Now then, you can’t go continuation-betting every single flop, can you? Well, actually against some 100% check-fold players you probably should. But against anyone other than that kind of dream opponent there are some flops that you need to check behind. In the same way that you should bet flops that look like they’ve helped your hand, you can check those that look like they’ve helped your opponent. Do you really want to c-bet with 9-9 on an 8-J-K board?
Flopping a monster
Say you raise with pocket Tens and the flop comes 2s-7h-Td. The unadventurous player who called you preflop checks. Do you really want to c-bet here? Sure, you’ve got the nuts, but the range of hands he’s calling with here is so narrow that you’re best to check. Okay, you’re missing out some vital pot-building and you’re giving away a free card to the straight if he has 6-8, 8-9 or 9-J, but if he does catch a Broadway pair (which would be top pair) or a miracle two pair you’ll get paid off handsomely. On a more dangerous board you shouldn’t slow-play without good reason.
Multi-way pots
When you’ve been called in more than one spot it becomes more likely that an opponent has connected with the board, and in these situations you should reduce your bluffing-to-value-betting ratio significantly. Dry boards can still be good to bluff in multi-way pots if you’ve missed, as a lot of marginal holdings will pass for fear of players behind them raising. If you are called on the flop you can always shut down unless the turn and river come to your aid.
Position
Although you will often be last to act when making a continuation bet, there are times when someone will have called you from the button or cutoff. Your seat is set for the hand now. You will have to play the flop, turn and river out of position and what you do at this critical stage will set the tempo. Against stronger players – who may have called purely for positional advantage – you must think beyond the immediate bet. What will you do if they raise? Have they got a history of betting to take the pot away from you if you check? Should you check-raise instead?
Weigh up all the information you have about your opponent(s) and their tendencies. If they’re calling preflop and then check-folding almost every flop then by all means fire away, but as the competition gets tougher you’ll have to start thinking about your c-bet balance more carefully.