Freerolls are your ticket to winning money without having to deposit on a poker site. It sounds too good to be true, but most poker sites add these as an incentive for new players to join. I’ve personally played in hundreds if not thousands of these over the years and have a few final tables under my belt.
However, it’s not the easiest to place in the money in freerolls which is why I want to give you a few tips and pointers to increase your chances of getting paid in one of these.
Play Tight Early (Let the Maniacs Bust Out)
The sad truth is that you will see some ridiculous play in these tournaments, especially early on because no one really has anything to lose. They are called freeroll tournaments for a reason. From early position, especially in the first few levels of the tournament just fold marginal hands like KJ or Q10. You only want to play premium hands like (AA, KK, QQ, AK).
Just let other players knock each other out early on because it doesn’t make sense to go crazy in the beginning levels of these tournaments unless you are holding a premium hand you are just not going to fold.
Shift Gears in the Middle Stages
When you get to the middle stages of a freeroll tournament blinds are going to increase so you will see players tighten up. This is where you need to start stealing blinds and antes away from players on the button or in late position when you have decent hands. In the early stages the blinds and antes aren’t very meaningful, but later the absolutely become meaningful enough to try and steal.
So, open your range a bit more when you are in late position and everyone folds around to you. For example, let’s say everyone has folded and you are sitting on the button with 89 suited, this is a perfect time to open raise to try and take down the blinds and antes. Worst case is someone calls you and you flop a monster.
Abuse Position
Position is one of the most powerful advantages you can have in poker, and in freerolls, it becomes even more valuable. When you’re in late position—like the cutoff or button—you get to see how everyone else acts before making your decision. This gives you more information and allows you to play more hands profitably. Also, the longer you are sitting with the same players the more you pick up on their tendencies, meaning they are being more passive and waiting for hands or more aggressive and seeing more flops.
In freerolls, I see players make big mistakes, especially by calling too much or playing passively. When you’re in position, you can take advantage of this by stealing blinds, applying pressure, and controlling the size of the pot. For example, if everyone folds you on the button, you can raise with a wide range of hands and pick up easy chips. This is something you need to do if you hope to run deep and make the money or a final table.
On the flip side, you should be much more cautious when playing out of position. Acting first puts you at a disadvantage and makes it harder to control the hand. A simple rule to follow is play tight in early position and loosen up as your position improves.
Adjust for the Bubble & Final Table
If you are fortunate to get close to the bubble which means making the money in a freeroll tournament, you are likely playing good and variance is on your side. The closer you get to making the money you will see a lot of players playing scared. This is especially true for any short stacks sitting at the table you are playing.
What you need to do is increase aggression when you are close to money. Try and target short stacks who are just trying to survive. You don’t want to be the guy trying to “min cash” which is a stupid way to play these. Sure, making the money is good but we are in this to make a final table.
Play to Win, Not Just Cash
This is the advice I wish I had given myself years ago. You want to play in freeroll tournaments to win, not to make the money. The problem with just making money is that you are making pennies on the dollar, when you could be making a few hundred dollars or more getting to a final table in the top 5 or 3. There are plenty of sites that offer big freeroll tournaments.
You need to constantly take calculated risks the deeper you run in these tournaments, but you should not wait things out to the point of blinding out because you are afraid to make a move. Just understand that the final table is where the money is and that’s where we are trying to get too. Play to win, not just to cash.
Final Thoughts
Playing in freeroll tournaments can be a fun way to build a bankroll from nothing or to test out a poker site you might want to play on before actually depositing. You can usually play in these tournaments repeatedly on most sites.
I would use them to sharpen your tournament skills but not look at them as the end all be all. The biggest issue with playing in freerolls is that they can be time consuming if you end up running deep and get knocked out close to the bubble.
You also typically need to beat hundreds if not thousands of players in some of these so variance can be brutal as well. You usually need to win a lot of all in moments and hope you get it in with the best of it and your hand holds up. With that said use these tips in your next freeroll and hopefully you cash in big at the final table.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are freerolls worth playing?
Yes, especially for beginners or players building a bankroll from scratch. Freerolls let you win real money without risking your own, making them one of the safest ways to get started in online poker.
What’s the biggest mistake players make in freerolls?
The most common mistake is playing too many hands early. Since players aren’t risking money, they tend to go all-in with weak hands. If you stay patient and play tight, you can capitalize on their mistakes.
How long do freerolls usually take?
Freerolls can take anywhere from 4 to 6 hours depending on the field size. Larger tournaments take longer, so patience and endurance are key to reaching the final table. If you end up running deep and getting close to a final table it can run up to 6 hours from what I’ve experienced playing in them. It also depends on how many people are playing in the tournament.
Can you make consistent money from freerolls?
Yes, but it takes discipline and volume. While individual payouts are small, consistent deep runs can add up overtime and help you build a bankroll. Don’t look at these as the end all be all, more of a fun way to try and build a bankroll from nothing or test out a poker site for free.
When should I start playing more aggressively?
You should tighten up early and shift to a more aggressive style in the middle stages when blinds increase and players begin to fold more often.
Do I need advanced poker skills to win freerolls?
Not necessarily. Fundamentals like position, hand selection, and patience are often enough to outperform most freeroll players. Use the tips I’ve given you in this update and you should end up doing just fine and hopefully placing big in a final table.
Edward Pao is an online poker and casino affiliate marketer with over 10 years of experience in the industry. He has referred over 30,000 players to major poker platforms and specializes in reviewing the best online poker sites and casino bonuses.