Poker Betting Patterns and What They Mean at the Tables

The Continuation Bet

A continuation bet is when you or another player raises preflop and then makes another bet on the flop. The flop bet continues from where the preflop betting ended, hence the name continuation bet. Continuation bets, or C-bets for short, are a powerful tool in a poker player's arsenal because they project strength. A c-bettor has raised preflop (saying they have a strong hand) and is now betting with the first three community cards on the board, stating they are still happy with their holding. According to the excellent, free poker training tool MyGame, built into the PartyPoker software, players should look to continue betting on the flop between 58-70% of the time. Give much credit to an opponent that rarely c-bets but comes out firing on the flop and less credit to someone that c-bets all the time.

The "Donk" Flop Bet

A "donk" bet is designed to spoil a continuation bettors party! Donk betting is leading into the preflop raiser, usually with a relatively small probing bet. You raise from the cutoff, an opponent in the big blind calls, and then leads out on the flop. Donk bets are almost always weak hands with an element of having a draw. Consider this action logically and put yourself in the big blind's shoes. If you called a preflop raise, flopped a strong hand, and knew the initial raiser would fire a continuation bet 58-70% of the time, would you lead into them or check-raise the inevitable incoming c-bet? There you have your answer.

The Small Lead Into You on the Turn or River

We have all been in a hand where we have raised preflop and a player called. That player then check-calls your continuation bet on the flop before firing a strange, small bet at you on the turn. Sometimes, they check-call the turn only to lead into you on the river. What hands are they doing this with, and why do they make this play?

Bets such as these are known as blocker bets and are designed to slow down an opponent and get to a showdown cheaply. Players make blocker bets to give the impression they have connected with the board. They make this bet to set you the price, usually because they do not want to face a substantial bet on the turn or river. It should be evident that your opponents make this play with a less-than-stellar holding. However, if you raise a blocking bet and that opponent comes over the top with a raise of their own, you should be highly weary unless they are a total maniac player.

Flop and Turn Check-Raises

A flop check-raise is a powerful yet often risky defence against a late position raiser and habitual continuation bettor. Players tend to make a flop check-raise on draw-heavy boards knowing that future streets will be a minefield for you to navigate. Likewise, many players like a flop check-raise on boards with low cards or paired boards. Your opponent's playing style comes into play here. Give more credit to a tighter opponent, especially one that does not play overly aggressively, than a loose-aggressive player. Flop check-raises usually are an exercise in pot and implied pot odds.

Turn check-raises, particularly at lower stakes, and scream from the rooftops that your opponent is strong. Several years ago, high-stakes cash game player Andrew Seidman, known as "BalugaWhale", wrote about the Baluga Theorem. In a nutshell, it states you should strongly re-evaluate one-pair hands when an opponent check-raises or raises on the turn. Of course, strong players use this knowledge as a powerful bluff, but those players are rare in lower-stakes games.

River Check-Raises and Raises

Like the turn check-raise, a check-raise on the river is almost always a hand of supreme strength. This is particularly true of your opponent who has check-called on previous streets. Your opponent's check-calling is slow-playing a monster hand, and you have taken the bait. It is common for a player to turn up with the nuts in this spot. Again, higher-stakes regulars can turn a mediocre hand into a bluff raise on the river, but most low-stakes grinders' bets mean when they indicate.

Other Betting Patterns To Look For

There are many other bets, or lack of them, to be aware of at the tables that convey information about how your opponent approaches the game or their possible holdings. For example, a player that frequently calls a preflop raise only to check-fold on the flop can be considered cautious. They only continue once they have a piece of the board, so you can alter your approach once they call your bet on the flop.

Also, players that raise preflop, bet the flop and turn, only to check the river, have either missed the board with a hand such as ace-king or ace-queen or have a medium-strength hand that they are terrified of being raised on the river.

As with everything in poker, be observant and take notes on your opponents, especially if something seems out of the ordinary. If a player that always folds to a flop c-bet suddenly calls, note what cards they show at showdown. Build a portfolio of information about your opponents and use it to your advantage at the tables.

Poker Betting FAQ

Q: Are poker betting patterns reliable?

A: Poker betting patterns become more reliable after seeing them several times. Take notes on your opponent and see if they are giving away information with their various bets or checks.

Q: What is a continuation bet in poker?

A: A player that raises preflop and then bets again on the flop when checked to have made a continuation bet. Sometimes, preflop raisers check behind on the flop only to come out firing on the turn, known as a delayed continuation bet.

Q: How often should I make a continuation bet?

A: A continuation bet's success depends on the board texture, your image at the table, and your opponent's playing styles. The PartyPoker MyGame training tool suggests a continuation betting frequency of anywhere between 58-70%.

Q: Are turn raises and check-raises always made with strong hands?

A: Not always, but most of the time, a raise or check-raise on the turn is made with a powerful hand. This is particularly true in micro and low-stakes games, where players adopt a more straightforward approach to poker.