Always betting the flop

[Anosmic]

I've been playing a fair bit of 6-max $10NL on JetSetPoker (because there is like 1 $10NL ring game that fills up only late at night and 1 PL game which I don't like).

I've enjoyed playing a different style of poker; I'm clearly playing far too loose but it's teaching me about some new situations.

One thing that works well, especially early, is always betting the flop if I was the pre-flop raiser. (I'm a little unclear about when this consitutes a c-bet).

So if I'm early I raise 4-6xbb and then pot-sized bet on the flop.
If I'm in position it'll be the same except I'll re-raise the "information sized bets" and bet if it's checked to me.
If someone else bets before me then obviously I play that according to the flop.

I say "always" but if I've raised 33 UTG (hee hee) then a flop like JQK diamonds and I'm already done.
I think these occasional failures to bet make my other bets seem a tad less automatic and let me slow play the occasional nut hand (although slow-playing strong hands is something of a leak of mine).

Anyway. Any tips appreciated, any good links to how one ought to play missed v hit flops etc.

[martindcx1e]

a cbet is technically any bet you make on the flop after you were the pfr. the term is usually reserved for when you miss the flop though. here is a thread on c-betting
http://www.flopturnriver.com/phpBB2/...oker-34261.htm
in general, don't cbet OOP (out of position) vs. multiple opponents and don't cbet when you have very little fold equity (drawy heavy board, calling station, etc.) also, if you are cbetting lots, then don't stop all the sudden once you finally hit - you want to keep your opponents guessing so don't make it obvious that you hit by not betting after you've already bet the last 10 flops.

[GatorJH]

One thing that works well, especially early, is always betting the flop if I was the pre-flop raiser. (I'm a little unclear about when this consitutes a c-bet).

C-Bet is short for continuation bet, which basically means you are continuing to bet/raise from the previous round (in most cases this is pre-flop to flop). However making a statement that you c-bet after the flop does not provide any information as you can c-bet with any hand from the nuts down to a pure bluff when the flop completely misses your hand. In this case I will assume you are using a c-bet in the context of a bluff.

So if I'm early I raise 4-6xbb and then pot-sized bet on the flop.
If I'm in position it'll be the same except I'll re-raise the "information sized bets" and bet if it's checked to me.
If someone else bets before me then obviously I play that according to the flop.

I say "always" but if I've raised 33 UTG (hee hee) then a flop like JQK diamonds and I'm already done.

Actually, c-betting a JQK type flop is better than a flop such as 853. When you raise pre-flop you are representing either a pocket pair or a couple of overcards. When the flop hits with something like 853 and you c-bet a smart player will realize that you have most likely missed that flop and will either smooth call and steal it from you on the turn, or will push over you on the flop. On the other hand, with a flop like JQK it is more likely that you have hit your hand, which is what makes the C-bet more powerful.

Also, as Martin mentioned, you shouldn't make the decision to C-bet whenever you raise pre-flop for numerous reasons, such as:
1) When you make the same move all of the time you become predictable and therefore people will know how to play against you.
2) C-bets lose their value as you get more people in the pot. This is because there is a greater chance that someone has picked up a hand that they can play back at you with. Personally, I RARELY C-bet with more than 2 opponents in a hand
3) C-betting when you are out of position is also tougher because you will, in most cases, have to lay your hand down if someone comes over the top and will, at best have a tough decision to make of you get called.

In general I would say that you need a better strategy on c-bets than just "always betting the flop when I was the pre-flop raiser"

[andy-akb]

Actually, c-betting a JQK type flop is better than a flop such as 853. When you raise pre-flop you are representing either a pocket pair or a couple of overcards. When the flop hits with something like 853 and you c-bet a smart player will realize that you have most likely missed that flop and will either smooth call and steal it from you on the turn, or will push over you on the flop. On the other hand, with a flop like JQK it is more likely that you have hit your hand, which is what makes the C-bet more powerful.

I agree with nearly everything except for this. I would much rather be betting 853 than JQK, for almost the exact reason you said. A flop of JQK very likely hit your opponents hand if they are calling your PFR, and if it didnt hit them then there are obvious straight draws on that board that are probably sticking around. A cbet on a flop of 853 is going to be more effective simply because it most likely didnt hit your opponent and after calling a PFR not many hands have a straight draw. Against a thinking player your cbets may get picked off more, but against the majority of players this is profitable, and even thinking players are most likely going to be folding enough to make this profitable.

[martindcx1e]

Actually, c-betting a JQK type flop is better than a flop such as 853. When you raise pre-flop you are representing either a pocket pair or a couple of overcards. When the flop hits with something like 853 and you c-bet a smart player will realize that you have most likely missed that flop and will either smooth call and steal it from you on the turn, or will push over you on the flop. On the other hand, with a flop like JQK it is more likely that you have hit your hand, which is what makes the C-bet more powerful.

I agree with nearly everything except for this. I would much rather be betting 853 than JQK, for almost the exact reason you said. A flop of JQK very likely hit your opponents hand if they are calling your PFR, and if it didnt hit them then there are obvious straight draws on that board that are probably sticking around. A cbet on a flop of 853 is going to be more effective simply because it most likely didnt hit your opponent and after calling a PFR not many hands have a straight draw. Against a thinking player your cbets may get picked off more, but against the majority of players this is profitable, and even thinking players are most likely going to be folding enough to make this profitable.

the good thing about betting an all-broadway flop when you completely miss is that your hand is very easy to get away from if played back at. the bad thing is that it's more likely to have hit your opponent(s). some people like cbetting these flops for reason #1 and some don't like cbetting them for reason #2. either way your position and # of opponents should usually dictate your cbets more than the flop texture imo.