comes over the top of you on the flop then it usually tells you he is strong and you can make the fold. However the opponent may be doing this with strong draws.

In tournaments, c-betting is best used when big stacked, if you are short then shoving preflop or on the flop is usually the best strategy, but betting over 50% of your stack to make a c-bet is never a good move.

[foolsgold]

C-betting is a important part of poker as you say. however since harrington on holdem has been released and alot of people have read it people have started doing it blindly (almost 100% of the time). C-betting should be part of your game but not a must do. Your c-bets should depend on the flop texture. If the flop hits alot of your opponents range i.e a suited or co ordinated flop be careful about c betting with nothing. However is the flop comes K low low take a stab at it.


Alot of better players now realise that continue betting is very popular with the newer players so they start to 'float' the newer players. That is when they call a bet on the flop with the intention of taking it away on the turn. If a good player realises you are c-betting alot they will start to float you!

-James

[Pates]

Additional to this, keep your c-bets at a similar amount to your real flop bets with strong hands when there are draws out there etc. if someone thinks you are c-betting and they have a draw, they might come over the top and you can make the call.

You're right, fools about not c-betting all the time. But c-bets are generally done with strong hands such as AK AQ when they miss. If they miss, it is almost certain that you have 2 overs on the board and so you're hand isn't too far behind most of the time if you do make a c-bet.

[PokerPirate]

I c-bet a lot. but maybe i am not c-betting enough?? I usually only bet around twice my raise preflop. Is this a bad strategy??

[James]

depending on who calls it can work out i would generally bet half pot to 75% vary your bet. Dont overdo the b-bet cause as its been said you can overdo it and players will catch on!