C-Bet (Continuation Bet)
What a C-Bet Is and Why You Use It
A C-Bet, or continuation bet, is a flop bet by the player who raised pre-flop. It keeps initiative and projects strength after you opened the pot. Use it to pressure opponents and force folds from missed or weak hands. Even when your hand didn’t improve, a C-Bet can win pots without further streets. Your pre-flop raise gives you a perceived range of stronger hands to leverage.
Example: You raise from late position with K♠Q♠, get one caller, and see K♦7♣2♠ on the flop. A C-Bet represents a king and often takes the pot, even without top pair every time.
Key Factors to Decide Whether to C-Bet
When choosing to C-Bet, weigh three main factors:
- Opponent tendencies. Versus frequent callers or “sticky” players who rarely fold, C-bets lose value. Versus tight or exploitable players who fold to aggression, C-bets gain value. Example: Versus a loose caller who defends wide pre-flop, bluff C-bets on many flops will be called. Versus a tight player, the same bluff often wins the pot.
- Board texture. Dry flops (low, unconnected cards or a lone high card) favor C-bets because they rarely improve calling ranges. Wet or coordinated boards (connected cards or many flush/straight draws) require caution because more hands can continue. Example: A♣8♦3♠ is a dry flop. J♠10♠9♣ is wet and hits many ranges.
- Range interaction. Consider how the flop connects with your perceived raising range versus the caller’s likely holdings. C-bet more when the flop favors your range. Check or use selective bets when it favors the caller.
How to Size Your C-Bet
Match your size to the situation.
- On dry boards, use smaller bets to conserve chips while still applying pressure. Small sizes deny only a little equity but often win the pot.
- On wet or coordinated boards, use larger sizes to protect against many draws and deny equity to continuing hands.
- Always factor in stack depth and opponent willingness to continue; deeper stacks or stubborn callers may need sizing adjustments.
Example: If the flop offers many draws, raise your bet to make draws pay more to see the turn. On a single-card, unconnected flop, a modest bet preserves chips while still threatening the pot.
Using C-Bets for Bluffs and Value
Balance bluff and value lines.
- Bluff when the board disfavors most of the caller’s range. Prefer hands with blockers-cards in your hand that reduce opponents’ strong combinations-or with backdoor potential, meaning possible draws on later streets. Example: Holding A♣5♣ on K♦7♣2♠, your ace blocks many strong ace-containing hands, and backdoor clubs let you barrel turns.
- Value-bet when the flop improves your hand and your range advantage means opponents will call with worse hands. Example: You hit middle pair on a dry board and the opponent’s calling range is wide-bet for value.
Mix bluffs and value to avoid predictability and exploit opponents who fold too often.
Planning Multi-Street C-Bet Strategies
Before betting the flop, plan turn and river actions.
- Use double or triple-barrel sequences when the runout and opponent tendencies support continued pressure. Plan how later cards change range interactions.
- Reassess every street: note opponent reactions, pot size, and how turn or river cards alter equities.
- Be ready to give up when the opponent shows strong resistance or when later cards complete obvious draws.
Example: You C-Bet a dry flop and face a raise on the turn after a scary card. Often you should release a bluff unless you hold strong equity or meaningful blockers.
Checklist
- Maintain initiative but avoid automatic C-bets; evaluate opponent and board each time.
- Match your sizing to board texture and opponent tendencies.
- Use blockers and backdoor equity when selecting C-bet bluffs.
- Plan multi-street lines before betting the flop, and be ready to adjust.