What is Continuation Bet?

A continuation bet, or C-bet, is a bet made on the flop by the player who took the lead before it — the pre-flop raiser — whether or not the flop improved their hand. Having shown strength pre-flop, the aggressor continues that story on the flop, representing a strong holding and forcing opponents to decide whether to believe it. Because many flops miss most starting hands, a well-timed C-bet frequently wins the pot uncontested. Worked example: you raise pre-flop with two high cards and one opponent calls. The flop comes low and ragged, missing you both, but you bet 50 into a 100 pot as a continuation bet. Your opponent, who also missed, faces a decision to invest 50 to chase an unmade hand and usually folds. To win, your C-bet only needs to succeed often enough to cover its cost: risking 50 to win 100 means the bet is profitable as a pure bluff if it takes the pot more than one time in three (50 / 150 = 33%). C-betting matters because it is a fundamental way the pre-flop aggressor maintains initiative and pressure across the Board. The common mistake is C-betting every flop automatically: against observant opponents this becomes predictable and exploitable, letting them float (call to take the pot away later) or Check-Raise you off marginal holdings. Conversely, C-betting too rarely surrenders the advantage of having raised. Optimal frequency depends on board texture (dry boards favour C-bets, wet boards demand caution), position, and the number of opponents. Skilled players vary their sizing and mix value hands with bluffs so that a continuation bet remains a genuine question, not a tell.