Essentially, the floating is Calling a bet you would not call usually with the intention of bluffing your opponent later in the hand. There is therefore a bluff in two stages. By Sebastien 'sebasdess' Dessureault
Before entering the heart of the matter, it should describe what the floating. Essentially, the floating is Calling a bet that you do not usually would call with the intention of bluffing your opponent later in the hand. There is therefore a bluff in two stages.
This game, the simple appearance, is actually much more complex than one might think. This makes floating an advanced technique that should be used in the right way!
Some ask the question - with good reason - as to why we do not simply relaunching the adversary rather than calling his bet. The reason is simple: we do not have enough information to be able to properly analyze the situation and see if our opponent is weak or not. So the float has two important advantages:
This game, the simple appearance, is actually much more complex than one might think. This makes floating an advanced technique that should be used in the right way!
Some ask the question - with good reason - as to why we do not simply relaunching the adversary rather than calling his bet. The reason is simple: we do not have enough information to be able to properly analyze the situation and see if our opponent is weak or not. So the float has two important advantages:
- it allows you to risk the minimum if you are not were right and your opponent would indeed be strong;
- it allows you to get information on subsequent betting rounds and so make a more informed decision rather than go blindly.
One of the reasons why the floating can be so powerful is that the majority of your opponents who raised preflop make a continuation bet, and regardless of if the flop helped their hand or not. Also, many opponents reluctant to continue to pressure you once called their continuation bet. So you can fly an impressive number of pot through this bluff in two stages.
Three criteria must be present to maximize your chances to get your floating ::
- You must have position on your opponent.
- You must have outs - whether real or fictitious.
- Your opponent must be of type "ABC".
1 - position
Some use the float position and without succeed anyway. Anyway, the float has a much greater chance of success when you have position on your opponent. Calling putting your opponent on the flop, you want to see what your opponent will turn on. So, without the position, you will miss important information. That is why the floating work best when your opponent before you speak: a check from him on the turn can be a perfect opportunity for a successful floating!
2 - outs.
Again, this criterion is not essential, but it is nonetheless important. Always keep an exit in the event that your float does not work as you'd like. Whether a simple gutshot (draw the ventral sequence) or overcards, it does not hurt to have a plan B! (This famous plane that is used when things go wrong! J).
These outs can be real or fictional (see related story). Must by against your opponent may be able to understand what you are trying to represent, otherwise your fictitious outs will not help you at all.
Outs are in my opinion less important than the position criterion. Some opponents will not even pay attention to what you may have and not focus on their own game, which lead us to the third criterion: an ugly type "ABC".
3 - An ugly type "ABC".
The float will have much more success against an opponent rather easy to read and has a predictable game; an ugly type "ABC" what. It will be indeed difficult floater against an aggressive opponent who will continue to pressure you on more than one round straight bet.
Thus, the fact of calling the bet on the flop with a view of floater should always be done under the assumption that the opponent will not be tempted to continue his bluff on the turn. Many players are not able to bluff consecutively on the flop and the turn; this is especially the players need aim here. Players who do not hesitate meanwhile continue a bluff on the turn will make your life more dificille if you tender a "floater."
So in general, if the player is pévisible and a basic game, and it is not a good candidate to try to bluff on the turn, your attempt to "floatting" has a good chance of succeeding. For example, your opponent UTG +1 raised preflop and you call his raise on the button with 8
9 . The flop comes 5 
6 
J . Your opponent type "ABC", made his continuation bet. At this point, you do not know if your opponent has no AA, JJ, AK or simply missed it ... maybe even AT.
In such a situation, the above three criteria are present: you have 4 outs to hit your straight; the villain is not too aggressive, and you have position on him. It is therefore a perfect location to simply call putting your opponent. This does not commit you absolutely nothing about the following avenues. Call the bet on the flop and rescan everything on the turn, if necessary. Now, several situations may produires:
Thus, the fact of calling the bet on the flop with a view of floater should always be done under the assumption that the opponent will not be tempted to continue his bluff on the turn. Many players are not able to bluff consecutively on the flop and the turn; this is especially the players need aim here. Players who do not hesitate meanwhile continue a bluff on the turn will make your life more dificille if you tender a "floater."
So in general, if the player is pévisible and a basic game, and it is not a good candidate to try to bluff on the turn, your attempt to "floatting" has a good chance of succeeding. For example, your opponent UTG +1 raised preflop and you call his raise on the button with 8
9 . The flop comes 5 6 J . Your opponent type "ABC", made his continuation bet. At this point, you do not know if your opponent has no AA, JJ, AK or simply missed it ... maybe even AT. In such a situation, the above three criteria are present: you have 4 outs to hit your straight; the villain is not too aggressive, and you have position on him. It is therefore a perfect location to simply call putting your opponent. This does not commit you absolutely nothing about the following avenues. Call the bet on the flop and rescan everything on the turn, if necessary. Now, several situations may produires:
- A brick fell on the turn; Your opponent checks.
And voila! Your opponent probably has nothing and you literally shout to steal the pot. You bet; he lies! - A brick fell on the turn; Your opponent bets again. Here is a little tricky and your action depends on several factors. Carpets are they deep enough to allow you to make a big bluff on the river if your shadow fall outs? Will you pay if your actual fall outs? Your opponent will they be able to understand what you are trying to represent? The hand of your opponent, you risk it being too hard to sleep? Etc..
Unfortunately, against an opponent such as "ABC" which continues to put pressure on the turn, you will need to fold your hand most of the time. By cons, you will have lost much less so than if you had tried to steal the pot by simply boosting its bet on the flop. - One of your shadow fall outs on the turn and your opponent checks.
Here! It will be even easier to fold your opponent when the situation # 1! - One of your shadow fall outs on the turn and your opponent bets again. It is still a situation that requires questioning. Is that your opponent is trying to do a "blocking bet"? Its implementation shows you her some weakness? Do you think a stimulus could fold your opponent? This is a situation that is certainly complicated, but here it is possible to earn a relatively large pot with a read and a good knowledge of your opponent. By against, on the contrary, you are at significantly higher risk than you want to start.
- One of your actual falls outs on the turn and your opponent bets again (or check it ... it does not matter).So here you are in a perfect situation: you just hit your draw and you have a really strong hand. In addition, if your drawing is well hidden and you had some outs (a "gutshot" for example), it has several advantages. Notably, in addition to making you pay for your draw, your opponent may take you for a bad player for running this thin draft. "Fish" will tell you it! Use this false image of fish to your advantage in future hands.
Before concluding, it should be noted that floating should in no way be your standard game. This is a game that you should use that on some occasions. Otherwise it is open the door to endless check-raise on the turn, or he will simply become too difficult to be a legitimate slightest hand (after all, your opponents know that you do not hit every time !).
The floating is a game that requires some knowledge of your opponents. Players NL100 + and will add interest to this facet to their arsenal. Players lower limits can also use the "floating", but the situations are likely to occur less often. Small limits, you will find yourself less often against a single opponent postflop; your opponents will sometimes do not pay attention to what you are trying to represent; etc.. That said, with a good read on your opponent, the floating can save you several pots that you otherwise escape.
The floating is a game that requires some knowledge of your opponents. Players NL100 + and will add interest to this facet to their arsenal. Players lower limits can also use the "floating", but the situations are likely to occur less often. Small limits, you will find yourself less often against a single opponent postflop; your opponents will sometimes do not pay attention to what you are trying to represent; etc.. That said, with a good read on your opponent, the floating can save you several pots that you otherwise escape.
On that note, good floating!
