Are freerolls really an indicator of success?

[marakhovskii]

I recently started getting into online poker again. I used to play a lot in college (5 years ago) both online and live. I was fairly successfull live and mildly successful online. Online eventually destroyed all my bankroll.

Well I'm getting back into things again and stumbled upon this place. I saw a post here saying that before getting into cash games you should grind out the freerolls for a week or so.

Finally to my question, are freerolls really an indicator of success? Or is it really just luck considering the talent involved in such low levels of play?

I'm asking because I grinded out and got into the money (top10 in the money, placed 9th) on a free roll. It's the on demand kind. 400+ participants.

Does this mean I'm ready to play now?

TL;DR Tried out the freerolls for practice. Got in the money. What does this say about my skill level?

I carefully read the comments, but no one said about the time factor, because he needs to spend a lot on freerolls, and this factor should be compared on an equal footing with others

 

[cheeeer]

Not at all. It is indicator that you have no money.

I saw a post here saying that before getting into cash games you should grind out the freerolls for a week or so.

It gives you expierence without risk.

 

[Jankou36]

Not at all. It is indicator that you have no money.

nice one xD

Jabres:
I think that people says that to advise new players playing a little for free to gain experience and not waste all their money instantly. If you are experienced poker player online and live you can play what you want, just read about bankroll management, so you won't destroy your bankroll.
Freerolls are usually with huge amount of players, prize pool is poor and a lot of people don't care shoving almost every hand and your AA all-in can be checked by 5 players and you will lose vs. 27o.

 

[BrianM]

It's a magnet for players just shoving all over the place and of course similar erratic behavior. It keeps you on your toes but can be frustrating with all the fishes out there.

 

[WisdomMan87]

freerolls have a different skill set to beat and are easyer and nowhere close to the real buy in mtts, sit and goes and defently not like cash.
freerolls you play abc poker to make the money and very often you will be 60-70% vs your weak fun players. Also cash is harder then mtt on average. In cash if you have a 5% edge then you take it, where thats not always the case in mtt's, if you can beat 1-2cent on stars then you probably can beat the games at your local casino for 1-2 $

 

[crimsonblur]

To some extent they are a measure of skill, in that the worst player is never going to cash in a freeroll. However, when playing a varying group of players in skill, I think it comes down more to luck than anything else because there are so many players.

 

[CallmeFloppy]

I would not put too much stock in winning freerolls. While it does take a level of talent to survive that minefield, it is a different story when people are putting up their own bankroll to play. Win some more, build a roll, and follow some bankroll management to build yourself up to higher levels.

 

[imnoobpoker]

I think that a freeroll is not giving you a good indicator for how good you play Poker. In a freeroll people are more willing to risk a certain hands and yeah, If you don't loose anything then people are tilting after losing chips. Having said this, I think it depends on which freeroll you play.

Playing a freeroll CC, you will have a really good indicator how you play Poker. People are don't playing like donks etc, (ofcourse sometimes but not often) and when you look at freeroll with 25K people, yeah there you need luck.

I should say, If you win a CC freeroll you can say, oke I can play poker. Winnen 25K freeroll, I say luck

 

[robertocoelho]

I think freerolls in pokerstars have a lot of crazy players, but those of cardschat are good for you to practice in practice your strategies

 

[Jonatha007]

I'm currently in this battle freeroll, game just to keep practice, tight match the same way of tournaments with entry. I do not change my strategy even though it's bad. Good pre-flop hands will always prevail over the long run, and will be the ones that will bring you more profit. I usually go through the bubble by adding a few cents, then SNG 0.10 360 players. Playing the correct hands also often pass the bubble that in position 36 already generates another entrance. Game per day 2 SNG 360. If I take bad in 2 tournaments I stop playing another day to not exhaust my balance. Of course this is only temporary to keep me playing, and to add volume of the game, because I will return to deposit, games with 0.50 + penny entry has high profitability using only the basics of playing in position, choosing good hands and generating note of the Villain.

 

[alextepi]

I recently started getting into online poker again. I used to play a lot in college (5 years ago) both online and live. I was fairly successfull live and mildly successful online. Online eventually destroyed all my bankroll.

Well I'm getting back into things again and stumbled upon this place. I saw a post here saying that before getting into cash games you should grind out the freerolls for a week or so.

Finally to my question, are freerolls really an indicator of success? Or is it really just luck considering the talent involved in such low levels of play?

I'm asking because I grinded out and got into the money (top10 in the money, placed 9th) on a free roll. It's the on demand kind. 400+ participants.

Does this mean I'm ready to play now?

TL;DR Tried out the freerolls for practice. Got in the money. What does this say about my skill level?

I think that freerolls are for recreational playing and to keep you in the game when you're bankroll is very low. That's why I don't consider freerolls an indicator of success.

 

[EGOR77]

I believe that winning in a freeroll does not mean to be successful. Well, except for the case that you win almost every game, then you really have talent, and my advice to you, do not play freerolls, play for money

 

[johnny tigre]

getting into itm is a nice feat and more so if you get in the FT. If you do it regularly then i must say you are definitely a good player, but it all ends up on how you manage your bankroll.
I also get into ITM once in a while, i even got some large prizes but bad br management gave them all back to pstars... hehe.

 

[B1BOMBER]

My opinion is if you can cash fairly often in any freerolls you are doing good. If you have the patience to make it through the bingo shootout style of play of freerolls then you should do OK in a tourney where the level of play has a higher quality of poker play.

 

[ArmyRet2014]

Freerolls

Yes and no. Playing the freerolls are a good way to see how micro stakes poker is played. Everybody's opinion will differ, but like you I recently got back into the online game, but all my success recently has come from live games. With freerolls and micro stakes tourneys, you usually have to survive until the buy in and late reg period is over before the real poker begins because a good portion of people entering are looking to double up with any two cards or not play. The biggest shock to me getting back into online was that some sites allows someone to to sit out as long as they want with no repercussions. The higher up in stakes you go, the more serious players you will encounter, but there will always be those select few that thinks their only chance at winning is to go all in preflop with anything.

 

[jaymfc]

5 years is actually a long time to sit out. within a years time I'd wager that I'd be not only back to where I was before, but even better.

that was two years ago and he was never heard from again
I'd wager he is back to where he was before. SITTING OUT

success is the only measure of success and even then how many great players aren't doing so well these days.
poker is a fickle bitch. just have fun and play the best you can. always keep learning.
any stakes are fine as long as you can afford to lose.

 

[acemenow]

that was two years ago and he was never heard from again
I'd wager he is back to where he was before. SITTING OUT

success is the only measure of success and even then how many great players aren't doing so well these days.
poker is a fickle bitch. just have fun and play the best you can. always keep learning.
any stakes are fine as long as you can afford to lose.

Since there is no like or love button in Chat I am just going to say

What JAYMFC Said #truth

 

[Diegol]

Well you might be good but when you got in the money in a freeroll is mostly good luck and that you adapt good against this type of players (i think the best way to play against them is playing very tight) so, they are not good indicators of your skills but you are in the good path

 

[crazyjess]

more luck then anything else

My experience with freerolls is that most people go all in with just any hand they have, in the hope they hit anything and win. Sometimes i win a freeroll but most of the time i get kicked out when f.e. i have AK or AA and the other hit straight with 4 9 o. The worst hands win in freerolls. It's better to play serious money, when you have it.

 

[titiduru]

I recently started getting into online poker again. I used to play a lot in college (5 years ago) both online and live. I was fairly successfull live and mildly successful online. Online eventually destroyed all my bankroll.

Well I'm getting back into things again and stumbled upon this place. I saw a post here saying that before getting into cash games you should grind out the freerolls for a week or so.

Finally to my question, are freerolls really an indicator of success? Or is it really just luck considering the talent involved in such low levels of play?

I'm asking because I grinded out and got into the money (top10 in the money, placed 9th) on a free roll. It's the on demand kind. 400+ participants.

Does this mean I'm ready to play now?

TL;DR Tried out the freerolls for practice. Got in the money. What does this say about my skill level?

Yes, definitely you are ready. Just buy in for the wsop final event. Making the final table in a 10 dollar free roll is the ultimate fit of strength in poker. Plus, you have a bankroll now. How much did you make, 50 cents?

 

[OI7TuMuCT]

I think yes. I usually play in a tournament, I warm up on freerolls, especially if I have not played poker for a day or two.

 

[CryptoBlood]

Freerolls can tell you if you are good player ,if you are winning freerolls very often then you play safe and you are good player but it doesnt shows you 100% correct prediction about you like a player because cash games and freerolls,or tournaments with buyins are 3 different things.

 

[gocho2009]

More than an indicator of success are a way to practice in an inexpensive way and by the way have the possibility to increase your bank

 

[Alucard]

I think it depends. In freerolls you could get frustrated and shove what you should not shove but get lucky and double up and eventually win the freeroll. But will the same scenario with real money would you do that? I think you'd have a emotional attachment to it so your decision may vary

 

[TeUnit]

think free rolls are a great way to practice and they offer a boost to your bankroll with no risk