No Limit Holdem Advice

Novice poker players are quite straight forward when it comes to playing the cards that they are dealt. As ones poker knowledge increases, we learn to bluff, and semi bluff, we learn to put opponents on hands, and one of the most important things we learn is fold equity and that is what leads to successful floating and bluffing. Floating is calling a bet on the flop, without the odds to make an implied winning hand.  Fold equity is the improved equity of your hand based on being the aggressor into the pot. Poker is a game where you do not have to have the best had to win, if you can make your opponent fold. When your opponent folds before having a showdown, your fold equity is 100%. Figuring out your fold equity is much more difficult than calculating odds to win a pot at showdown. You can not get caught up in calculating equity; it will lead you down a path of torturing yourself time and time again at the table.

Without having odds, calling bets seems wrong to many players. Why should you just call a bet without any kind of implied odds to make your hand? Raising usually seems like a good option, after all what you want is someone making a bad play in a big pot, its how you earn your money as a poker player. The reason to just call is to delay your play, and take the pot on one of the remaining streets, and usually enticing a much bigger pot along the way. There are many reasons why this play is often a profitable one.

Bets or raises on the turn are much more frightening to your opponents. You can do a lot more with your play at this stage in the hand. Floating allows you to control the pot more to your liking. People will bet a draw on the flop as a steal attempt, however if you apply the pressure AFTER they miss, they will be more adept to folding. This is where fold equity comes into play, which makes floating very profitable, however you must be aware of several things before attempting it.

Floating is a tool to be used primarily when heads up. You want everyone else out when that turn card comes. Position is imperative to a successful float. Floating is a dangerous play in poker as it is, and adding bad position into that mix makes it even more so. You must also have a very good feel on your opponent to float successfully. You must make sure you will know where your opponent is at on the turn, and if you are facing someone who likes to continuation bet the flop and folds on the turn, this is a good spot. If you are not playing a draw, is your opponent? If the opponent puts you on a draw, it may be harder to take the pot away, so pay close attention to the board.

Be careful about getting caught floating, because then your table image will change dramatically. Players who have not been playing the game long, are not aware of this play at all and it will confuse them greatly, which at times you do not want, you want them dumb and willing to hand over there money. The other side of that coin is you will get labeled as a fish, and that is what you want at the table, people thinking your play is terrible while you stack there chips up. Now get floating!