Floats (3) - Exceptional Spots
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Floats (3) - Exceptional Spots
by MiiWiin
In the last parts we introduced and analysed some basic questions about floats, particularly the questions when and against what kind of opponents they can be used. We focused on the standard spot here, namely heads-up in position.
However, a float as such describes more than that. It is about calling a street in order to start a move on the following street.
You also have this option in other spots, four of which we will outline today.
Exceptional spots
We will take a closer look at the following rather exceptional spots:
- 3-bet pots
- Float out of position
- River floats
- Multi-way floats
When it comes to floats in unusual situations, you will most commonly encounter these four options. Each option has its advantages and disadvantages, which we will take a closer look at now.
PartyPoker $25 NL Hold'em (6-handed)
Stacks & Stats
UTG ($25)
MP ($25)
CO ($25)
Hero (25$)
SB ($25)
BB ($25)
SB Stats:
(24 / 19 / 11 / 3.1 / 2.0 / 65 / 40 / 50 / 4)
(VPIP / PFR / 3-bet SB / Flop-AF / Turn-AF / Cbet Flop / Cbet Turn / Fold-to-Turnbet / Checkraise Turn)
Preflop: Hero is BU with 4
, 5
3 folds, Hero raises to $1.00, SB raises to $3.00, 1 fold, Hero calls $3.00
Flop: ($6.25) 6
, 7, K
(2 players)
SB bets $3.50, Hero calls $3.50
Turn: ($13.25) A (2 players)
SB checks, Hero bets $8.00
Playing the hand like this is certainly an option. But as you will have noticed, there are some conditions that have to be met.
The first one has to do with preflop play. If you call 3-bets, you should be in position. If you are out of position, you would have considerable disadvantages and it would be very difficult to play a draw. When you enjoy the advantage of being in position however, you have better playability and it's easier for your to start your move.
Preflop, this call is not a must, but it is an option if you have noticed Villain to 3-bet a lot against you (he has direct position on you). He 3-bets as much as 11% from the small blind after all.
Of course you have a certain amount of implied odds and you might often hit a hand that has a lot of equity. However, your opponent will usually have to play a wide range against you out of position. He has to bet the flop in order to take down the pot. If you call, he will have a very tough decision on the flop.
On top of that it's also important that you have as many clean outs as possible - you can see this in the above example. There are three options on the flop:
- After a call, you can improve on the turn.
- After a call, you might get a free card on the turn.
- After a call, you can eliminate Villain by making a turn bet.
Depending on the opponent's tendencies and the turn card, you can keep yourself these options open. In the above example however, you think that Villain will have to give up often enough on the turn, it is relatively rare that he check/raises and you can create enough fold equity here.
The ace is a semi-good card. You could sell him quite a few hands now (and even if you can't, Villain will have to fold nearly any hand without Kx/Ax if he checks). On the other hand, Villain might occasionally have Ax and check/call the turn for pot control and bluff induce. You should definitely take the risk.
One of the main problems in such spots is the relatively big pot. In the above example, a check/raise wouldn't be a pleasant thing, however Hero would only need an equity of around (10.50/50) 21% for a call.
| Equity analysis | |||||
| Board | A K 7 6 |
||||
| Equity | Win | Split | Loss | Hand | |
| Player 1 | 18.18% | 18.18% | 0% | 81.82% | 5 4 |
| Player 2 | 81.82% | 81.82% | 0% | 18.18% | KK+, 66-77, AKs, A7s, A2s, AKo |
It is a thin line between bet/fold and bet/broke on the turn. Considering these bet sizes, you should fold in this case.
Even though this play is possible, you should not give up too many hands against aggressive opponents. If you have to fold to a push, a check behind and the resulting free card would be the better alternative. You don't want your opponent to get the impression he can always just move you out of the pot.
That's why bet/broke is often the better choice, even in marginal spots. It should be self-evident however, that you will still need to have enough equity for that.
When you are in such spots, you should therefore always pay attention to the pot size and the strength of your draw / your hand. To bet/fold a draw here would be a pity (we are talking about 3-bet pots!) - you can use your pure bluffs for that, which don't have any outs nor any showdown value whatsoever, but solely depend on fold equity.
PartyPoker $25 NL Hold'em (6-handed)
Stacks & Stats
UTG ($25)
MP ($25)
CO ($25)
BU ($25)
SB ($25)
Hero ($25)
UTG Stats:
(18 / 13 / 3.2 / 1.2 / 70 / 39 / 53 / 1)
(VPIP / PFR / Flop-AF / Turn-AF / Cbet Flop / Cbet Turn / Fold-to-Turnbet / Checkraise Turn)
Preflop: Hero is BB with 7 , 7
UTG raises $1.00, 4 folds, Hero calls $1.00,
Flop: ($2.10) 4, 5, 6 (2 players)
Hero checks, UTG bets $1.40, Hero calls $1.40
Turn: ($4.90) A (2 players)
Hero bets $3.50,...
This is a spot that will provoke heated discussion. Preflop, 77 is a hand that you can very well play. Calling against this early position raiser can definitely be justified here.
On the flop, you check/call. Your hand is not bad, it does have outs, but a check/raise would mean that you are willing to go all-in on the flop. A check/raise with a subsequent fold would not make much sense with this hand.
That's why you go for the inexpensive alternative. Sometimes you will see yourself ahead, sometimes you are drawing to the straight.
The turn brings a scare card. You decide to float out of position.
If you look at your opponent, you will see that he contibets a lot, but rarely 2nd barrels. This card however is the number one scare card there is and it will often get your opponent to bet the turn. However, a check/call is not really a great situation, since you will be vulnerable to further bluffs on the river and it will be hard for you extract value if you hit. Long story short: You probably don't have the impled odds for a profitable check/call.
Considering your lack of alternatives, you decide to donk bet and therefore make a float out of position. The primary goal of a bluff is of course to get a stronger hand to fold. Medium pocket pairs will have a tough decision at least, Ax hands will certainly not fold.
A call would not be the end of the world either, since you still have eight outs up your sleeve (maybe even 10).
As you see, such plays are difficult to analyse. Your opponent could fold better hands here (88+, 6x => Bluff), he could call weaker hands (67, flush draws => Value) or he might fold a weaker hand which was possibly trying to move you out of the pot with turn and river barrels (any broadways, draws => bluff prevention).
There are another two aspects that you need to keep in mind when it comes to such plays:
- Considerations concerning your river play in case Villain calls (that's why a float OOP with some remaining equity is always a lot better than a pure bluff)
- Balancing (if you start floats OOP, you should adapt your value plays accordingly, i.e. also donk with sets/two pairs on the turn in order not to become predictable)
PartyPoker $25 NL Hold'em (6-handed)
Stacks & Stats
UTG ($25)
MP ($25)
CO ($25)
Hero ($25)
SB ($25)
BB ($25)
CO Stats:
(24 / 19 / 64 / 50 / 37 / 49 / 58)
(VPIP / PFR /Cbet Flop / Cbet Turn / Cbet River / Fold-to-Turnbet / Fold-to-Riverbet)
Preflop: Hero is BU with 4 , 5
2 folds, CO raises $1.00, Hero calls $1.00, 2 folds
Flop: ($2.25) K, 7, 3 (2 players)
CO bets $1.50, Hero calls $1.50
Turn: ($5.25) T (2 players)
CO bets $3.50, Hero calls $3.50
River: ($12.25) A (2 players)
CO checks, Hero bets $8.00
A river float is a good option if you are on the turn and think that you could make a profitable call, because you get good odds for instance or because you expect great implieds, but don't want to go for the alternative "raise".
You will have different options on the river. Either you hit and can play for value, you don't hit and your opponent bets (in this case, you have a fold, a bluff raise will usually no longer create enough fold equity) or you don't hit and your opponent checks.
Your line looks pretty strong, and even though you put your opponent on a decent made hand, he first needs to call your bet on the river. Scare cards are ideal here, because they will make it hard for Villain to call.
The main difference is that the only thing that matters here is fold equity - there are no later streets, no further options, no equity.
It's simple from a mathematical point of view: If you make a bet of 2/3 the pot size, your opponent will have to fold in around 40% of cases. This will often be the case. Important here is the fold-to-Riverbet stat, many players will often give up the hand there. If you don't think you can expect the required equity of 40%, you don't have to try theses moves against players with a high went-to-showdown stat or against players whose reads tells you that they often play check/call as a bluff catcher.
PartyPoker $25 NL Hold'em (6-handed)
Stacks & Stats
UTG ($25) (21 / 15 / 3 ) (VPIP / PFR / AF)
MP ($25) (39 / 8 / 1 ) (VPIP / PFR / AF)
CO ($25) (15 / 10 / 2 ) (VPIP / PFR / AF)
Hero ($25)
BB ($25)
SB ($25)
Preflop: Hero is BU with 4 , 5
UTG raises $1.00, MP calls $1.00, CO calls $1.00, Hero calls $1.00, 2 folds
Flop: ($4.25) 6, 7, K (4 players)
UTG bets $1.50, MP calls $1.50, CO calls $1.50, Hero calls $1.50
Turn: ($10.25) A (4 players)
UTG checks, MP checks, CO checks, Hero bets $7.25
In multi-way pots, you should use floats only very sparingly. In the above example, your initial thought will most likely have been: "I'd better check behind here".
That's how it should be. In multi-way pots, there are many factors that speak against floats.
- The preflop aggressor bets into many people, he will often do so with a strong hand.
- Your float has to get two to three players to fold, you will rarely have the equity.
- Due to the pot size, multi-barrel-bluffs will usually be very expensive.
- Especially with draws you will usually have good equity and can draw quite comfortably.
Since you will not be able to create good fold equity often enough, you should rather take free cards in such spots or check for pot control.
No doubt, there are exceptions too. If there are only two players left in the pot after the flop action and Villain checks, you could be more inclined to float. You also have to keep in mind here however, that a player who has invested money on a 4-handed flop usually has a hand that does not want to check/fold on the turn. His range will simply be stronger here, which pretty much speaks against floating in such spots.
Summary
You have to look at every spot individually, but the way you go about it is generally similar. How strong is your hand, which range do you put your opponent on, how much equity can you except?
Then you have to figure out if you should check behind and take a free card or if you can create sufficient fold equity. Can you play bet/call with a draw? Can you create the required fold equity with pure air? Does your opponent check/fold a lot or might he play back and trap you with a check/raise?
In this context it does not matter what kind of spots you maneuver yourself into; you always have to consider these questions when floating. Keep in mind your positional advantage, consider the fold equity that you inevitably create and ask yourself which tough decision Villain will face out of position.
The bottom line is, a float should usually be your first option, and after that you can look for arguments that speak against it.
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