The continuation bet (c-bet)
A continuation bet, or c-bet, is a bet on the flop by the player who raised preflop. You "continue" the aggression, leaning on the strong range your preflop raise advertised — learn when to fire and when to check it down in the postflop strategy course.
What a continuation bet is
If you raise before the flop and then bet the flop, that flop bet is your continuation bet. The name is literal: you continue betting the story your preflop raise began. Because you took the aggressive line first, the board is more likely to fit your range than your opponent's, and a c-bet lets you cash in on that edge whether you connected or not.
Why the c-bet works
Your preflop raise represents strong cards — big pairs, big broadways, suited aces. When you bet the flop, your opponent has to worry that any of those hands just made an overpair or top pair. Even when you have air, that credible threat lets you win pots your opponent would otherwise take with a missed hand. You are betting your whole range, and your value hands protect your bluffs.
When to c-bet
Favor c-betting on dry, disconnected boards where few draws exist — ace-high boards, paired boards, and rainbow textures like K-8-3 or Q-6-2. These hit the high cards your raise represents and give your opponent little to continue with. Being in position and heads-up amplifies the play: you get to see their reaction, and there's only one player to fold out.
When to check instead
On wet, coordinated boards — connected middle cards, two-tone or monotone textures, boards packed with straight and flush draws — your opponent's calling range connects hard, so a c-bet gets raised or called too often. Multiway pots also argue for checking: the more players behind you, the more likely someone flopped a piece. Check to control the pot, protect your checking range, and avoid bloating the pot with air.
Sizing in brief
On dry boards a small c-bet — roughly one-third to one-half of the pot — does the job, since you don't need to charge many draws. On wetter boards where you do choose to bet, size up toward two-thirds or more to deny equity to the draws. Match the size to the board texture, not to the strength of your specific hand.
- Only the preflop raiser can make a c-bet — it continues the story your raise started.
- C-bets work because you represent the strong hands (overpairs, top pairs, big draws) that fit your preflop range.
- Dry, ace-high or paired boards that miss your opponent favor c-betting; wet, coordinated boards that hit their calling range favor checking.
- Being in position and heads-up makes c-bets far more profitable than out of position or multiway.
Test yourself
Answer them all — 16/20 to pass. Every answer gets an explanation.
What is a continuation bet?
A c-bet is the preflop raiser continuing their aggression by betting the flop.
Who can make a continuation bet?
Only the preflop raiser continues the story, so only they can c-bet.
Why does a c-bet tend to work?
Your raise credibly represents big pairs and broadways, so the flop often fits your range.
Which flop is the best example of a dry c-betting board?
A-7-2 rainbow is disconnected, offers no draws, and hits the high cards you represent.
On which board should you c-bet the least often?
9-8-7 two-tone smashes an opponent's connectors and draws, so checking is far safer.
How does position affect c-betting?
Acting last lets you see reactions and control the pot, boosting c-bet value.
How does the number of opponents affect c-bet frequency?
More opponents means more chance someone connected, so bluff c-bets succeed less.
Which board texture generally favors checking?
Coordinated boards hit the opponent's range hard, making a c-bet easy to raise or call.
Recommended c-bet sizing on a dry board is roughly:
Dry boards have few draws, so a small bet accomplishes the goal cheaply.
On a wetter board where you choose to bet, you should generally:
Larger sizing denies equity to the many draws present on wet textures.
A c-bet decision should be based primarily on:
Good c-betting is a range-versus-range decision, not just about your own hand.
Which of these is a paired board that often favors a c-bet?
Paired, disconnected boards rarely help a caller's range, making them good c-bet spots.
On the flop A-7-2 rainbow, why is a c-bet strong even with a weak hand?
Your raise represents aces, and the disconnected board leaves opponents little to continue with.
What does 'rainbow' mean for a flop?
A rainbow flop has three different suits, so no flush draw is possible yet.
Why is betting your whole range on a good board effective?
When value and bluffs share the same line, opponents cannot profitably call or fold against you.
Which is the poorest board to fire a bluff c-bet on?
J-10-9 two-tone connects with countless straight and flush draws in a caller's range.
A monotone flop is one where:
Monotone means one suit across all three flop cards, putting a flush draw immediately in play.
Heads-up versus multiway, a bluff c-bet is:
With only one opponent to fold out, a bluff c-bet faces far less resistance.
On a dry board you don't need a large c-bet mainly because:
With little draw equity to deny, a small bet efficiently applies pressure.
Which statement about c-bet sizing is correct?
Tying sizing to texture rather than hand strength keeps your bets balanced and unreadable.
Review — all 20 questions & answers tap to expand
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What is a continuation bet?
Answer A bet on the flop by the player who raised preflop
A c-bet is the preflop raiser continuing their aggression by betting the flop.
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Who can make a continuation bet?
Answer The player who raised before the flop
Only the preflop raiser continues the story, so only they can c-bet.
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Why does a c-bet tend to work?
Answer You represent the strong range your preflop raise advertised
Your raise credibly represents big pairs and broadways, so the flop often fits your range.
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Which flop is the best example of a dry c-betting board?
Answer A-7-2 rainbow
A-7-2 rainbow is disconnected, offers no draws, and hits the high cards you represent.
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On which board should you c-bet the least often?
Answer 9-8-7 with a flush draw
9-8-7 two-tone smashes an opponent's connectors and draws, so checking is far safer.
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How does position affect c-betting?
Answer In position makes c-bets more profitable
Acting last lets you see reactions and control the pot, boosting c-bet value.
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How does the number of opponents affect c-bet frequency?
Answer C-bet less often in multiway pots
More opponents means more chance someone connected, so bluff c-bets succeed less.
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Which board texture generally favors checking?
Answer Wet, coordinated boards with many draws
Coordinated boards hit the opponent's range hard, making a c-bet easy to raise or call.
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Recommended c-bet sizing on a dry board is roughly:
Answer One-third to one-half of the pot
Dry boards have few draws, so a small bet accomplishes the goal cheaply.
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On a wetter board where you choose to bet, you should generally:
Answer Size up toward two-thirds pot or more
Larger sizing denies equity to the many draws present on wet textures.
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A c-bet decision should be based primarily on:
Answer How the board hits your range versus your opponent's
Good c-betting is a range-versus-range decision, not just about your own hand.
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Which of these is a paired board that often favors a c-bet?
Answer K-K-4 rainbow
Paired, disconnected boards rarely help a caller's range, making them good c-bet spots.
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On the flop A-7-2 rainbow, why is a c-bet strong even with a weak hand?
Answer The ace fits your range and misses most calling hands
Your raise represents aces, and the disconnected board leaves opponents little to continue with.
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What does 'rainbow' mean for a flop?
Answer All three cards are different suits
A rainbow flop has three different suits, so no flush draw is possible yet.
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Why is betting your whole range on a good board effective?
Answer Value hands protect your bluffs so opponents can't easily read you
When value and bluffs share the same line, opponents cannot profitably call or fold against you.
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Which is the poorest board to fire a bluff c-bet on?
Answer J-10-9 with two hearts
J-10-9 two-tone connects with countless straight and flush draws in a caller's range.
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A monotone flop is one where:
Answer All three cards share the same suit
Monotone means one suit across all three flop cards, putting a flush draw immediately in play.
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Heads-up versus multiway, a bluff c-bet is:
Answer More likely to succeed heads-up
With only one opponent to fold out, a bluff c-bet faces far less resistance.
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On a dry board you don't need a large c-bet mainly because:
Answer There are few draws to charge
With little draw equity to deny, a small bet efficiently applies pressure.
-
Which statement about c-bet sizing is correct?
Answer Size to the board texture, not to your specific hand's strength
Tying sizing to texture rather than hand strength keeps your bets balanced and unreadable.