Early Free Rollin' Report

I started this "project" before (November) I started this blog. So I have played about 10 freerolls with no cashes. Here's my quick breakdown of Full Tilt's Freerolls:

Blind Structure: Regular freerolls start with 1500 blinds at 15/30, going up every 10 minutes (turbo goes up every 3 or 5, I haven't played them yet and probably won't). It's a pretty good structure. You can lay down big hands with moderate sized pots and still have a chance. You can be patient waiting for hands and that what I like (I'm tight with my starting hand selection). The only negative is that the tournaments can take up to 6 or 7 hours. That is a major time commitment for me.

Payouts: 100 dollar prize pool with 27 places paid. Winner gets $12, 27th pays $2. Can't remember the rest of the payouts. 2700 competitors in Omaha and Hold 'Em (1% of field gets paid). 2400 players in HORSE and Razz (1.125% of field gets paid). I've never seen a freeroll not filled.

Competition: There are a handful of people that push All-In first hand. These people (even if they win) I give no chance to win these. They just don't have the patience. As you get deeper you can definitely tell that players do get better (a credit to the structure).

Early Results

Omaha: I know little about Omaha but I played in one freeroll because it started when I had time. I finished like 700th or so. My bust out hand (from memory): Flop comes A 2 4 rainbow, I have 3 5: the Nuts (I believe). I bet and get raised, and I push. Guy rolls over A 4 for aces up. Next card: another 4. Full House...goodnight. That's what I have found Omaha to be frustrating and probably my most hated game (until I learn what I am doing). Don't plan on playing any more of these.

Razz: I played one Razz freeroll and did alright I finished top 400. Didn't get cards at key times and tried to bluff and didn't work (it worked early in the tournament but not late). May play a Razz Freeroll or two due to lack of public knowledge of how to play Razz (one guy thought he was playing stud for the first five hands).

HORSE: Played one of these. Can't remember how I did. Won't play again...too many weak games for me.

Hold 'Em: This is where I have (and will) focus my freeroll efforts. I've always had respectable finishes (for 2700 players) and even made some deep runs. I typically bust because I either: have a short stack because I played like a donkey after having some chips or I bust because I can't lay down a big hand. Here's a few examples:

I got As Qs in position against pre-flop raiser. Flop comes 10 high and baby cards. Raiser bets. I call. Next card another baby but this time a Spade giving me a draw. Raiser moves all-in (for about 65% of my stack). I think and then admittedly make a donkey call figuring I've got 15 outs. Raiser rolls over Q-10, so I only have 12 outs. Blank on the river. Hello short stack! Next hand pick up AK early position get called by 5's and goodnight everyone. 63rd place finish

The last two freerolls I've lost with pocket Aces. One of them I think I got away from, the other was a bad beat. I'll post this hands on PokerTube and then on here when I go back to school.

What I've Learned So Far: The continued emphasis of patience: in hand selection, betting and acting against bets. I need to work on my reads as well. This is a trial and error process and I hope to get better at it.

Free Rollin' Forecast: Slightly Scattered Freerolls...I will play Full Tilt Freerolls when I have time which may be scarce because of school and another thing I will blog about later.

What's Up Next of Free Rollin' Bankroll: Some hand postings and a slight breakthrough (but not the way I thought or intended).