A c bet in poker is a continuation bet that you make on the flop after raising pre-flop. It is a bet made to win the pot and capitalize on the perception of strength that you created with your pre-flop raise. The most important factors in deciding to c bet are: the flop texture, position, and the opponent.
The best c bet situations are ones where the flop is unlikely to have helped your opponent’s range of hands. A flop like T 3 5 is an ideal spot for a c bet because it makes it hard for your opponents to call with high cards. This is because they have to pay to see the next card and it will hurt their chances of hitting a straight or a set.
On the other hand, a wet board that contains low or middling cards is not ideal for a c bet because it is easy for your opponents to call with strong hands. For example, if you’re in late position and the flop comes A 2 4h, you can expect that your opponents have a lot of made hands on this board, such as pairs and two-pairs. On these types of boards, it is best to check to your opponent and hope that they don’t have a strong hand, such as an overpair or a flush draw.
Another factor in deciding to c bet is the opponent’s tendencies. Some players are known as “calling stations” and they are able to call with a wide range of hands. C-betting against these players is a good way to put pressure on them and force them to fold weaker hands. However, it is important to note that you should only c bet against calling stations infrequently so that they don’t get wise to your strategy.
Lastly, the sizing of your c bet is also an important factor to consider. It is best to bet a decent percentage of the pot on dry boards when you decide to c bet. However, on wet boards it is a better idea to bet larger amounts because your opponents are likely to have stronger hands and will have more equity against you when they make their calls.
Overall, c-betting is a great way to maximize the value of your pre-flop raises and to punish your opponents for calling too often when you have a good hand. It is important to vary your c-betting frequency on different board textures and to use tracking software to understand how your opponents react to certain scenarios. By spending time analyzing these different boards, you will be able to develop a solid understanding of when you should be c-betting and when you should be checking back. By taking advantage of this knowledge, you will be able to increase your winnings significantly. Best of all, it will take less time than trying to figure out when to make a bluff! Good luck!