Continuation Bet
A continuation bet is a bet on the flop by the player who made the last preflop raise, continuing the aggression whether or not they hit.
A continuation bet, or c-bet, is a bet made by the player who was the last aggressor preflop, continuing their aggression on the flop. If you open-raise and get called, then bet when the flop comes, you have made a c-bet. It works because your preflop raise told a story of strength, and many flops miss your opponent completely.
Why c-bets work
Unpaired starting hands miss the flop most of the time, so in many hands neither player has much. The preflop raiser usually has a stronger range than the caller, so they are better placed to claim the pot. A c-bet can:
- Win the pot right away when your opponent missed.
- Build the pot when you hold a strong hand like an overpair or top pair.
- Keep the initiative so later bets look credible.
Turn and river bets that keep the aggression going are sometimes called second and third barrels.
Sizing and the math
A c-bet does not have to be big. Small bets of about one third of the pot are common on dry boards, while bigger bets of about two thirds of the pot or more are used on boards where draws are present.
The break-even math for a pure bluff is simple: divide your bet by the total pot after you bet. A one-third-pot c-bet into a pot of 30 is 10; it needs to work 10 / 40 = 25% of the time. A pot-sized bet of 30 needs folds 30 / 60 = 50% of the time.
Good and bad c-bet boards
You open from the cutoff with A♠ J♦ and the big blind calls.
- Flop K♣ 7♦ 2♥: a great c-bet board. It is dry, and the king favors the preflop raiser, who has more strong kings than the big blind. A small bet works well even though you missed.
- Flop 8♥ 7♥ 6♣: a poor board for you. It connects with the low suited and connected hands the big blind defends with, and your ace-high has little to fall back on. Checking is often better.
Generally, high and dry boards favor the raiser, while low and connected boards favor the caller.
Common c-bet mistakes
- Auto-betting every flop: observant opponents start raising or floating you with anything.
- Ignoring the number of players: against three opponents, someone often hit something. C-bet less in multiway pots.
- Ignoring position: c-betting out of position is harder, because you face the rest of the hand acting first.
- Giving up too easily on the turn: a good turn card, such as a card that adds a draw for you, is a chance to semi-bluff again.
Frequently asked questions
How often should you c-bet?
It depends on the board, position and number of opponents. You can bet often on dry, high boards heads-up, and less often on low connected boards or in multiway pots.
What size should a c-bet be?
Common sizes range from about one third of the pot on dry boards to two thirds or more on boards with many draws.
What is a delayed c-bet?
A delayed c-bet is when the preflop raiser checks the flop and then bets the turn, often after the opponent also checked.
Related poker terms
- Flop — The flop is the first three community cards dealt face up together in Texas Hold'em, followed by the second betting round of the hand.
- Raise — A raise increases the current bet so opponents must add more chips to continue. In No-Limit it must be at least the size of the last bet or raise.
- Bluff — A bluff is a bet or raise with a weak hand that aims to make better hands fold. It wins when your opponent gives up the pot.
- Semi-Bluff — A semi-bluff is a bet or raise with a drawing hand that is behind now but can improve. It wins if opponents fold or if you hit your draw.
- Position — Position in poker is where you sit relative to the button, which decides when you act. Acting later gives you more information and more control.
- Fold Equity — Fold equity is the extra value you gain from the chance your opponent folds to your bet or raise, winning the pot without a showdown.