Freeroll Tip

[mikechenz]

Here's a little freeroll tip:

If you're playing in a freeroll and your first hand is big (PP's, A10 or better), go directly all in, don't slowplay or put in a small raise... Most of the time you get called by idiots who think you're one of them, and they call with K9 or rubbish like that... Great way to triple up on the first hand... You can try it again the second hand, but from then on start playing normal...

[bolton28]

to b honest iv never realy thourt of that thats a gud theary i think i try that cus there is a lot of idiots who call ya with nothin and try and get lucky dont u think that in the early stages its a good move 2 play tight then get more agresive as the torny gos on

[neefer]

I disagree. I've played in many freerolls, and yes, there are idiots who go all in. I hate that. I mean, c'mon...when the game first starts, the blinds are usually only 10/20. Woo hoo. YOu just racked up 30 chips. Just because it's a freeroll, I don't think you should play stupid. I think that you should play like you would normally...but if you play "all in", whatever, that's your style. It's gonna bust you one of these days too. The first thirty minutes of freerolls usually eliminate the trash because of people going all in trying to steal the peasy little blinds. Play like you want to win chips and really rack up. Grrrr. Blah.

:] Neefer

[mcsumo]

I would have to disagree strongly with that 'strategy'.....you are just as likely to get an early exit playing that way....or even worse....only steal 30 chips when the board would have given you the best hand and 3 or 4 others all with a piece calling you. Although to be fair I never play those big freerolls where you have all in donkeys all over the place....I just don't see the enjoyment in it. And that is the main reason I play poker....to enjoy it.

[bigstu2]

i also disagree but it is an intresting theory, but in my experience when ppl call all in it is usually the ppl who call with 6 2 off suit seem to win with a str8 or full house or something strange, i wouldnt call i would try and pick up the extra by every1 calling the blinds, but i suppose every1 has there on style of play.

[doubleuwhy]

I would agree with this all-in strategy in the 1K starting chips, 10 min blinds, mega freerolls (5K+ entrants). Given the amount of random luck you need in these freerolls, you need to put yourself in these early multi-pot hands to pick up the donkey chips available when possible.

You do get knocked out, maybe even a third of the time or higher, but given it's a mega freeroll, I'd rather get knocked out in the first 10 minutes with a top24 hand than to play for 2 hours and get sucked out by donkeys on the bubble holding a top24 hand since I needed to fight and risk with a small stack throughout the tournament.

Another point is if you do not get a decent stack early in a mega freeroll, if an aggressive large stack is at your table, you are effectively crippled in the hands that you can play. Limiting your ability to gather chips.

In freerolls with a slower blind structure, smaller fields, or higher starting stack, I would not play this way and play poker more since I know I have the time to gather chips and the chip leaders cannot have incredibly large stacks where you cannot hurt them mid tourny.

The Poker4ever $400 freerolls are like that and they are one of the only 'public' freerolls where I can enjoy 'playing' poker almost for the whole tourny.

[dreilly]

Would never work for me anyway, i always miss the 1st hand. Remeber being lates my thing.



-dreilly-

[macrae06]

it is anice theory but a tryed it before its back fired several times ave had kk aa and no one calls and i earn 20 30 chips its no good your not always going to get a idiot at your table

[katymaty]

theory sounds ok only problem is, if you get 3 or 4 fish callers callers more often than not they will hit two pairs a set or straight.

Id rather play it as normal and maybe go all in if one fish raises

[dovla1982]

that's good tip.. i use that sometimes when i play heads-up tourneys.. if i got good first dealt hand (88 or higher pair, or ace with 10 or higher) i move...sometimes it works and you're called with lower hands..

in freerolls it's different.. there are too many idiots, so your A10 can be called by 3-4 guys on first hand.. and you're underdog then.. but if you have good hand in early stage of tourney (QQ for example) you have great chances to be called by some moron..