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C-betting by board texture: when and how much to bet

Not all flops are equal: on dry boards that favor the preflop raiser, bet often and small; on coordinated boards, bet less often and with hands that have equity.

A♠5♠
The example hand: Hero in the BTN, NL10 with 100 bb

The idea

The preflop raiser has a stronger range than the caller, but that edge depends on the flop. On a rainbow K-7-2, the player who opened has far more kings and high pairs than the one who defended the big blind: they have the range advantage and can bet almost their whole range with a small size. On a 7-6-5 with two hearts, on the other hand, the defender connects much more often.

How to read the board

  • Dry: spread-out cards of different suits (K-7-2, A-8-3). Few hands improve on the turn.
  • Coordinated: connected or suited cards (T-9-8, 7-6-5 with two hearts). Lots of draws and two pairs.
  • High or low: high cards favor the preflop raiser; low cards favor the player who defended from the blinds.

How to play it

  • Dry, high board: c-bet very often and small (25 to 33% of the pot). A big bet doesn't make hands with nothing fold any more often.
  • Coordinated board: bet less often, and bigger when you do, with made hands and good draws. Check the air that has no chances.
  • Bluffs: pick hands with backdoors. A flush or straight draw that can come in on the turn gives you a second chance.

Common mistakes

  • C-betting every time with the same size, whatever the board.
  • Giving up on dry boards because you missed: that's exactly where you get the most folds.
  • Betting low, connected boards against the big blind with hands that have no equity.

Look at your c-bet and fold to c-bet numbers.

The example hand, step by step

Watch it in the replayer to see it action by action.

Preflop A♠5♠

  1. Key Hero on the button with A5 of spades A standard open from the button: only the blinds are left to act.
  2. Hero raises to 2.5 bb
    Good Open to 2.5 bb From the button you open a wide range to win the blinds.
  3. BB calls 1.5 bb
    Key The big blind defends Getting a good price, the BB calls with a wide range that's generally weaker than ours.

Flop K♠7♦2♣

  1. Key King, seven and deuce of different suits A dry, high board: it favors the preflop raiser, who has far more kings in their range.
  2. Hero bets 1.8 bb (33% of the pot)
    Good One-third pot c-bet We haven't hit, but we have the ace and a backdoor spade flush draw. On a dry board, a small bet gets the same folds as a big one and risks less.
  3. BB folds
    Good Fold Most of the BB's range has nothing on this board.

On dry, high boards, betting small with almost your whole range is profitable: your opponent misses most of the time.

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