[The most powerful strategy!] What is a CB in poker?

About Continuation Bets (CB)

Continuation Bet (CB) is when the pre-flop aggressor continues to bet on the flop.

It’s important to note that this is not a donk bet, but a continuation of betting by the pre-flop aggressor. CB is a very important strategy in poker.
Properly timing and frequency of CBs can lead to profitable play, while failing to do so may result in substantial chip losses.
This chapter discusses the benefits and drawbacks of making proper CBs and explains the specific situations in which CBs should be placed.

The Significance of Properly Placing CBs

Benefits of Properly Placing CBs

• To increase the pot size when holding a strong hand
  As the pre-flop aggressor, you often have strong hands. Bet to extract value from your opponent in such situations.

• Securing the pot
  Even if your hand is winning at the flop, the turn and river could change that. Make your opponent fold to secure the pot.

• Preventing free cards for the opponent
  If the opponent called on the flop and has flush or straight draws, checking could allow them to see the turn card without betting.

Drawbacks of Not Properly Placing CBs

• Overusing CBs
  Leads to being raised or having to fold to bets and raises on the turn and river.

• Underusing CBs
  Allows opponents to see free cards and possibly outdraw you on later streets.

Situations for Placing CBs

Situations for Placing CBs

The right CB frequency varies a lot with the board, position, and bet size, but about 60% on average is a useful rule of thumb.
They are typically placed under the following conditions:

• When holding a strong hand
• When the board is favorable, but the hand isn’t strong
• When not wanting to give free cards to the opponent

Let’s look at specific examples of these situations.

Specific Examples of Situations for Placing CBs

Pre-flop

Let’s assume you are on the BTN. You raise with a certain hand, and the BB calls, leading to the flop. We will discuss how to place CBs in three situations.

When Holding a Strong Hand

Suppose you have ♠9❤9. On the flop, you hit a set of 9s. You have a very strong hand and bet a CB of 500 targeting opponent’s K hits, QJ, QT, JT, etc. In this situation, the bet size is often 1/3 of the pot.

When the Board is Favorable, but the Hand Isn't Strong

Suppose you have ♦Q♦T. The flop is an A-high board, which is favorable for the original raiser, and you also have backdoor flush and straight draws, so you bet a CB of 500. The bet size in this situation is often 1/3 of the pot.

When Not Wanting to Give Free Cards to the Opponent

Suppose you have ♣A♦J. The flop hits the top A, and you bet a CB of 500 targeting opponent’s weak kicker A hits, ♠ flush draws, 87/86 gutshots, etc. The bet size in this situation is 1/3 of the pot, but choosing 2/3 or checking are also options.

Situations Where CBs Should Not Be Placed

Situations Where CBs Should Not Be Placed

• When the board is favorable for the opponent and you have nothing.
• When nothing is held in multi-way situations.

Specific Examples of Situations Where CBs Should Not Be Placed

Pre-flop

Pre-flop, you are on the BTN with ♠A♣K, and you raise to join. The BB calls.

Flop

The flop is ♦6♦5❤4. Against the opponent’s check, you place a CB of 500, but face a check-raise of 2000 from the opponent and fold your ♠A♣K.

In this situation, checking is more profitable.
The 654 flop is favorable for the BB, and your bet is likely to be raised. You have no hits or draws, so checking allows for the possibility of hitting an A or K on the turn, which can be advantageous for you.

Now, let's move to the next situation.

Pre-flop

Pre-flop, you are in the CO with ♣K♣J and raise to join. The BTN and BB call.

Flop

The flop is ♠A❤8❤4. Against the BB’s check, you place a CB of 900.

This is a multi-way pot. In multi-way pots, a bluff only works if every opponent folds, and it’s more likely than in heads-up that someone holds a strong hand or draw. So your CB frequency goes down, and your bets should come mostly from strong hands and strong draws.

While the A-high board is advantageous for the original raiser, the BTN and BB’s calling ranges include ❤ flush draws, 76s, 56s gutshots, etc. There are few hands you can make fold, and the pot can grow large, so not placing a CB is more profitable.

Exploitative Strategies with CB

When placing CBs, the frequency can vary based on the opponent’s playing style.

• Increase the frequency of CBs against opponents who tend to overfold.
• Bluff CB less against opponents with strong pre-flop hand ranges or those who are tough callers and call almost anything (against tough callers, you can value bet thinner).

What If a CB Is Called by the Opponent?

In most cases, the calling side tends to have hit hands or drawing hands because it is difficult to call a CB with absolutely no hand.

When your opponent calls the flop and you’re considering a double barrel on the turn, make your decision based on the card that falls.
If the card that falls makes your hand stronger on the turn, it’s good to bet. Also, bet if the card appears to strengthen your original hand from the opponent’s perspective, as this increases the probability of them folding.
For example, if an A or K falls, you can claim to have made a pair with your turn bet.
In reality, when your CB is called and you have no pair and no draw, you are often behind the caller’s hand, so if the turn doesn’t help you, gracefully giving up can also be a strategic move.

Summary

This chapter explained the importance and situations of properly placing CBs.
Being able to appropriately place CBs is very important in playing poker.

Based on the board opened on the flop, carefully decide whether to place a CB or not, and aim to do so with balance. By doing so, your poker skills will significantly improve.