Posted by The continuation bet (or c-bet) is one of the most popular moves in No-Limit Hold’em today. The reason is simple: it’s easy to learn, highly effective, and can be mastered even by beginners with only basic poker knowledge.
Every poker session at any stakes includes c-bets. If you ignore this weapon, you’re putting yourself at a serious disadvantage.
When choosing an online room to practice this skill, pick one of the trusted poker sites that offer good playing conditions and a healthy field.
Test your skills today on CoinPoker or Tigergaming Poker.
Table of Contents
- What is a Continuation Bet?
- How to Make Good C-Bets?
- Looking at the Flop Before Deciding to C-Bet
- Key Factors Affecting C-Bets
- Conclusion
- FAQ
What is a Continuation Bet?
A continuation bet is a bet made on the flop by the player who raised preflop, regardless of whether the flop improved their hand or not.
For example, you raise preflop and the board shows on the flop — you can still bet to try to take the pot even without a made hand.
In roughly 2 out of 3 cases, your opponent won’t connect with the flop.
This means that if your opponent folds every time they miss the board, your c-bets will allow you to win more pots compared to checking. However, several other factors also influence the success rate of this move.
How to Make Good C-Bets?
- Optimal bet size: between 2/3 and 3/4 of the pot.
- Always consider the style and tendencies of your opponents.
Proper Bet Sizing
The best c-bet size is typically between 2/3 and 3/4 of the pot. For example, if the pot is $10, a $7 bet is ideal.
Smaller bets often give your opponents favorable pot odds to call with drawing or medium-strength hands.
A strong c-bet usually ranges between 2/3 and 3/4 of the pot.
The idea is to represent strength — such as a top pair or better — and push your opponent off weaker holdings. Overbetting (e.g., betting $14 into a $10 pot) risks too much for the same result, while underbetting encourages unnecessary calls.
Considering Opponents’ Play Style
Your opponents’ skill level and playing style should directly affect how often you c-bet.
Avoid bluffing with c-bets against calling stations.
At micro stakes, many players tend to call far too often with weak hands, which makes bluff c-bets less effective. Against strong players, overusing c-bets is also dangerous, as they can recognize the strategy and fight back with raises or calls.
C-bets work best against average players who are willing to fold their weak and medium-strength holdings.
Looking at the Flop Before Deciding to C-Bet
The flop texture is a major factor in determining whether a c-bet will succeed.
C-Bet Example
You hold and the flop is . Opponents without a king are unlikely to continue, so a c-bet frequently wins the pot even if your hand didn’t improve.
On a flop like
with the same
,
there are more straight and flush possibilities, so your c-bet will be called more often. Use c-bets more on dry boards.
Conclusion: c-bets are more effective on dry boards with fewer draws. The more connected and “wet” the flop is, the more careful you should be when betting without a made hand.
Key Factors Affecting C-Bets
- The number of players in the pot.
- Your table position.
Number of Players in the Pot
Continuation bets work best in heads-up pots. The more opponents you face, the higher the chance that someone has connected with the flop.
The fewer players in the pot, the higher the chance your c-bet succeeds.
The fewer players in the pot, the higher the chance your c-bet succeeds.
Against multiple opponents, c-betting becomes riskier. Also, if you c-bet too frequently, opponents will adapt and start raising or calling more often. Balance is key.
Table Position
Position is another important element. Acting last gives you more information and allows for better decisions.
C-bets are much more powerful when you have position.
Still, beware of opponents who might be waiting to check-raise. If your c-bet gets raised and you have no strong hand, folding is usually the best option. There’s no need to be pot-committed with nothing.
Conclusion
C-bets are one of the most common moves in Texas Hold’em, and learning how to use them properly is crucial for long-term success.
There’s no exact formula for when a c-bet will work, but understanding the core principles will significantly increase your win rate. The best way to learn is through practice: sit down, experiment, and analyze your results.
Fortunately, continuation bets are not very expensive to test out, so you won’t need to lose a fortune while learning.
FAQ
Prefer c-bets on dry boards and in heads-up pots, and reduce bluff frequency against calling-heavy opponents.
Usually between 2/3 and 3/4 of the pot — large enough to apply pressure but not so large that you risk too much.
Be cautious — the more opponents, the higher the chance someone connected with the flop; mix in checks and value bets instead.
Another strategy: Steal in Poker
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