A continuation bet, or c-bet, is a bet made on the flop by the player who raised before the flop. It continues the preflop aggression and pressures the opponent with both value and bluffs.
The best c-betting strategy depends on the board and position. In position on dry boards you own the range advantage, so you can c-bet a wide range for a small size at high frequency, denying equity cheaply. On wet, connected boards you bet a tighter, more polarized range and size up.
Not every flop is a c-bet: boards that smash the caller’s range, or medium hands that prefer pot control, are checked. Getting c-bet frequency and sizing right is the single most common postflop decision in Hold’em.
Not every flop wants a c-bet. Check back when the board smashes the caller’s range — low connected flops like 6-5-4 hold the big blind’s straights, sets and two pairs — when you hold a medium hand with showdown value that gets called by better and folds out worse, and occasionally with a very strong hand on a dry board to keep bluffs in. With A♣K♣ on 6♠5♦4♣ you have only 6 outs to a pair, about 13% on the turn: check. Initiative alone is not a reason; a bet needs fold equity or value.
Worked example
FAQ
How often should you c-bet the flop?
It depends on the board. On dry boards you own, a small c-bet at very high frequency is standard; on wet boards that hit the caller you check more and bet a tighter, bigger, polarized range.
When should you not c-bet?
Check boards that favor the caller’s range, and check medium hands that prefer pot control — betting there only folds out worse and gets called by better.