What is an online poker freeroll tournament?
An online freeroll tournament is a chance to play an intense online poker tournament for real money prizes, without having to pay a buy-in or entry fee. Members of online poker communities will always find freeroll tournaments to play, but beyond simply offering free cash, there are many very profitable options available for any kind of player.
Play Freeroll poker tournaments at CarbonPoker
Many players have made their start in online poker by competing in freerolls, and there are different options to pick up free cash and win online tournaments. New player freerolls are awarded upon sign up, and are completely free to offer members a chance to start a solid bankroll. In addition, $50 freerolls are ran every four hours for absolutely any member to enjoy a good online tournament with real money at stake.
Playing AA against Pocket Pairs - at an online poker sites
A-A versus J-J gives you an 80% chance of winning the pot. If you play aggressively pre-flop, narrow the field to one or two callers, and get a read on your opponents, then you’ve done your job.
As for getting “out-kicked”…
Be careful with A-J and A-10… these hands are notorious for getting out-kicked. If there are more than six or seven players at the table when you pick up one of these hands, be VERY CAUTIOUS.
The goal is to find out WHERE YOU STAND before your opponent shows his cards at the end. Get a read on what your opponent is holding and put him to a decision for chips BEFORE the hand plays out all the way.
If there’s an Ace on the board and you’re opponent keeps betting… and you just keep calling with A-10… then you’re asking for trouble.
Raise your opponent to find out where you stand in the hand. If he’s got A-Q or A-K figure it out before the cards are turned over, not after.
Try this strategy - online poker sites.
Read This Before Playing Poker Online
The number one tip for every online poker player who joins a poker room online is…
…use an online poker bonus code! You wouldn’t believe how many players sign up without a free bonus code. Without taking advantage of the bonuses that the online poker sites offer you are missing out on a huge amount of free money.
The poker room’s want you to play at their site as opposed to their competitors. So they give out cash when you make your initial deposit. They offer a bonus code to be used when you first sign up. So even if you are only going to check out a site’s play money tables I would advise you to enter a bonus code. You may win some money in a freeroll tournament or later you may decide to make a real money deposit. Either way you are ahead by using a bonus code.
I have searched for the most popular bonus codes online and placed them here for your use.
Full Tilt Poker - enter bonus code RIVERNUTS - 100% up to $600 extra bonus
(clearly the best bonus online)
Carbon Poker - use this carbonpoker link for a 100% up to $500 free
UltimateBet Poker - enter bonus code ultimate40 - 40% up to $100 extra bonus
Remember, always use a bonus code. Even if you are just going on the play money tables. Playing the freerolls alone is one reason to always use a bonus code.
Playing Medium Pairs in online poker can be challenging. Pocket tens, Jacks, and Queens are some of the MOST DIFFICULT hands to play.
Step 1. Decide whether or not to play them aggressively.
Just because you pick up a pocket pair does NOT automatically mean you should play the hand to win no matter what.
There’s always a good chance someone has a HIGHER pocket pair than you.
Also, you don’t want to get too aggressive when you’re in early position, like under the gun.
If you choose NOT to play aggressively, then you can shift into “aggressive mode” after the flop if you sense you have the best hand or if you hit trips.
Remember, position is everything. Consider playing much more aggressively (and possibly stealing the pot pre-flop) when you’re in late position.
Try this strategy at one of several popular online poker sites.
Step 2. If you play aggressively pre-flop, try to narrow the field down to one or two callers.
Watch out for higher pocket pairs.
You’ll most likely get called from someone with a lower pocket pair or two face cards.
Step 3. Represent the flop. If there are “scary” cards out there (i.e. you have T-T and the flop hits A-3-K) then just give up on the hand and don’t lose anymore chips.
If you represent the flop but your opponent goes right back over the top of you, then fold.
You can win ten big hands a night but RUIN it all by losing one big hand. So know when to muck your cards.
Of course… if you hit your trips on the flop, play them hard!
Try this at a few online poker sites.
A SIMPLE BLUFFING TECHNIQUE for online poker sites
The Mini-Bluff is an easy way to win BIGGER POTS
when you bluff… AND… decrease the chances that
your opponents will call your bluff.
It goes like this:
When you want to “buy the pot” and bluff out an
opponent you think is weak, what you do is make
the MINIMUM RAISE possible in the current round
of betting.
After they call, make your REAL BLUFF on the NEXT
round of betting… and take down the pot.
Here’s what I mean…
Let’s say you’re playing $1-2 no limit with good
positioning. Josh makes a pre-flop raise of $15.
The next few players fold… and the action is to
you. You look down at J-10 of diamonds. You know
this is a “hidden hand” that could bust Josh if
something good hits on the flop… so you call.
It’s just you and Josh heads-up. The flop hits:
7h-9s-2c
Not exactly the flop you had hoped for. It gives
you an inside straight draw… which means you
have outs… but YOU KNOW BETTER than to chase an
inside straight draw.
Josh represents the flop and bets $25. You know he
doesn’t have anything… there’s no way that flop
helped him.
He’s been representing the flop all night with
that same $25 bet…
So YOUR READ on Josh is that he doesn’t have
anything, and that YOU can buy this pot.
What do you do?
The answer is to make the MINIMUM RAISE.
Come back over Josh and make it $50 to play.
(This is your “Mini-Bluff”.)
By doing this, you’re taking control of the action
and finding out EXACTLY where you stand in the
hand.
Most likely, Josh will call your raise. If he has
something really good, he’ll re-raise you. And in
that case you should probably fold.
BUT IF YOUR READ WAS CORRECT– and Josh DOESN’T
have a strong hand– he’ll just call…
The reason he won’t fold is because HE made the
original bet. And since you only raised him the
MINIMUM amount, it won’t be enough to scare him
off.
OK, so Josh calls, and the turn hits:
7d
That pairs the board… but is no help to you.
Josh is first to act again, but this time taps his
fist against the table and checks.
Just as you’d hoped.
NOW it’s time to make a REAL bluff and buy this
pot.
You come out firing $100 in chips…
Josh shakes his head and says, “I can’t call.”
He flips over his A-J.
You throw your cards into the muck FACE DOWN…
leaving everyone wondering what you had. And you
rake a nice pot.
Here’s why the Mini-Bluff technique is so
powerful:
1. It gives you control in the hand.
When you raise your opponent, you automatically
assume a level of CONTROL. If your opponent
re-raises, he takes control again…
The entire POINT of a bluff is to get your
opponent to fold. If he feels like he’s in
control, he won’t fold… and your bluff won’t
work.
2. You get a better read on your opponent.
In our example, Josh could have easily had
something like A-9 (and hit top pair) or an over
pair or whatever.
You didn’t THINK he had something good, but it’s
tough to know for sure.
Your Mini-Bluff eliminates the confusion. If Josh
had a monster, he would have either gone back over
the top of you with a re-raise… or would have
bet after the turn card.
Instead, he just CALLED and then CHECKED the turn.
That’s pretty much a dead giveaway that he didn’t
have anything.
3. It builds the pot.
In this case, you won $25 more by “setting up”
your bluff with the Mini-Bluff. That’s $25 more in
your pocket at the end of the night…
If you use the Mini-Bluff technique five times a
game, that’s a nice chunk of change added to your
wins.
4. There’s less risk involved.
A MINIMUM RAISE is much safer than trying to buy
the pot outright… especially when you’re not
completely sure your opponent is weak.
The Mini-Bluff prevents pot-commitment and leaves
you room to GET OUT of the hand if necessary.
5. Your bluff is more believable.
The Mini-Bluff raises “red flags” for your
opponent… mostly because he’s not used to it.
It doesn’t APPEAR that your bluffing– and that’s
the whole point, of course.
After he calls your Mini-Bluff, he’s going to be
weary of you… confused about your hand. And THAT
is the perfect setup for taking down the pot.
So that’s the power of the Mini-Bluff.
It’s a great technique to add to your poker “bag
of tricks”…
But as with all strategies, use the Mini-Bluff
SPARINGLY. Don’t get careless with it or use it
too much.
The Mini-Bluff is NOT a replacement for your
regular bluffing patterns. It’s meant to keep your
opponents off balance and MILK them for a few
extra dollars once in awhile.
Also, only perform the Mini-Bluff when you’ve got
good positioning and sense weakness at the
table… the same conditions as any other bluff.
Play your position and get a feel for the poker table. Use these considerations when deciding how much to raise the pot. These strategies also apply to free online poker sites.
If everyone is folding when you get a big hand, you need to mix up your game. By that I mean show a bluff once in awhile… that way you confuse your opponents.
When you get to the “bubble” with four players left, try to make your move BEFORE getting short-stacked.
Don’t get “desperate”. Instead, steal some pots! Especially since everyone is folding to you.
Those “stolen” pots will build momentum and carry you into the money finishes…
Pay attention to the player stack amounts. If there is a player who is short stacked, expect 2 things. First they will go all-in when they have an A anything or 2 high cards. Second there will be good chance they will be taken out shortly. So play accordingly. Don’t take chances against the big stack while there is a short stack soon to be blinded out.
Big Sit N Go strategy
The $5 and $50 Sit n go’s are much different. Be careful not to blow your bankroll when you move up to the higher stakes. I see it happen all the time.
If you’re going to play in the $50 Sit and Go’s make sure your game is SHARP… I’d recommend just WATCHING a few before you dive in.
With that being said, I know a lot of guys who find the higher stakes games to be EASIER than the lower stakes ones… because the players are more predictable. Higher stakes tables have fast poker play.
Super System 1 & 2 Promotion
Doyle’s Room has recently launched a new promotion to celebrate our return to the US market:
U.S. players Special! Get an exclusive Leather Bound edition of SuperSystem and SuperSystem 2 (retail value $300) when you make a $200 deposit in one shot to your poker account. Deposit $200 or more from now until December 31st and receive your choice of the Super System 1& 2 Leatherbound book set or $50 in chips into your poker account. Awarded when you reach 5,000 Action Points. Check out Doyle’s Room for full details.
Three for one!
Doyle’s Room is bringing you an amazing promotion for the month of December! Every Wednesday during December, a $1+$0.10 NL Texas Holdem Guaranteed Freezeout Tournament will run at 19:00 EDT (23:00 GMT). By playing this tournament you will be invited to participate for FREE in…
Our weekly $300 WINNER TAKE ALL tournament and an incredible $1,000 CLOSING PARTY Freeroll tournament to be played on December 29th at 19:00 EDT (23:00 GMT).
Did you know that with only $4.40 you can win more $1,000! Thats right ONE THOUSAND DOLLARS!
You just need to make a deposit into your poker account and buy-in to our Wednesday tournaments. Your seat to the $300 WINNER TAKE ALL will be automatically reserved for you as well as for the $1,000 Closing Party FreeRoll tournament.
You will actually participate in THREE EVENTS for the price of ONE!
Hurry! Sign up today and reserve your seat! Remember there are only 300 seats available per tournament. Here is your chance to win big.
Table of Contents
About This Guide
The Online Poker Boom
Chapter I – Getting Started in Online Poker
What you Will Need to Play Online
Choosing an Online Poker Site
Online Poker Site Review Chart
Downloading and Installing the Software Online Security
First Time on a Site
Taking Advantage of the Site’s Free Cash Bonus
Choosing your Name and Avatar
The Lobby
The Tables
What Should you Play?
Putting Money Online
Chapter II - Adjusting to the World of Online Poker
Choosing a Game and Sitting in your Seat
Speed of the Game
Players From Everywhere
Removing the Distractions from your Game
Online Poker Etiquette
Setting up your Online Game
Making it to the Big Screen with One Table Play
Chapter III – The Advantages of Online Poker
Making Player Notes
Playing Several Tables at once
Online Poker Tells
Creating an Online Image
Seeing your Opponent’s Mucked Hand
Heads Up Poker
Online Poker Tournaments
The Bubble
Slow-playing the Nuts
Download the Free Online Poker Guide
Have you ever been offered 20% extra cash on the money you sat down with at a land based casino? Probably not.
Online poker sites will give you extra cash to play at their sites. They simply want you to play at their room and not their competitors. You will need a poker bonus code to take advantage of these great bonuses. Check out this
poker bonus code page.
Some online sites offer a large bonus to new players when they sign up. The bonus may be a free cash bonus amount. Sometimes the bonus is a free ticket or promo code into a tournament. Most often, the free poker bonus is a cash bonus. The online poker room will add money to your account depending on what deposit amount you choose. Some poker sites even offer several bonus offers depending on much you intend to deposit.
#1 Online
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Either way you choose, an online poker bonus is clearly easy money. If you would like to know more about online poker bonus offers visit our poker bonus page.
For your entry into the following promotions visit PokerStars today.
PokerStars Sunday Millions
PokerStars is the world’s largest poker tournament website, and the PokerStars Sunday Million is the longest running, largest weekly tournament any where. Play for at least $1 Million every Sunday at 4:30PM ET.
Poker Stars Sunday Warm-Up
Can’t wait for the Sunday Million? Then start your Sunday at PokerStars with the Sunday Warm-Up. With a guaranteed prize-pool of $400,000 and a start time of 12:45pm ET, it’s the perfect way to start your Sunday with the world’s biggest poker site.
World Championship of Online Poker
Satellites for the World Championship of Online Poker (WCOOP) are now running. WCOOP is the world’s largest online tournament series, with $15 million up for grabs. Will you be a winner in 2007?
World Cup of Poker IV
PokerStars World Cup of Poker IV has kicked off, and you could qualify to play for your country through one of our freerolls! To read more about how you could represent your country at the Barcelona finals, go to the World Cup of Poker IV page.
Asia Pacific Poker Tour (APPT)
PokerStars has launched the Asia Pacific Poker Tour! The tour starts in Manila, and will cover Seoul and Sydney, with more dates to be announced. Play in one of our satellites now, and qualify for one of these great tournaments.
European Poker Tour
Satellites for the European Poker Tour Season 4 are now running. Go to the EPT Season 4 page now to learn how you can win a seat at Europe’s most prestigious poker tournament series.
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Poker Stars has this to say about sitting out during a tournament…
A player in a “ring” game (a non-tournament game) can click “leave table”, and take his chips out of the game at any time. They can do this because each hand is its own separate event. If a player sits out too long in a ring game, we do remove them in order to free up the seat for another player.
Visit Poker Stars - accepting US poker players.
A tournament is not like a ring game, however. For their “buy-in”, they receive their starting stack of chips, which are not from their chip totals but are instead just scorekeepers for the tournament. Once the event begins, it must proceed until one person has won all the chips.
For the same reason that players cannot just choose to pick up their own chips and leave, we cannot arbitrarily remove the player and their chips from the event once it has begun. Every chip in a starting stack of a tournament must be at the final table in order for a game to be fair to every player.
It’s best to think of a player who is sitting out as simply folding every hand. This is a completely legal tactic, as it is up to any individual player to decide his own best strategy. There is no rule, for obvious reasons, against folding every hand. Therefore, what these players are doing is not against any rule, and no action will be taken against them.
For the same reasons, we cannot make changes to the system to discourage this activity. Once a player has paid their entry, they are entitled to play (or not play) every hand that their chips will buy them.
A player who is sitting out actually puts his opponents at a significant advantage. The player who is sitting out is still forced to pay his blinds and antes, and is never able to build his stack. On occasion, a player might blind off into 3rd place, or maybe even 2nd, but players who employ this strategy are usually far worse off than those who play their best game.
If players are actually winning chips by sitting out the entire time, this is a sign that the play in these events is far too loose and you should adjust your play accordingly. You will find that this is often the case with all play money chip games. I’m sure you’ve noticed, for example, that players will go all-in holding virtually nothing when it is play money.
We hope this clearly explains why this is neither against the rules nor something we can possibly police. If you were to play in our $5.50 cash sit and go events (available only on PokerStars.com, not on Pokerstars.net), we believe you would find that very few players are sitting out, and that the play is much more realistic with real cash on the line.
In addition, we have implemented a limit of 2 concurrent play money sit and go events per player. Players can no longer sign up for an unlimited number of events in an effort to accumulate chips without playing.
You are in the right place.
The number one tip for every poker player who joins a poker room online is…
…use a bonus code! You wouldn’t believe how many players sign up without a bonus code. Without taking advantage of the bonuses that the poker sites offer you are missing out on a huge amount of free money.
The poker room’s want you to play at their site as opposed to their competitors. So they give out cash when you make your initial deposit. They offer a bonus code to be used when you first sign up. So even if you are only going to check out a site’s play money tables I would advise you to enter a bonus code. You may win some money in a freeroll tournament or later you may decide to make a real money deposit. Either way you are ahead by using a bonus code.
I have searched for the most popular bonus codes online and believe this poker site has the best bonus offers.
Remember, always use a bonus code. Even if you are just going on the play money tables. Playing the freerolls alone is one reason to always use a bonus code.
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