The Importance of Continuation Bets in Poker Gambling Games – If you are just learning how to play poker, then you may have come across a term like “continuation bet”. But if you’re not sure what that means, fear not. As well as learning the exact definitions, you’ll also find everything you need to know about advanced betting strategy. Whether you are playing in online poker tournaments or live cash games, the continuations bet is something you must understand to be successful.
What is a Continuation Bet?
The obvious starting point is to define what a continuation bet is. Simply put, this is a bet made by the player who is the final aggressor. Imagine you are playing Texas Hold’em and your opponent makes a pre-flop raise. Sitting in the big blind, you’re the only caller. The flop is dealt and you choose to check, before your opponents start betting again.
This is one of the most common examples of a “continuation bet”. If you choose to bet first, your opponent’s opportunity to make a c bet will be lost. However, every time a player checks to the initial aggressor, there is an opportunity to fire a continuation bet.
Why is it Important?
A big part of winning pots in poker is taking the initiative. How many times have you seen examples of players giving up when aggressive actions could have knocked them out? Showing weakness encourages players to bet on you later, forcing you to give up.
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What is the Importance of Continuation Bets in Poker Gambling Games?
Whenever you have control over the cards, your opponents do not. And by testing them, you give them the opportunity to make mistakes. Even when you do go completely behind the board, there’s a good chance you’ll win the pot right there and then if you bet.
What to Consider Before Continuation Betting
It is not always the right game to automatically turn on the continuation bet. Like everything in poker, context is key. Here’s what to think about before betting.
Number of Players
The greater the number of callers, the harder it is to escape a continuation bet. So if you’ve been flopping against three callers preflop, then maybe it’s time to slow it down. Especially in freezeout tournaments where you can’t rebuy and chips are expensive.
Comparative Card Range
Imagine you raise preflop from early position and find a single caller. The board is equipped with the queen of clubs, jack of hearts, and 10 of spades and is perfectly connected to your range. If you face a premium hand like an Ace or King in the game, then you will be reraised before the flop. So, you should feel very happy with this place.
However, a board consisting of 9 spades, 8 hearts, and 7 clubs gives opponents an advantage. The set contains many smaller pocket pairs and corresponding connectors, which align perfectly with this board. Therefore, continuation betting is not a good move in such a scenario.
Measure Your Continuation Bet Properly
To make a good continuation bet, you need to size it correctly. Every hand is different of course, but about two-thirds to three-quarters of the pot is ideal. Anything less provides lucrative pot odds that will keep your opponents on their toes, meaning your continuation bet won’t work. But bets that have a much larger value mean that you will lose too many chips every time you meet a big card in the game.
