Winning with a worthless hand
On my recent games, I noticed something.
Most amateur poker players (like me) operate on a simple rule: if you don't have a pair or a draw on the flop, you fold.
I did some research and found out this actually has a name 😂
This hidden edge that pro players use to punish this predictable mindset is called "floating."
Here's how it works:
When a player raises pre-flop, they will often fire a continuation bet on the flop, regardless of whether the cards actually helped them.
But there's a little detail often missed, most players don't have the courage to fire a second bluff on the turn if they still have nothing.
When you "float," you call their flop bet with total air. To your opponent, your call can represent quiet strength, maybe a hidden set, top pair, or a strong draw.
Then the turn comes, and your opponent checks.
That's often a sign of weakness.
Because you held your ground on the flop, a well-timed bet on the turn can put immense pressure on them and force them to fold a large percentage of the time.
You didn't win because of your cards.
You won because you recognized that your opponent's aggression was a one-shot bluff, and you used their turn check to slam the door shut.
Does anyone else know about this move?
Yep, am not averse to the float with a semi bluffing hand, so if you run into a check raiser you still have some equity and aren't caught with your hand in the jar. I don't overuse it though and when/if I think somebody else is floating a lot of hands because of perceived pre flop weaknesses elsewhere I'll jump in when get a hand, check raise them on the turn to confirm, then exploit lol even when got no made hand.
It's one of the few benefits I get of playin tight poker in these MTT freerolls, once we get deep my table image is steel. I am generally running ~12-18%vpip with a lot of PFR and a lot of showdowns won, if I go too many wins without showdown I'll actually show the goods too. Then once you are deep and most the fish have exploded and the remaining ones are all scared of the bubble you can start to manouvre even with a short stack. I shifted the table lead off A9 offsuit in the bounty with an all in ship (suited broadway connectors) on the bubble, there had been a weak pre flop min raise by table bully and a limp along, they all cleared out the minute Mister 12%vpip shipped, they were all getting to showdown with Q rag and J rag and checking their way because of the ICM pressure. Soon as I'd seen two orbits every time I hit a hand that would offer ~50% equity against most non premium holdings I shipped.
I know it makes sense to fold if comes dry if seeing a lot of flops, but by playing less hands, once you get past the fish and all in donkeys, the C-bet can be gold, hell 3 bullets with a strong image will get someone off top pair even on an unconnected board, especially if you've two paired them before ;) But yeah in the early and mid stages of these micro stakes and freeroll MTT's you cannot bluff anyone. I've tried, boards that have paired and scream full house, 3 bullets and I feel cheated when they call and win with bottom pair and I have 12% VPIP, like do they have no idea what I am representing? Turns out they don't so save your bluffs traps and plays until the wheat has been separated from the chaff....
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