Orthodox Texas Hold’em poker tactics are increasingly emphasizing aggression. Which means that you’re going to face more and more aggressive players at the poker table. You’ll need tools in your arsenal if you want to be successful on a consistent basis against aggressive players. One such tool is the float play, a tactic that exploits players who make continuation bets post-flop.
A nutshell definition of this type of play is that it’s a bluffing play in which you attempt to win a pot on the turn with a bet after calling a bet on the flop. It’s a play which relies the expectation that many players who raised pre-flop are willing to bet that hand on the flop with hands that haven’t dramatically improved.
The Elements of a Float Play
Like almost every aspect of poker, there are exceptions, nuances and twists on just about every kind of play. And this is true of float plays, which we’ll discuss later. But for now, we’ll cover the standard concept.
There are a number of elements that need to be present:
- You will want a player to have made a raise pre-flop which you call in position.
- This player will have then bet the flop, a continuation bet.
- By the time the action is on you on the flop, you’re heads up against only the bettor.
- You may have some piece of the flop, but you believe there’s a likelihood you don’t have the best hand.
- You believe your opponent is likely betting here as a continuation of their pre-flop raise.
All of these elements are important in some way, and we’ll cover the reasons why.
Being in Position
There are some more advanced float options where you’re betting out of position, but the classic play requires that you be able to act after your opponent.
The sequence you’re looking for goes:
Opponent raises pre-flop, you call in position.
Opponent bets on the flop, you call.
Opponent checks the turn, you bet. Opponent folds.
That check on the turn is the signal that you’ve probably won the hand. Players who tend to make continuation bets but aren’t extremely reckless players will often let go of weaker hands at the first sign of resistance. This is especially true when playing a hand out of position like in this scenario.
Facing a Single Opponent
A general rule is that you usually want to save your bluffing for situations where you’ve only got to convince one opponent to fold. Facing multiple callers makes this type of play far riskier, just for the simple fact that you are more likely to run into someone who has a real hand.
It’s possible that the first caller in this situation is attempting to make a play similar to the one you are making. But most of the time, a player who has called a bet on the flop with another player still yet to act is a player who means business.
In most cases, you want to be facing only the bettor on the flop to execute this type of play.
Not Having the Best Hand
Generally, a float play is considered a bluff in nature. You’re not really concerned with improving your hand or winning a showdown.
There’s nothing wrong with a semi-bluff and make this play on a weak draw. Having a few outs isn’t a bad thing. For instance, you might flop an inside straight draw and decide to make this play. If the turn card makes your straight, you can switch gears. And if your bet gets called on the turn, you have a few outs with the river card that can make your hand and get you paid off.
Similarly, you might have bottom pair or a low pocket pair that can improve to a three of a kind or two pair on future streets. All those situations are bonuses, and should have some minor consideration in your play.
However, the fundamental nature of this play is that you’re looking to take the hand down on the turn when your opponent folds to your bet. The strength of your hand doesn’t matter all that much.
Your Opponent’s Aggression
In many ways, your opponent’s disposition is the single most important element to succeeding with this type of play. You’re looking for a player who fits the profile of an aggressive player who is still willing to fold hands.
This type of play isn’t well suited to tight players who rarely bet hands past the flop without a made hand. Sure, it’s possible that you’ve found the one time that they’re making a continuation bet, but over the long haul, they have it most of the time and aren’t going anywhere if they’re betting the flop out of position.
Conversely, hyper-aggressive players are perfectly capable of seeing you only call them in position on the flop as an excuse to fire another bet on the turn. There’s a variant float type where you win on the turn with a raise, but the bottom line is that there’s a certain class of player whom bluffing just isn’t a winning strategy against.
Many poker players have somewhat robotic strategies, and these are the players you’re looking to exploit. Certain models of aggressive play say ‘if you raise pre-flop, bet the flop to try to win the hand right there’. Players playing rigidly within that model will switch off and surrender the hand when they face resistance out of position.
Example of a Float Play
Now that we’ve talked through the basic theory, let’s look at an example in action.
You’re in a game with $5/$10 blinds, and this hand you’re on the button. Your hand for the purpose of the example doesn’t matter all that much. Let’s say you’ve got:
A player next to you, one from the button, makes it $30. You call, and all other players fold.
The flop comes, and your opponent instantly bets $40 into a $65 pot. You call the bet.
The turn comes, and your opponent checks. You bet $80 into a $145 pot. Your opponent folds and you win.
Why Did This Play Work?
You’ve been studying your opponent, and you’ve identified them as an aggressive player who frequently – maybe always – makes continuation bets on the flop if raising the turn.
In the position one from the button, you have seen your opponent raise with a wide range of hands. They seem likely to raise with many A/x hands, hands like KQ, KJ, etc., and suited connectors. Many of these hands will have missed the flop.
When you call your opponent on the flop, they probably put you on a range that includes drawing hands looking for whatever straight or flush might be on the board, a pocket pair or a moderate hand like an AJ or AT. On the turn, they have to fear that you made your hand if the card creates a possible made straight or flush, and the turn hasn’t improved their hand in any case.
They check the turn, fearful that you will call another of their bets. This is your signal that your opponent has conceded the hand. You bet and win the pot.
Good Flops for Float Plays
Keep in mind that certain flops are better than others for executing this type of play. Like with many aspects of poker strategy, it’s important to react to changing circumstances if the plan no longer makes sense in light of new information.
Ideally, you are looking for one of two types of flops – Either flops with moderately high cards and moderate drawing possibilities, or flops that likely completely missed your opponent.
An example of the first type might be a flop like
or
In this case, your opponent has to fear either you having top pair or being on a straight or flush draw. When a card on the turn like 8s in the first case or Kc in the second, you might have made your draw. And with either of these flops, it’s entirely possible for your opponent to have missed entirely but still continuation bet.
An example of the second type of flop you’re looking for is something like
There’s every likelihood that your opponent got nothing on this flop. In this case, you’re looking to win purely off the fact that they know they’re weak and vulnerable out of position.
Bad Flops
The kind of flop you want to avoid for this type of play are flops with a mixture of very high cards and extremely strong drawing possibilities. A flop like AsKs10d is an example. First of all, there’s a pretty decent likelihood that your opponent has a piece of this flop as a pre-flop raiser. But more importantly, opponents tend to be less likely to bet out of position on the flop without a strong hand if the flop is as scary as this.
Balancing Your Range
Just like you’re studying your opponents, they’re studying you. And they will take note of a line like this. In order for float plays to be successful, you’ll need to be capable of taking a similar line with real hands from time to time.
If you become predictable as someone who likes to call on the flop and bet on the turn with nothing, players are going to start playing back at you in a variety of ways. They may continue betting on the turn, or you may even face a check-raise on the turn.
Use floating in moderation and play some made hands in the same way, and you’ll have more long-term success, whether it be in cash games or at a Texas Hold’em poker tournament.
Poker Float Play: Advanced Considerations
We’ve been over the basic anatomy of the float play. Now, it’s time to discuss a few wrinkles and extra consideration.
Why Call Instead of Raising the Flop?
It’s important to understand some of the poker psychology and mechanical reasoning behind this type of play. After all, if the purpose is to bluff against an opponent with a weak hand and win the pot, why not just raise their bet on the flop?
One reason is that intermediate players often continuation bet in an effort to sound out the strength of your hand. Once you show resistance, they’ll often shut down. A raise will accomplish this when they’re weak, but it will cost you more in the cases where you’re wrong. By the time they’ve checked it to you on the turn, you know you’ve won the pot, so you’ve risked less than you would by raising the flop, with the same gain.
Further, many players perceive a call on the flop as evidence of a stronger hand than a raise. A raise might be perceived as a bluff, but a call means you’re hoping to extract more money from them.
Of course, more advanced players think on a deeper level, and will also be incorporating their personal observations of your playstyle. It’s important to get a good sense of your opponent’s level when trying plays like this.
Poker Float Play Variants
The core concept of a float play is using a call to shut down the opponent with the aim of eventually bluffing for a win.
You can employ this strategy out of position as well. There’s more risk, and it helps to have a good read on your opponent. But this type of play can pay off, especially on a draw heavy board.
Other float variants include double floating, in which you call bets on the flop and turn, as well as checking the turn before winning with a bet on the river. There’s also counterplay to floating, in which an opponent putting you on this strategy might bet the turn but be ready to fold to a raise or a call then bet on the river.
As you get more experience both making these types of poker plays and seeing them used against you or others by other players at the table, you can start to recognize some of the variations and nuance to the play.
Final Thoughts
Float plays are a part of the arsenal of most successful poker players, whether in cash games or in Texas Hold’em poker tournaments. It’s one of the stronger ways to use your positional advantage against aggressive players. Like with just about any poker strategy, it’s important to be flexible and responsive, and willing to modify the play if circumstances change. But don’t be afraid to try it out and make a few mistakes when you’re still learning.
A last note – This type of play has become increasingly popular, and as a result people have learned to defend against it. If you get a reputation for overusing floating, you’ll face a lot of playback. As a result, be discerning about using it. See you at the WSOP!
♠ pokerjournal.org
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