Those are the people who will fill your bankroll at the cash games. They can’t be bothered to do the math and endure the agony of considering poker as a real job.

Suckers (god bless them) can’t imagine grinding it out for micro-stakes and seek the adrenaline rush of betting hard cash. Winning cash in freerolls is very difficult, but the fact is that if you can’t win at the freerolls, you will never be a winner at the cash games. Sitting out may not be exciting or glamorous, but the point is to get free cash into your bankroll. So if you get anywhere near 100,000 chips you should consider sitting out. Since that is the average number, half will be above it and half below. If only 27 players are going to get cash, then the average chip count a player needs to cash in is 4,050,000/27 = 150,000. That makes a total pool of 4,050,000 chips in play. For example, in a Full Tilt $100 Freeroll there are 2700 players and each starts with 1500 chips. When you are well established in a freeroll, with a good chip cushion and a narrowing field, keep an eye on the mathematical chip target needed to finish above the bubble. Understanding position betting and pot odds help in making call or fold decisions. Print up a chart of drawing odds and keep it handy (maybe tape it to your screen). Understanding the mathematics is also an important tool in surviving in the freerolls. Playing tight early is important for long term survival. With these multi-table tournaments, the name of the game is survival and sitting out the first fifteen minutes usually does you no harm. Within half an hour half the field is gone. Within ten minutes of the first deal, usually 10% of the field has been eliminated. Because they have no real money at stake, a great number of players will imitate what they see on TV and go “All-in” constantly.

You can see this by sitting out and watching what happens as the freerolls progress. One of the most important things to realize in dealing with these freerolls is that the opposing players behave in a different manner than in most other situations. When you start to consistently finish in the top 10% of the freerolls you can begin to see the prospect of hitting the money. A simple piece of paper and a pencil will keep track of your finishing position and is one sure way to know how you are improving over time. By playing frequently and studying poker strategy, a serious player can chart their progress. Whether you are playing the freerolls at FullTilt or PokerStars you have to be good to win. Make sure to check out Part I before reading this – No Deposit – All Returns: How to Build a Bankroll from Nothing Part I

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