Learn To Play Poker - How To Use Floating?
What is floating?
Floating is the term used to describe a hand which has little to no value on the flop, and then taking the pot down on the later streets from your opponent. The basic mechanics of the play are this: The player who is "floating" calls on the flop, and then bets, if their opponent checks to them on the turn, as a bluff.
Floating is an effective strategy to implement against solid poker players who are likely to make a continuation bet on the flop, regardless of their hand's actual strength but only bet the turn with made hands. Additionally, your call signifies strength, and few but the most aggressive players will fire another round at you on the turn.
To successfully use a float play the following variables must be met:
* Position is very important (floating out of position is a much riskier endeavor and should only be attempted by very seasoned poker players - you can find information on floating out of position below)
* You must be heads-up with your opponent
* You must be against an opponent who will make numerous continuation bets, and not just bet when they have hand
Things to avoid when floating:
* Avoid floating too often, this will lead your more astute opponents to recognize what you are doing and use it against you.
* Don't use the float play against players who rarely make continuation bets, since they are playing a much stronger range
* Don't float against players who fire two and three barrel bluffs along with betting their good hands -unless the player "represents" a lot of hands on the turn after they represented something else on the flop.
* Be careful of very strong players -hopefully you won't run into too many of these players-- who are aware of floating, and know how to combat it
An example of floating in a $1/$2 NLHE game:
Suppose a tight/aggressive opponent raises to $8 -which meets our first criteria to float, an opponent who is likely to continuation bet-- and you call on the button with AQ -giving you position which is the second of the three variables that must be met to attempt to float on the flop-- and both blinds fold leaving you heads-up -which is the third and final of the three necessary conditions for floating.
If your opponent makes a standard continuation bet on a J72 flop this would be an ideal situation to float, and see how your opponent proceeds on the turn. If your opponent checks to you on the turn, a bet should be able to take down the pot and end the hand right there.
Tips for effectively utilizing floating:
* Have a good read on your opponent's tendencies
* Try to float on dry boards where the flop is outside of a player's likely range with little potential for draws
* The best players to float against are the ones you have seen bet the flop, and check/fold the turn on occasion
* Don't force it, with some experience you'll recognize the spots when floating is the correct play
* If a bad card comes on the turn that is likely to help your opponent's hand -such as an Ace when you have a small pair--don't be afraid to call off your original plan to bet the turn
Floating out of Position
As I said earlier, floating out of position is possible if you are up against a player you know will only bet the turn if they have a hand. For example, if your stats on a player show you that he makes continuation bets on the flop 70% of the time, but only 30% of the time on the turn; it's safe to assume that the vast majority of his turn bets are for value. This information gives you the opportunity to float on the flop, and if he checks the turn you can bet into him on the river.
Raising on the turn
Another aspect of floating is when your opponent bets the turn when an over-card to the flop hits; "representing" this card. Many aggressive players will make a continuation bet on ragged flops -like 973-and if you call will bet the turn if any over-card hits. Against players who represent these over-cards a lot -say 60%+ of the time-you can often float on the flop, and then raise their turn bet to take the pot away from them.
What is floating?
Floating is the term used to describe a hand which has little to no value on the flop, and then taking the pot down on the later streets from your opponent. The basic mechanics of the play are this: The player who is "floating" calls on the flop, and then bets, if their opponent checks to them on the turn, as a bluff.
Floating is an effective strategy to implement against solid poker players who are likely to make a continuation bet on the flop, regardless of their hand's actual strength but only bet the turn with made hands. Additionally, your call signifies strength, and few but the most aggressive players will fire another round at you on the turn.
To successfully use a float play the following variables must be met:
* Position is very important (floating out of position is a much riskier endeavor and should only be attempted by very seasoned poker players - you can find information on floating out of position below)
* You must be heads-up with your opponent
* You must be against an opponent who will make numerous continuation bets, and not just bet when they have hand
Things to avoid when floating:
* Avoid floating too often, this will lead your more astute opponents to recognize what you are doing and use it against you.
* Don't use the float play against players who rarely make continuation bets, since they are playing a much stronger range
* Don't float against players who fire two and three barrel bluffs along with betting their good hands -unless the player "represents" a lot of hands on the turn after they represented something else on the flop.
* Be careful of very strong players -hopefully you won't run into too many of these players-- who are aware of floating, and know how to combat it
An example of floating in a $1/$2 NLHE game:
Suppose a tight/aggressive opponent raises to $8 -which meets our first criteria to float, an opponent who is likely to continuation bet-- and you call on the button with AQ -giving you position which is the second of the three variables that must be met to attempt to float on the flop-- and both blinds fold leaving you heads-up -which is the third and final of the three necessary conditions for floating.
If your opponent makes a standard continuation bet on a J72 flop this would be an ideal situation to float, and see how your opponent proceeds on the turn. If your opponent checks to you on the turn, a bet should be able to take down the pot and end the hand right there.
Tips for effectively utilizing floating:
* Have a good read on your opponent's tendencies
* Try to float on dry boards where the flop is outside of a player's likely range with little potential for draws
* The best players to float against are the ones you have seen bet the flop, and check/fold the turn on occasion
* Don't force it, with some experience you'll recognize the spots when floating is the correct play
* If a bad card comes on the turn that is likely to help your opponent's hand -such as an Ace when you have a small pair--don't be afraid to call off your original plan to bet the turn
Floating out of Position
As I said earlier, floating out of position is possible if you are up against a player you know will only bet the turn if they have a hand. For example, if your stats on a player show you that he makes continuation bets on the flop 70% of the time, but only 30% of the time on the turn; it's safe to assume that the vast majority of his turn bets are for value. This information gives you the opportunity to float on the flop, and if he checks the turn you can bet into him on the river.
Raising on the turn
Another aspect of floating is when your opponent bets the turn when an over-card to the flop hits; "representing" this card. Many aggressive players will make a continuation bet on ragged flops -like 973-and if you call will bet the turn if any over-card hits. Against players who represent these over-cards a lot -say 60%+ of the time-you can often float on the flop, and then raise their turn bet to take the pot away from them.
