5 Reasons Not To Continuation Bet
Continuation betting involves firing a bet on the flop after you raised pre-flop. It has become so prolific that you can expect this 'follow up' bet almost every time in Texas Holdem Poker games. However, always continuation betting may not be the most profitable move in all situations. This article looks at 5 reasons why, after raising before the flop, you might choose not to continuation bet when checked to after the flop comes.
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#1 – You Hit A Monster Hand And Decide To Slowplay
This is one of the best reasons not to continuation bet. For example you raise with a pair of 9's before the flop which comes 9-9-7, giving you quads. Since it is highly unlikely that your opponents have a hand strong enough to call with – they did not re-raise before the flop indicating no high pairs – you will often want to check here and hope that the turn allows one or more of them to catch up.
#2 – Too Many Opponents
Continuation betting works because it is unlikely that individual opponents will hit the flop – and are thus likely to fold to a continued show of strength. However, combining the chances of two or more opponents of having enough of hand (or draw) to continue, and you will find yourself getting called far too often to make this move profitable with a missed hand.
#3 – To Balance Your Play
If you always continuation bet then opponents will catch on to this – looking to trap you with a big check-raise those times they hit. By refusing to continuation bet a percentage of the time you create uncertainty in your opponent's decision making process. This can have the dual benefit of helping you get paid off on later streets when you are strong and gathering more information from an opponent too – for example if they check to you again on the turn there is a strong indication that they are weak.
#4 – The Texture Of The Flop
You raise a small pair before the flop and get 2 callers, the flop then comes 9-J-K with 2 spades. Where the flop is likely to match the calling ranges of your opponents and contains many possible draws it is often best to check behind instead of continuation betting. While one opponent may fold then the flop texture is scary, it is very unlikely that this kind of board missed two opponents completely. If a flop gives you a good draw then taking a free card may be preferable to being check-raised an amount that would be unprofitable to call.
#5 – Playing Against Calling Stations
If you know that your continuation bet will be called then the 'bluff' element which makes this profitable is gone. Against a calling station opponent (someone who calls with almost any hand) you should either bet for value, if you believe you have the best hand, or you should check behind and try to improve if you missed. No poker player ever got rich trying to bluff a calling station!
