Tips from one of the best. This is part 1 of 3:
Here’s some good information on a play called “Floating”, from PokerChannelEurope.com:
Floating is another one of those poker terms that didn’t even really have a name a few years ago but is now a regular part of the modern players toolbox. Floating is, sometimes, actually just a bad players clever name for making a ridiculously fishy call but when done properly it is a bluff that is more profitable than just blindly raising and demonstrates multi-street thinking that exploits those who can’t imagine anything beyond the flop.
Floating is calling a continuation bet (usually) on the flop when your hand isn’t strong, with the specific intent to bluff at the pot on a later street. So you hold king-jack on a 2-2-9 flop and, even though you haven’t improved, you call a bet from a pre-flop raiser anyway. Now, if the turn comes a blank and your opponent checks or makes a smaller bet, you read it as if they have given up on the pot and fire a bet out to take the pot down.
The reason why floating is profitable is because there are so many aggressive players who will continuation bet on the flop 100% of the time regardless of what the board texture is. When you consider that most hands don’t improve 2/3s of the time then floating is the perfect way to extract more money from a pot where you are both stealing. It is a very difficult prospect to fire a second bet on the turn when you hold nothing, especially as the call makes it look like you have a hand, and a great deal of players will give up and check the turn, giving you a free pass to steal the pot.
The most important thing about floating is that you should only really do it in position because that is where you get the information, that your opponent has given up, from. Floating out of position can get very expensive. It doesn’t hurt to float with a hand that could actually suck out on your opponent, like ace high or a gutshot, which has the potential benefit of tilting your opponent if you do hit.
You need to know already that your opponent is capable of laying their hand down and also likely to give up on the turn. Floating does not work well against hyper aggressive opponents and makes the most money from tight-aggressive players. Be fully prepared to give up on the turn if your opponent bets as it gets very expensive trying to outplay them from that point on and make sure you don’t float too often! because you’ll just become a calling station and your opponents will start value betting you very thinly or check-raising you with nothing.
Here’s a great site that should give you some ideas and methods for perfecting some pretty cool Poker chip tricks.
TricksWithChips.com … Start practicing!
Learn how to read your opponents when they’re bluffing… from PlayWinningPoker.com:
1. Watch the Eyes
This is why many pros wear sunglasses or visors/caps when playing, they know that the eyes rarely lie. For example, many players can’t help but stare at big hole cards, so their length of time peeking is longer. Conversely, if a player is looking to steal the pot, he may look to his left to see if the remaining players, who haven’t yet acted, have quickly glanced at their cards and are likely to fold. Another example, a player may try to ask you questions about your hand, knowing that people rarely can “look someone straight in the eyes” while being dishonest.2. Facial Expression
Again, many pros try to disguise their entire face by wearing a cap and looking downward. This is to avoid the classic stare-down that poker pros are famous for. They may try to study your face for nervousness (detecting a weak hand), or even look for repetitive characteristics like a body “tic”. You may have obvious unhappiness in your face when your hand is weak, and conversely, you may show a contrasting show of confidence when your hand is strong.3. Weak is Strong/Strong is Weak
In its most simplistic form, this usually applies to novice players but frequently applies to pros as well. Basically, players like to be actors, and when they have a monster hand they tend to look disinterested. For example: “Oh, is it my turn to act” or “Oh I guess I will play these cards”. Alternatively, a player increasing the level of his voice while raising the pot, and trying to look intimidating.. may be running a bluff.4. Anxiety
Anxiety typically occurs in people when they are confronted, or anticipating confrontation. Psychologists call this the “Fight or Flight” stimulus response, which links back to the days when we were cavemen/cavewomen. Physical changes happen including flexing of muscles, eye pupil dilation, palpitating heart rate, dry throat. In poker, when someone has a big hand they are typically ready for confrontation and can exhibit some of these characteristics. You may see the chest expanding abnormally, or you may notice the players voice become slightly higher as he makes a comment. Some of the top players in the game will stare at the vein on the top-side of your face for blood pressure changes. During a bluff, the player may demonstrate anxiety, but if he knows he will fold the hand if re-raised (non-confrontational end) may look quite comfortable.5. Trembling Hands
Also, a byproduct of anxiety, beware of a player whose hands are shaking, this nervousness can represent a big hand.6. Glance at Chips
Again, relating to the eyes. It is common for players to quickly glance at their chips if they connect with the board after a Flop. This may be a subconscious reaction, but the tell is the player is already planning his attack!7. Peeking Hole Cards on Flop
Some players will take another look at their hole cards when, for example, the board is showing a potential 3 card flush draw. Typically, the player is looking to see if one of his cards is connecting, because he remembers only that the two cards are different suits.8. Repetitive Betting Patterns
Usually the most revealing poker tells are based on the way a player habitually bets during particular situations. For example, maybe the player always checks when he has made the nuts, or a player may regularly fold after being re-raised.9. Body Posture/Attitude
Some players show obvious changes in their posture based on their attitude/hand strength. For instance, you may notice their shoulders drop/slump when they are not confident (weak hand). Conversely, you may notice the player is very attentive and sitting in an erect position when he has strength. You may also notice that a player who bluffs a lot, leans forward in a confrontational way… remember Strong is Weak!10. Chip Stacking
When you first sit down at a table, study the way the players stack their chips. Although it is a generalization, loose aggressive players typically maintain unorganized/sloppy stacks, while tight conservative players keep well organized/neat stacks.
Try and learn these tricks:
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