Poker Freeroll Strategy

Poker freerolls are always a great way to make some quick cash, especially if you happen to go broke and a site and need a new bankroll without depositing. Although freerolls often have tons of players competing for a small amount of money, if you know the correct strategy you can build up a nice bankroll without having to deposit your hard earned money. This article will teach you how to consistently make money in freeroll tournaments.

Know When to Get Your Money In

One of the most important things when it comes to poker tournaments, and especially freerolls, is to protect your money when you’re behind, and to get your money in when you’re ahead. This is so important in freerolls because so many players are playing like maniacs and getting all in almost every hand. If you gamble with them all the time, you’ll be out quickly. However, if you are patient and wait for a good opportunity, you can take all of those players’ chips and be in great shape to cruise into the money.

Some spots when it is obvious you shouldn’t get your money in is when there is a 3-way or even 5-way preflop all-in, and you have a mediocre hand like KQs. The chances you’re going to win are extremely low simply because there are so many players in. It is definitely not a good decision to get your money in preflop in this situation, even if the pot is huge.

Now, some times when you should get your money in might not be so obvious. For example, if you have KQs during the early stages of a freeroll and someone raises all in, you should seriously consider calling. Since they made such a large raise, it is likely they’re a crazy player with a weak hand and want to gamble. Your KQs is probably way ahead here, and it makes sense to get your money in and try to double up. Since it is a heads up pot you’re much less likely to get sucked out on, so it is smart to get all in here.

Playing the Bubble

If you accumulate a nice stack and are fortunate enough to make it close to the money, you’re going to see a strange change occur in players’ decisions as you get closer and closer to the money. Mainly, players will tighten up because they want to make the money so they can start playing for real money. In this case, you basically have two options for playing the tournament bubble: you can tighten up like everyone else and hope you slip in, or you can loosen up and try to build a big stack so you have the best chance of final tabling or even winning.

If you decide to tighten up, make sure to steal the blinds once in a while to maintain your stack. If you fold every hand you are probably going to blind away and miss the money.

If you decide to play aggressively, make sure to target middle-sized stacks with blind steals because they are most likely to fold preflop. Small stacks will be more desperate so they will call more often, and big stacks have chips to blow so they will also call blind steals more often. By targeting the middle sized stacks you give yourself the best chance of successfully stealing the blinds. Once you make it in the money, continue playing your aggressive game to give yourself a chance at the win. Good luck!