The Evolution of Continuation Betting in MTT: From 100% to GTO

The continuation bet (contbet) has become a standard action in multi-table tournaments (MTT), but its strategy has evolved significantly over the past decade.

Early Days: 100% Continuation Betting

In 2008-2009, 100% continuation betting was very effective in MTTs. Good players used this strategy to destroy opponents who folded all flops without a hook. The mathematical justification was that a bet of 50 chips for a 100-chip pot caused more folds than the necessary 33% for zero expectation, ensuring automatic profit.

Mid-2010s: Adjusting to Flop Texture

By 2013, players began to adjust their continuation betting strategies based on the texture of the flop. They started to fold on the most unfavorable boards and pay more attention to their opponents' behavior. This shift led to a change in field tendencies, but players who liked to call found a counter-strategy: smaller continuation bets, about a third of the pot. This strategy is still used today because it is quite reasonable. A bet of one-third of the pot needs to work only 25% of the time to be profitable.

Late 2010s: The Rise of GTO

Around 2015, players started focusing on optimal play (GTO) and analyzing their own ranges. This approach differed from previous strategies by avoiding the exploitation of weaknesses. Instead, it focused on playing optimally against all possible strategies of the opponent.