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Freeroll Strategy
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Freeroll poker tournaments have become a favorite online pastime. Anyone can register and play for free, and the cash prizes waiting at the end of the tunnel make sure the game is competitive. For beginners, this is a great way to acquire basic poker skills without risking a penny. More advanced players can use freerolls to test different tournament strategies, without the regular pressure of finishing in the money to cover the buy-in. Apart from the important ‘educational' value, there is always the chance to win some cash. Many sites even offer prizes big enough for beginners to build up their bankroll with.
The unique nature of the freeroll calls for a distinct game strategy. We will concentrate on the most popular No Limit Texas Holdem freeroll, but the same strategic logic may be applied to any poker variant. The main freeroll game styles can be divided into three groups: the kamikaze, the frequent flopper, and the upstream swimmer. We don't necessarily encourage all three, but understanding these strategies and the motives behind them will greatly improve your freerol play.The Kamikaze
A common strategy that is unique to the freeroll scene is one we like to call ‘the kamikaze'. As the name suggests, this is a high-risk, win big or die fast strategy. The kamikaze frequently goes all-in during the early stages with almost any made hand (see below), and almost regardless of position. The goal is to either double up fast, or burn out instantly.The logic behind this strategy is straightforward - you risk nothing but time at a freeroll, so the kamikaze is looking to make his time worthwhile from the get go, or to get going! With this strategy you either double (or triple) up several times during the early stages (first hour of the game), or move on to the next tournament. If you do hit a few lucky flops, you may become the chip leader, and have a great advantage going into the higher levels. If you miss - you're through, but that's not so bad considering the free registration.
When they say size doesn't matter, they sure aren't taking about the stack at a poker tournament. The kamikaze strategy's biggest advantage is that when it works, you may find yourself cruising all the way to the money, playing comfortably and knocking out desperate opponents with ease.
Playing this style typically means going all-in from any position with hands such as AA, KK, QQ and any AK (suited or unsuited).
From middle position, go all-in with JJ and TT, as well as AQ suited and AJ suited, unless someone before you raised five times the blind or more. You can still call if you feel like the raiser is himself a kamikaze, but calling isn't really what this style of play is about.
From late position, and if no one raised significantly before you, go all in with any pair as low as 77.
If you're already in the kamikaze mood, you'll find it hard to hold back from raising and re-raising up to four times the blind with suited connectors and cards like AT, A9, KJ, etc - especially if they are suited. From late position this is a must.You'll notice that pairs are highly regarded in this strategy, the reason being that pairs are what you would call "made hands". If you're holding a pre-flop pair, you're not waiting to draw a card that will complete your hand, only to improve it. This is opposed to hands like AKs (suited) - good cards only because there are many draw combinations that will make them into an extremely strong hand. But until that happens, the AKs is considered a ‘drawing hand', and must rely on the flop to become anything better than a high-card A.
Made hands are an essential part of this strategy. The kamikaze is hoping that whoever calls his crazy all-ins is waiting on a draw, while the kamikaze already has a made hand, even if not the best one. If the flop doesn't improve anybody's hand in a big way, the kamikaze will come out victorious. All you need is a few winning rounds, and you can comfortably cruise all the way to the final stages.
The Frequent Flopper
Another strategy that could only fly in a freeroll is one we call the frequent flopper. The goal here is to see as many flops as possible, and play very aggressive after the flop. As you may have guessed, the frequent flopper limps into any hand, almost regardless of the cards he or she is holding, as long as the price is right. Once the flop is on the table, the flopper has seen close to 75% of his hand, and should have a good idea about where to go from there.The motivation for signing up to the frequent flopper club is as follows: The chips came cheap, so why not satisfy your healthy curiosity to see more cards for a chance to get lucky. The risk is small, and there is always a chance to hit that crazy one-in-a-million flop and clean up. This isn't generally regarded as smart poker, but freerolls have rules of their own.
The frequent flopper comes with some advantages. Firstly, when you do hit your flop no one will be ready for it, and you should take away big winnings. Secondly, you get to be active and participate in many hands. Bearing in mind the free registration element, this strategy will be beneficial for beginners who want to brush up on their post-flop game. The bad news is that paying those blinds with bad cards is a sure way to dwindle your stack, especially with the blinds getting bigger and bigger. Many inexperienced players have exited many a freeroll on this very path.
Limping into a pot is when you enter the pot by calling, rather than raising. The frequent flopper will limp into any hand that hasn't been raised from late position and most hands from middle and early position, for a chance to see the flop. In a passive game where most players just call and not much raising is going on, the flopper may call the blinds from any position. Needless to say, if you're holding good (or monster) cards, don't be shy and play your usual pre-flop game. This strategy should be applied specifically to mediocre and bad hands at a freeroll.
If you are going to have any success with this strategy, you must fold as soon as you miss your flop (which will often be the case), or play your pre-flop game very aggressively if you do come up with a good hand. Inexperienced players tend to get attached to the chips they have already invested, or to overestimate their hand value after the flop, thinking anything they hit is a good hand. Both mistakes lead players to chasing the turn and river for no good reason (apart from curiosity), and calling the late bets can be way more expensive than calling the blinds. You'll see many players loosing many chips this way at the first stages of any freeroll.
The Upstream Swimmer
Both the kamikaze and the frequent flopper discussed above are very loose strategies. They are made possible by the unique features of the freeroll. Most players entering a freeroll will, in some way or another, mix both strategies during the early stages, weather they know it (experienced players) or not (beginners). Once again, because the buy-in is free, it's only natural for people who haven't risked much for their chips to be quite loose with them, trying to double up fast and looking for fast action. However, the game changes dramatically after an hour or so, when usually half the players have been eliminated.When only half of the participants remain, the game will tighten up, and players will start treating their chips with dignity. By this stage, players feel they have invested something for their chips, validating the expression "time is money". Another reason for the change of pace are the blinds, which have doubled and tripled themselves many times by now, rendering the frequent flopper strategy almost useless.
When nearing ‘the money' stages, i.e. the stages that pay real cash prizes, the game has all the intensity of a real money game. You will find this true even if the lower prizes for finishing in the top 8% are 50 cents! Again, after surviving so many rounds and winning so many showdowns, players are looking for some sort of reward for their effort, and finishing a tournament in the money feels great, regardless of the prize. The high blinds also prevent players from being too loose, for fear of elimination. These stages tend to be very tight and aggressive.
As a general rule in poker, it's always good to go against the grain, to swim against the current. If you're playing at a loose table, where everyone around you is calling or raising every hand, it's a good idea to play tight and frequently fold, and vice versa. Because freerolls tend to start loose and toughen up as the stages advance, it is our strategic recommendation to do the exact opposite.
Start the game playing tight, participating in few hands and folding most of your cards. Someone is always going to call your raise in the first stages of a freeroll, so you should be patient and wait for the best hands. When you are finally holding a great hand, be aggressive and raise. This strategy will almost certainly get you through the first few stages of a freeroll. After that, you will experience the intensity of a real money game, without risking a penny!
The problem with this strategy is, of course, is the stack size. Playing tight at the first stages of a freeroll will almost certainly see you through to the top 50%, but when the game really matters you will be out-played by aggressive players with large stacks. That is why you still want to play the game, but be tight and aggressive about it.
When we say tight and aggressive, we mean you should choose your hands wisely (tight), waiting patiently for the best hands, even from late position. When you do have a good hand, be very aggressive with it, raising and re-raising, since chances are your opponents at this stage are kamikazes and frequent floppers. Obviously, now that you are aware of these styles you should look out for these player types, and corner loose players into big pots when you have the upper hand. This way you will not only survive, but also have some chips to mess with in the later stages.
During these later stages, you will find that everyone has tightened up their play, so this is the time to raise frequently when you think your opponents will fold. Play loose, and you will be able to steal many blinds, which by now are worth quite a bit. When you're nearing the money, it will surprise you how often this strategy works. Think of it this way - some of your opponents here will be former kamikazes and floppers who made a fortune in the early rounds and then did nothing but sit on it till the very last stages. You must identify these players and hunt them down. Some of them will feel so lucky just to have made it to the final tables, that they will be guarding their chips as if they were military secrets. Try and make them fold, and steal their blinds as often as possible.
Here comes the customary disclaimer inherent to any poker strategy ever conceived: None of these strategies are guaranteed to work. Being aware of them, however, will most definitely improve your game, since awareness is what helps you read and define your opponents. You must take advantage of their weaknesses using counter-strategy. We do recommend the upstream swimmer strategy, simply because most players out there are doing the opposite. As always, you should still mix up your game every once in a while, just so no one else has you figured out. Be flexible, and react to the situations around you as they present themselves. Most importantly - enjoy the free ride.