While a freeroll or play money game won’t necessarily be the highest pressure poker situation you will ever be in, you will still want to play in the way that maximizes your entertainment value. Some players also want to use these free poker opportunities to improve their skills while they get ready for real money games. The best approach to these goals will vary depending on which type of free poker you are playing.
Freerolls vs. Play Money: Betting
In a play money online Texas holdem game, betting is almost like playing roulette or bingo. Players put all their money in and take their chances. While it can be fun to “roll the dice” and see if you can win a giant pot, it is not really playing poker.
You will have to decide whether you want to play a tight game and experiment with facing a table full of loose opponents or whether you want to just join in. Bluffing will not be successful in these games. In a freeroll, there is something on the line, so the betting has meaning. With that said, you can expect many more loose calls than in a real money game, and you should still avoid bluffing for the most part.
Freerolls vs. Play Money: Reading Opposition
You will have a hard time reading your opponents in a play money game. Since nothing is on the line, the level of deception is minimal. Players in a freeroll are more likely to exhibit the predictable betting patterns that they may carry over to real money games.
Freerolls vs. Play Money: Having Fun
Play money poker is stress free and a great way to try out Texas holdem tournaments and ring games with no risk involved. You leave the game no worse than when you started. If you are looking for a bit of entertainment with no risk or anxiety, play money is for you. If you are looking to start exploring how it feels to be sweating the turn of the next card, try a freeroll.
