Floating
Floating refers to a play where you stay in a hand, usually calling a post-flop bet with nothing. You have no hand and no draw but your intention is to stay in and steal the hand away with an aggressive bet on the turn or river or both. Floating requires, of course, that you have a read on your opponent and that read is that he or she is weak and they are actually trying to win the pot with a poor hand.
You are “floating” over their flop bet that you see as a weak bet or perhaps a continuation bet. Floating also is a bet, usually a call, where you are looking for weakness. Most post-flop play looks for strength or weakness in your opponent. When you float you hope to see their weakness and hope they put you on a hand; so you are showing strength that you do not hold in your hand.
Note that in some cases, floating can be followed by drowning; use this play with appropriate caution.
-this is Beginner’s Poker Blog Post #175
