SitNGo – Cbet. When should you do it?

Cbet.  What it is?

A poker continuation bet (or cbet) is a bet made by a player who bet or raised in the previous round of betting. Continuation betting  is used to infer and reinforce a strong pre-flop hand.  Should continuation betting  form a part of a poker players betting strategy?

In today’s poker world, continuation betting is common  (more so in tournaments) that it  no longer gets the respect of players.   When used at the wrong times, continuation betting can  turn you into a consistent loser. Today, in our more aggressive poker industry, you can expect to be called or raised back at the first sign of weakness.

When to use cbet

There are a number of factors to think about before following up a pre-flop raise with a cbet. For example, always carefully consider the flop (are there draws), the number of players in the pot and the information you have gathered about their betting habits as well as your position.

It pays to use continuation bets not only when you have a good starting hand, but when you missed the flop,  to get others to fold. When you do  have good cards  look to increase the pot. Often a good player will call your continuation bet on the flop  to see if you were serious.

cbet or check?

There is a  reason to occasionally check  even with a decent hand, in that it disguises your hand . Let’s say we hold KQ on a K 9 4 rainbow board. Checking  makes it far more likely the opponent will call your bet on the turn, and if a scare card such as the ace hits the turn or river, you can check again.

letting the other players know you are capable of continuation betting or checking  with both good and bad hands  means you can take either action without showing weakness. This  approach allows you to  take full advantage of the poker continuation bet even though it has lost much of its power.

So when do I use It?

If your in the game to cash, go sparingly on cbetting until the table sees you as a tight player.  Wait for that decent pocket to show up.  Be patient!

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