My first online tounament experience

Brewster · #1 (**permalink**) 10-04-2005, 03:31 AM

This may not be a big thing to many of the "pros" and frequent online players on this site but it was a big step for my poker skills. This morning when I got home from work I decided to enter a freeroll (playmoney) limit hold em tournament at PS. There were approximately 1900 entrants for the event and I managed to finish 328th. Not too bad for my first effort. Tomorrow I will try to place in the money.

w16227 · #2 (**permalink**) 10-04-2005, 08:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Brewster

This may not be a big thing to many of the "pros" and frequent online players on this site but it was a big step for my poker skills. This morning when I got home from work I decided to enter a freeroll (playmoney) limit hold em tournament at PS. There were approximately 1900 entrants for the event and I managed to finish 328th. Not too bad for my first effort. Tomorrow I will try to place in the money.

Not to shabby - the freerolls are tough as the play is really wild.

If this is a typical pokerstars freeroll - you really do not get cash. If you "win", you receive entry into another freeroll that has a cash prize.

Brewster · #3 (**permalink**) 10-04-2005, 09:43 AM

This tourny does not pay out cash or entery into a game with cash prizes, rather, they pay you out in play money. Fortunatly, I'm just looking at this as a way to improve my play and starting hand selection (as bad starting hands will kill you here). Kinda fun and a great learning experience.

Some of the strategy articles have helped my game already. Keep em comming folks.

EDITED: I made it to 81st out of 1899 today!

Getting better.

Sterling · #4 (**permalink**) 10-05-2005, 01:30 AM

you played in a play money tournament? wow I'm not sure how much this will help your game, it must be all donkeys, altho you seem to be doing okay at them. You should try a freeroll that actually pays out money (or even another entry) the play should be a bit closer to real (even those are pretty wild)

Brewster · #5 (**permalink**) 10-05-2005, 03:10 AM

Considering I only really started paying attention to my game about a month ago, I think I am doing well. I wanted to see how my meager I stacked up against a large number of opponents in a tournament setting. I realize the competition is not the strongest (massive understatement) but the timing of the tourny is great. It starts about an hour after I finish work and is a great way to unwind before going to sleep.

While it would be nice to play in the real tounaments I have been having some problems with my funds (I have none). Perhaps later in the year I will be able to get some money into my account and play in the weekly Chiptalk tournaments. In the meantime, it looks like I will be stuck playing the freeroll tournies for a while.

w16227 · #6 (**permalink**) 10-05-2005, 08:39 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Brewster

Considering I only really started paying attention to my game about a month ago, I think I am doing well. I wanted to see how my meager I stacked up against a large number of opponents in a tournament setting. I realize the competition is not the strongest (massive understatement) but the timing of the tourny is great. It starts about an hour after I finish work and is a great way to unwind before going to sleep.

While it would be nice to play in the real tounaments I have been having some problems with my funds (I have none). Perhaps later in the year I will be able to get some money into my account and play in the weekly Chiptalk tournaments. In the meantime, it looks like I will be stuck playing the freeroll tournies for a while.

Try the freroll torunaments. Stars are pretty tough - but you will definately get better practice playing them vs the free tournaments. Pokerroom and ultimatbet ( and others) have better payout sturctures than stars. At stars, you have to place high in 2 tournaments for $$$. Others just pay the top 5% or whatever. If you are going to play - might as well try for some free money.

Play money is good for limited practice, but you can learn some really bad habits there which will hurt you in cash games. Developing a solid game is tough, as the tight game you need to work on will seem boring compared to the maniacs you will be up against.

If you really are into the game - hit up the relatives for a simulation game at xmas. Turbo texas holdem and/or poker academy are both good titles. Both will give you a more realistic cash game experience.

dad604 · #7 (**permalink**) 10-05-2005, 03:55 PM

There are quite a few sites with freeroll for real money. All you need is a real money account. Two of my favorites were Party and Pacific but a the the moment there is no cash freeroll at either site. Pacific's freeroll is free seats to their 30k, 50k, 100k and UK open tournament. They said cash freerolls will be back soon.

Party had a great $5000 freeroll twice a day but I don't see it any more. I won $50 once playing that one. I would keep an eye for one again at Party.

If you do not have the fund to play cash, freerolls are great way to get experience and a chance to win some cash for no investment.