When Not to Continuation Bet

When you place a continuation bet, you bet out following a prior bet out or a raise in the previous round. So, if you raise on the pre-flop and continue to bet on the flop even after having a hand that did not improve at the flop, you place a continuation bet. Often, the bet is successful as the possibility of your opponent making a pair at the flop is quite low.

In general, players who are willing to stick money out there and continuation bet more often will win relatively more pots at the flop. However, this is contingent on the opponent’s hand not matching at the flop. In addition to this, there are several other advanced aspects that can affect the outcome of the continuation bet. These aspects are related to the situations that you may encounter at the poker table. Here are the situations in which you should avoid using the continuation bet:

Facing multiple callers

One in which the continuation bet should be avoided is when you are facing several players who are calling. So, if you opt to raise prior to hitting the flop, and several players call it, then your continuation bet will be unlikely to succeed. The chances of you getting called in increases with the number of players in the pot. A continuation bet functions as a small bluff that uses the concept of fold equity. This is an aspect that you earn by raising pre-flop. When the number of players seeing the flop increases, your fold equity reduces since they have more incentive to call. Specifically there is already more money in the pot. This will encourage other players to call you more frequently. At such a time, it is best to bet made hands than to bluff.

Facing calling stations

Another situation in which your continuation bets should be limited is when you are facing calling stations. This is because it is relatively difficult to bluff when you are playing against a calling station. To use a continuation bet effectively against such an opponent, you will have to take into consideration his tendency to bet at the table. So, if the calling-station frequently goes through the flop relatively cautiously but folds at the turn when faced with a bet, you should ideally use the continuation bet against him with the plan to bet the turn as well. However, when faced with this opponent, you should bet high when you have good hands and maintain your continuation bets and bluffs with a smaller bet.

Facing a board that offers many draws

The next aspect to consider when using the continuation bet is the flop. In a situation where your opponent has hit the flop, the probability of him calling is high. At such times, consider your opponent’s hand range. If a majority of his range seems like it would hit the flop, you should ideally avoid the continuation bet. Another type of flop on which the continuation bet should be avoided is one that offers high options for a draw. This is because the probability of your opponent catching a draw at the board is much higher.

Playing out of position

Placing a continuation bet can become challenging if you are playing out of position. So, if you have the tendency to place continuation bets and to give up when it is called, it is likely that your opponents are noticing it. At such times, it is likely that when they are in position, they will call your raises. They may call the flop bets that you place and steal the pot from you at the turn.

It is important to always understand your opponent. There are some players just trying to grind out some online rakeback and they are among the easiest to take pots from with the continuation bet. They also tend to be high c-bettors themselves and make it easy to steal pots on the turn. C-betting can also be a sold part of Rush Poker strategy.