C-Betting the Flop – Executing the C-Bet
Continuation betting is a tactic implemented by the majority of players, to one extent or another, but is understood by only a small portion. The concept itself is very simple, when you are the aggressor pre flop you make an attempt to take away the pot on the flop. This is one of the reasons that you should be raising pre flop in the first place, to have the upper hand post flop. Continuation betting on the flop is the first part of becoming a solid, aggressive player. If you can’t properly execute continuation bets you will have a very difficult time when you try and make double and triple barrel bets.
C-Betting – The Execution
The first part of the continuation bet comes before the flop; it is your pre flop raise. If you limped or called a raise pre flop you are not making a continuation bet so much as a standard bet. Continuation bets can be done when you either hit or miss on the flop. It simply means that you are continuing with the same aggression that you demonstrated pre flop. C-bets will help you to win many pots that would have otherwise been lost; this is due solely to the fact that you decided to take the initiative in making a c-bet.
C-bet sizing should be adjusted according to the intended purpose. If you are making a c-bet after having missed the flop, you will want to make it on the smaller side. If you hit the flop and want to force your opponent to start investing their own money, you should be betting closer to the pot size. This of course disregards other factors such as your opponent’s playing style, how many people are in the pot, and any history you might have. You will have to use your own judgment when adjusting your c-bet sizes to the exact circumstances of the hand you are playing.
C-Betting – When to C-Bet
You should be making a c-bet if you see one of two options being possible, your opponent folding to you when you have a weak hand, or your opponent calling when you have a made hand. Sometimes you may add in a third scenario, when you have a made hand that might fold out your opponent.
Your opponent folding to you when you have a weak hand is the ideal situation. It means that you are able to take down a pot without needing any help from the board. This, however, requires that you are able to put your opponent on an accurate range of hands. If the board is A J 8 and you thought they only had AQ+ and big pocket pairs, this would be a poor board to c-bet. You need to c-bet on boards that miss most of their range.
C-betting when you have a made hand is for value. You want your opponent to call you on the flop and hopefully again on the turn and river. It is the first opportunity that you will have to build up the pot. You should be trying to get the most value from your hand while not making it transparent to the other player(s).
The final scenario for a solid c-bet is a made hand that might force a fold. This is a sort of hybrid of the prior two situations. You can’t really do much about this situation, while you would prefer a call; you can’t be too upset that you are taking down the pot.