Whether you c-bet depends on many factors. How many opponents called your raise preflop? How do you rate your opponents? Bluffing calling stations is money wasted. And then it also depends on how strong your hand is and which cards came on the flop. Let's say you raised with AK preflop. The flop comes Q83 rainbow. Apart from a weak draw, namely 2 overcards, you have nothing. Still, I'd raise one or two opponents on this flop. They may also not have hit anything and will fold. You can also represent a top pair because you may well have raised with AQ preflop. It looks different if the flop brings T9J and two cards have the same symbol. The flop is very drawy. Many opponents can have hit something. Here I would advise against a c-bet if you haven't hit anything yourself.
If you have top pair with top kicker or an over pair after the flop, I would always c-bet. Unless the flop, for example, brings three cards of the same symbol and you have an overpair and no flash draw. If there is a lot of action going on before or after you then you have probably already been beaten and even if you still have the best hand there are many ways to beat you. Otherwise I would always bet to protect your hand and to place value bets.
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