That is to say, you are expected to follow a pre-flop raise with a continuation bet after the flop.  Failure to do so is a glaring sign of missing the flop.

Of course you can use that to your advantage by checking when your hole cards hit the flop. Assuming that you are in position the bet will be checked round to you, and a check from you here with a strong hand will probably induce a bluff from one or more opponents after the turn.

But can you still check the flop even though you missed?

Another big factor in deciding when and or if to make a c-bet is the type of game you are playing.  Tournament c-betting can be a whole lot different to cash game continuation betting.

Before we get into the specifics of each type of game we can say in general that checking early with a strong hand and taking down an inflated pot after inducing a bluff should set you up nicely later on to be able to c-bet or not at your discretion.

Related posts:

1. Texas Holdem Bonus Poker