Freeroll Play
By: ARTHUR EVANS

In the game of poker, freeroll has two different meanings. The first type of freeroll refers to a poker tournament that has no entry fee, and this will be the main focus of this lesson. An effective strategy can earn you hundreds, even thousands of dollars and allow you to test out different poker strategies without the added pressure of finishing in the money. Freeroll tournaments are a great way for a brand new poker player to gradually build up his or her bankroll.

The biggest attraction of freeroll tournaments is that, well they’re free yet the top placers also win a cash prize. This is the perfect environment to learn and perfect your game because you don’t pay anything to play and you still have a chance to finish in the money. Often, new players are so focused on finishing in the money at all costs, that they play super tight and miss prime opportunities to double up or get knock a player out. Freeroll tournaments allow you to relax a little more and play hands you typically would not.

Since most freeroll tables are packed with beginner poker players, here are a few tips to get you to the money. First, during the first hour of play, you should count only on premium cards (AA, AK, and KK) to steal the blinds and even double up your stack. Go all-in, regardless of your position if you pick up any of those hands. They won’t come often, but when they do they’ll put you ahead of the pack if played with precision. Sticking with premium hands during the first sixty to ninety minutes of play will guarantee that you’re around long enough to see the next round of play.

During the last hour of play in a freeroll tournament, you should employ the ‘raise & fold’ method and limit how many times you limp in, if you choose to at all. Don’t allow players to stick around until they get a comfortable seat in the money. This is the time when you play a bit more aggressively and force other players to beat you. Obviously this doesn’t mean you should go all-in with every hand; if you do that eventually you’ll get chopped down and end up short-stacked in the most important level of the game.

The last hour is when most beginner players are likely to make the most mistakes. Don’t even involve yourself in hands that have several all-ins or giant bets. Let someone else do your dirty work and knock the other opponents out. You’ve just survived long enough to thank that player by taking his stack and sending him home. Avoiding major blunders like these means you’re already on your way to becoming a skilled poker player.

Arthur Evans Columnist of internetsolutionsbusiness.com online poker specialist

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