Poker C-Bet Chart
How often does a flop or turn continuation bet need to work? This poker c-bet chart lists folds needed and the defender's MDF for the common sizes — ⅓, ½, ⅔, ¾, and pot — plus the multiway trap that kills most bluff c-bets. Pair it with the fold equity chart, the MDF chart, and the free bluff calculator.
Continuation bet sizing chart: folds needed and MDF
| C-bet size (of pot) | Folds a pure c-bet needs | Defender MDF | Bet into a $100 pot |
|---|---|---|---|
| 33% (⅓) | 25% | 75% | $33 |
| 50% (½) | 33.3% | 66.7% | $50 |
| 67% (⅔) | 40% | 60% | $67 |
| 75% (¾) | 42.9% | 57.1% | $75 |
| 100% (pot) | 50% | 50% | $100 |
Folds needed = bet ÷ (pot + bet). MDF = pot ÷ (pot + bet). They always add to 100%. Numbers assume a pure bluff (zero equity when called) heads-up.
The formula
Folds needed = bet ÷ (pot + bet)
MDF = pot ÷ (pot + bet) = 1 − folds needed
You risk the bet to win the pot. If the defender folds more often than bet ÷ (pot + bet), every pure c-bet bluff shows a profit. A one-third pot stab needs one fold in four (25%); half pot needs one in three (33.3%); pot needs half. Small c-bets are common on dry flops because the fold target is cheap and you lose less when called.
Same math as the fold equity chart and MDF chart — this page zooms in on common c-bet sizes and the multiway warning.
Worked example: $100 pot, half-pot c-bet ($50)
You raised preflop. The flop checks to you. Pot is $100. You bet half pot — $50.
- Folds needed (pure): 50 ÷ 150 = 33.3%. One fold in three and the bluff breaks even.
- Defender MDF: 100 ÷ 150 = 66.7%. He must continue about two-thirds of the time or your pure c-bets print.
- Check: 33.3% + 66.7% = 100%.
Against one opponent who folds 40%, a pure half-pot c-bet clears break-even. Against a sticky caller who folds 20%, check more or bring equity so you are semi-bluffing. Try the calculator preloaded for a $50 flop c-bet.
Worked example: $100 pot, one-third pot c-bet (~$33)
Same $100 pot, now a small stab of one-third pot (about $33).
- Folds needed: 33.3 ÷ 133.3 = 25%. Only one fold in four.
- Defender MDF: 75%. He must continue three-quarters of his range.
Small c-bets on dry boards only need a quarter of the range to fold, and you put less at risk when called. The tradeoff: good hands and draws continue cheaply — so on wet boards a larger size that denies equity often makes more sense.
The multiway trap
Heads-up fold percentages do not carry over when two or more opponents remain. Both (or all) must fold for a pure bluff to win. Fold rates multiply:
Both fold = fold₁ × fold₂
Two opponents each folding 40% leave you winning only 16% of the time (0.4 × 0.4). A half-pot c-bet needs 33.3% heads-up — multiway, 16% is nowhere near enough. That is why most bluff c-bets die multiway: check more, bet for value or strong draws, and save air for heads-up pots.
When to c-bet small vs large
Small (⅓–½ pot). Dry flops, heads-up, range advantage as the preflop raiser. Cheap fold equity, small loss when called. Good default when you are bluffing or thin-value betting.
Large (⅔–pot). Wet boards where draws and medium pairs can call a small bet too cheaply. Bigger sizes deny equity and pressure weak made hands — but as pure bluffs they need 40–50% folds, so bring a plan (outs, blockers, or a clear fold target).
Skip or check. Multiway pots, boards that smash the caller's range, or no fold equity and no later-street plan. Not every flop is a c-bet. Draws that still want to fire: see the semi-bluff chart.
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See it on Amazon →C-bet FAQ
What is a continuation bet (c-bet) in poker?
A continuation bet is a bet on the flop (or later) by the preflop aggressor. You raised before the flop, so you often fire a bet when checked to — with value, with draws, or as a pure bluff — to take down pots that miss both players.
How often does a c-bet need to work?
As a pure bluff, folds needed = bet ÷ (pot + bet). A one-third pot c-bet needs 25% folds; half pot needs 33.3%; two-thirds needs 40%; three-quarters needs 42.9%; pot needs 50%. If you have equity when called, you need fewer folds — see the semi-bluff chart.
What is MDF for someone facing a c-bet?
Minimum defense frequency = pot ÷ (pot + bet), the complement of folds needed. Facing a half-pot c-bet, MDF is 66.7%. Facing a one-third pot stab, MDF is 75%. Fold more often than that and pure c-bet bluffs print.
Why do multiway c-bets die?
Everyone behind you must fold. Two opponents each folding 40% still leave the bluff winning only 16% of the time (0.4 × 0.4). A half-pot c-bet needs 33.3% folds heads-up but cannot clear that bar multiway unless both players fold far more than usual.
When should you c-bet small vs large?
Small (⅓–½ pot) buys cheap fold equity on dry boards and keeps the price low when you get called. Large (⅔–pot) pressures medium hands and draws on wet boards, but needs more folds as a pure bluff and loses more when they continue. Size to board texture and how many opponents remain.