We analyzed c-betting on low-card boards in cash games with a full 100bb stack, so today we will dive deeper into a tournament strategy and look at c-betting on dry low-card boards in 40bb and 20bb scenarios.

To build a full understanding of these spots, we will look into both in-position and out-of-position spots on dry low-card boards.

C-Betting On Low-Card Boards In Position – 8s4h2c

Here are the assumptions we will be using:

• The hand is played 40 bb deep with 12.5% ante
• We are opening from the button to 2.3bb
• Big blind calls and checks to us on the flop

Let’s firstly look at an example of 8s4h2c.

In this scenario, we will be c-betting around 59% of the time and checking back 41% of our hands. 

Picking bet sizing is a bit trickier, so let’s break it down:

• Our default sizing here is a bet of 100% of the pot, which we use with 35% of our range
• We bet 67% of the pot with 10% of our holdings
• We choose 25% pot size bets with 14% of the hands

The big bet sizing is used by most of the strongest hands and complete bluffs, and then we distribute smaller bets throughout our entire range.

When we move to 20bb stack sizes, we c-bet less often and use smaller bet sizes.

To be more precise, we will be betting around 45% of the time instead of 59% with 40bb.

As for the sizing, game theory optimal strategy prefers to distribute it equally between 25% and 60% pot size bets without using the full pot size option as in the previous example.

Key takeaways

• C-bet around 60% of the time with 40bb 
• Use full pot size bets as the default option
• Bet less often when the stack drops to 20bb and use smaller bet sizing

C-Betting on Low-Card Boards OOP – 8s4h2c

Next, we will analyze the out-of-position situation on the same board texture using these core assumptions:

• We are playing 40bb deep with 12.5% ante
• We are opening from the CO 
• BTN calls, and both of the blinds fold

Let’s look at the same example of 8s4h2c to see how our strategy changes when we are OOP. 

Not surprisingly, we will be c-betting significantly less often out of position and be firing just 22% of the time here while checking 78% of our hands. 

In this spot, we will use 100% pot size bets in was majority of cases and will mix an occasional 67% pot size bet throughout our entire range. 

We often check a lot of hands that can call a bet from our opponent to protect our poker range, which is usually the case when we are out of position. 

As for 20bb stacks, things change quite significantly, and we start betting much more aggressively.

As you can see, we will be betting more than twice as often with shorter stacks and c-bet around 48% of the time in this spot. 

Not surprisingly, our sizing also becomes smaller because of an effective stack size reduction, so we will be sticking with 60% pot size bets in almost all situations. 

Key takeaways:

• Bet around 22% of the time when OOP with a 40bb stack size
• Choose pot size bets as a standard option with 40bb
• Bet more often with a shorter stack of 20bb and pick a smaller bet size of 60% of the pot