Trying to get a bankroll started on freerolls

What are the best poker sites/tournaments to get a bankroll started on freerolls and is it even realistic to do anymore? I've had some success at pokerstarts but there's to many people playing the weekly sat/sun nowadays.

Originally Posted by aslectic

What are the best poker sites/tournaments to get a bankroll started on freerolls and is it even realistic to do anymore? I've had some success at pokerstarts but there's to many people playing the weekly sat/sun nowadays.

I don't know what you mean by "realistic".

It is, of course, possible to win freerolls, win money, and then use that money to build a bankroll.

However, to do proper bankroll management, you need to have a substantial number of buy-ins at whatever level you choose to start at (presumably $2NL or $0.02/$0.04 limit). And to do that, you will either have to play in a lot of freerolls, do very, very well, or get very lucky.

It seems to me to be much wiser to simply make a deposit, and take advantage of a rakeback program and/or a first deposit bonus to increase the size of your bankroll to ensure you are deep enough to play.

(Full disclosure: way back when I first started playing hold 'em, before I went to any casinos and before I really knew how to play the game, I ran through an initial deposit and bonus on PokerStars. I used my accumulated Frequent Player Points to play in a bunch of semi-freerolls (i.e., tournaments that charged FPP's for entry fees), accumulated enough in the money finishes (simply by playing extremely tight poker in these donkfests) to semi-replenish my bankroll, and then built it. I later discovered that my limit hold 'em game would make me much more money at casinos that I could ever make online. That said, I do have several hundred dollars in my PokerStars account that technically were built from freeroll play, if you count FPP tournaments as freerolls. But I wouldn't recommend even this for most players for a couple of reasons: (1) if you have run through your bankroll, it means there are leaks in your game that you need to fix before worrying about winning money, and (2) the semi-freerolls are time consuming (they have tons of entrants) and not very much fun to play, and it seems simpler and less trouble to simply pony up the money and make a deposit.)

Post naked pics of your mom and I'll ship you $10 on Stars.


Let's hope she's hot.

1. Work for 8 hours, deposit money, you're well rolled
2. Play hours of endless freerolls and hope to min cash and work it up to something if you don't go busto

hmmph....Well after hearing stories of people starting on freerolls and turning it into 10k or something in a few months I didnt think it would be so hard. I did start from freerolls once 4 years back or so and turned it into 1k over a year and a half but there's literally 10x as many people in the freerolls now so I guess ill just wait till I can deposit

Yeah that was Chris Ferguson, an FTP pro, who I might add got extremely lucky while doing so.

[ ] You are Chris Ferguson
[x] Unlikely to get as lucky as Chris Ferguson
[x] Unlikely to play like Chris Ferguson

Just make a deposit and consider it an "investment".

I started my roll of by playing freerolls. The difference was I wasn't trying to build a bankroll , I was just having fun in the evenings and got better and developed the ability to regularly cash in them. Over time they add up.
Would I recommend it .? hmmmm .....hell no .....I learnt how to beat the clueless , but in doing so I picked up soooo many misconceptions and bad habits that I had to rebuild my game to beat the micros , and am now rebuilding it again to try and iron out the shit that won't let me progress. Its work in progress and who knows if it will work or not. But its part of the fascinatio with poker .
If you can't deposit check out the no deposit options , FTR had some free bankroll offers I think , but you end up forgoing rakeback and first deposit bonuses at the sites you use it on .

Originally Posted by Keith_MM

I started my roll of by playing freerolls. The difference was I wasn't trying to build a bankroll , I was just having fun in the evenings and got better and developed the ability to regularly cash in them. Over time they add up.
Would I recommend it .? hmmmm .....hell no .....I learnt how to beat the clueless , but in doing so I picked up soooo many misconceptions and bad habits that I had to rebuild my game to beat the micros , and am now rebuilding it again to try and iron out the shit that won't let me progress. Its work in progress and who knows if it will work or not. But its part of the fascinatio with poker .
If you can't deposit check out the no deposit options , FTR had some free bankroll offers I think , but you end up forgoing rakeback and first deposit bonuses at the sites you use it on .

Nice point. I think its just best even for psyche to just put a deposit you are comfortable with and build it up with proper grinding rather than sitting for hours, frustrated and busting out just on the bubble.

Like Keith said, bad habits cost you later.
As bad as 2nl players are, they are probably much better than the average freeroll troll. Start by playing proper poker imo.

My bank of $90 was built mostly by freerols. If you want to do that, you need to identify sites that promote freerols on a regular basis with a restricted field. If you're playing freerolls with 1200 entrants, forget about it. Deposit the money.

I found a brazillian site that was offering weekly freerols at Everest with a prize pool of $100. I made around $60 dollars playing it every week.

Another tip is to try a no-deposit bonus. It takes forever to clear but is great to develop your skills and BR management. Besides my bankrool of $90 I have $50 at CD Poker and $64 at Absolute poker with no deposit whatsoever. After unlocking one of these bonus I intend to transfer my money to the other site and start to play higher in order to unlock the other bonus faster and improve my understanding of the game.

$7 2nd place finish in a UB freeroll in December of '07. Began playing 2nl [100bb], and $1 SNGs (lol BRM), and by April '08 BR was $400. Cashed out, pocketed $350, and deposited $50 on PokerStars in May '08. BR hit $1k in either June or July '08. Made over $40k so far.

Freerolls = ez game.

But seriously, it's entirely possible. It's difficult, and quite time-consuming, but possible. It's also pretty quick to get your hands on $50 and deposit that as well, which will save you 20 or so hours of playing to cash I would suspect, and give you the added benefit of having a proper BR to begin playing microstakes.

Woot I just took first place on 100$ FT freeroll and made 15$...Limped in small blind 6 handed, flopped 2 pair open shoved and quadroubled up. Followed by pocket aces verse kings very deep stack all on dry flop and held CL for rest of tourny.

Now with a little luck I can turn it into a proper bankroll (=

Also does anyone know if you have to email photo id /utility bill to withdraw on fulltilt? just one or both? Never had to on stars

I think you have to deposit before you can withdraw and something like a min $40 for withdrawals. All in all ..start grinding

Just remember in a freeroll that you may be playing serious poker trying to build your bankroll, however the donks and fish are playing to play. It can get frustrating quickly. I would recommend a small deposit and play the 6 man sit and go tables for a slow build, if you are serious about building a nice roll. Every once and a while play a higher stakes table. Test the waters. You will find the challenge much more satifying than the freeroll route

Originally Posted by aslectic

Woot I just took first place on 100$ FT freeroll and made 15$

Congrats .. now get to work - at .01 / .02

easily rolled for 10nl imo.

Ha Ha Stacks ... I am guessing your bringing back my 10NL short stack threads. I am 2500+ hands into max buy in @ 5NL. Can't wait to post my first full month at the end of Sept.

Two days later and you take 1st place in a FT freeroll?? (rigged)

Play the Take2 Promo on Fulltilt. You've still got enough time to pick up a Free $25 (too late to get the Full $50 now).

Curious here.... why are you already wondering about withdrawling cash off of Fulltilt?? (sounds pretty optimistic).

Originally Posted by Poker Orifice

Two days later and you take 1st place in a FT freeroll?? (rigged)

Play the Take2 Promo on Fulltilt. You've still got enough time to pick up a Free $25 (too late to get the Full $50 now).

Curious here.... why are you already wondering about withdrawling cash off of Fulltilt?? (sounds pretty optimistic).

Well I just don't want to end up getting 1k and finding out I can't withdraw for some crazy reason. Im olny 18 so I dont have a utility bill or anything but ill find a way im sure.

I signed up for take2 and im at 19$, started off kind of mediocre until I started buying in for full stack. What kind of win rates are good for 1c/2c NL 2-6 handed?

10ptbb/100 should be good which is a buy-in every 500 hands

It seems to me that especially in the freerolls at ongame is a lot of badbet. is this something they speculate in to get people bored an start depositing?

Ez method I use for withdrawl on Fulltilt, I sell Fulltilt $'s to a bunch of friends who play in the micros (who donate to the micros). Seems to be a limitless source of them and actually left myself short now for being rolled for the donkaments I'd prefer to be playing (time for a cash I suppose).
GL on the tables! (slow & steady)

I always wondered if by playing only Freerolls keeps you in the radar at the website you are playing at, and when you start doing well, they pull the plug on you and take back what you've won. I started with the $1 pokerstars gave me to "try cash games" and was up to $20, and now down to nothing again. Curious.

Originally Posted by needmoney

I always wondered if by playing only Freerolls keeps you in the radar at the website you are playing at, and when you start doing well, they pull the plug on you and take back what you've won. I started with the $1 pokerstars gave me to "try cash games" and was up to $20, and now down to nothing again. Curious.

far more likely that you are playing badly and not exercising bankroll management. when you were at 20$ how many tables were you playing and at what stakes?.

I won 1.30 on a free roll. Didn'tget very far but its good practice

one thing about freerolls a lot of people try to win with alin and have nothing

Originally Posted by 11kathy

one thing about freerolls a lot of people try to win with alin and have nothing

They were trying to steal the pot? Now that just doesn't seem right now does it?

no i just like to play a good game when people go alin with a 29 off suit just seems dumb

But doesn't them going allin with 29o mean that you are more likely to win, since you don't go allin with those hands? Which would you rather have 29o or AA?

if you actually win in a freeroll, you might as well use some of it to play at small games ie .02/.04?!heheh got me starting through that...

I HATE HYPER-TURBO GAMES...i suck at it!hahah

yeah i bet you do suc haha!!!!!!!1!!1!

Originally Posted by XxStacksxX

But doesn't them going allin with 29o mean that you are more likely to win, since you don't go allin with those hands? Which would you rather have 29o or AA?

Now I know why you keep stacking me in the FTR games . I'm stupid enough to have the AA.

Originally Posted by XxStacksxX

But doesn't them going allin with 29o mean that you are more likely to win, since you don't go allin with those hands? Which would you rather have 29o or AA?

Now I know why you keep stacking me in the FTR games . I'm stupid enough to have the AA.

Pretty much like said before. If you deposit $30. You can play endless tournys. If you wait to hit on FR's it will take for ever...

Originally Posted by headwrench5

Pretty much like said before. If you deposit $30. You can play endless tournys. If you wait to hit on FR's it will take for ever...

so did you deposit ? or is the FTR stars freeroll today unconnected with you joining today and posting in threads about freerolls?

The freerolls on fulltilt are actually pretty easy. Lots of people, time consuming, and not that much money to win, but it is a good way to start IMO.
Beats depositing 50$, lose, deposit 100$ lose and repeat a couple of times.
And about playing freerolls would be bad for your game. If you have any talent u will learn to adapt to real buy-ins, or cashgames in no time. Especially if you are prepared to read an article or two.

Having said that I would recomend you to deposit in the future, for two reasons.
1. Lots of sites have great first deposit promos, which is a gold mine for a hard working freeroll grinder.
2. By depositing it will be much easier to withdraw.

i have managed to get a bankroll of $50 on Betsson by playing only at certain times, i.e. never late at night when tired.

I only ever play there $2 sng - usually double or nothing - and only ever play until i go 1 game up --- so if i lose i play 2 more until i am one up then quit - my stop loss is 2 on the run

I don't think it's so hard. I've never deposited money.

Stars - I have $100 (peaked at $150) thanks initially to freerolls and a $10 gift off my brother

Full Tilt - I built up and blew a $50 roll from nothing but freerolls.

And now I intend to get stuck into the freerolls that this wonderful site has to offer, and hopefully build up a roll at Bodog, FT, Fortune and Bet365.


So long as you play tight, and have fun, you'll get there eventually. Just don't stop playing freerolls until you hit $20 at least, then start on the $1 SNG's. Once you're at $50, there should be no going back, unless you have bad bankroll management, like I did at FT. That's the danger, if you build up a roll from nothing, you feel invincible and step up too early. I learned my lesson, and unless God hates me, I won't blow my Stars roll. I'd rather keep playing 25c SNGs just so I can play without ever spending any of my real cash.

Or, if you're impatient, deposit $50 and just get stuck in.

lol id be happy to post some hot nude pics but not off my mum for some cash on stars?


lol any stars but place for freerolls

Stacks you are one cruel man, I like it.

Personally, I tried the whole freeroll route being a poor student and I think its very frustrating, slow, luck based and teaches you bad things about poker play in general.

As others have said, pony up 50$ and pop it on stars, or Full Tilt for the take 2 promotion, make sure beforehand you get a rakeback deal. (very important)

Its really worth just making a deposit.

I ended up playing free rolls on stars after withdrawing my BR with the intention of moving to FT. Unfortunately i couldnt get the FT software to download properly. While trying to sort it out i played a couple of free rolls and one .25 in the second one. Then moved to the 1 cents 990 sng won a dollar first time out. Then the .10cents 360 sng. when i had $5 i started playing .01/.02 full ring with $1 at the table. That got me up to $30. I then mixed in some $1.20 sng's do well at the 27 man.
at $50 i started entering the $2.20 satelite to the sunday evening quarte of a million. played 4 in the money 4. Last week used the money in the $3 rebuy and won just over $1200.

My stars roll is now bigger than it was before i moved my money out. Plus i have really enjoyed the last couple of months of poker.

Dont know if all that helps.

No. Just, no.

Freerolls tend to have far too many participants, and you normally have to place in two tournaments to make cash (if it's even for a cash prize); some of these tournaments have 10,000 participants.

If you're young, do some yardwork or whatever and get up to $50 to deposit in an online account, and play very very carefully, and only after having read a lot of strategy guides and perhaps a book or two. If you don't do your homework before starting to play, you're throwing your money away.