Advanced Poker Advice: Floating in NL Holdem

"I'll be floating like a butterfly and stinging like a bee." - Muhammad Ali

Aug. 21, 2007

By David Williams
Bodog Nation Contributing Writer

"He's calling on the flop with nothing to steal on a later street. You've got to admire the heart in a play like this, Vince."

When you hear Mike Sexton utter those words, the move he is referring to is an advanced poker play known as "The Float" or "Floating."

If you've got the read, then make the call.

What floating means, in the simplest form, is calling a bet you wouldn't normally call on the flop, because you believe that your opponent will shut down his betting on the turn, and you can use your read to bluff him out of the pot without having an actual hand.

Most opponents are scared to fire the second bet on the turn because they believe you need to have something to call the flop.

I like to use this play against amateurs at the table, because the ABC straight-forward player doesn't normally have the guts to fire a second shell at the pot without a hand. Players that are seen cursing pocket jacks and claiming A-K are the devil normally give up their play at the pot when met with any resistance, and by calling the bet on the flop, they assume the worst and give up.

Anyone playing ABC poker will be vulnerable to floating.

This play is done, more often than not, on the turn rather than the river. If you have a read that your opponent will fold to a bet, there is no reason to give him an extra card to suck out and pick up a pair, which still beats your nothing.

When you are attempting to float the flop because you have read your opponent as weak, there are some key things to keep in mind:

1. Am I heads-up with my opponent? This play only works against one opponent. The odds of one or two more players hitting a good card on the turn are too high to try this move on multiple opponents.
   
   
2. Do I have position in the hand? This play is dangerous, since you're essentially playing your read, not your own cards, so position is important because it allows you to see if your opponent is strong enough to bet again on the turn or not.
   
   
3. Do you have a read on your opponent's playing style? If you have witnessed your opponent continually betting the flop after a pre-flop raise, only to check the turn when he is called, then this is your guy. You don't want to float a player that is new enough to think A-K can push through a jack-high board and come out ahead.  That will be floating your stack over to him when your six-high bluff gets picked off.
   
   
4. What does the board texture look like? If the board reads A-K-Q or 5-6-7, then that is no time to float. It is more likely that your opponent has hit acard or a draw, and won't be folding to your bet on the turn. Also, determine whether or not the player would slowplay an ace on the flop. If the flop came ace - low card - low card, the continuation bet on the flop and check on the turn might just mean your opponent wants to keep the flop small and call down until the river. This means that floating won't get you anywhere. However, if the opponent had pocket jacks or queens, then an ace on the flop helps your strategy, and a float might be the perfect play here.

Some poker pros might recommend showing this bluff to advertise your table image for later hands. They feel that with your opponents realizing you are capable of making a move like that, they might be more likely to pay you off when you have the goods. This idea really depends on you. If you feel comfortable getting called more often and tightening up, then this may be the right play. However, if you tend to play loose anyways and choose not to show, then this play tends to make your opponents believe, "He must've really had it that time." We know the truth though.

Remember, this play should only be used every once in a while. Floating every other hand will make opponents suspicious. You're supposed to float, not sink, so use this move with caution. Getting it right, however, could put your heart at the final table that Mike Sexton is admiring.

TOP PHOTO: Team Bodog poker pro David Williams.