Defending against float bet

Floating is a kind of an advanced bluff. In the article about floating you have learnt how to use it and here you will find out how to defend yourself against it. You can beat a person using the float play in a few ways. It can bring you even larger profits than the floating itself, but it should not be overused.

Weapons against float

If you have identified one of the players as someone who likes to make float plays, you can use a few weapons against him. Select them carefully, though, considering the type of your opponent and the situation you have found yourselves in.

• Second Barell – It is a continuation of your flop bluff. A person who called your bet on the flop anticipating your check on the turn has been disillusioned and must admit that you have a stronger hand. Sometimes, however, the opponent will make a call or even a raise, and in such a case it is you who have to admit the dominance of the opponent’s hand, because most probably he has hit something.
• Check/Raise – Such a play usually displays considerable strength. It is hard to ignore two aggressive preflop and flop plays followed by a huge c/r on the turn. By doing this you provoke your opponent to make a float bet. You can win some additional money from your opponent by making a c/r, but if he has formed a strong hand, for example two pairs or a set, you could lose a lot of chips. For that reason, such a play demands good reads. A c/r play should be made if we defend ourselves against floating and have a hand not strong enough to make a call, because we want to win the pot after our first c/r at the latest. Moreover, when we make a c/r on the flop and it does not bring any results, playing it again on the turn is pointless – a bet itself will be more effective.
• Brak continuation bet na flopie – Such a play against a person who makes a float bet can be very misleading, because our opponent may think that we are slow playing a set, for example, but in reality we have missed the flop. It is an extreme case, but sometimes brings effects. When the opponent bets, we can:
  • make a call with the intention to make a bet or c/r on the turn
  • make a bet or c/r on the turn if he checks to us.

Summary

Defending against float play can bring considerable profits and, in addition, make your opponents feel uneasy. You become a difficult and unreadable opponent, which is very important in poker. You should not, however, use this play too often, because you may be easily read and your future attempts may bring huge losses.