Floating...is this ever a good idea?
 

I'm basically brand new to NL and I love it, it's maximum fun and maximum profitable.

Anyway, I've been trying all different sorts of plays and something I've done a few times is this thing called floating, or at least what I think floating is - correct me if I'm wrong.

Anyway, the situation is thus: I'm in late position with AA, and a non-lagtard raises anywhere ahead of me. All fold to me. I just call. It's a trap, and I plan on getting the money in typically on the turn. I haven't done this too often but I seem to stack a villain about 1/4th of the time I make this play. Is this a winning play or am I just getting lucky? And if so, are there some suggestions on when it is better to do it/ how often should it be done?

txs
C

Re: Floating...is this ever a good idea?
 

what level?

Re: Floating...is this ever a good idea?
 

Floating usually refers to calling the flop with the intent of bluffing the turn.

What you describe is slowplay or trapping, and if its a good or bad idea depends entirely on the opponent and the board texture and the action.

Re: Floating...is this ever a good idea?
 

The question is: would you have stacked villain anyway that 1/4 time? I bet the answer is usually yes. If that's true, then you have cost yourself value PF.

I think at 50NL, you do not need to get cute: they'll call a lot so give 'em the chance.

Re: Floating...is this ever a good idea?
 

Against a good player, if you get your money in on the turn you are behind. Unless you are maybe short stacked or you occasionally trick him. Against a bad player I've seen this work.

Re: Floating...is this ever a good idea?
 

[ QUOTE ]
what level?

[/ QUOTE ]

NL 50

Re: Floating...is this ever a good idea?
 

A float


x_In2thaSky: posts small blind $1
e_cack: posts big blind $2
kamodadragon: posts big blind $2
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to ME [it dont matter]
Anguillian: folds
Villain: raises $8 to $10
ME: calls $10
RADRACER-19: folds
kamodadragon: folds
Pumuckel1: folds
x_In2thaSky: folds
e_cack: folds
*** FLOP *** [6d Tc 3d]
egon19 leaves the table
Villain: bets $14
ME: calls $14
*** TURN *** [6d Tc 3d] [Jd]
Villain: checks
ME: bets $32

Re: Floating...is this ever a good idea?
 

I thought floating was usually OOP?

Such as you being first to act in the hand and check/calling flop and firing turn?

Re: Floating...is this ever a good idea?
 

[ QUOTE ]
I thought floating was usually OOP?

Such as you being first to act in the hand and check/calling flop and firing turn?

[/ QUOTE ]

You can do it either, but I usually do it more in position. I think I might be better off if I did it a lot less though.

Re: Floating...is this ever a good idea?
 

Ehh..Ok I thought it was OOP because it's not as much of something you could control if you were in position. You can't really bluff when he bets 40 more on turn or nearly commits himself, but you can always bluff OOP :P

It's not something I do often but that's why I always took it like that because they say the intention of bluffing turn but that is still a wait and see thing if you are in position.

Re: Floating...is this ever a good idea?
 

[ QUOTE ]
I thought floating was usually OOP?

Such as you being first to act in the hand and check/calling flop and firing turn?

[/ QUOTE ]

thats a stop n go.

Re: Floating...is this ever a good idea?
 

Floating out of position sucks most of the time, you need serious history to bother with it. Floating is good in specific situations. You need a few things to be true. Villian should be fairly straightforward. Villian should c-bet a lot, and villian will usually check-fold turn if he has a missed overs type of hand. If villian is willing to crai with missed overs on the turn or anything like that then floating is a bad idea.

I don't like it at all at 50nl. People will call you with hands that they shouldn't too often.

Re: Floating...is this ever a good idea?
 

Floating works best on predictable opponents. And it's always best w/position. Look for the players that are unwilling to fire a 2nd barrel on a wiff. When they bet, they have it, when they don't, well take the pot.

It's especially easy when their CR% is extremely low...

Re: Floating...is this ever a good idea?
 

Isn't what you guys are referring to as floating out of position better known as the donkbet? As in "he checked to me, I made my $5 continuation bet, then he donked into me for $10 on the turn. I thought floating was in position

Re: Floating...is this ever a good idea?
 

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
I thought floating was usually OOP?

Such as you being first to act in the hand and check/calling flop and firing turn?

[/ QUOTE ]

thats a stop n go.

[/ QUOTE ]

I don't think that's right. A stop n go is a tournament tactic outlined by fossilman, where you call preflop and shove the flop regardless of the cards. It's intended for shorter stacks to get a fold from your opponent when it is almost certain he would call your shove preflop. It's supposed to have more fold equity.

What melon outlined is a 'float'. And I think doing this out of position is almost never correct.

Re: Floating...is this ever a good idea?
 

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
I thought floating was usually OOP?

Such as you being first to act in the hand and check/calling flop and firing turn?

[/ QUOTE ]

thats a stop n go.

[/ QUOTE ]

I don't think that's right. A stop n go is a tournament tactic outlined by fossilman, where you call preflop and shove the flop regardless of the cards. It's intended for shorter stacks to get a fold from your opponent when it is almost certain he would call your shove preflop. It's supposed to have more fold equity.

What melon outlined is a 'float'. And I think doing this out of position is almost never correct.

[/ QUOTE ]

not main that is called a thingamabob or a whatsit. You are wrong.

Re: Floating...is this ever a good idea?
 

I stand corrected.

Re: Floating...is this ever a good idea?
 

No, this is not floating. Floating is when you call a bet in position with no hand or draw with the intention of taking it away on the turn. This is an easy play that many live players fall for since they bet every time they raise.

Re: Floating...is this ever a good idea?
 

I call it that either way when Im talking about it. That way is harder online, but so easy live with reads IMO.

Re: Floating...is this ever a good idea?
 

What Melon described is exactly what a float is. Calling in position with no pair or draw witht he intention of taking it down on the turn.

Re: Floating...is this ever a good idea?
 

Well, then lets correct you again.
http://www.pokerforums.org/articles/10/

Re: Floating...is this ever a good idea?
 

[ QUOTE ]
A stop n go is a tournament tactic outlined by fossilman, where you call preflop and shove the flop regardless of the cards. It's intended for shorter stacks to get a fold from your opponent when it is almost certain he would call your shove preflop. It's supposed to have more fold equity.

[/ QUOTE ]I wonder if it's correct from a game theory perspective as part of an optimal strategy as you are giving a strategic option to your opponent. That doesn't mean it's bad in real life.

Also, I don't see why you cannot float OOP. In fact as part of a balanced strategy you should, I think; otherwise your range does not include air when you check-call flop OOP.

Re: Floating...is this ever a good idea?
 

The reason why the stop n go works is this...
When you are shortstacked hands, such as AK-AJ are going to call rightfully so. Your short and yo get 66, and instead of going all in, you do the stop n go. You go all in on the flop and now you really only have to outflop AK-AJ instead of winning at the showdown. Essentially, your only playing against 3 cards ideally.

Re: Floating...is this ever a good idea?
 

ban for making 5 consecutive posts about a meaningless point in a meaningless topic in the same thread.

Re: Floating...is this ever a good idea?
 

damn. what will i do now?