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Poker glossary

Continuation Bet (C-bet)

What it means

A continuation bet (c-bet) is a bet made on the flop by the player who raised before the flop. The term reflects the idea of “continuing” the aggression shown preflop. C-bets don’t require a strong hand - they’re often made with complete air, relying on the initiative and perceived strength from the preflop raise.

How it works at the table

You raise to 3bb from the button with A♠ J♦, and only the big blind calls. The flop comes 9♠ 5♣ 2♦. The big blind checks to you. Even though you’ve completely missed this flop, you bet 4bb into the 6.5bb pot. This is a classic c-bet scenario.

Your opponent folds about 60% of the time because they missed the flop too. When called, you still have two overcards and can improve on later streets. The c-bet wins the pot immediately often enough to show a profit, especially when combined with the times you actually have a strong hand.

Strategic context

C-betting evolved from simple aggression into a nuanced tool. In the past, players c-bet nearly 100% of flops. Modern poker recognizes that different board textures warrant different c-bet frequencies. Dry boards like K♠ 7♦ 2♣ favor the preflop raiser and call for frequent c-bets. Coordinated boards like 9♠ 8♠ 7♦ hit the caller’s range harder and require more selective c-betting.

Stack depth matters too. With 100bb stacks, you can c-bet more liberally than with 30bb stacks where opponents are more likely to play back at you. Position amplifies c-bet effectiveness - it’s easier to c-bet profitably from the button than from early position.

Common mistakes

Players c-bet too frequently on wet, coordinated boards that favor the defender’s range. They also size their c-bets poorly - betting too large with bluffs and too small with value hands, creating an exploitable pattern. Many players c-bet the same percentage regardless of the number of opponents, but multiway pots require much tighter c-betting ranges than heads-up pots.

C-betting connects directly to fold equity - your ability to win without the best hand. Understanding board texture helps determine optimal c-bet frequency. Against thinking opponents, you’ll need to balance your c-betting range with both value hands and bluffs to avoid being exploited. The decision to c-bet or check also affects your turn and river strategies.