C-bets. What's your criteria?

I consider myself a very aggressive player and tend to do a lot of c-bets. I sometimes make 'em out of position, to more than one villain, against a loose player etc. I guess it's time to change the strategy. I wanna hear when you think it's appropriate to fire a c-bet.

Do you always have to be the pre-flop raiser? (or caller to a good bet)
Always bet against a single opp, or can there be 2, even 3 of them?
Ever bet out of position? (for example rainbow, rag table?)
Bet against loose/aggressive opp(s)?

I know there's more to it than this... tell me everything.
Make me a better player. :cool:

The definition of "c-bet" says that you have to the preflop raiser in order to make one. It is the continuation of your preflop action.

I'm no cash game expert, so I'm not gonna even try to reply to this post much :-P Quickly running through your list though ... I'd be more inclined to c bet a single opp as opposed to more than one, I don't mind betting OOP if the flop texture is good, and I'm obviously more willing to bet vs tight players who will fold if they don't hit the flop hard. If there are players who are raising my c bets with air post flop, I'm less inclined to play pots with them and/or I'm finding an easier table.

1st of all it's not a cbet if you aren't the pfr. here are my thoughts on cbets:

1. tend to cbet more with more FE (Fold Equity).
2. tend to cbet less with less FE.

An example of a flop where you have little FE: You raise PF with AK and get 2 callers. The flop is 234 with 2 spades. You are first to act...You have little fold equity. Most likely any pp is calling you as well as flush draws and straight draws. Also, never say "always" and never say "never" when talking poker concepts. Most can't fault you for cbetting OOP HU on most boards in a vacuum. If you get pegged as a chronic cbettor though it's time to tighten up vs. the players that are on to you.

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Originally Posted by martindcx1e

1. tend to cbet more with more FE (Fold Equity).
2. tend to cbet less with less FE.

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There's not a whole lot more to say than that. If you're going to get called or raised and you can't continue after that, then there's no good reason to make the bet.

I like throwing in the occasional C/R against those LAGs with position on me. Makes them less likely to float or try and push me off the pot.

Also, against terrible players (HU) your AK is often still ahead.

Just remember, a continuation bet is an attempt to win the pot you built preflop. If you can't win it often enough (in each particular situation) to be profitable, then don't make the bet. Take a free card if you can, you might make the best hand without costing yourself.

I consider alot of things

number of opponents
type of opponents
texture of flop (is it likely to have helped anyone?)
do I have outs / backdoor outs?
potsize? (people tend to give up small pots easier)
position of opponents (and do they always check to me regardless of whether they have hit or not?)
my image
Have I actually hit my hand??

and so on...

The more experience you get the more things you start to think about here.

everytime except oop with nothing facing two or more opponents

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Miffed22001

everytime except oop with nothing facing two or more opponents

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Or if I missed flop completely and a calling station is in the pot with me.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by martindcx1e

never say "never" when talking poker concepts.

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lol

check vs calling station, pair a hole card on the turn and start betting. Sounds transparent, but they don't catch on.

The way I look at it is that I want to c-bet FREQUENTLY but not always. "Always is Exploitable" is probably a fundamental rule of poker.

So just find times where it seems a little worse than usualy to bet, and check instead.

one thing not mentioned yet:
you have a modest hand with showdown value (< top pair)

The classic case is holding KK oop on a A-rag-rag board.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Jupit3r

I consider myself a very aggressive player and tend to do a lot of c-bets. I sometimes make 'em out of position, to more than one villain, against a loose player etc. I guess it's time to change the strategy. I wanna hear when you think it's appropriate to fire a c-bet.

Do you always have to be the pre-flop raiser? (or caller to a good bet)
Always bet against a single opp, or can there be 2, even 3 of them?
Ever bet out of position? (for example rainbow, rag table?)
Bet against loose/aggressive opp(s)?

I know there's more to it than this... tell me everything.
Make me a better player. :cool:

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if i am the pf raiser:
1)HU, usually (75%+ of the time), unless into a call station and you miss the flop totally. i will bet out to "protect a vulnerable hand" against multiple players...but only if i hit a big hand on the flop AJ (jack hits)TPTK minimum.
2)yes, unless i want to c/r...same criteria as #1.
3)YES, especially if you hit the flop.

if i am not the pf raiser in a raised pot:
1) if i hit 2nd pair or better, yes. otherwise, no. unless i want to c/r.
2)yes.
3)yes.

in unraised pots (technically not a cbet, but whatever):
the best thing i have found is to bet any ragged A or rainbow flop...just BE THE 1ST ONE TO DO IT! but if somebody beats you to it, call or raise only if you hit...even if you figure the bettor is bluffing. dont overdo this one, as you may start getting "played back at." (wow, what poor grammer..lol)

Correct me if I'm wrong Chopper, but isn't c-bet only when you were PFR and missed the flop?

yes, and courtibee already mentioned that just under OP. i gave other criteria where i may be the "flop aggressor," too. many people, like me, use the term "cbet" too generally or are confused as to the definition.

and i mentioned "not a cbet, technically." in my post as well...just to tell another poster, like you, that i understand that i am not giving advice on a cbet here...but felt it relevant to mention another set(s) of criteria.

hope that clears things up like mud. :)

Sounds fair to me :) . I'm new to all this and try to understand everything .

Cheers.

thats cool...you were right, btw.