Poker Strategy - Continuation Betting in No Limit Hold’em

Once you learn the basics of no limit Hold’em, such as how to play your preflop hands, the next topic to study is flop play. One of the most important moves you can make on the flop is to make a continuation bet after displaying preflop aggression. The continuation bet is an important play that shows continued strength on the flop, and can also win you many pots when you have nothing. Now, we’ll discuss what a continuation bet actually is.

Continuation bets are ½ to 1/3 pot sized bets made on the flop by a player who made a raise preflop. The best way to explain this is through an example:

Imagine you are playing a NLH cash table and have AK. You raise preflop, and one player calls your raise. On the flop, you make a bet of ½ to 1/3 the size of the pot. This flop bet would be called a continuation bet, because you are continuing your preflop aggression. There are basically two situations when you’ll use a continuation bet, and we’ll discuss both:

Hitting the Flop

The first spot to use a continuation bet, and the easiest time to make the bet, is when you hit the flop hard after raising preflop. In this case you probably have at least top pair, if not an overpair or two pairs. Make the standard one half to on third of the pot sized bet, and you’ll show your opponents that you’re still strong. The only way to give that message is to keep firing at the pot. This will both force out the poor hands that could outdraw you, and make the flush and straight draws pay to continue in the hand. Also, if one of your opponents has a second best hand you’ll start creating a big pot to set yourself up for a value bet on the end.

Missing the Flop

The other situation that possibly calls for a continuation bet is when you miss the flop, but still want to continue firing at the pot. As long as you were the aggressor preflop it is acceptable to continuation bet in this situation, but I’d recommend slowing down on the turn if you’re called and don’t improve. The only exception to this would be if you’re on a big draw and don’t improve on the turn. In this case you may want to double barrel to take another shot at the pot with the backup plan of your draw hitting on the river.

Most of the time when you continuation bet you’ll take the pot right then and there, but on occasion you’ll either get called or raised by your opponent. In case you are played back at, you’ll need to decide right then and there what you want to do. If you have a solid hand, you should either re-raise or fold, and if you have a poor hand, you should either fold or call if you have a decent draw.

Also, if you realize that one of your opponents at the table always continuation bets on the flop, you should remember this and counter him/her occasionally so they aren’t stealing every pot when everyone misses. Good luck!

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