Delayed Float Bluff

Edjon

Recently I saw a bluff in a poker video, that I want to share with you: the delayed float bluff. This bluff is meant to let your opponent believe that you really have a strong hand, such that they will fold all marginal holdings. This bluff will work against players who try to put you on a hand and will react accordingly. The best players to pull this bluff against are the ones in the midstakes, since low stakes players will mainly play their own hand and high stakes players may know what you are doing.

How does the delayed float bluff work?

When you float you do this with the purpose to pick up the pot on later streets. You will do this against opponents who give up often after one barrel. Opponents who are aware of other players floating them, may check to the turn with marginal holdings (for example top pair weak kicker), with the intention of check calling the turn. In the instance of you floating with complete air, you have to double barrel this opponent at least to pick up the pot.

On the midstakes cash games many regulars will try to put you on a hand and know the concept of floating and may react as I wrote above. But if they check the turn with a marginal hand and you check the turn behind, many players will think you have a hand with showdown value, because if you would have floated with air, you would bet the turn.

Now when your opponent checks the river again and you bet, they will think: “he checked the turn, so he has something and now he is betting, so he must be betting for value”. Accordingly they will lay down all their marginal holdings, because in their mind you are representing genuine strength.

So this bluff works best against opponents who try to put you on hand and who are not aware of you being capable of making a bluff like this. On higher stakes however, the good regulars will know this, but of course you can adjust accordingly.

Finally, an example of a delayed cbet bluff I pulled off successfully