In modern poker, knowing when to continuation bet is no longer enough. The real edge comes from understanding how much to bet and why—based on board texture, range advantage, and how the hand will play out on the turn and river.
Many poker players still rely on outdated, fixed bet sizes. That approach leaks value, weakens bluffs, and makes your bet strategy predictable. In this guide, we’ll break down continuation bet sizing for different flop textures in a practical, human way—so you can apply it confidently in real cash game situations.
This article is designed to help you build a flexible, modern poker continuation bet strategy that holds up against strong opponents and evolving games.
What Is a Continuation Bet in Poker?
A continuation bet is a bet made on the flop by the player who showed aggression preflop, usually by raising. The goal isn’t just to “auto-bet” but to apply pressure, capitalize on range advantage, and extract value from worse hands.
However, optimal continuation bet sizing depends heavily on:
Ranges of hands involved
Your bet range vs your opponent’s range
Stack depth and pot size
How future streets will play
In short: good c-betting is strategic, not automatic.
Why Flop Texture Dictates Bet Sizing
Flop texture describes how connected with the flop the available hands are. Some boards heavily favor the preflop raiser, while others strongly interact with the caller’s range.
Your continuation bet sizing should answer one key question: Whose range benefits more from this board—and how do I exploit that?
Let’s walk through the most important flop textures and the correct bet sizing strategy for each.
1. Dry, Ace-High Flops (A 7 2)
Why These Boards Matter
Ace-high boards are among the best flops for the preflop aggressor. You naturally have more ace high, strong aces, and overpairs, while your opponent’s range contains many missed hands.
This gives you a clear range advantage.
Optimal Continuation Bet Sizing
Bet size: 25–33% of pot
Frequency: High
Small bets work because:
You don’t need protection
You’re targeting folds from weak holdings
You preserve stack depth for later streets
Practical Example
You raise from the cutoff, the big blind calls. The flop comes A 7 2. A small c-bet pressures hands like K-Q, J-T, or low pocket pairs while keeping your range wide and balanced.
2. Wet, Connected Flops (9 8 6)
Why These Boards Are Dangerous
This board smashes the big blind’s ranges of hands. Straight draws, flush draws, two pairs, and combo draws are everywhere.
You lose range advantage—but you can still apply pressure correctly.
Optimal Continuation Bet Sizing
Bet size: 66–100% of pot
Frequency: Low
When you bet, you’re representing a strong hand or a powerful semi bluff.
Practical Example
With an overpair, a set, or a combo draw, betting big forces tough decisions and denies equity. Smaller bets allow your opponent to realize their draw too cheaply.
3. Paired Boards (Q Q 4)
Why Paired Flops Change Everything
Paired boards reduce the number of nutted combinations available to both players. This often leads to more polarized ranges and fewer natural draws.
Optimal Continuation Bet Sizing
Bet size: 33–50% of pot
Frequency: Medium to high
Small to medium bets:
Keep weaker hands in the pot
Efficiently fold out air
Protect your value range without overcommitting
Practical Example
Hands like A-Q, pocket kings, or even A-J benefit from smaller bets that extract value while maintaining control of the pot.
4. Low, Uncoordinated Flops (5 3 2)
Why These Boards Are Tricky
Despite appearing dry, low boards often favor the caller’s range. The big blind has more small pairs, straight draws, and suited connectors.
Optimal Continuation Bet Sizing
Bet size: 25–66% of pot
Frequency: Low to medium
Your approach should be polarized:
Bet big with overpairs and sets
Check back marginal hands and weak ace high
Practical Example
Holding A K on this flop, checking is often better than betting. You control pot size and avoid getting check-raised off your equity.
5. High Card, Draw-Heavy Flops (K J T)
Why These Boards Demand Precision
Both players connect strongly with this board. Top pair, strong draws, and made hands exist across both ranges.
Optimal Continuation Bet Sizing
Bet size: 66–75% of pot
Frequency: Medium
Large bets:
Charge draws properly
Build pots with value hands
Set up profitable turn and river barrels
Practical Example
Hands like A-Q (straight), sets, or nut flush draws thrive with big sizing that maximizes fold equity and value.
Key Takeaways: Continuation Bet Sizing by Board Texture
Flop Texture
Bet Size
Frequency
Reasoning
Dry Ace-High
25–33% pot
High
Strong range advantage, few draws
Wet/Connected
66–100% pot
Low
Opponent range hits, need fold equity
Paired
33–50% pot
Medium to High
Limited nutted hands, effective small bets
Low/Uncoordinated
25–66% pot
Low to Medium
Deceptive board, often hits big blind
High Card, Draw-Heavy
66–75% pot
Medium
Strong top pairs and draws need protection
How Bet Sizing Affects Turn and River Play
Your flop bet size dictates everything that follows:
Smaller bets keep ranges wide and flexible
Larger bets narrow ranges and commit stacks
Poor sizing forces awkward decisions later
A strong poker continuation bet strategy always considers how the hand will play across all streets—not just the flop.
Final Thoughts
There is no universal bet size that works for every board. The best poker players adjust continuation bet sizing based on:
Board texture
Opponent’s range
Their own bet range
Stack depth and pot size
By learning why certain sizes work on specific flops, you stop guessing—and start applying pressure with intent.
If you want to win more consistently in today’s poker game, mastering continuation bet sizing isn’t optional. It’s foundational.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Should I always commit to a continuation bet as the preflop raiser?
No. Your decision should depend on board texture, opponent tendencies, and range interaction.
Is small bet sizing better for beginners?
Small bets are easier to execute and reduce risk, but relying on them exclusively makes you predictable.
How does continuation betting differ in cash games?
In cash game poker, deeper stacks make bet sizing even more important because mistakes compound across streets.
Actionable Tip: Before every c-bet, ask yourself: Which range benefits from this flop—and what size best exploits that? That single habit will instantly improve your results.
