2 Symptoms of Fancy Play Syndrome in Poker

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Arved Klöhn Pokerlistings Author
  • Fact Checked by: PokerListings
  • Last updated on: January 9, 2025

Fancy Play Syndrome, or FPS, is used to describe an overly creative way of playing a hand when a straightforward approach would win you a lot more chips.

A syndrome is defined as a group of symptoms and diseases that together are characteristic of a specific condition. In the poker world, instead of symptoms and diseases, it’s plays and actions.

Since there is no such thing as a “good” syndrome (Good’s syndrome doesn’t count), this article is using the term “syndrome” loosely, as the plays talked about in this article can actually be valuable, profitable weapons when used properly.

When misused or overused, though, they enter the realm of FPS. Each of these plays should be planned, thought out and executed in accordance with a plan. You need to have a clear conception of your goal and your line before you make the play.

What is the Free-Card Play in Poker?

The free-card play, when executed properly, is a valuable move for both Limit and other Texas Hold’em games. The concept is simple:

Raise or check-raise on the flop to force your opponent to check the turn, allowing you to see a river without any more bets.

For the most part, your goal with a drawing hand is to keep the pot size small until you hit your draw.

By removing one street of betting, the free-card play can be a simple way to control the total size of a pot.

In Limit, the free-card play will always save you half a bet (assuming you’re in position heads-up). In No-Limit, the play can be much more valuable.

No-Limit betting is most commonly dictated by the size of the pot.

If x is the pot size after pre-flop action, assuming your opponent bets the pot on all streets, the bet increases exponentially.

Let’s look at an example.

Standard play:

StreetBet/Pot SizeDollar Amount
Flopx$10
Turn3x$30
River9x$90

You called $40 to see the river post-flop. The pot going to the river sits at $90. Free-card play:

StreetBet SizeDollar Amount
Flopx$10
Turnn/a$0
River3x$30

As you can see the free-card play cost you only $10 post-flop. The entire size of the pot going to the river is less than the amount of money you paid to see the river in the standard play.

Unless you’re an action junkie, you’re running a semi-bluff or you’re not worried about lowering variance, keeping a pot small is always the best choice with a drawing hand.

Example:

You’re on the button with 9 8 . The cutoff opens for 3x. You call, and the big blind calls. The flop comes 10 7 2 . You check-raise on the flop as a semi-bluff. Both opponents call, and then they check to you on the turn. If the turn

Free-Card Play Falls Under FPS

But the free-card play falls under the category of FPS when used in a situation favoring large pots.

Players with hands worthy of a large pot will use the free-card play in an attempt to show weakness and induce a river bet by their opponent.

The problem with this tactic becomes clear if you look at the charts. If the plan works, and your opponent bets the pot on the river, you’re getting 3x the flop pot – $30 in our example.

By playing the hand “standard” – you betting the pot; them calling – you’ve made the same amount of money going into the river as you did after the river using the free-card play.

Even if you bet half the pot on the river while playing standard, you more than double your profit on the hand.

What is the Poker Squeeze Play?

For those unfamiliar with the concept, the squeeze play refers to using someone else’s presence in the pot to your bluffing advantage.

Player 1 raises; player 2 calls that raise. You (player 3) reraise in position. You have just made a squeeze play.

Player 1, the original raiser, is now not only faced with being reraised, he has a caller left to act behind him. With the pot now out of his control, and not knowing what the caller will do, more often than not this player has to fold anything but the most premium starting hands.

Players familiar with the gap concept will understand that player 2 has to be worried about the range of a player willing to reraise player 1. After player 3 reraises, player 2 has to accept that player 3 is representing the nuts.

The more pressure you can put on the players in the situation, the better the chance your squeeze play will be successful. For this reason, the most successful squeeze plays happen in the later stages of a tournament.

Even if a player strongly thinks you might be bluffing, chances are they will wait for a better spot to put their tournament life on the line.

In a cash game, many players will call you down in an attempt to catch you running a bluff. Not only that, but in a deep-stacked No-Limit cash game, stealing the pot with a squeeze play doesn’t add up in a risk-versus-reward evaluation.

Your goal is to win players’ stacks, minimize your losses, and play consistent, solid poker.

A cash-game squeeze play is almost always FPS; there’s simply no reason to risk approximately 30BB to win maybe 10BB as a pre-flop bluff. The numbers just don’t add up.

Example:
You’re in a $1/$2 cash game holding A K in the big blind. The cutoff raises to 3x, and the button calls. You consider a squeeze play by reraising big, but you also notice the cutoff has been opening wide and is more than willing to call 3-bets. The button is a calling station who loves to see flops. Even with a strong hand like A K , you need to weigh your potential fold equity against two opponents who don’t like to fold pre-flop. Failing to consider these factors and just going for the fancy squeeze might get you into a high-variance pot with limited profit upside.

Fancy Play Rule of Thumb

The rule of thumb is simple:

  • Unless you have a specific reason for deviation, making the standard play is always correct.

At the micro and small stakes levels, it’s rarely correct to make anything but the standard play. Only when you’re up against opponents only beatable though deception do you need to make deceptive plays.

To make one exclusively to stroke your own ego is a textbook example of F

Advanced Perspectives

While FPS is often seen as a pitfall, modern poker theory recognizes that calculated creativity is sometimes optimal. In deeper-stacked games, especially in tougher online cash tables or high-stakes tournaments, you may find spots where breaking from standard lines increases your expected value. However, doing so requires a clear understanding of your opponents’ calling ranges, tendencies, and how each street impacts the pot size.

Much of today’s advanced strategy hinges on balancing your range so that your line is difficult to exploit. Whether you follow a near-GTO model or take an exploitative approach, making an unconventional play only works if it remains part of a balanced plan. The more observant your opponents, the more important it becomes to mix up your strategies in ways that still adhere to winning fundamentals.

Incorporating GTO

True GTO (Game Theory Optimal) is rarely used as a rigid formula in live play, but its principles can guide you in avoiding overly fancy decisions that lack profitability. By understanding how your range distribution changes across different board textures, you can determine when a non-standard line makes sense.</p>

For instance, if you are in position with a hand that can benefit from disguising its strength, a check-back or unexpected raise might throw off your opponent’s range calculations. Yet when the pot grows large and your hand value is clear, standard aggression is often more profitable than attempting a needless bluff. The key is knowing when you are legitimately mixing up your play and when you are simply indulging in FPS.

Future Game Simulations and Post-Flop Lines

Advanced players run future game simulations, sometimes with specialized software, to test how different bet sizings and lines perform in the long run. This is especially relevant in tournament spots, where stack sizes and payouts change the expected value of fancy plays. Moves that look flashy in isolation may prove unprofitable when you consider ICM pressure and short-term volatility.

If a fancy check-raise is only marginally profitable but carries a higher chance of busting you from a tournament with big pay jumps looming, a straightforward bet-fold line could be more optimal. Balancing risk and reward while keeping an eye on your stack is crucial, and advanced analytics can give you the confidence to deviate from standard lines only when it’s truly advantageous.

FAQ

What is Fancy Play Syndrome?

Fancy Play Syndrome is the tendency to make overly complicated or deceptive moves at the poker table when a more straightforward play would be safer and often more profitable.

Why is it sometimes effective to mix in creative plays?

In higher-level games, mixing up your range can keep observant opponents off balance. A creative or fancy move can be profitable if it aligns with a balanced plan and exploits your opponent’s weaknesses.

How does the free-card play relate to FPS?

The free-card play can become FPS when you use it in a spot that actually favors building a bigger pot with a strong hand. If you overuse the free-card play, you might miss out on extracting maximum value.

What is the squeeze play and when does it turn into FPS?

The squeeze play is when you reraise after someone has raised and another player has called, using that caller to pressure the original raiser into folding. It becomes FPS in cash games or tight situations where the risk to reward ratio is unappealing, making it more about style than solid strategy.

Are there spots where a fancy squeeze play is correct in tournaments?

Yes, especially deep in a tournament where stacks and tendencies can favor fold equity. If you identify that both the initial raiser and caller are unlikely to risk their tournament lives, a squeeze can be profitable. The key is understanding when the reward justifies the risk.

How does Game Theory Optimal strategy reduce the risk of FPS?

By following GTO principles, you keep your ranges balanced and avoid moves that your opponents can easily exploit. GTO-based strategies rely on math and probabilities rather than showy tactics. That said, true GTO is difficult to implement perfectly, so players often seek a blend of GTO and exploitative play.

Can advanced simulations help me avoid FPS mistakes?

Future game simulations can show you the long-term impact of different lines, allowing you to see whether fancy plays actually add value or just create unnecessary risk. Analyzing decisions with these tools helps you refine your approach and identify when an unconventional move is warranted.

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