FreeRoll Follies
:ridinghor Alas, the "ALL-IN" syndrome of the freeroll. Its spreading quicker than you think. Why??? You ask. There are numerous reasons why people go all-in with bad starting hands, but the main reason is becuase they have misunderstood an aspect of no-limit hold'em. Skilled players use all-ins to protect a hand or to isolate a given player. they also use their skills to bet properly before they have to resort to the all=in tactic. Here are few things that i have nocticed playing in varoius freerolls on different sites.
1) The more advanced players rarely call all-in bets, unless they've got the goods. So the "all-in" player can steal blinds, or gets a call and gets lucky. This lucky play is then mistaken as skill and they all-in until they get crippled(chip wise). Then all-in because they're now short stacked. Vicious cycle I know, but thats the play of the day.
2) Any two cards can win. Heard that before, well good. This is another reason why people go all-in. Poker is a five card game. A good player can create a table image and
bluff weaker players out of some pots. This causes the weaker player to go on tilt, and say that they are gonna call everything from this point on. They become suck-out artists, hence the best way to suck someone and not be bluffed off of a pot, and see all the cards is to go all-in. Very simple strategy, key word SIMPLE, as in stupid.
3) They just don't know any better. When they call your pocket Aces with an all-in bet, some think that they have a legitimately strong hand. Or they won a big pot with their 8/5 os at their sister's house game one time. Ask the average poker player what a strong starting hand is(referring Texas Hold'em) and you'll be surprised by the answer that you get back. You'll find a majority of people who prefer a suited AK to pocket Aces.
So the long and short of it is...play tight, play right. Luck is when preparation meets oppurtunity. Be patient, and disciplined and you'll do fine.