continuation bets losing money, how do I adjust?

[Python49]

If someone could pretty much summaraize or type what harrington's suggestions on continuation betting says that would be great.. if not i'll have to wait until I get a chance to run out to the book store to buy the book. I was waiting to do that for when I was going to start playing MTT's more.

[beset]

[ QUOTE ]
If someone could pretty much summaraize or type what harrington's suggestions on continuation betting says that would be great.. if not i'll have to wait until I get a chance to run out to the book store to buy the book. I was waiting to do that for when I was going to start playing MTT's more.

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I don't have time to summarize it but I just wanted to say that I think HOH Vol 1 is the best book out there if you want ideas for beating small stakes NLHE cash games with 100xBB stacks or less.

Anyways, I think Malachii's post is golden and summarizes everything I would have said to OP.

[dalerobk]

[ QUOTE ]
I've been trying to think of a way to figure out when to continuation bet and when not to and I think what im going to stat doing is paying close close close attention to the action of other players. Who is calling alot of pre flop raises, who's tight pre flop... on the flop who is willing to fold alot when missing the flop and who shows resistance? I will watch the action more closely so I know who is probably a good person I can continuation bet against and who simply isn't.

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I think this is the key. I've been getting my ass kicked with continuation bets too, so I started being much more selective about the situations in which I do them. Amazingly, they seem to work better HU and against someone who limps and then calls a raise with just about anything. My guess is this: they could have just about any two cards, paired or not, and the chances of them hitting top pair or having an overpair is very low. I don't know (because I normally have to fold), but I suspect that when tighter players, esp. behind me, call it's normally because they have a "small big pair"--ie 10-10, J-J, or Q-Q. When no overs hit, they take it as a green ligth to bet/raise away, or at least call my flop bet and then bet when I check the turn. Anyone else find this?

Anyway, CB against a weak player HU seem to be much more effective than against a stronger player, for me at least. I think this is because the stronger players actually have a real hand, well the weaker players have absolute BS.

[SamG]

A lot of stuff in Vol I is applicable for ring games. You really should pick it up anyway if you play NL.

Edit: The first chapter in Vol II is also applicable to ring play, but the rest of the book is mostly specific to tournaments. So maybe you read Chapter 1 of Vol II at Barnes & Noble, but buy Vol I.

[mpethybridge]

Malachi summarized most of Harrington's advice:[ QUOTE ]
I'm really tired, but I'll post a couple of thoughts before I hit the sack.

1) Don't bet too much for your continuation bets... I usually bet between 1/2 and 2/3rds of the pot. Sometimes 3/4ths. Never larger. The less you bet, the less often they need to work to be profitable.

2) Think about the flop texture when you bet. Something like 9-7-6 is not a great flop to bet your AK on.

3) Don't make continuation bets everytime you raise preflop. ~60-75% is probably ideal.

4) Don't make continuation bets into loose players that are liable to call you with any piece of the board. These are fish who need to be value bet, not bluffed. Also, pay attention in between hands so you can figure out who the AK cops are.

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I would add that Malachi has a higher percentage on how much to bet than Harrington, but that could very well be better advice because Harrington was speaking in general whereas Malachi is talking about SSNL online.

I would also add that in order to make continuation betting effective, you also have to check raise some.

Other Harrington: CB into one opponent is ok, into two is riskier, into >2 usually bad.

Pay attention to position; CB more late, obviously, after it's checked to you.

You have to pick your flops very carefully: what Malachi and Harrington have to say about texture is vital--you have to save your continuation bets for flops that probably didn't hit anybody else, or at least didn't hit them hard.

And the opponent's style matters, too: the tighter they are, the more the flop can have hit them. Generally don't cb bet into maniacs, or even lags, as they will call with any piece of the flop or any draw.

Basically, just remember that it is a bluff, and all the normal considerations come into play.

Lastly, note what Harrington says on odds: if you make a 1/2 pot CB, it only has to work 1 time in 3 to be break even, so don't sweat a short run where they are all getting called, if you are taking good shots.

That was from memory, so someone please correct any defects in my recollection of what Harrington says. Thanks.

[Miles Ahead]

In my experience he'll call the flop bet and then fold the turn.

[mpethybridge]

[ QUOTE ]
A lot of stuff in Vol I is applicable for ring games. You really should pick it up anyway if you play NL.

Edit: The first chapter in Vol II is also applicable to ring play, but the rest of the book is mostly specific to tournaments. So maybe you read Chapter 1 of Vol II at Barnes & Noble, but buy Vol I.

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Or buy both and play some tournaments. [img]/images/graemlins/wink.gif[/img]

[Python49]

In my experience they'll call the flop bet, see if you have the heart to fire a bullet on the turn, and if not... they bet huge on the river.

[elus2]

you should be aware that a small sample size of hands may skew your results. it could be that you are just running bad. in general, my modus operandi is to play hands that i make continuation bets with the same way i play big pairs. i make adjustments when necessary depending on my opponents' tendencies and other table dynamics. in heads up and 3 way raised pots i generally keep in mind the following details:

- how often does my opponent call preflop raises
- how often will he bet the turn if checked to
- how often will he bet the river if i check behind on the turn
- how often have i been raising preflop and can my opponent adjust accordingly
- how often can he bluff (call or bet) on each street

what you may want to do is play super tight for the first few orbits so that you're able to get a feel for the hand ranges that your opponents will have in these situations.

[UOPokerPlayer]

This is really good, and I agree with you. Do you have a link to that thread.