Definition
A continuation bet (c-bet) is a bet made on the flop by the player who was the last aggressive actor preflop (typically the raiser). The name refers to "continuing" the aggression from preflop to the next street.
C-bets are profitable because: the preflop raiser's range is generally stronger than the caller's range (they initiated aggression), most flop textures miss most hands (statistically, players miss the flop roughly two-thirds of the time), and the c-bet tells a consistent story of having a strong hand.
Modern poker theory has refined c-betting significantly beyond the simple "always c-bet as the preflop raiser" approach. Solvers show that c-bet frequency, sizing, and selection should vary based on board texture, position, stack depth, and the opponent's range. Overusing c-bets becomes exploitable; under-using them leaves value on the table.
Example
You open raise from the Cutoff with A♦K♣. The Button calls. The flop is Q♠7♥2♣ — a dry, unconnected board that favors your range. You c-bet 35% pot with your entire range. Your opponent folds most marginal hands because the board connects well with your preflop raising range.