The reward vs time ratio is alot smaller but the players are definitely worse making it very swingy. Still your +EV just registering so you should have a few good freerolls mixed into your schedule. Helps you build up some overall volume and reduce you ABI aswell.
Sometimes I feel like it can be harder playing freerolls just because the player pools skill level is so unpredictable. You can't take the same lines during certain flops like you would with a regular player, which kind of makes things more difficult.
Freerolls are harder. Most players in freerolls play way looser than buy-in games simply because they have nothing to really loose but their time.
It's only when players are close to ITM that play somewhat begins to resemble buy-in play.
Free-rolls are also more of a test-bed for players to explore different playing strategies, which makes variance even more extreme.
It's only when players are close to ITM that play somewhat begins to resemble buy-in play.
Free-rolls are also more of a test-bed for players to explore different playing strategies, which makes variance even more extreme.
whosdaboss25 said:
You hit the nail on the head with this. My company's annual tournament is essentially a free roll. Everybody gets in for free and the top prize is $15K. Freerolls too often start out as almost pure gambling with extremely wild play. You can raise with AK and get 5 callers. C-bets almost never get folds. You have to play these tournaments a lot differently. Try to get in to lots of pots with speculative hands and hit a monster. That's probably the best way to play when play is so loose. Big premium hands have a hard time holding up against 5 opponents because typically somebody else has hit 2 pair or better. Generally by the end of the 2nd round or the start of the 3rd round, the play has gotten much better because the remaining players realize that they actually have a chance to win money. I also play in tournaments at a local casino with $200 - $500 buy-ins. The play there is SO much better. Since players actually have something at stake, they play seriously. Your raises and c-bets can actually get players to fold. I'm not saying that buy-in tournaments are easy, but the play definitely makes more sense ... and it's better for my sanity !
The question was are they harder.
I wonder what you're really asking?
Is the ROI better or worse? Has to be better since there is no downside.
Is the reward per hour better or worse? Always worse since they take a long time due to large fields and except for the CC Freeroll are either A) not really freerolls at all just disguised rebuy tournaments with an initial buy in of $0.00 and way too long of a late entry or B) don't pay any real value or decent percentage of players, i.e. the ACR $10 on demand.
Finally the variance can be higher in the early stages due to the wide open play. Once you get past the mass frenzy it's good practice with a small upside and no downside except for your time value.
I wonder what you're really asking?
Is the ROI better or worse? Has to be better since there is no downside.
Is the reward per hour better or worse? Always worse since they take a long time due to large fields and except for the CC Freeroll are either A) not really freerolls at all just disguised rebuy tournaments with an initial buy in of $0.00 and way too long of a late entry or B) don't pay any real value or decent percentage of players, i.e. the ACR $10 on demand.
Finally the variance can be higher in the early stages due to the wide open play. Once you get past the mass frenzy it's good practice with a small upside and no downside except for your time value.
I feel they are. With a freeroll you have too many people with nothing to lose, and while you might play your skill game, too many jackasses going all in because....hey...its free!
You can wait them out, but too many times I've called one of these types of players with a good starting hand, they'll show something like 2 6 offsuit….and the site ends up giving them the win.
When people have to put their own money in the tournament, they tend to play with more sense.
Freerolls simply have too many lottery players. Sometimes they pay you off, but more times than not, you'll receive bad beats from these nothing to lose players.
Well, depends. Playing freerolls you play with people that don't care if they lose or not. They are hoping to double/triple up on junk a lot of times.
So if you play at buy-in like you play a freeroll, you might be in trouble.
Just remember, lottery freeroll people have nothing to lose and will constantly bully you. So don't play your buy in like you'd play a freeroll.
You can wait them out, but too many times I've called one of these types of players with a good starting hand, they'll show something like 2 6 offsuit….and the site ends up giving them the win.
When people have to put their own money in the tournament, they tend to play with more sense.
Freerolls simply have too many lottery players. Sometimes they pay you off, but more times than not, you'll receive bad beats from these nothing to lose players.
NewmWins said:
Well, depends. Playing freerolls you play with people that don't care if they lose or not. They are hoping to double/triple up on junk a lot of times.
So if you play at buy-in like you play a freeroll, you might be in trouble.
Just remember, lottery freeroll people have nothing to lose and will constantly bully you. So don't play your buy in like you'd play a freeroll.
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My opinion is that freerolls are much more difficult than playing for money, as thousands of different players who don’t put a cent into the game and play without a gram of notion about this game go into every hand with every kind of garbage !!!! and what is the most interesting, why they get lucky !!! and in the game of cash, people invested their money, so they are at least a little thinking about their moves and actions !!!