What is a Continuation Bet in Poker?

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What is a C-Bet?

The basic idea is that when you raise before the flop you are telling the table “I like my hand, and I am willing to play for more money.” Then, when the flop comes, your c-bet says “I still like my hand.” As the aggressor your opponent will usually fold, forfeiting the pot. Continuation bets are very effective because most poker hands miss the flop most of the time.

When your opponent just flat-calls they have no initiative in the hand. You are the aggressor; you’re saying that your hand is better than theirs. Both of you are likely going to miss on the flop. But, when they check and you bet, you’ve basically said you’re good twice. So they’ll often fold if they don’t catch a piece of the board.

To C-Bet or Not to C-Bet?

There is so much dead money in the average pot from players making weak calls before the flop. These same players will fold the flop in the face of continued aggression. With all this dead money there is a ton of value to be had by c-betting a high percentage of the time.

But: A high percentage of the time – doesn’t mean every time! 

If your opponent knows you’re firing a c-bet every time you raise pre-flop, they can trap you with impunity. Because they’re certain that you’re going to bet. You can never do one thing 100% of the time in poker – it is too exploitable.

When you fire a continuation bet you want your opponent to fold. You want to take advantage of being the pre-flop raiser and you want to collect the dead money those times your opponent misses. You have to realize that for firing continuation bets, some boards are better than others.

What is a Good C-Bet Situation?

The best flops to continuation bet are ones that are likely to have helped your hand. When you raise before the flop your opponent is likely to put you on big cards.

When the big cards come on the flop your bet will often win you the pot. Boards with aces or kings on them always make great continuation-bet situations because most opponents are going to think that they hit the pre-flop raiser.

Also, flops that are unlikely to have helped your opponent make for great c-betting. If you think about what kinds of hands your opponent is likely to call with before the flop, chances are a flop like 10 3 5 isn’t going to hit his hand that hard. That means in that case, he’ll be more than willing to give up when you c-bet.

When you find yourself heads-up on the flop after raising you should be continuation betting a high percentage of the time. Your single opponent will miss the flop completely so often, you should be continuation betting all but the most dangerous boards.

Example Scenario:
Imagine you raise with A K under the gun and the big blind calls. The flop comes K 7 3 . As the pre-flop raiser, you make a continuation bet. You represent a strong king-range, so your opponent, holding something like 10 9 , will often fold unless they decide to float or are particularly stubborn. By consistently representing strong holdings in situations like this, you pick up uncontested pots.

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How Big Should a C-Bet Be?

Since a continuation bet is really just a small bluff, you want to be economical with your bet sizing. You want to bet enough to get your opponent to fold. But you don’t want to risk unnecessary chips those times that you do get called. Also, you have to risk becoming too predictable. Both your continuation bets and your value bets should be of similar size. If you bet less when you c-bet and more when you value bet, good opponents are going to catch on. So you should:

  • Bet the right amount to get the job done without risking too many chips and without giving away too much information

A bet of two-thirds the pot flop bet is a good standard to have. It’s economical, as it will be more than enough to collect the dead money. And it will also be enough to start building the pot those times you do have a real hand. Thus not giving out information unnecessarily.

The upsides of the c-bet are obvious: you take advantage of the initiative you gained by raising before the flop and carry it over to the flop with another bet. Often, you’ll win the pot without a fight – making the continuation bet a great tool in a poker player’s arsenal. However, you’ll start running into problems when you automatically c-bet every single time you raise before the flop.

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When C-Bets Stop Being Profitable

Yes, continuation betting is profitable. But not when you do it every single time. There needs to be a middle ground or else you become predictable and, ultimately, exploitable. So when should you not continuation bet?

When Not to Continuation Bet

There are, of course, bad flops to continuation bet. When the flop is likely to have helped your opponent or gives him a reason for calling, you should often skip the c-bet. After all you’re hoping he will fold, so continuation betting boards he’ll likely call is just giving money away.

You can never know for sure which boards help your opponent and which don’t. It’s an educated guessing game: you have to think about what your opponent is likely to have called with and the likelihood that he will stick around. If either of those are high, then don’t bet.

If the flop comes down rich with draws you’re better off checking than betting. For example, a board like 8 7 9 . There are so many hands that your opponent could be calling with before the flop that hit this flop, and you’re going to get called or raised so often, you’re better off just checking.

Also, if you find yourself against multiple opponents you should be less and less likely to c-bet. Again, c-bets are meant to pick up the dead money without any trouble. The more people see the flop, the greater the chance someone will want to see a turn.

When Not to C-Bet: Against Multiple Callers

If you raise before the flop and are then called by multiple opponents, your continuation bet will rarely, if ever, work. The more players in the pot, the greater the chance you’ll be called in one or more spot(s). A continuation bet, by definition, is a mini-bluff using the fold equity you’ve gained by being the pre-flop raiser. With more players in the pot, your fold equity diminishes and you will be called more often. When there is a high likelihood of you being called, you’re better off betting made hands than making bluffs.

Example Scenario:
Suppose you raise with Q J in late position, and three players call. The flop comes J 7 2 . Although you have top pair, you should be cautious. A continuation bet here might get called by weaker jacks, draws, or even middle pairs from one of the three callers. Against multiple opponents, your fold equity drops dramatically, so you have to be more selective with c-bets.

When Not to C-Bet: Against Calling Stations

For the reasons discussed above, when you find yourself up against calling stations you should frequently be c-betting less. As the old adage goes, you can’t bluff a calling station. That isn’t to say you should give it up completely. You need to take your particular opponent into consideration before deciding your optimal play.

If your calling-station opponent is likely to peel the flop lightly, but frequently fold to a turn bet, then absolutely. Keep continuation betting the flop. Just be ready to fire another barrel on the turn! These are some of the most profitable players to play against.

Calling stations love to call, so let them. But bet a higher mix of your good hands and keep your bluffs and continuation bets to a minimum.

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When Not to C-Bet: On a Draw-y Board

Some flops are better than others for continuation bets. If your opponents hit the flop, they’re more likely to call. So think about your opponents’ range. If the bulk of it nails the flop, you’re best off forgoing the continuation bet.

If the board is super draw-y, something like 7 8 5 , you should almost always be less likely to fire a c-bet with nothing. That’s because draw-y boards almost always give your opponent something to like. If you regularly c-bet this type of board, you’re regularly flushing money down the drain.

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Remember Your Perceived Range, Too

Try and get into your opponent’s shoes. Think about what they think you have. If it appears the flop is unlikely to have helped you, you should be less inclined to continuation bet.

An example: you raise from MP and get called by a player on the button. The flop comes 3 3 2 . Your bet isn’t going to be given respect because the vast majority of the time you will have missed this flop completely. Continuation bets work most often when flops come that look like they would help a pre-flop raiser.

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When Not to C-Bet: When You’re Out of Position

As always in poker, if you are out of position things become more difficult. If you make a habit out of continuation betting and then giving up when called, your opponents will notice. They’ll start calling your raises in position, calling your flop bet and taking the pot away from you on the turn.

If your pre-flop raise is called in position by a tricky opponent, you should generally c-bet less often. It’s already tricky to play a pot out of position, and against a tough player it’s even more difficult. When you’re in position, things become easier because you can more accurately gauge your opponent’s hand strength. This means you can continuation bet more often. Because you can more confidently fire second barrels when your opponent checks to you on the turn.

When you’re out of position, you’re left guessing. And often end up being forced to check-fold when your continuation bet fails on the flop.

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If All Signs Point to a C-Bet …

Obviously there is a recurring theme here. The determining factor in whether or not you should fire a continuation bet or not is fold equity. Basically, the greater your fold equity, the greater the likelihood your opponent will fold, and the more you should c-bet.

Once you lose that fold equity, continuation betting ceases being profitable. So stop trying to win every single pot that you’ve raised before the flop. It’s never going to happen. Take a minute; analyze the board texture, your opponent and his range, and your perceived range. If all signs point to c-bet, then c-bet.

Advanced C-Bet Adaptations

In today’s environment, experienced players are more likely to exploit predictable c-bet patterns. While a solid foundation of c-betting principles will take you far, you need to blend adjustments into your game based on your opponent’s tendencies, stack sizes, and table dynamics. Understanding when and how to balance your bluff range against your value range is critical.

Many players now incorporate game theory optimal (GTO) solutions that rely on balanced ranges. Rather than c-betting every time, these players c-bet in spots where their range logically fits the board, mixing in checks with their stronger hands and draws. A well-timed check not only deceives skilled opponents but can also induce bluffs or lighter calls on later streets, increasing profitability.

Mixing Up Bet Frequencies and Sizes

A modern approach to c-betting involves carefully varying your frequencies and bet sizes. In certain spots, betting small with a wide range can allow you to pressure opponents who will fold too often. In others, you may choose a larger sizing to force out weaker draws or marginal made hands. This nuance can be especially effective in tournaments where stack preservation is key. For instance, if you have a middling stack and raise with A Q from the button, a small c-bet on a queen-high rainbow flop can be enough to fold out overcards and keep your own range hidden. Conversely, when you have a deep stack in a cash game, adjusting to a bigger c-bet on wet boards can force your opponent to make costlier calls.

Shifting c-bet size and frequency also applies to multi-street barreling. A thorough read of your opponent’s tendencies will help you determine when to slow down and when to apply relentless pressure across multiple streets. Studying hand histories and using modern analysis tools are invaluable for refining these adjustments over time.

FAQ

What is a continuation bet in poker?

A continuation bet is a bet made by the pre-flop aggressor on the flop. By raising pre-flop, you represent a strong hand, and the continuation bet tells your opponents you still have confidence in your holding once the flop cards have been revealed.

Should I always c-bet when heads-up on the flop?

You should c-bet quite frequently in heads-up pots because your single opponent will likely miss the flop most of the time. However, if the board appears to benefit your opponent’s range, it’s fine to mix in checks or consider alternative lines.

Why do wet or draw-heavy boards reduce my fold equity?

Wet boards create more opportunities for opponents to have strong draws or made hands. This lowers the likelihood they will fold, which reduces your fold equity if you try a continuation bet with nothing.

How do I decide between a small and a large c-bet size?

You base your decision on board texture, your opponent’s tendencies, and the stage of the game. Smaller c-bets can work well on dry boards or when you are bluffing frequently. Larger c-bets often work best on draw-heavy boards to deny equity or when you have a strong hand and want to extract more chips.

Is c-betting profitable in multi-way pots?

It can be, but your fold equity decreases significantly with more players in the pot. A continuation bet in multi-way scenarios should be approached cautiously, usually when you have a hand that can withstand aggression or when the board is unlikely to have hit any of the callers.

How do GTO concepts affect c-betting?

Game theory optimal principles help you balance your c-bet frequencies by mixing in checks with strong hands and betting with a portion of your draws. This strategy makes you more unpredictable and less exploitable against observant opponents.

Why does position matter so much for c-betting?

Being in position allows you to see how your opponents react before you make your decisions. You can plan your c-bet and potential multi-street strategy more accurately. When you’re out of position, you have less information and must be more cautious, often c-betting less.

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