3rd freeroll ever....final table

Hey guys,

I just registered on this site and i wanted to say that i think freerolls are awesome. Last night was my third freeroll, im still mostly a beginner poker player, and i made it to the final table. I think they are fun and fairly easy as long as you play tight and disciplined and try to stay away from the people that go all in almost every hand to try to get a big stack of chips early. My only problem with them is the fact that i played smart the whole way through and when i got the 9th seat at the final table my chip count compared to some others was so low that i wasnt in contention for the money. Does anyone have any tips or strategies that might help me in the future. thanks.

-bdud

If you ever make the final table in a freeroll, there are 2 ways to play, tight and loose. Usually the tighter players end up blinding out, for the reason that... you wait for that great hand and the time you get that hand, you will need 3 doubles to make the avg. chip stack. Best saying, To get big rewards you need to take big risks, and the looser players in the end... most of the time end up winning tournaments. Stab at pots if you think you can. Don't be afraid to throw your chips in there. I hope this helps.

You cannot play tight as said by blackstone, at least all the time in this situation. You have to try to win pots, not matter how small. Need to be agressive, but to an extent, If somone is raising your bet then you need to stop and think. Waiting for a big hand will only cost you money because of the blind sizes at that point. Need to be agresive, but also be careful to others bets, and play. You should have an understanding of the poeple you are playing at this point, as to what they will bet with, or raise with.

Tight among loose players works out great. However you have to wait to a really good han (Ak KK QQ) or else you are probably out. Still, making to that level is an outstanding feat.

The big thing though is not to sit there feeling negative vibes 'cos "oh well I'll be out soon". Always keep "a chip and a chair" in the front of your mind. Just last night at Jetset, I got down to less than half my starting chips after 15 minutes. Struggled at that level for 15 more minutes, then bingo, it all started to work. Out of 1250 starters, after 90 minutes, I was up to around 30th with 300-ish left. It evenually all went pear-shaped, but the point is, despite being at deaths door for the first 30 minutes, I was there and in a good postion for another hour. So recovery does happen.

OK. Now the truthful bit. Did I take my own advice during those first 30 minutes? Don't be silly, I was miserable as sin and convinced it was another early exit! Should have listened to myself shouldn't I?

blackstone hit the nail on the head saying that you shuold be playing aggressive as you get further in the tournament.. a tactic we all like to use is playing your position, not the cards..when the dealer button comes around to you and people are folding around to you, put in a raise and try to snarf the blinds and ante's. if nothing else it gives you more time to wait for that big hand you've been begging for..just try not to make it too obvious that youre stealing every time the button comes your way, mix it up a bit. your opponents will catch on if youre routinely raising on the button and reraise you

Steal blinds. Give a table image that you ONLY play the best, and when in a hand, will win the hand. This vibe that you set off will scare the observant players at your table to fold mostly everytime you push all in. Unless they are holding a monster as well. Later in the tournament is when blind stealing is effective. Dont get caught up trying to steal the small blinds. Get into pots with 1 or 2, at the most, players going to the flop. Play tight, slowly to moderate loose, and then to loose. This is the startegy you see all the pros doing, basically, and they make the final table, and usually win the tournaments.