Meet Phemo — and Study to C-Wager Like a Professional
“Phemo,” quick for poker phenom, isn’t only a catchy nickname. It belongs to Manuel Bueno Fernandez, a revered grinder and coach with probably the most spectacular résumés within the trendy on-line sport.
Manuel has stacked up main on-line titles, together with:
-
The $5,200 PokerStars Titans Occasion for $98,517
-
A $530 SCOOP NLHE title for $61,090
-
A $1,050 WCOOP 6-Max Turbo victory price $37,896
He’s additionally confirmed himself stay, successful the €3,000 CAPT Vienna Essential Occasion for €72,000 and taking third on the 888poker LIVE London Competition Essential Occasion, including £44,920 to his complete.
With outcomes like that, it’s protected to say Manuel is aware of what he’s speaking about. An extended-time coach and contributor for a few of poker’s most revered teams, he now joins the Upswing Lab 2.0 workforce—bringing his sharp, theory-backed insights that can assist you c-bet higher than ever.
Have you ever joined the lab but? Join right here.
In immediately’s article, you get a sneak peak from his seminar: “The Mechanics of C-Betting”.
What Is a C-Wager?
A continuation wager, or c-bet, is a follow-up wager made by the participant who took the final aggressive motion on the earlier road — often the preflop raiser.
For instance, whenever you elevate preflop after which wager the flop, that’s a c-bet. The identical logic applies to show c-bets (persevering with after a flop c-bet) and river c-bets (persevering with after a flip c-bet).
The Mechanics of a Wager
And when you don’t know – I do know that you simply do –, “bets are primarily constructed from worth” – Phemo, Lab 2.0.
And “bluffs are added, forcing your opponent to repay your worth arms.” – Phemo, Lab 2.0.
You don’t actually bluff whenever you don’t have any worth.
In reality, Phemo continues, “Bets generate EV in case your opponent is looking worse arms at a adequate frequency.”
The purpose is to earn a living. But when your opponent isn’t calling with worse arms sufficient of the time, you don’t make any cash. Worse nonetheless, in the event that they solely name with higher arms, you would possibly as nicely hand them cash out of your pocket.
This highlights an essential idea: vary filtering.
The Filtering Results of Betting
Vary Filtering
When you’ve ever heard the time period Minimal Protection Frequency (MDF), it refers back to the relationship between the value you’re laid when going through a wager and the way a lot of your vary should proceed to forestall your opponent from printing simple anticipated worth (EV).
Typically you’ll defend roughly than MDF relying on the scenario, however the core concept stays the identical: a part of your vary continues, and a part of it folds.
In impact, your opponent’s wager filters your vary, and your wager filters theirs.
If you wager:
Instance: The Mechanics of C-Betting
From the Lab 2.0 seminar “The Mechanics of C-Betting” with Phemo
Let’s say you’re within the Massive Blind and the Button open-raises. The flop comes:
9c 5d 3h
You examine, and your opponent bets 30% pot.
This Lucid Poker chart reveals Massive Blind vs Button, 50bb efficient, in a single-raised pot going through a 30% pot c-bet on 9c 5d 3h.
Inexperienced: Name
Purple: Elevate
Blue: Fold
Within the instance above, you possibly can see how small bets filter the Massive Blind’s vary. When the BB continues, they not (or shouldn’t) have arms like K8o, Q6o, J4o, 72s, or T2s, and so forth.
After all, folding weak arms to a wager isn’t precisely breaking information.
Nevertheless, what follows could be one thing you’ve at all times taken with no consideration.
Strengthening Ranges By way of Betting
From the Lab 2.0 seminar “The Mechanics of C-Betting” with Phemo
When a wager will get referred to as, it really strengthens the defending participant’s vary. Selecting to speculate extra money within the pot implies that your hand has sufficient worth — or potential — to justify that funding.
This ties immediately again to what Phemo stated earlier:
“Bets generate EV in case your opponent is looking worse arms at a adequate frequency.”
On the 9c 5d 3h board, the Button c-bets A5s virtually at all times and A5o more often than not. Although these arms aren’t high pair or an overpair, they nonetheless carry out nicely in opposition to the Massive Blind’s persevering with vary when referred to as.
The Lucid Poker hand filters above illustrate how the Massive Blind’s vary composition shifts when going through a c-bet. In opposition to a small wager, nearly all of the BB’s persevering with vary is definitely behind the Button’s A5 combos.
That’s the dynamic when the wager dimension is small.
However what occurs when your opponent chooses a bigger dimension?
How Wager Sizing Modifications Your Response
Since any wager filters out the weakest arms within the defending participant’s vary, the wager dimension turns into the defining consider how a lot of that vary will get filtered.
A small wager trims the fringes.
A big wager cuts a lot deeper.
Have a look.
In opposition to the small wager, the Massive Blind folds 29%, raises a mixed 19%, and calls the remaining 51% of arms.
So what occurs when the Button switches to a bigger 70% pot dimension?
See beneath.
When the Button will increase the wager dimension to 70% pot, the Massive Blind folds much more typically — leaping from 29% as much as 45%.
That’s roughly 125 extra combos getting the boot.
This Lucid Poker chart reveals Massive Blind vs Button, 50bb efficient, in a single-raised pot going through a 70% pot c-bet on 9c 5d 3h.
Inexperienced: Name
Purple: Elevate
Blue: Fold
In opposition to this bigger dimension, the Massive Blind now folds [22] and [44], each made arms.
Typical high-frequency check-raise bluffs like [T6s], [J6s], and [Q6s] grow to be pure folds, whereas even [AJo] begins to grow to be detached.
However right here’s the important thing level: it is a dry, 9-high board.
And on such textures, the Button’s dominant wager dimension isn’t 70% pot in any respect.
In reality, it’s the overbet, 133% pot.
So what occurs then?
The sample continues.
You fold much more. In opposition to the overbet, folding turns into the Massive Blind’s predominant motion.
This Lucid Poker chart reveals Massive Blind vs Button, 50bb efficient, in a single-raised pot going through a 133% pot c-bet on 9c 5d 3h.
Inexperienced: Name
Purple: Elevate
Blue: Fold
Going through the overbet, the Massive Blind now folds [66] and [77]. Even some 5x and 3x arms grow to be detached. Solely the strongest made arms and arms that may nonetheless enhance stay.
Right here’s the important thing perception: wager dimension doesn’t simply filter the defender’s vary — it filters the bettor’s vary too.
Have a look.
|
Lucid GTO: BB v BTN 50bb efficient SRP. BTN c-bet technique filtered for 30% pot c-bet. |
Lucid GTO: BB v BTN 50bb efficient SRP. BTN c-bet technique filtered for 133% pot c-bet. |
|---|
Evaluating the 30% Pot C-Wager and the 133% Pot Overbet
Let’s examine the small 30% pot c-bet (left) and the 133% pot overbet (proper).
Discover how some hand combos seem completely in a single dimension or the opposite.
As an example, the solver by no means makes use of the 30% pot dimension when the Button holds [TT]–[KK], and [AA] seems there solely hardly ever. These premium pairs as an alternative favor the massive overbet.
Conversely, the 133% pot technique by no means consists of [99], [55], or [33] — the units. These arms seem solely within the small-bet technique.
The identical logic applies to bluffs. Within the large-bet technique, offsuit broadways and suited excessive playing cards are used aggressively. Within the small-bet technique, these arms are virtually totally absent.
The filtering impact of c-betting defines not solely the defender’s vary, but in addition the bettor’s.
If you wish to hear the remainder from Phemo himself, attempt the Upswing Lab 2.0.
Abstract
C-betting, like all betting, is constructed from worth first. Bluffs are then added to make sure your worth arms receives a commission and to disclaim your opponent fairness.
C-betting creates a two-way filtering impact on ranges, particularly when the bettor splits sizes. The bigger the scale, the tighter and stronger the response it provokes.
Good Luck!
