Continuation Bet (C-Bet)

What Is a Continuation Bet?

The continuation bet, commonly called a c-bet, is one of the most fundamental plays in modern poker. When you raise preflop and your opponent calls, you have the initiative. A c-bet simply means you follow up with a bet on the flop, maintaining pressure and representing strength.

The logic is straightforward. Most flops miss most hands. If you raised preflop and your opponent just called, they will miss the flop roughly two-thirds of the time. By betting, you put them in a difficult position with their missed hands. They must either fold, call with nothing hoping to improve, or float with a plan for later streets. All three options are uncomfortable.

C-betting has evolved significantly over the past decade. In the early days of online poker, players c-bet nearly 100% of the time and it printed money. Today, opponents are more aware and fight back with check-raises and floats. This means your c-betting strategy needs to be selective and thoughtful, adjusting your frequency and sizing based on the board texture, your range, and your opponent’s tendencies.

How It Works

A successful c-bet strategy depends on three key factors: board texture, opponent type, and bet sizing.

Board Texture:

Dry, unconnected boards like K-7-2 rainbow favor the preflop raiser heavily. Your range contains more Kings and overpairs than your opponent’s calling range. C-bet frequently on these boards.

Wet, connected boards like 9h-8h-7c are dangerous. Your opponent’s calling range connects well with these textures. Be more selective, c-betting primarily with strong hands and good draws while checking back marginal holdings.

Sizing Considerations:

Modern strategy favors smaller c-bet sizes more often rather than large bets less often. On dry boards, a bet of 25-33% of the pot accomplishes the same fold equity as a larger bet because your opponent has few strong hands to continue with. On wetter boards, use 50-75% pot to charge draws and protect your value hands.

Frequency Guidelines:

• Dry boards (K-7-2, A-5-3): C-bet 70-85% of the time with small sizing
• Medium boards (Q-8-4, J-6-3): C-bet 50-65% with medium sizing
• Wet boards (T-9-8, Jh-8h-4h): C-bet 35-50% with larger sizing, focusing on value and strong draws

Multi-Way Pots:

Reduce your c-bet frequency significantly in pots with three or more players. The more opponents there are, the higher the chance someone connected with the board. Reserve c-bets for strong hands and premium draws.

Example

You raise to $6 from the cutoff with Ad Jd in a $1/$2 game. Only the big blind calls. The pot is $13.

Flop: Ac 8s 3h. This is an ideal c-bet spot. The board is dry, you have top pair with a good kicker, and your opponent’s calling range from the big blind contains many hands that missed entirely. You bet $5 (about 38% pot), a small sizing that forces folds from hands like 5-6, K-T, or Q-J while still building the pot with your strong hand.

Now consider a different flop: 9h 8h 7s. Even though you have two overcards and a gutshot, this board hammers the big blind’s range. They hold many two-pair combos, straights, and flush draws. Checking back and taking a free card is often the better play here.

Common Mistakes

• C-betting every single flop without considering the board texture or opponent, a strategy that worked in 2010 but gets exploited today
• Using the same bet sizing on all boards instead of adjusting between small (dry) and larger (wet) c-bets
• C-betting into multiple opponents with the same frequency as heads-up pots
• Never checking back strong hands on the flop, which makes your checking range weak and exploitable

Related Terms

• Fold Equity — the driving force behind profitable c-bets with air
• Value Bet — when your c-bet is made for value rather than as a bluff
• Bluff — the category a c-bet falls into when you have completely missed the flop
• Ranges — understanding how the flop interacts with both your range and your opponent’s

FAQ

How often should I c-bet in today’s games?

Overall, a healthy c-bet frequency is around 55-65% in heads-up pots, but this varies dramatically by board texture. The key is being polar in your approach: c-bet with strong value hands, good draws, and select bluffs while checking back your medium-strength hands to protect your checking range.

What should I do when my c-bet gets raised?

Do not panic. Evaluate the board, your hand, and your opponent. With strong hands and good draws, you can continue. With marginal holdings, fold and accept that your c-bet was called out. Avoid the trap of automatically calling or re-raising because you feel committed.

Should I c-bet differently in position versus out of position?

Yes. When out of position, reduce your c-bet frequency and increase your sizing slightly, since you will be at a positional disadvantage for the rest of the hand. When in position, you can c-bet more frequently with smaller sizes because you retain control of the hand. For deeper strategy on positional play, see our advanced strategy guides.