Hello SSNL,

I'd like to start this post by saying I need help. I'm absolutely addicted to cbetting. I'm running at around 90% cbet, and the thing is I love it.

I believe (well I'm asking for help here so I'm probably wrong) that I understand the concept of when I should not be cbetting, in a nutshell, that being when the flop is wet, and it is very likely that it has hit a large part of you're villians range. I still seem to do it however and I'm still seeing them fold time after time. I almost believe that this high betting frequency is still very profitable. Where I am starting to run into problem's is that I'm finding situations with hands where I'm flopping quite strong, and really want to check too let me opponent catch up, however that is very out of character for me, and I'm worried I'm revealing to much information. Its leading to inflexability in my game.

Now the level's I'm currently playing are a little lower then you folks (25nl), so I'm asking for your advice with a few questions.

1) Is my play sub-optimal by cbetting with this frequency on average?

2) Is the 'mistake' of my cbetting perhaps more than I should be balanced out or minimized by the weak / tight nature of the tables I'm playing at?

3) How much value am I loosing in by the lack of flexability of my game considering checking may give away the fact I have hit my hand?

4) Should I be worried about balancing my range, when in general it would only be the minority of players that are noticing my playing style, let alone actively trying to work me out?

Thanks for your help SSNL.

As long as your opponents don't adjust, keep exploiting them. At 25NL you can get away with this.

the only real problem you have with cbetting to much is that regulars tend to adjust by c/r alot or call you down lighter in position. aslong as your opponents still fold medium pair bad kicker to your cbets you can basically continue to do it on nearly every flop.

It does seem like you are c-betting too much. I would say that when it comes to c-betting, you have to consider the players involved first and the board 2nd. So ... if a nit calls your UTG raise from the BB, you can pretty much c-bet any flop that doesn't include 3 low cards (since small pp's are such a huge part of his range).

But yeah - c-betting 90% is a big leak IMO. The other thing to consider is how often you follow up with a c-bet on the turn. Cause ... if you c-bet the flop a lot and then c/f the turn you are going to get seriously abused by thinking players. I'm not sure how many players pay attention to this at 25NL, but you might as well start developing some good habits.

The problem is that most players that call with a hand which gives them medium pair with a bad kicker won't fold it once they hit it on the flop. So then it becomes a game of double and possibly triple-barrel bluffing which might or might not work, but will definitely get expensive if you try to find out.

There is no such thing as good habits. Well, maybe there is. Its not about a golden number fo c-betting though. That good habit is monitoring and adjusting to the play of your opponents. If they start to play back at your c-bets very often you have to tone it down a little. As long as they keep handing you the pots I wouldn't change a thing.

meh just keep c betting... bad players will adjust at the wrong times / u will get payed off nicely when u hit big / an interesting dynamic will be created / bad villains will also incorrectly think u are an aggro tard/ if its working keep going.

Obv things will change when opponents stop c/f every ***** flop lulz

This is quite important! At NL25 you are probably fine but if you work your way up in the limits you will notice, that thinking players will play back at you mainly by floating the flop and taking the pot away from you on the turn! I am playing NL100-400 right now and my c-betting% is > 80. The main change you might make if you are playing against stronger villians is to make more second- and even third-barrels.
If you almost always c-betting you need to get a little more creative on the turn. Standart line for not hitting would be to bet/fold the flop and check/fold the turn but you will loose money over the long run, against villians who figured you out Try to c/r the turn more often with strong hands and bluffs, second barrel or c/c with a medium strenght hand.

I guess right now you are fine at your limit but better players will adjust. As long as it works as well for you as right now go ahead and continuation bet every freakin' flop!

One more thing:
c-bet less if you have more than 1 opponent. You shouldn't c-bet at all if you have 3+ villians seeing the flop with you. This might be the leak in your c-betting, but against a single opponent c-betting alot is fine. C-bet less in 3-bet pots as well!

Hell no it's not. You are doing just fine.
Btw I'm a 400nl and 600nl player and cbetting still works damn well. The highest winning players cbet a lot (and 3bet wide pre-flop - added just for sake of interest).

You mainly need to cbet a bit less if you miss when:
- 3 others on the flop
- 2 others and its drawy
- you have someone who calls the flop a ton

Otherwise, fire away!

Even if its drawy, I will fire if HU on the flop cuz it's just as scary for them, and they missed 70% of the time.


No way. If they are weak tight, they fold HEAPS, so keep doing it.


Just don't ever slow play until you get to a table with no fish, and in that case just move tables. Just do not slow play is my point. It is losing value. The way to get max value is to be more aggro and semi bluff more so they get frustrated and play back badly (and tilt), not to slow play.

No, they won't notice.



Other than having a natural (but bad) idea of slow playing, it sounds like you are on track. Keep it up.

cbets work less often at 25nl so do them less

And at 50nl, 100nl, 200nl, 400nl, 600nl (havent tried 1knl)


No they don't. The ones who c/r a lot or call down more in position are the ones who c/r a lot anyway or call more anyway. It is seldom about targeting you. An extremely small percent of regulars will c/r flops more based on villains cbet frequency in my experience. It is more about their own tendencies than adapting to yours.

If they fold too much, keep c-betting.

If they call too much, cbet less, but still often. Fire 2nd barrels more frequently.

Problems start when they start raising your cbets all the time, and better players do when they see you cbetting too much. Really hurts your winrate if you keep bet-folding every flop vs these guys. You need to adjust by cbetting even less (check the flop for pot control / inducing bluffs with weak made hands), more 3-bet bluffing on flop, delayed cbets, etc.

Thank you very much for your points so far, I'd be really happy to keep the discussion up!

Some key points I've taken so far

- Inherently its not good or bad a high cbet %, but rather I have to adjust to my opponents specifically, or in other words "it depends "

- While they are unaware keep cbetting taking advantage of their general weak tight behaviour

- Focus more on the players and how many there are rather then just what the flop texture is.

The point that had me raising these topics was my reading Harrington on cash which seems very focused on balancing ranges and masking your hands appropriately. While I can definately understand the need in the higher levels, I also know this is probably sacrificing value at something like 25nl.

He just seems to like checking, or at least having a reasonable amount of his range with that as an option