When Not To Cbet

Cbetting too often can be a big leak in your game. Deciding when to cbet or not requires an understanding of the board texture and the likelihood that the flop hit the other players range.

For example, if you open with a raise from the button, if you get called from the big blind their perceived range is much narrower because they are playing in a pot out of positiion. Don't assume this if they are calling stations, but tight players will have a smaller calling range when playing in the blinds.

So if the flop has high cards, it's likely to have hit their range, so if you have nothing it's best not to make a standard continuation bet and just give up the pot.

More players are becoming aware that most advanced players will always cbet. So by showing you can give up pots your continuation bet will be given more credit.

Another example of when not to cbet is when you are the initial raiser with a medium pocket pair such as 77 and you get two other callers. One of the two other players is likely to have high cards.

If the flop has two high cards such as AK4 then it's very likely the flop one of the other players ranges.

The best time to be aggressive with cbets is when there is only one other player involved in the pot and the flop is not likely to have hit their range.

In this particular hand, I was dealt A3 of diamonds which is raised from the button. The flop is 4KQ which has two high cards. I decided not to make a cbet because the K or Q is likely to have hit the BB's range. The BB bets the turn and I decide to just give up the hand.