A continuation bet (c-bet) is a bet on the flop made by the player who was the preflop aggressor.
Example: you raise preflop, get called, and then you bet the flop. That flop bet is a c-bet.
Range vs range advantage diagram and which boards favor who. Builds fast c-bet intuition.
Why c-bets work
You often have a range advantage (you raised preflop, so you can have more strong hands).
Many flops miss the caller’s range, so they have a lot of folds.
You can win the pot immediately or set up future barrels.
Bet or check? Start with these questions
Is the board good for my range? (dry and high-card boards usually are)
Is the board good for their range? (connected and low boards often are)
Do I have value, a draw, or air?
Am I in position? (IP can c-bet more often)
What is my goal? (value, protection, fold equity, or pot control)
When you should c-bet more often
Dry boards with few draws (example: A-7-2 rainbow)
You have a strong range advantage (you can have top pairs and overpairs more often)
You are in position and can control later streets
You have a hand that benefits from protection (like a medium pair vs overcards)
You have a strong draw that can keep barreling
When you should check more often
Wet boards with many draws (example: J-10-9 with two suits)
Boards that hit the caller (low connected boards often help flats)
You are out of position and want to protect your checking range
Your hand has low equity and low playability (betting just burns money)
You want to trap with a very strong hand sometimes
Basic sizing rules (simple and practical)
Beginner sizing can be very simple:
Small (25%–33% pot): good for dry boards and range bets
Medium (50%–66% pot): good when you want more protection or value
Big (75%+ pot): used more on very wet boards, polar situations, or vs players who overfold
Two easy defaults:
On dry boards, c-bet small more often.
On wet boards, c-bet less often and size up when you do bet.
What hands like to c-bet?
Value hands
Top pair good kicker, overpairs, sets.
Goal: get called by worse hands.
Draws
Flush draws, straight draws, combo draws.
Goal: build a pot, generate folds, and have equity when called.
Bluffs (air)
Hands that missed but can make Villain fold.
Goal: fold out hands with better equity that will not continue.
Examples
Example 1: Dry board, small c-bet
You raise preflop and get called. Flop is A-7-2 rainbow.
This board often favors the preflop raiser. A small c-bet (around 25%–33%) works well because many hands fold.
Example 2: Wet board, more checking or bigger sizing
Flop is J-10-9 with two suits.
This board has many strong draws and made hands. You can check more often. When you bet, a larger size (around 50%–75%) is common because you want protection and value.
Example 3: Medium hand, choose pot control
You have a marginal made hand (like second pair) in position.
Checking can be better than betting because it keeps the pot small and helps you reach showdown.
Common mistakes
Auto c-betting every flop. Some boards are much better to check.
Betting with no plan. Know what you do on a raise or on later streets.
Using one size always. Dry boards and wet boards want different sizes.
Bluffing players who never fold. Versus calling stations, bet for value more and bluff less.
Never checking strong hands. You need some strong hands in your checking range.
Mini checklist (fast)
Board texture: dry or wet?
Range advantage: who has more strong hands?
Position: am I IP or OOP?
Goal: value, protection, or bluff?
Sizing: small on dry boards, bigger on wet boards.
Practice when to bet vs check and size correctly on common boards.
Next step: C-bet Trainer
Try the C-bet Trainer to practice when to bet vs check, choose a size, and build good postflop habits.