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Poker glossary

Float

What it means

A float is calling a bet with a weak hand, intending to take the pot away on a later street through aggression. You’re not calling because you have a strong hand or draw - you’re calling because you believe your opponent will give up on the turn or river. It’s a delayed bluff that uses position and your opponent’s tendencies against them.

How it works at the table

You’re on the button with 100bb effective stacks. A tight player opens to 3bb from middle position, you call with 8♥ 7♥, and the blinds fold. The flop comes A♠ Q♦ 5♣. Your opponent continuation bets 4bb into the 7.5bb pot. You have nothing but a backdoor straight draw, but you call anyway. The turn brings the 2♦. Your opponent checks, showing weakness. You bet 9bb into the 15.5bb pot and take it down. That’s a successful float - you called the flop planning to attack when your opponent showed weakness.

Strategic context

Floating works because many players continuation bet too frequently and then give up when called. Position is crucial - you need to act after your opponent to execute the bluff effectively. The best floating candidates are dry boards where your opponent likely missed, against players who c-bet often but don’t barrel multiple streets without real hands. Your table image matters too. If you’ve been caught bluffing recently, your float attempts lose credibility.

Common mistakes

Players float too often without considering their opponent’s tendencies - some opponents will fire multiple barrels regardless. Another error is floating out of position, which rarely works since you can’t see what your opponent does before acting. Many players also size their turn bluffs poorly after floating, either betting too small (allowing calls with weak hands) or too large (risking too much on a bluff). Floating against calling stations who won’t fold is burning money.

Understanding implied odds helps you recognize when floating might be profitable even if you occasionally get caught. Your fold equity on later streets determines whether a float attempt makes sense. Against opponents using GTO strategies, pure floats become less effective since they defend their checking ranges better.