Optimal Continuation bet sizing?

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08-08-2007, 01:59 AM
kman

Optimal Continuation bet sizing?

I read an interesting post a while back on two plus two about different ways to size continuation bets and the advantages/disadvantages of each way. One method was to always bet the same amount such as 2/3 or 3/4 of the pot. Others methods were varying your cbets according to the texture of the board, what you are trying to accomplish, or varying your cbets on the strength of your hand.

My question is at 25NL and 50NL is there an optimal way to size your continuation bets? Should I be sizing cbets closer to the size of the pot or 2/3 of the pot? Ive seen cardrunner's video's where a pro suggests betting 3/4 of the pot and other pro's betting the size of the pot minus a big blind on their cbets.

I understand that maybe there is not one optimal way to size continuation bets, it may vary on your playing style such as if you are a nit or play a laggier style. Any suggestions or strategies that you implement at lower limits would be greatly appreciated. Thanks.
08-08-2007, 10:47 PM
Chicago_Kid

I vary between 60% and 110% of the pot. I c-bet top pr and lower two pr very fast, overbetting flop, and 80% on the turn to make drawers pay. However, c-betting set into 3-4 players can build a nice pot, and/or commit someone quickly.

Min betting is bad, and so is betting the same amount every time. You want to vary the bet size to keep people guessing, although at most levels, you can do around 75% and no one will notice a pattern.
08-09-2007, 12:37 AM
spoonitnow

I prefer a balanced strategy with how I size my flop bets, varying between 1/2 pot and full pot bets, taking into consideration the texture of the flop and the particular situation at hand.

I think betting the same fraction of the pot no matter what the situation is somewhat lazy, and is probably -EV from basing your bets on the spots you're in.
08-09-2007, 03:13 AM
martindcx1e

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chicago_Kid

Min betting is bad, and so is betting the same amount every time. You want to vary the bet size to keep people guessing...

how does always betting the same (like 75% for example) not keep them guessing?

kman, it really doesn't matter in the longrun if you keep the cbet amount somewhere between half-pot and full-pot. also, there's usually not a good reason to overbet the pot.
08-10-2007, 03:10 PM
kman

Thanks for the advice!
08-10-2007, 11:27 PM
sejje

I like to always bet the same percentage of the pot. Reason being that I know if the guy plays back at me, it's not because he thinks he has a read on my bet size.

I could just envision losing a pot here and there because some moron thought I was weak and was trying to take it away because I bet 2/3 this time instead of full pot.

That said, I like about 3/4.
08-11-2007, 02:32 AM
Vi-Zer0Skill

Quote:

Originally Posted by sejje

I like to always bet the same percentage of the pot. Reason being that I know if the guy plays back at me, it's not because he thinks he has a read on my bet size.

I could just envision losing a pot here and there because some moron thought I was weak and was trying to take it away because I bet 2/3 this time instead of full pot.

That said, I like about 3/4.

I like 3/4 also, though i tend to c-bet slightly larger than 75% of the pot. I like a larger c-bet since it seems to have more F.E., and since we are c-betting without a hand than we are i think we want the most F.E. we can get. I don't vary my c-bet size in a raised pot, though in reraised pots i may vary my c-bet size based on stack sizes and my opponents tendencies.