Do people play differently in freerolls compared to cash tournaments?

[GreatLeslie]

I like to think i'm a decent poker player, pretty average and better than I used to be. Recently I have played a lot in freerolls but tend to find people play very lose in these tournaments, going all-in after 1 hand, silly large raises early in the tournament etc; My cash game play is decent for the most part, however I tend to struggle keep up an average stack in tournaments, and for the most part feel like i'm surviving in the tournament more than anything else.

I'm wondering whether entering a paid tournament for even as little as 1EURO will be better? Maybe people will play more tighter and smarter knowing they have spent money to enter?

 

[hffjd2000]

Definitely, freeroll plays are different from cash tourneys.

The only similarity would be at the later stage where both plays normal/real poker.

 

[fubarcdn]

Freerolls are a totally different game.
You have to play a lot looser because if you play a tight range of hands you will be way outstacked early.
I like freerolls because I am addicted to the showdowns. When you are all in early you get a little adrenelin rush that can't be duplicated by hours of normal tournament play where you seldom get to showdown.
When you get in the Cardschat free roll club you will find that they play more like buyin tournaments which I also enjoy.
Good luck and keep posting.

 

[Riley2112]

You have to understand that with all tournaments, there is a risk to reward factor. What I mean is, the more real money you risk, and the higher the reward, the more seriously you are going to take the game.

With Freerolls the risk/reward is 0/100. You have absolutely nothing to fear in playing a super aggressive, even donkey style play. Similarly, it has to do with your bankroll in relation to your buy in. If you have a 10k bankroll and you are in a 1 dollar mtt, you feel comfortable playing super aggressive. It's not a threat to your bankroll.

In short, yes any tournament that has a real money buy in is going to cause people to play differently than one that costs nothing. But you will never escape donks. If you think you will by moving to a higher buy in amount...you just get donks with money...lol.

 

[nygmen2007]

Just buy definition it is free. It should not matter because it could lead to bigger and beter things, but people say nothing invested oh well... I have been guilty of this as well. If I took everything seriously might be better off.. It is a simple mindset...

 

[Riley2112]

Also, As you progress in your poker playing, you will find yourself on tilt QUITE A LOT. Bad beats by donk play. So a great way to relieve this stress is to get into a freeroll and let yourself play as crazy as you want. It's a good outlet and helps keep you from beating kittens and clubbing seals.

 

[TeUnit]

ya i see lots of AT, AJ, AQ, 44, going allin the first hand in freerolls, this is not nearly as common when the players have to buy their way in

 

[spiderman637]

Hi...freerolls and cash tourneys are very different experience....U will definitely see lottt less loose players in cash tourneys...the major difference comes in the eearly part of the tourney where in freerolls people shove almost every 4th or 5th hand....while in touneys ppl play straighter and not shove early so often loosely....
For me playing cash games really improved my game much rather what i learnt from freerolls...

 

[GreatLeslie]

Thanks for the replies people, this has given me quite a bit of clarification.

 

[skrsh76]

quality of play is Inversely proportional to no of entrants & directly proportional to the free money involved.

 

[GreatLeslie]

So if I was to enter a tournament as small as 1EURO buy-in, would I see a difference in the style of play?

 

[yeezus]

1euro buy-in probably similar play not as extreme donkish as freerolls though. Also freerolls off a site like cardschat would not be that bad play would be better

 

[easypickns]

1euro buy-in probably similar play not as extreme donkish as freerolls though. Also freerolls off a site like cardschat would not be that bad play would be better

The CC club freerolls play less loose,but in the open entry CC
freerolls they often play more like a typical( Bingo) freeroll at least for the 1st hour.

 

[belerophon]

I spent a good deal of time playing freerolls and their is a significant difference between a FR and even a small entry fee.

I fully adhere to the tight is right mentality in FR at least until the blinds get big.
Your almost always going to get action so sit back and wait, watch the table, pick your spot, and hit em hard.

If your going from cash to tournament it's important to remember that while you should look at both from a long term profit point of view, both behave somewhat different.

In a tournament there are going to be lots of times the tournament ends for you even when you have your chips all in with a great % shot of doubling up. This happens in cash but you can simply reload and keep on playing.

Tournaments as you even mention are at least partly about survival. The more chances you take the more likely it is you can get that one beat that ruins everything.

So your approach imdo should change when going from cash to tourneys.

 

[BigJamo]

Depends on the freeroll.

CC on FT & PS ... No different
BRM style about 800 ... Bit more loose.
Poker School style ... Find your sets & hit them, & hit them hard.

 

[VizziVizo]

Everyone plays loose in freerolls,and we too.People make us to do this with their game style.It is not poker it is a game named by go all in.fisher-tournaments,but poker isnt poker without this

 

[freestocks]

What about the money won from a free roll? Do you use it to play any different than any other money's?

 

[p4i7ank9]

Divide prizepool with nuber of players, take away 1/3 of those that will sit out and will finish when blinds eat them, and you have a "buy in" for the freeroll. Just for motivation. I try to play good in freerolls with high "buy ins", the more valuable ones. In cheap freerolls i tend to be loooooose and get kicked out in the first few hands.

 

[Faust]

What i notice as the main difference between freeroll players from cash tournament players is that players on freerolls usually play more loose, less afraid to loose, and you can find actions such as all-ins more commonly than in cash tournaments.

 

[jtholdm]

FREE ROLLS

I wanted to offer some tips on free rolls, First off when you play them you have to know it is a pure donk fest and that people will go all in on marginal hands. In saying this it is to your advantage to play tight and not succumb to this activity.

2) If you calla hand especially before the first hour is up andf you call you can almost expect an all in or another player to make a sizable bet. You will need to make a decision from their. If you have AA KK QQ JJ 1010 OR EVEN 99 88 it si to your advantage to shove from any position and go all in or make a sizable raise because you will get called.

3) once your chip stack is about three times the orig tyou can play a few marginal hands for the call only. remember its allot easier to get away from the hand if you just call than raise and get re called.

4) D0 Not take these tourneys to seriously Just have fun and remember you will most likely place or even win on about one or two out of 10 you play.

 

[jtholdm]

I am talking about free rolls were their is a very large field not a private free roll were thie is less than one hundred people on these i play them just like a i do my MTT

 

[badalhoco345]

I play both: freerolls and Money tournaments. I play the same in both. But in my opinion, theres a tendency in freerolls to see fishers, amateurs and sometimes it seems that some players doesn't understand very well how to play. So I take the conclusion that the majority of players doesn't play the same way both kind of tournaments. And if we take in consider that we don't need to invest in a Freeroll, it's even worst.

 

[jtholdm]

RE

I agree people play free-rolls allot looser than cash games or money tourneys I try to play tight the first hour and than loosen up a bit after I have some chips. Freerolls are just that and when their is no risk you have to expect the donkey effect to come to play

 

[satirist]

I cash in freerolls like a typical fisherdonk... Frequently! But I don't play at all how I normally play when *any* money is on the line. Freerolls are great for sharpening bluff skills : ) Much else? ... Eh.

 

[Alexsandr Kononov]

Each tournament is different tactic. Freerolls players throw all in with any card in the hope to win and fill the maximum steak to get the money. And in the game for money differently. You already spend and think no matter how play and double your bank