Worlds Largest Freeroll

Object in a an online free money poker tournament is to get into the money - Period
 

You will find that sometimes you just can't seem to hit the floor even if you fell out of your chair. Remember and learn at least 1 thing from those times. Those are when your pocket aces fall prey to anything. Those are times when you have aces full of kings and it falls to quads. If it was an exact science, there would only be the mad scientist at the top always. But it's not, there is personality and luck at play here combined with your mood, the people your playing with, and most of all your skill level. Patience is a major factor. Watch your oponents make their moves and remember them. This is a very big clue in the long run to overcoming them and remember, you don't need to win the game the first hand. I find that if I start off like a raped ape, I lose momentum by break time. I've finally figured that someone else has been watching me and styling their play to overcome mine at oportune times.

Unfortunately or fortunately, TV has convinced many players that online poker ALL-IN’s are something that is done every 3 or 4 hands. As a consequence, for example, it teaches us to bluff an all-in with a 7/2 off suit against a K/Q suited. Even though these are dogs, they could win but K/Q suited is a 10-1 pre flop favorite to win. So why are we calling at all? Is it frustration because he as done it 3 or 4 time? What if he has A/A this time?? If you are early in a an online free poker game or tournament you should not be short stacked - why risk the possibility of losing your whole stack or getting put out to prove a point!
 
Remember what the objective is again? In free online poker tournaments, it is to make it to the money - Period!
 
Keep that in mind and you will make it to a reasonable table level then if you pick up A/A - which is worthy of that all-in call - jump! You may still lose but do not change your play out of frustration. That bully will fall eventually. It’s not your job as a solid player to take him or her out!! Laugh, sure! Eventually he or she will limp in and bluff at a pot where you or someone holds the nut hand and they will be gone! Now that is smart poker!
 
In online poker free games the all-in play is an over used approach to the game used by players that watch 2 hours of Texas Hold em Poker on TV and forget it's condensed from the 10-14 hours or more of actual play that is rather boring as a whole. Remember that online poker and real poker differs none when we say this, “It is 99% boredom and 1% heart thumping terror”! Don't you fall into the complacent trap! Use all-in if you have the nut hand and think you will get called or if you are short stacked and need to make a stand to double up or take a pot.
 
Again I'll say, the object in a free online poker tournament or commonly called freeroll tournament is to get into the money – Period! This is the most important statement/goal you should keep in your every thought when you make every play. The more this is in your mind, the more you will find yourself finishing in the money!!!
 
Here's an approach I use.
I look at these free poker games as games with a couple levels.
 
The observation level
 
This is predominantly the first level of the game till first break. This is the level where you see the "All-in" people blossom. Those people usually run on a hope they catch cards on the board. The gamblers. They can be bad players, unskilled players, or just players that don't care one way or the other for whatever reason. This is a dangerous level. This is where both good and bad players continually get knocked out of tournaments. During early play, you should avoid any confrontation with these types of players if possible. Your main focus should be on learning who your playing against.
 
The money level
 
This is the next level in which you start to use what you've learned from watching your opponents. You should start to play a few more hands maybe a little bit more aggressively. Try to win a few nice hands. You need to gain a little ground to keep above the blinds. You'll find there is still those folks that test fate still with frequent high bets and high hopes of catching cards. This is where your patience will be tested further. Sometimes, you can go an hour without a hand. It's tough but patience will usually prevail.
 
Real play level
 
The last level is the real play level. This usually is when the playing field has narrowed down tremendously. Usually after second break. This is where there are large stacks and some small. This is when people usually have been thinned out enough to actually be able to read something into their bets. The more skilled players are competing with you by this time. Pay close attention to hands played and this is where position betting can play a big part in your success.