PokerStars vs Full Tilt Competition

Hey guys, not sure if there was a thread exactly like this, but here's my question:

I have been playing on pokerstars for about 6 weeks now and am doing well cash wise. This is the first online site I've played for money and it was quite a shocker at first adjusting. On PS, Ive played about 10 Freeroll Tournaments with anywhere from 2K-20K entrants, but seem to go out before the first break or shortly after. I wanted to try FullTilt out and started playing play money there for about a week before entering 2 freerolls last night.

I finished in the top 400 out of 10K on one and top 300 out of 7,500 in the other (The big tournament, I got called by a deep stack and he lucked out with 4 suited cards on the table vs my trip Ks). I couldn't help but notice a significant difference in the competition.

I feel its easier to win at Full Tilt. Has anyone else noticed this, or did I just have a good night?

It's not really the competition friend. You answered your question without knowing it really. PS action is slow compared to FT. I run tracking software when I play in tournaments to help identify certain types of players. I play very TAG for the most part throughout most of the freerolls. On PS my VPIP is around 15%. Playing the same way with the same range of hands on FT my VPIP is closer to 30%. FT rewards fishy play in a LOT more than PS and a drunken monkey with half a brain can win on the free money side of FT.

IMO if you want to play freerolls, FT has the most to offer. You can play in 8-10 a day if you want. The only problem is that winning these has nothing to do with good poker really and the bad habits that work here will kill you anywhere else.

My best finish in a freeroll has been 4th on FT. I usually make it in the top 500. On PS I've never done well in freerolls, but I trust them more than FT.

So if you're wanting to make money on freerolls go for FT, but don't get married to the style of play that allows you to place in those. If you're looking for somewhere to learn poker better try Doyle's Room. IMO they are really close to live deals. I play there whenever I can, but there's only like 3 freerolls a day since they are small, but I feel the fish don't get paid off there as much as other sites.

steveestewart said:

I feel its easier to win at Full Tilt. Has anyone else noticed this, or did I just have a good night?

Click to expand...

FTP's freerolls have less players. They're capped at 7500, where Stars are now capped at 9000.

It's easier to win money from freerolls at FTP, because you don't always have to first win a ticket to Round 2.

Is it easier to get thru the fields at either site? No it's a freeroll. It's painful at both.

Yeah, I guess I just feel like I was getting beat ALL the time by the river on PS and guys chasing that money card while I got crapped on by the Gods of Poker...

Ive done 3 more 10K freerolls since posting this on FT and have placed 600ish, 92nd, and 2nd. I'm playing a freeroll in a few minutes on PS with 20K entrants and I'll see if I feel differently as I haven't played in a few weeks and have probably grown more accustomed to online tournament strategy.

Thanks for the replies.

Wait what FT freeroll is 10K??? I mean, the only one thats 10K that i know are the round 1 freerolls and those finish after 250th...

imho it seens like pokerstars is all about rake. dealing hands for big pots so teh site cashes in. i dunno it seems that way when i play

You run into donks at both sites, but I agree that FT pays them off more. FT has fewer players in their freerolls so if that's what you play then FT might be better for you. I just think FT's software is a little easier on the eyes too.

Yeah, you're right, Salim, the two top finishes were in the US Freerolls with 7500 not 10K. I also went out top 5K in the PS tourney. Went all in with 2 pair and got beat by trips by a dude with pocket 2s that called every BIG raise til the end and hit a 2 on the river with a KJ74 on the table?? what do you do?

When it comes to freerolls, there is no competition.....you just have to hope you can get lucky because in fields of 5k-10k with no "real" money on the line, it's just a crapshoot. I havent played much on PS , but when I did it felt alot different from the FT players, PS had much tighter competition who werent doing things as crazy as tilt players I played with

Freerolls can be very misleading. Lots of marginal all-ins and donkey play. You'll find yourself losing a lot with the best hand pre-flop to someone who's just betting.