Anatomy of the Float
10-15-2006
Gregg “Bunky” Williams
This one goes out to all the people who requested it. I'm going to break down what the float is and who it should target and why. There are also a couple different varieties of it and I'll attempt to break that down for you.
First of all, what is a float?
A float is, in essence, a calling of a preflop raise in position with a suspect hand with the intention of taking the pot away from the raiser on a later street. Thats the basic principle of the float, now let's see how it works.
It gets folded around to a tightish player who plays very scared postflop and he makes a pot sized raise, you on the button with something like 68s. You put this player on a big ace or big King type of hand and he could still possibly have a big pair but will continue to fire away on 4th street by only pairing his hole card or having a big pair in the pocket.
Lets day the flop comes T73 rainbow. Now you're reasonably sure that the flop did not help him but he makes his standard one bullet continuation bet of 1/2 the pot which gives you 3:1 odds to call a bet. Now under normal circumstances with a gutshot straight and reasonable stacks its a close call. But, its a perfect opportunity for a 4th street takeaway even if you don't hit your gutshot or even pair up. If the board pairs and/or bricks low and your opponent checks, you can represent the either the flop helped you or the turn did. Its very profitable to fire a bet somewhere around 1/2 -3/4 of the pot and take the pot down. It works more often thank you may think, but its a play that you don't want to overdo. Like anything else, use in moderation.
If that player bets the turn however, they're usually there and you have to give up on the play. Tight players that play weakly post flop will (almost) never be able to fire a second bullet dry into that pot. You called his raise preflop, and called on the flop, you ARE representing something.
Now, that you have the basics of how it works, don't forget the fact that you may actually make a hand when you decide to float. This is the best part about it. Sometimes you will make a very strong hand when that tight player makes a second best. Prime example would be if you has the same 68 and they had AK and the flop came K66. You can see all the trouble he's in and you're in position! When that particular player stacks off, your image will not be of a tightish player anymore, you will have a looser image and people will begin to fear that image because ANY flop could have possibly helped you.
Now, this move only starts working when you are playing in games where people are observant and you can reasonably determine what your opponent may hold. The best players to pull this move on are the tight preflop but weak post flop players. It also helps to have a very solid image or a very LAG image.
Now, targeting certain players in these circumstances is the key. Here's the opportunities I use against certain types of players and the frequency I may float them.
Maniac Aggros: rarely, they don't fold much and they tend to over bet pots. If you want a super high variant style, go right ahead but against these players, I love to have position, but I also like to have a hand.
Loose aggressive: Believe it or not, you can use this play against them as you will frequently find that they are out of line and if you have a tight image you can get away with the play. Also just realize, don't pull it too often against them as they may have very well hit the flop when it comes rags as well.
Weak tight players: this is a field day for the float. They'll raise preflop and may make a small continuation bet on the flop but if your still fighting and they don't have a hand, they raise the white flag and surrender, allowing you to steal pots at will.
Nut peddlers: While you can do it once in a while the main aspect of floating a nut peddler comes with hitting a monster with a weakish hand. Against the weak tight you can do it with literally any two cards, but against a nut peddler I love the suited connectors and suited one gappers. Though connectors that are unsuited play just fine as well. They're unlikely to pay off a flush but will pay off a straight with regularity. They also usually tend to fire bigger turn bets with one pair hands so if you're made, they can be had on the turn or the river. Rarely is drawing profitable against this type of player. Though there are certain ones that you can take ieit down with a flop bet if they check to you and play fit or fold poker. That you'll have to judge on your own.
Just remember one thing, only float in position (preferably in the CO or button) and only against one player. If there's more than one person in the hand you need to play the hand for value and less for takeaway value.
