Floating in NL tournaments
 

For those that read on mid-high LHE forum, you probably already understand the concept of floating. For those who don't, floating is a play often used in limit hold em that involves calling a raise in position, then leveraging that position later on in the hand to try to win without a showdown, or sometimes make a big hand if you fall into one. It is usually done w/ hands like smallish pairs and suited connectors and gappers.

Anyway, here's a hand I played in today's $50R on Stars. My opponent is a player I recognize to be good and thinking.

PokerStars No-Limit Hold'em Tourney, Big Blind is t150 (9 handed) FTR converter on zerodivide.cx

UTG+1 (t1500)
MP1 (t5165)
MP2 (t1600)
MP3 (t7810)
CO (t4975)
Hero (t14400)
SB (t7130)
BB (t3025)
UTG (t11257)

Preflop: Hero is Button with J[img]/images/graemlins/heart.gif[/img], Q[img]/images/graemlins/heart.gif[/img].
5 folds</font>, Villain raises to t450</font>, Hero calls t450, 2 folds</font>.

Flop: (t1125) 8[img]/images/graemlins/heart.gif[/img], 3[img]/images/graemlins/spade.gif[/img], 2[img]/images/graemlins/diamond.gif[/img] (2 players)</font>
Villain bets t750</font>, Hero calls t750.

Turn: (t2625) 9[img]/images/graemlins/heart.gif[/img] (2 players)</font>

Villain checks, Hero bets 2250

What do you all think of this play?

Edited to say that I hope Mike doesn't think my title is lame.

Re: Floating in NL tournaments
 

I like betting the turn here if a total brick hits but with the 9h giving me such a beautiful draw i might be tempted to take the free one.

Re: Floating in NL tournaments
 

Love the title. Love the play. Making these types of plays is what playing a big stack well is all about.

Re: Floating in NL tournaments
 

Standard.

Except you actually have a nice draw with the turn card, so its really a semibluff. [img]/images/graemlins/smile.gif[/img]

This is a key play I make when it seems right (I have the right position, right guy raising, right weak blinds etc.)

As long as you are making that bet when the turn bricks too, and raising the turn when it bricks and he leads again (sometimes)

Regards,
Woodguy

Re: Floating in NL tournaments
 

I was betting any turn. The 9h was just sort of a bonus [img]/images/graemlins/smile.gif[/img]

Re: Floating in NL tournaments
 

villain has 3800 on the turn in a pot of 2600. i like that you bet instead of pushing, which is what i probably would've done.

nice hand. i was aware of the play before, but not the term.

Re: Floating in NL tournaments
 

[ QUOTE ]
I like betting the turn here if a total brick hits but with the 9h giving me such a beautiful draw i might be tempted to take the free one.

[/ QUOTE ]

No way. The bet is good on a brick, so it's better on a card where you pick up 12 outs. He folds just as often as he would have otherwise, on the turn. But check behind and you don't get as many folds on the river, in part because he'll bet into you sometimes. If he has two broadway you guys are playing chicken after the flop call. Next bet wins. You also don't make as much when you hit if you check behind versus what you make the few times he calls. Check behind with a draw is for spots when you're usually not getting a fold. His line is classic "please take the pot from me."

Another thing - if he has missed overs that he will fold you need to bet the turn to "protect your hand," especially if he has you dominated. Catching a queen on the river could really suck.

Re: Floating in NL tournaments
 

Excellent post.

Re: Floating in NL tournaments
 

agreed, the play is good. you could fall into a great hand and his post-flop bluff was just thwarted. I imagine that he folded...

Re: Floating in NL tournaments
 

nh given a read that this works a good % of the time.