Delayed c-bet

The pre-flop raiser does not have to bet the flop. Checking back a board that misses their range, or one where the opponent's range is strong, keeps the pot small and keeps weak holdings in. The delayed continuation bet is the follow-up on the turn, once the opponent has declined to bet themselves.

It works because of what the flop check tells the opponent. Many players treat a checked flop as a surrender, widen their calling and floating range accordingly, and then have no plan when the turn arrives with a bet. The line also picks up the hands that would have folded to a flop bet but have now invested a street of passivity.

Two things make it stronger. A turn card that improves the pre-flop raiser's range - an overcard, a card that completes the draws they are supposed to hold - gives the bet a credible story. And an opponent who checks the turn after checking the flop is signalling a range with very little in it, which is why a modest sizing is often enough.

The counter is to stop treating a checked flop as information. A player who defends the turn at a sensible frequency, rather than folding everything that was waiting for the flop bet that never came, removes most of the line's value.