Most poker players don’t know how to c-bet. For them, c-betting is something you do on every flop regardless of what hits the flop and what opponent they’re facing. That’s the wrong way to do it. Poker is a game of timed aggression and a c-bet is no different. Here’s how you should judge when to c-bet and when to let it go.
Texture of the Flop
The texture of the flop is the most important factor when determining when you should c-bet. There are three basic flop types you’ll face: Wet boards, Dry boards and Neutral boards. Here’s how you handle them:
Wet Boards
Let’s say you raise pre-flop and get called. The board comes As Qh 9h. Unless you caught a solid piece of the flop, you should usually check/fold or check/bet the turn if your opponent checks twice. A flop like As Qh 9h is likely to hit a lot of your opponent’s calling range. Your opponent could have an ace, a decent queen with a gut-shot, a flush draw, a straight draw or a made straight. You can’t continue unless your opponent shows no strength.
Dry Boards
A board like Js 6h 3d is about as dry as they come. Go ahead and bet it since it’s unlikely to hit your opponent.
Neutral Boards
A board like 66Q rainbow is pretty neutral. You probably didn’t hit it and your opponent probably didn’t either. Go ahead and bet, but realize you may have to double-barrel this one to get your opponent off a small/medium pocket pair.
Your Opponents
Your opponents will also have an impact on whether or not you c-bet. For example, you should be more inclined to c-bet when you’re up against one opponent than when you’re up against several. The more opponents you have, the more likely it is that someone hit the flop.
You should also be more likely to c-bet into a tight opponent rather than a loose-passive one. Loose-passive players tend to call with anything (sometimes nothing). You should not bluff these guys and just bet them for value when you hit.
Your Position
Position is also a factor in c-betting. You should be more inclined to make a c-bet when you’re in position than when you’re out of position.
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You have to take the three above factors into account whenever you think about c-betting. The more favorable the situation, the more likely you should be to c-bet. Don’t be afraid to check fold occasionally. Sometimes it’s the right thing to do. Just make sure you check/raise every when you do hit every once in a while to balance your line .
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