Part: Part Six - Betting After the Flop
The delayed c-bet
Flop
You opened and the big blind called. Flop 7♠ 6♣ 2♥ - a low, slightly connected board; you have A-Q high. He checks.
A low board that connects with a caller's range, and you have just ace-high. Best?
WhySeven-six-deuce smacks into the big blind's flatting range - the small pairs and connectors he calls with - far harder than it hits yours, so a c-bet gets called or check-raised too often. Check back to keep the pot small and hold on to your ace-high; a friendlier turn lets you bet with the range advantage on your side.
What happensYou check behind. Pot stays 1,300 (6.5 BB).
Turn
Turn K♠ - an overcard that favors your range. He checks again.
A king arrives (good for your range) and he checks twice. Best?
WhyThe king lands squarely in your range and scares his, and two checks from him reek of weakness. Bet 900 to represent the strong hand you would credibly hold and fold out his weak pairs and floats - this delayed line does the job the flop bet could not.
What happensYou bet 900; he folds. Waiting for the right card instead of the first one is what won the pot.
You passed on the low flop that favored the caller and fired the king that favored you - the delayed c-bet, picking the street where your range is strongest to make your move.
On low boards that connect with the caller, skip the flop c-bet and wait: firing a turn card that swings back to your range lets you attack from a stronger spot.