|
Floating
Floating is a concept that many players inadvertently put into
action. Floating is when you call a flop or turn bet with the
intention of taking away the pot on a later street. Floating is
different from a standard call, however. When you simply call
another player’s flop or turn bet you will probably be making the
call because you believe you have the best hand. When you are
floating you are not calling because you think your hand is good,
but instead because you think that your opponent is weak. If you
are calling a bet with a decent hand you are not floating and the
concept will have no relevance. There are certain types of players
and situations that allow floating to be profitable, but if you
pick situations at random you will be destined for huge losses.
When is floating a good idea
You should always be aware of your image at the table, but you
need to be even more aware when you are contemplating whether or
not to float your opponent. If the other players perceive you as
crazy aggressive you will have a rather difficult time pulling off
successful floats. The ideal image you want to have is that of a
tight player. If the other players think that you are very
selective in your aggression you will be able to easily convince
them that you do indeed have a hand. Your image at the table is not
enough though, as most players understand that you can change up
your game at any moment.
Another crucial factor when floating is your ability to tell a
story that the other players are able to believe. If you call the
flop on a draw heavy board they will likely put you on a draw or a
weak made hand. Would it make sense to bet a turn card that misses
the draws or is unlikely to have helped your mediocre hand? Of
course not, many players will realize that you could have been
floating them. Floats can be extremely profitable, but they can
also be exploited if you are playing against solid opponents.
When is floating not a good idea
If you are playing at a table where everyone thinks you are a
maniac it would be a good idea to drop the float from your arsenal.
Players hate to fold when they think they are being bullied
around It is a good idea to punish those who think you play too
aggressively by sticking to solid hands. Weak hands should be
disposed of when other players are unlikely to fold. Obviously this
sounds like elementary poker advice, but it is incredibly true. The
only way that you will be able to successfully work the float into
your game is through an ability to accurately gauge what your
reputation is at the table. The other key factor in floating is
telling a believable story. It is a terrible idea to float on a
board that could have connected with the other player or is
unlikely to have hit you. The only thing that matters when floating
is what other players think you have. |
