Apologies for the Internet speak, but LOL (or Laugh out Loud for those few people not versed in the universal language of cyberspace) is a term I hear often when discussing the various pros and cons of playing in freeroll Texas Holdem poker tournaments. There are many reasons why freerolls are a good idea but also many reasons why they are a hassle for many poker players.
If you have a five figure bankroll then the joys of freeroll poker will not resonate too clearly with you, but then the freeroll is designed to give everyone the chance to play and not everyone has a healthy bankroll. There are many players that would like to deposit money but for a whole host of reasons cannot do so. This can be an over zealous anti-gambling partner or simply a lack of money in the bank. Either way online poker via freerolls gives everyone the chance to play and build a bankroll from scratch. It is also really good practise.
The problem with freeroll poker tournaments is that there is nothing to lose so play is extremely fast and loose. To be busted from a freeroll tournament can never mean feeling bad because you have lost money because you invest nothing. This leads to both an advantage and a disadvantage. An advantage because there is a lot of bad play thus giving you more chance of success through playing solid online poker than in a normal tournament but a disadvantage because you will experience lots of players sitting out and much over-playing of marginal hands that can lead to bad beats you would not normally suffer.
This can be particularly frustrating if you enter a tournament and find seven of your nine opponents are sitting out. This is usually because players enter the freeroll tournaments then do not bother to turn up to play or get bored and leave their computers. Obviously where real money was concerned they would play but in this instance there is nothing to lose by not showing up. I have been on a table where every player on it was sitting out but this is very rare and I find having three players sitting out on your table in a freeroll tournament the most I encounter regularly. You will notice after the fifth or sixth level when the no-show players have busted out the play of a freeroll tournament improves dramatically. There is no reason why players should not take them seriously and the fun factor goes right up once players not showing up exit.
Use good poker tournament strategy and stay tight. Some of the field do not show up to play and some play manically and bust out. In my opinion this leaves around 25% – 40% of the field with a genuine chance to win. Winning those precious few dollars may not seem like much but players like Annette Obrestad and Tom Dwan have used freeroll winnings and turned that into million dollar bankrolls. Of course not everyone can do that, but why not you?
My own personal opinion is that freeroll poker tournaments are worth playing and bwin.com have many of them. Some are related to depositing and then becoming eligible, but a freeroll is a freeroll at the end of the day. It is free poker with prizes if you do well and there is not that much in today’s world that comes as a result of zero investment, so take full advantage and I will see you at the poker tables.
By Malcolm Clarke
