I posted this over at 2 plus 2. Thought I would throw it out here also.

Hello. No hand here, at least not a real one to analyze. But I have some questions about how you guys play your continuation bets when you were the preflop raiser (especailly out of position). I play at full tilt mostly, and they have that handy bet pot button, which gets quite a bit of use from many players. Keep in mind I'm mostly playing 50NL and 100NL. I have taken to rarely using the bet pot button because it makes my continuation bets more difficult. It seems that to a lot of players if you bet less than the pot they look at it as a sign of weekness. So if there is a 10 dollar pot and I flop a set out of position I will usually lead at it for 8 or 9. Some people see this as weekness and will reraise or call when they otherwise wouldn't have. But say You raise AK under the gun and completely whiff. Two callers, all full stacks, what is your continuation bet. Or say one caller. A situation where you are making a continuation bet based on your preflop strength. How much do you bet?
I bring this up because I was just going over Harrington on Hold'em again. He says he likes to bet about 1/2 the pot. This is great because it gives your opponent 3 to 1 odds on the call and you only have to win 1 in 3 to break even. (I know this is a tourny book but I think this is relavent to cash games) I am a tight and aggressive player, sometimes too tight to a fault I've just recently noticed. I looked the other night at my stats and I had only played 20% of the hands through 900 hands( I don't have pokertracker yet I'm on a mac computer). Because I play tight my raises and continuation bets usually get respect and I have a lot of success with them. But because of that bet pot button I find I have to bet more like 2/3 the pot, which is kind of a lot for a flop you whiffed. I do this so that I don't look to weak, and if they are paying attention will notice that my bets aren't that far off when I have a big hand or nothing.
I've noticed myself that if a player only bets half the pot on say a Q 7 4 flop, and I have a pair of 9's or mabye even nothing. I will often call if in position because if he checks the turn, or bets weak I can take the pot away from him. This probably wasn't real well writen, but I think (hope?) you guys probably see what I'm getting at. So I just wanted to hear your thoughts. I think this is a very important part of being a winning player. Since you wiff so many of the flops you raise with hands like AK AQ. Didn't mean to ramble, was just looking for some thoughts, thanks again.

Hey man... I found continuation bets were costing me a lot of money at one point. People were calling me down with all kinds of hands as my cont. bets were becoming automatic so now I mix it up a whole lot more...

With a hand like AK sometimes I will lead the pot, sometimes 1/2 or 1/3 and sometimes I will take a free card. It depends on reads, stack sizes and the board. If the board hits 9 7 2 and I got position I may take the free card against a tricky player.

If it hits K 9 3 against a passive player I will make it 2/3 the pot and put them on a decision with their underpair. It really depends man.

Continuation bets are tricky and shouldnt be automatic... If your running cold and leading for the pot or 3/4 every time you will soon notice your stack dwindling, particularly if your lining up a 2nd bullet so of the time.

Proceed with caution and mix it up as best you can with your reads of the other players and the texture of the baord.

1/2 - 2/3rd pot when you got it, 1/2 - 2/3rd the pot on a continuation.

If the flop comes down QJ9 all hearts, you can save yourself the trouble and check/fold (if you hold AK).

Thanks for the replys here. I thought the reply over at 2 plus 2 and more so the link to a previous topic was worth bringing over here. The link is very good if your looking for a quick read.

Thanks for the replys here. I thought the reply over at 2 plus 2 and more so the link to a previous topic was worth bringing over here. The link is very good if your looking for a quick read.

http://forumserver.twoplustwo.com/showthre...e=2#Post5655933

oops

Board texture is extremely important to the size and timing of continuation bets.

I thought this might be an easier version to read:

Way. Too. Much. Effort.

Only to look like a ******.

So sad.

You probably thought your little flame was clever, too...

I have to stop. I'm depressing myself.

Next time someone asks a completely legitimate question, if in a bit of a longwinded way, and then you have a thought--just ignore it.

Everyone will appreciated it.

I promise.

Perl is effortless.

I'll take that as a concession about the rest.