Freeroll tournaments present the only opportunity for players with limited income to participate in play that will allow them to compete at a betting level that they would like to.  The extremely low limit games that they can afford  have such a high rake, that the ability to accumulate enough of a bankroll that will allow them to move up to higher stakes will probably never occur.

All tournaments can be compared to purchasing Stock Options.  An investor, when looking at options, takes into account, several factors, that he believes will cause the stock that he is considering, to either rise or fall in price.  There are thousands of other investors also looking at those factors. Those that work a little harder, often find an element, overlooked by most, that might come into play over the next few months, that will make the difference over whether the stock rises or falls, contrary to what the majority think will happen.

Most options will expire worthless because, for every one who thinks that the price will rise, there must be someone who thinks that the price will fall, and since both parties have done a reasonable amount of study, events that they have no control over, will decide who wins or loses. Luck, in other words. Sounds like a poker game to me.

So it is with tournaments.  We do our work, study, try to play good cards, etc., and hope to catch a little luck along the way.  The major frustration of freerolls, or any tournament for that matter, is being beaten by so called “bad play”. Playing poker is like everything else. There is not always “justice”. That is one of the great things about the game, anyone can play, and do so in whatever manner that they wish. You can be a “gamer” or a “gambler”. The choice is yours.

If you are a “gamer” and a “gambler” takes you out, it’s frustrating and makes you angry, but it is all part of playing the game.  It is, after all, considered gambling by most people who do not play. You just have to get over it, and move on.

This leads me to the “ugly”. What is it that makes someone, who has been beaten, rant and rave over  the “chat” line, about what a terrible “low life” someone is for their “bad play”.  They merely “gambled” and won. They got lucky. It’s part of the game.  Good play is your way of trying to put as much of the element of “luck” on your side as you can, but there is such a thing as “pure luck” that will always be there.

If you are ever going to play this game with any degree of success, there are several things that you must establish in your mind set. Respect your opponents is foremost.  Everyone can play. Some are better than others, and everyone can play the game in what ever fashion that suits them. If they want to “gamble”, that is their right. Even the most solid player is often placed in a position in which he has to “gamble”. If a “gamble” overcomes your “good play”, accept it and move on.  It happens.  Life is not fair, and poker sure isn’t.

by Jerry Cope