Cb bet

https://spinbettercasino.de/ (c-bet) to apply post-flop pressure. Learn optimal bet sizing, how to read board textures, and when to bet for value or as a bluff.

The Continuation Bet A Strategic Guide to Post-Flop Aggression ==============================================================

Fire a continuation wager on a dry, disconnected flop like K-7-2 rainbow with a frequency approaching 100% when you were the pre-flop aggressor. This board texture misses the vast majority of hands an opponent calls with pre-flop, from middle pairs to suited connectors. A small stake, approximately 33% of the pot, is sufficient to take down the pot immediately with a high success rate.

This aggressive approach requires modification on coordinated, dynamic boards. On a flop like Q-J-9 with two hearts, your continuation frequency must decrease significantly. Such textures connect strongly with an opponent's pre-flop calling range, which includes many broadway hands and suited connectors. Against a passive, fit-or-fold opponent, a continuation may still be profitable. Against a thinking, aggressive player, proceeding without a strong holding is a direct path to losing chips.

Your chosen sizing communicates specific information and achieves different goals. A smaller stake of one-third of the pot is a modern standard for bluffing and thin value propositions, especially when in position. This sizing offers an excellent risk-to-reward ratio, needing to work only once every four attempts to break even. Conversely, a larger sizing of two-thirds of the pot or more is reserved for extracting maximum value with strong made hands or protecting equity on draw-heavy boards where you wish to price out your opponent's drawing hands.

A Strategic Breakdown of the Continuation Bet

Fire a continuation on dry, disconnected boards like K-7-2 rainbow with nearly your entire pre-flop opening range when heads-up. Your sizing here should be small, typically 25-33% of the pot, to risk the minimum while generating maximum fold equity against hands that missed completely.

On coordinated, wet textures such as Q-J-9 with two suits, radically reduce your continuation frequency to below 40%. When you do apply pressure, increase the amount to 60-75% of the pot. This line targets value from made hands and strong draws, while forcing weaker holdings to pay a premium to continue.

The presence of a second opponent post-flop demands a significant reduction in continuation frequency. In a three-way pot, restrict your post-flop aggression to top pair with a good kicker, two-pair, sets, and strong combination draws. Your bluffing frequency should drop below 20% of your continuation range in these scenarios.

From an in-position standpoint, you can profitably continue on a wider array of textures due to the informational advantage of acting last. Out-of-position continuations must be more selective. A check-raise becomes a more powerful tool from out of position than a standard leading action, especially on boards that favor the pre-flop caller's range.

Profile your adversary. Against a player who folds to post-flop aggression over 60% of the time, a continuation is profitable with any two cards on most board textures. Conversely, against a “calling station” with a low Fold-to-C-bet statistic (under 40%), abandon bluffing with air. Your post-flop wagers in this case should be purely for value with strong made hands.

To prevent exploitation, mix your strategy by checking back some strong hands like top pair on the flop when in position. This strengthens your checking range and protects you against aggressive opponents on later streets. This line, known as a range-protecting check, makes you unpredictable and tougher to play against.

Choosing When to C-Bet Based on Flop Texture

On dry, disconnected rainbow flops like K-7-2, apply pressure with nearly your entire pre-flop raising range. Your opponent's calling range connects poorly with these textures, making them fold often to continued aggression. A small sizing, around 25-33% of the pot, is sufficient to accomplish this objective while minimizing risk when your continuation play is challenged.

Adapt your approach on monotone boards, such as Q-8-4 of a single suit, by significantly lowering your continuation frequency. On these textures, lead out with a polarized range. This includes your strongest made hands like sets and nut flushes, alongside bluffs that hold a key blocker, like the ace of the flush suit. Checking back with medium-strength hands, such as top pair with a weak kicker, preserves your pot equity and avoids difficult situations.

For wet, coordinated flops like J-T-9 with two suits, a selective and more forceful strategy is required. Fire a continuation with a polarized selection of hands and use a larger sizing, typically 60-75% of the pot. Your value range here consists of straights, sets, and two-pair. Your bluffs should possess equity, such as open-ended straight draws or strong flush draws. Abandon hands with no connection to the board, as small stabs will be called frequently.

Paired boards like T-8-8 or A-A-5 allow for a high frequency of continuation plays. The board pairing reduces the combinations of strong hands your opponent can hold. You can profitably lead out with a wide assortment of holdings. This includes all overpairs, any hand making trips, and many high-card hands as bluffs. This pressure forces folds from a large part of an opponent's range, such as underpairs or weak ace holdings.

Determining Your C-Bet Sizing for Maximum Pressure

Your continuation sizing on the flop should directly reflect the board's texture and your range advantage. A smaller offering is sufficient on static boards; a larger one is required on dynamic boards to deny equity.

Adjust your approach based on pot type and position:

  1. In Position (IP): You can utilize smaller sizings more frequently across various board textures. Your positional advantage allows you to react to your opponent's turn action, giving you more information and control.
  2. Out of Position (OOP): Larger continuation amounts are generally preferable. This action discourages floats and attempts to take down the pot immediately, simplifying your decisions on the turn with a wider portion of your range.
  3. 3-Bet Pots: The stack-to-pot ratio (SPR) is much lower. A smaller sizing (e.g., 25-33% of the pot) exerts significant pressure. This small stake still commits a large portion of an opponent's stack, forcing a decision for all of their chips with any non-premium holding.

Planning for the Turn: What to Do After Your C-Bet is Called

Assess how the turn card interacts with your opponent's flop-calling range. An Ace or King appearing on the turn, for example, disproportionately hits a player who called on a low, connected flop. A third spade completing a flush draw fundamentally changes the board's dynamics. Your subsequent action depends entirely on this single card's impact.

Categorize your holding into three groups. Group one: strong value hands (sets, two-pair) that now aim to extract maximum chips. Group two: marginal made hands (top pair with a medium kicker) where pot control becomes the priority; checking is a frequent option here. Group three: draws and pure air, where your decision is between continuing the aggression to fold out better hands or checking to realize your equity cheaply.

An opponent's flop call rarely signals a monster hand; those are often raised. Their range is typically condensed to medium-strength holdings like second pair, weak top pairs, and various draws. This makes them vulnerable. When a turn card appears that does not connect with this range (a low blank, for instance), their hand strength remains static, making them susceptible to a second application of pressure.

If a scare card hits that you can represent, firing a second barrel is a standard play to fold out their medium-strength hands. With a marginal holding like top pair, weak kicker on a blank turn, checking is often superior. This controls the size of the pot and allows you to call a subsequent wager from your opponent. With a powerful draw (e.g., a flush draw combined with a gutshot), continuing the aggression builds the pot for when you connect and provides an opportunity to win uncontested.