What Is Floating in Poker?
Floating means calling a bet (usually a continuation bet) in position with the intention of bluffing on a later street when your opponent shows weakness. It exploits players who c-bet too often and give up when they don't improve.
The classic float: you call the flop c-bet in position with a marginal hand, your opponent checks the turn, and you bet to take down the pot.
When to Float
The best float opportunities share these characteristics:
- You're in position: This is non-negotiable. Floating out of position is a recipe for disaster.
- Your opponent c-bets too often: If they c-bet 70%+ of flops, they have air most of the time.
- The board doesn't favor their range: Low, disconnected boards (7-3-2 rainbow) are hard for the preflop raiser to connect with.
- Heads-up pots only: Floating into multiple opponents is rarely profitable.
- You have some equity: Backdoor draws, overcards, or gutshots give you backup if called.
Advanced Float Variations
The Delayed Float
Call the flop, call a small turn bet, then raise the river. Works against opponents who fire two barrels but give up on the river.
The Float-Raise
Instead of calling the flop and betting the turn, raise the flop c-bet as a bluff. This works on boards that heavily favor your calling range.
The Out-of-Position Float
Call the c-bet out of position and check-raise the turn. Riskier but devastating against predictable opponents who always bet the turn when checked to.
Practice Floating on PlasmaPoker
PlasmaPoker's free built-in HUD shows your opponents' c-bet frequency -- the perfect data for identifying float opportunities. Practice these moves risk-free with Gold Coins.