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Freeroll strategy

Freerolls are some of the trickiest types of MTTs (Multi Table Tournaments) out there. They almost always feature massive starting fields, no buy-ins and real money prizes (these last two features pretty much explain the first one). There are several types of freerolls, only a few of which are available for all comers to register for, the others are special rewards for real money deposits and as such unsuited for starting up a bankroll.
Though they require no real money buy-ins, most freerolls can only be accessed by real money depositors. Some freerolls are offered as extra rewards for first time depositors, in which case special tickets are awarded to allow access to those who qualify. Still other freerolls can only be accessed by winners of special promotions like rake races etc.

Those that one can truly use for starting up a bankroll from naught, are the ones which allow access to all those registered at the poker site, regardless of whether or not they’re real money depositors. The problem with these freerolls is that they’ll attract huge starting fields, compared to which the prize-pool will only be a minute one, but that’s all one really needs when working for a free poker bankroll. Because freerolls are basically MTTs, the early stages should be approached in nearly the same way, with a few apparently minor yet significant differences stemming from the very nature of the freeroll. During the opening stages of real money MTTs, experts recommend an extremely tight approach, with occasional ultra-aggressive lash-outs on strong starting hands. Basically, taking your position into account, you fold every hand that’s not a monster and you pounce fully ready to commit your entire stack on monster starting hands.

This TAG approach is something you’ll be able to afford, due to being relatively deep-stacked. You will be deep stacked at the start of a freeroll too, but the opposition that you’ll go up against will be different, and it will react differently to the moves you make, that’s why you need to re-think the above described TAG approach a little. In freerolls, besides those who aim to finish as high as possible, there are players guided by different goals. There’s a breed whose sole purpose is to annoy other players. These guys will shove all-in on any two cards just to bad beat someone out of a hand and to have a laugh at him. These guys will of course be felted soon enough, but in the beginning they’ll be of real nuisance. Another breed of nuisance player is the smart-guy, who shoves all-in on any two cards, to see if he doubles up or not. If he does, he tightens up and he melts into the crowd, having doubled his survival odds. If he doesn’t, at least he knows he hasn’t invested any time in a potentially fruitless undertaking. These two types of players will complicate your early stage TAG approach.

Shoving all-in against these players will carry reduced odds even if you happen to have pocket rockets, because they will gang up on you and they will outdraw you. With that in mind, you should tighten up even more. Be ready to let go of your pocket rockets if needed, because you do not want to play craps with 4-5 players staking your tournament life on the outcome. Only shove on very solid hands from late position, when you know the exact number of players you’ll have to take on. If there’s a loose cannon at your table, make sure you isolate him before you move in for the kill. The good news is that thanks to these same players (provided you approach them properly), you’ll be able to add to your stack significantly before the blinds increase to an uncomfortable level.

Sign up for a rakeback deal too. You will not make any rakeback money through your freerolls, but you will pay poker rake and thus earn rake back too as soon as you get your bankroll started and begin hitting the real money tables.

“Steve Larson, an online poker player from Canada. Visit his rakeback site for more useful information. Rakemeback.com, the number one rakeback provider.”