The Power of the Continuation Bet

Continuation betting refers to betting post flop after you have been the preflop aggressor. So for instance, if you raise from the button and only the big blind calls and on the flop the big blind checks and you bet, you are continuation betting. Continuation betting was first introduced by 2+2 writers like David Sklansky quite some time ago already and therefore this concept is known by most poker players. That’s why this article is suited for beginners and not for more advanced poker players. I will first discuss the theory behind continuation bets, subsequently I will discuss favorable opponents and boards to continuation bet.

Theory behind continuation bets

This theory is quite simple. In Holdem Poker the odds that you hit the board with 2 unpaired cards is around 30%. So, the odds that you miss the flop is around 70%. So if you are heads up on the flop with one opponent, he will more often have missed the flop than hit the flop. Consequently against opponents who are weak and only play their own cards, you can often pick up the pot with a bet on the flop. In a weak  game where both players have missed the flop, the first one to bet will often win the pot and that’s the reasons behind the success of continuation betting. Your bets don’t always have to work to be profitable. If you bet 2/3rd pot and your opponent fold 2/3rd of the times, you will make a huge profit in the long run.

Preferred opponents for continuation betting

The opponents you would like to continuation bet most are tight and/or fit-or-fold opponents. Tight opponents are less likely to make moves and are more likely to fold if you continuation bet. Fir-or-fold players only continue if they hit the flop by definition and since they miss the flop more often than they hit, they will often fold to your continuation bet.

Preferred boards for continuation betting

Dry boards are better to continuation bet than wet boards (wet boards include draw opportunities). For instance, you raised from the button again and only the big blind has called your raise. Now the flop comes K 7 2 rainbow. What hands in your opponent’s range have hit this flop assuming that the big blind is a tight straightforward player. He can have KQ/KJ, 77, 22, A7, and maybe K10. These are only a few hands in his range. Now the flop comes J 10 9 with 2 hearts. Hands that have hit this flop are KQ, KJ, QJ, Q10, J10, J9, 10 9, 10 8, 9 8, 8  7, 9 9, 8 8 + flush draws. You see immediately that the latter flops hit much more hands in your opponent’s range and on this flop your opponent is less likely to fold to your continuation bet.

Discussion Continuation Bets

Above theory on continuation betting is quite straightforward. Continuation betting is a concept that most poker players know, since the theory is relative old for poker concepts. More advanced player will argue that above theory is sometimes superficial and they are right. Since continuation betting has become a familiar concept in the poker world, counter strategies are developed against continuation bets. If you continuation bet too much, good players will adapt too this and will attack your continuation bets. In weak games however, continuation betting is a very powerful tool. This article is therefore also meant as an introduction in continuation betting. In the next articles I will discuss continuation bets in a more comprehensive manner.