Continuation Bet
We spoke in our last post about the importance of being able to play after a flop has missed your hand. One of the most recognized “post-flop” strategies is the continuation bet. The continuation bet is one that continues your pre-flop aggression, which generally means you raised before the flop and are going to bet out after the flop regardless of what cards fall.
Here is the perfect example: You are in early position and the first player to enter the pot, you raise holding AKo. You get two callers and the flop comes 962. You have missed the flop but hold the two highest unpaired cards. What do you think your opponents have? Yes, they could hold 99 or 66 or 22 and possibly A9 or A6 or even A2; they could be ahead of you. But checking and letting them check behind you and see the turn card for free is just timid poker.
You make the continuation bet, showing no fear and implying that you have a over pair to the completely unconnected flop or you have AK, which is better than their AQ or KQ or whatever other speculative hand they are holding. You will often take down the pot when you make the strong continuation bet.
The continuation bet forces your opponents to pay to continue with their drawing hands and also, if they did make some sort of playable hand, the continuation bet will give you the information you need to play the remainder of the hand. If they call, they have something. But most importantly the continuation bet alerts your opponents that they should not be expecting passive play from you, they will respect your game, which will pay dividends later in the game.
-This is Beginner’s Poker Blog Post #127
