Are you frequently stuck in bloated pots on the river with marginal holdings and unsure what to do? These situations, especially when out of position, could be costing you a lot of money.
One of the most common mistakes I see in poker is players continuation betting (c-betting) too frequently when they’re out of position (OOP) as the early position opener. Understanding when and how to c-bet in these spots is critical to avoiding tricky post-flop scenarios and maximizing long-term profitability.
Understanding c-betting OOP
A frequent situation we encounter in both cash and tournament play is raising from under the gun (UTG) or early position (EP) and getting flatted by a player on the button. For these examples, let's assume we are around 100bb deep.
There are certain board textures where c-betting is highly profitable, and most experienced players get these right. However, many recreational players make the mistake of c-betting too often in unfavorable situations, leading to unnecessary complications. You don’t always want to bloat the pot when out of position. Let’s break it down.
Optimal board textures for c-betting
A board texture where c-betting is generally correct is A-Q-6, whether it’s rainbow or two-tone. As the early position opener, you hold the range advantage here, meaning you can comfortably c-bet at a high frequency. In fact, this is a board you should be c-betting around 80-82% of the time, and to simplify, you can even range bet it at 100% frequency without it being a mistake.
Another board that many players handle well when out of position is a 5-6-7 board after opening from UTG and getting called by the button. Unlike the A-Q-6 board, this board favors the in-position caller more since their range includes more suited connectors and middle pocket pairs. The best strategy here is to check at a very high frequency. To simplify, range-checking this board is typically the optimal play.
Common mistakes: Over-c-betting on certain boards
One of the most misunderstood board textures is jack-high and ten-high boards, such as 10-8-3. Many players instinctively c-bet here, thinking they have an advantage. However, these boards can lead to difficult post-flop decisions.
Instead of auto-c-betting, you should be checking these boards around 2/3 of the time, whether the board is rainbow or two-tone. Even though we will have more over pairs in this spot, the opponent will have a lot of hands that can profitably continue, such as all the middling pocket pairs and suited connectors. The equity distribution on this board is very close to even, and the positional disadvantage more than makes up for our slight equity advantage.
Playing out of position on these boards forces you to navigate turns and rivers without the range advantage, leading to challenging and often costly decisions. By checking more often, you avoid unnecessary bloated pots and put yourself in a more controlled scenario.
Holding a weak ace on an ace-high board
A common situation where players c-bet too frequently is when they flop top pair with a weak kicker. Let’s say you raise 
in early position and get flatted by a player on the button. The board comes A-Q-3 rainbow with one heart. Many players automatically c-bet here, but checking on occasion can actually be the superior play.
Why should you check more often in this spot?
This spot is a classic example of way ahead or way behind. If we c-bet, we will often just get our opponent to fold and will not win money from the weaker portion of villain's range. They may only continue when holding a lot of equity, which can put us in tough spots later on.
Induce bluffs – Checking allows your opponent to turn weaker hands into bluffs, letting you extract more value later.
Pot control – Your hand doesn’t need protection, and betting unnecessarily builds the pot when you may not want to commit too many chips. Checking allows our opponent's weaker holdings to catch up a bit so we can extract more value in later streets.
Avoid difficult decisions – Going for three streets of value with A-4 out of position can be dangerous. Checking balances your range and keeps you from putting yourself in marginal spots.
Checking here doesn’t mean you never bet, it just means you shouldn’t automatically c-bet. While c-betting can still be profitable, reducing the frequency will help you avoid tough situations. Perhaps most important, having balance where we sometimes bet and sometimes check makes us a much tougher opponent to read and play against. It prevents us from getting run over when we check as our opponents have to give us credit for a balanced checking range.
Final thoughts
Understanding when to continuation bet out of position is a key skill that separates winning players from the rest. You don’t want to bloat pots unnecessarily and learning when to check will make post-flop play much easier. The next time you find yourself in these situations, be mindful of board textures and adjust your strategy accordingly.
Kasey Lynn Mills, aka Pokermommaa, is an ambassador for PokerNow. She has won three WSOP-C rings and finished 7th at the 2023 WPT Voyage Main Event. Follow Kasey on Instagram and X for more poker insights and strategy tips.
Additional image courtesy of Eric Butler
