Continuation Bets in NLHE.

[Zybomb]

Very well written -- puts my "starting info" to shame

[BrianSwa]

thank you Lou that was very very well explained.

[Aequitas58]

Nah, I just spent more time on it. Yours was on point.

[2Tone]

Great post Aeq.

One caution. As you point out, this is not nearly as effective in limit. And I'd say that online low-limit, it should be used very sparingly if at all. Know your personnel. If a player is smart enough (or in this case, timid enough) to lay down when they missed the flop, the pot is yours. But I could just as easily see somebody reasoning the middle pair with a mid-kicker is worth calling you down with. This is less likely to happen live in my experience.

Flipping it around, if I'm in late position and have missed the flop completely, if somebody fires at the pot early, I'm very likely to fold. That is, unless they have been doing so everytime and folding to re-raises ...

[Zybomb]

in response to the bet size, in general KEEP IT CONSISTANT. Im playing a good deal of 2/4 NL now. A standard raise is up to 16 bucks. So say I raise with AK and I have one caller. Flop hits xxx. I lead out with 16-20 bucks. If it hits AK2, I lead out 16 to 20 bucks. This will prevent players from getting a good read on you or your bets

The exception to this is ONCE IN A WHILE when there are 3 or more players in the pot and I hit a set. I make a small bet like 12-16 bucks (where normally itd be 32 or more with that many players in), in attempt to make it look like a weak continuation bet (this is especially effective when an Ace is on the board as well) Often players will raise and Ill smooth call the raise then check the turn. If they bet back that probably means they arent strong Ive found and are trying to buy it. If they check behind me, they will usually call a fairly big bet by mean on the river (which looks like another steal bet since they checked behind me on the turn) Unless of course it was a bluff raise.

I cant do this too often around the same group of players or they will pick up on it. Which is why I mix a good deal of check-raises (or bet on the turn if they check back), check calls, normal bets, and small bets.

[Reel Deal]

Thanks very much guys! I really appreciate the info... will print this out and read it regularly! Thanks again.