Continuation bet
A bet on the flop by the player who raised before the flop, made whether or not the flop helped them. It works because the raiser is credited with a strong range and most flops miss most hands.
Frequently asked questions
What is a continuation bet?
A bet on the flop by the player who raised before it — continuing the story their preflop aggression told. Usually shortened to c-bet.
Should you c-bet every flop?
No. That was standard years ago and is now heavily exploited. The decision depends on whether the board favours your range: bet often on high, dry boards you are more likely to have hit, and check far more on low connected boards that favour the caller.
How big should a c-bet be?
Smaller than most players expect on boards where you hold a large range advantage — a quarter to a third of the pot lets you bet very often cheaply. Larger sizes belong on wet boards where you need to charge draws and where your betting range is narrower.