how to spot c-bets

Hey all,
Im looking for help on spotting c-bets from villans. This might be too general of a question but im looking to re-raise c-bets even when i have nothing but am in position. It seems like it is a common weapon when playing AK OOP and missing the flop to c-bet into it. Any help on spotting opponents doing this and re-rasing the flop back at them even if we have not hit?

I think the best way to avoid getting c-bet on the flop is to 3-bet them preflop. But I play 6-max, and I'm a 3-betting monkey, so that might not be the best solution for you.

Just try to pick some flop textures that don't connect with their hand range. Players usually raise high cards, so if the flop comes out 57J, its unlikely that your opponent has hit that flop.

However, you shouldn't always be raising c-bets. If you have some showdown value, it might be better to just call & get to showdown.

Bluff-raising c-bets is a pretty advanced move. That doesn't mean you shouldn't do it, just be careful when and where you bust it out. Also, smart players will price their c-bet the same as their flop value bet, which can make it very hard to determine if they have anything or not.

Personally, I'd save it for the most aggressive blind-stealers.

EDIT: Also, I agree with c9h13no3. Better to 3-bet them preflop if you think they are betting light, than to let them see a flop with their garbage, and possibly hit a big hand.

Look for flops that don't fit the range of the preflop raiser. Also compare the amount the player bets to the texture of the flop.. a lot of the time you'll see players c-bet amounts that don't make sense compared to what's out on the board (i.e c-bets that aren't enough to protect any hand they might have against the possible draws out on the board.. usually means they're just betting for the sake of it).

The most common form of this strategy that I like to use is re-raising on paired boards. A lot of preflop aggressors like to continue out even when a pair flops on the board. Re-raising their c-bet in this situation to represent hitting trips usually pays off... If someone's trying to kill the action and take the pot down on a paired board, it generally means they haven't hit trips!