Poker Tournament questions

[danfromwaterloo]

Hey guys,

Played poker online for a bit. Realized I'm not nearly as lucky as I think I am. Lost $50 pretty quickly.

Looking for an online poker tourney site where you can actually win something without putting anything in. Does such a thing exist? If so, where?

Dan

[deep]

I bet a lot of poker sites run exclusively under those conditions.....for about 10 minutes. :)

Most sites DO have the occasional freeroll tourney that you can get into, but it's not generally a constant thing, and you may need "participation points" or "player points" or some other non-money currency in order to participate.

But basically, if you don't want to lose real money, don't play for real money.

[danfromwaterloo]

Oh I don't mind losing real money, but most sites have like a $50US min. buy in, which is freakin ridiculous (for me at least). Does anybody know any $20 buy in sites? (ie. I can charge $20 to my credit card as a minimum instead of $50?)

[devious9191]

Hey guys,

Played poker online for a bit. Realized I'm not nearly as lucky as I think I am. Lost $50 pretty quickly.

Looking for an online poker tourney site where you can actually win something without putting anything in. Does such a thing exist? If so, where?

Dan

I play on goldenpalace.com quite a bit and they have several freeroll tournaments daily, with prize pools of between 5-2500 dollars. They do require 'action' points, which you gain from playing raked hands.

The problem with gambling online (especially low stakes) gambling is that a lot of times you have guys putting their money in with garbage, and then end up hitting cards on the flop. You then think you have the best hand, and the other guy has an eight high flush or some bs and you just lost $50. If you're playing online, your best bet is to stick with the 0.50/1 tables at the minimum. Although even then you're going to run into guys with lots of money that will push you around.

[b166er1337]

Oh I don't mind losing real money, but most sites have like a $50US min. buy in, which is freakin ridiculous (for me at least). Does anybody know any $20 buy in sites? (ie. I can charge $20 to my credit card as a minimum instead of $50?)

The typical minimum withdraw amount is $50 as well.

Try www.pokersourceonline.com or www.instantbankroll.com to get some great bonus.

[b166er1337]

The problem with gambling online (especially low stakes) gambling is that a lot of times you have guys putting their money in with garbage, and then end up hitting cards on the flop. You then think you have the best hand, and the other guy has an eight high flush or some bs and you just lost $50. If you're playing online, your best bet is to stick with the 0.50/1 tables at the minimum. Although even then you're going to run into guys with lots of money that will push you around.

That is absolutely right. People will chase anything in low stakes. If you think $1/$2 blind is too much, try PL or NL ring tables.

[deep]

People putting their money in with garbage is a BENEFIT of playing low stakes online....I still don't understand why people think it's a problem.

[grant]

It looks like these guys are talking about ring games which is a whole other story than tournaments.

I play on partypoker.com, it has $5+1, $10+1, and $20+2 tournaments.

There are also "steps" which basically means you pay $5+1 to enter, and if you win, you gain entry to a higher level tournament, and you continue this until after 6 games you have the potential to win $1000 or something.

[tahsin31]

Hey guys,

Played poker online for a bit. Realized I'm not nearly as lucky as I think I am. Lost $50 pretty quickly.

Looking for an online poker tourney site where you can actually win something without putting anything in. Does such a thing exist? If so, where?

Dan


I play with Scorepoker.
They have weekly and monthly tournaments where prizes range from cash to TVs to Golf trips. For the weekly tourneys, you have to finish first in a qualifying game with about 60 people, then a weekly final is held on sundays. The top 3 finishers in the weekly final get $100, 75, 25 respectively I believe. 4th to 10th receive scorepoker gear, im guessing like a hat or t-shirt. Theres several qualifying games Mon to Thurs. For the monthly tournaments, you have to finish in the top 20 in a qualifying game with 250 people, then finish in the top 25 in a semifinal with about 400 people, and finish in the top 15 in the final with about 125 people. Here you get some decent prizes. Check out www.scorepoker.com for more info...it's completely Canadian too.

[grant]

People putting their money in with garbage is a BENEFIT of playing low stakes online....I still don't understand why people think it's a problem.

Some people refuse to admit that their massive skill cannot overcome bad luck.

Like the guy who doubled up with runner-runner against Greg Raymer in the WSOP... I read in a blog people are calling him an idiot etc. etc. Ya sure, maybe he demonstrated less skill than Raymer... but nonetheless he got his chips in there with a 25% chance of winning, not a 0%.

I don't know how you can call someone who just won a pot "stupid". Lucky, sure, but just try to tell me you're not all looking for a little luck every flop you see.

[danfromwaterloo]

Some people refuse to admit that their massive skill cannot overcome bad luck.

Like the guy who doubled up with runner-runner against Greg Raymer in the WSOP... I read in a blog people are calling him an idiot etc. etc. Ya sure, maybe he demonstrated less skill than Raymer... but nonetheless he got his chips in there with a 25% chance of winning, not a 0%.

I don't know how you can call someone who just won a pot "stupid". Lucky, sure, but just try to tell me you're not all looking for a little luck every flop you see.

Indeed, I completely agree. Where's the fun in gambling if you can't chase a crazy hand every now and again?

[simms]

instant bankroll gives you $100 free. after 500 hands, you can cash out.

[devious9191]

People putting their money in with garbage is a BENEFIT of playing low stakes online....I still don't understand why people think it's a problem.

How is it a benefit? It's a benefit as far as picking up blinds and small bets, but you're going to lose when it comes to bigger pots, and people having hands that they 'shouldn't'. ie. If you're playing A Q, and the flop comes A 4 5, it stands to reason that you probably have the best hand unless someone is playing a pocket pair. In small stakes games with people chasing, it is quite possible that someone is playing a 2 3 or some bs, and when you put your money in the pot for a hand that you should win, you come out behind a bs straight.

This is typical for low stakes games, and even more typical/frustrating (for me anyways), are flush draws that everyone seems to chase.

[ill_mango]

Some people refuse to admit that their massive skill cannot overcome bad luck.

Like the guy who doubled up with runner-runner against Greg Raymer in the WSOP... I read in a blog people are calling him an idiot etc. etc. Ya sure, maybe he demonstrated less skill than Raymer... but nonetheless he got his chips in there with a 25% chance of winning, not a 0%.

I don't know how you can call someone who just won a pot "stupid". Lucky, sure, but just try to tell me you're not all looking for a little luck every flop you see.

Yeah I hate when people say "You played that wrong" after I hit a huge pot. If I played it wrong, why the hell do I have your money?

The problem with Texas Hold 'em is that everyone and their brother plays it now, and so there are so many books that have come out with strict RULES on how to play depending on the odds. People who memorize these rules assume that they are set in stone...you can always tell who learned to play out of a book

[deep]

How is it a benefit? It's a benefit as far as picking up blinds and small bets, but you're going to lose when it comes to bigger pots, and people having hands that they 'shouldn't'. ie. If you're playing A Q, and the flop comes A 4 5, it stands to reason that you probably have the best hand unless someone is playing a pocket pair. In small stakes games with people chasing, it is quite possible that someone is playing a 2 3 or some bs, and when you put your money in the pot for a hand that you should win, you come out behind a bs straight.

This is typical for low stakes games, and even more typical/frustrating (for me anyways), are flush draws that everyone seems to chase.

Honestly, if you can't see how having many people chasing crap hands is of benefit to you, then you will never learn the game of poker, and you're welcome at any one of my home games any time.

If you cap the betting on your ace-X pre-flop, and someone who was just calling to see the flop is suddenly pushing you back when you're looking at A-4-5 on the flop, then you need to consider the possibility that you want to stop raising.

Games with lots of chasers are made to be raped. They will call any bet to get to the river, and YOU DON'T HAVE TO.

Who cares if you fold the occasional winning 7-2, or you fold to a weaker hand once in a while because you fear a caught straight or flush? When you have the nuts (not your preconceived idea of great hole cards, but the actual nuts) you're going to get paid by all those morons.

[DaFonz]

How is it a benefit? It's a benefit as far as picking up blinds and small bets, but you're going to lose when it comes to bigger pots, and people having hands that they 'shouldn't'. ie. If you're playing A Q, and the flop comes A 4 5, it stands to reason that you probably have the best hand unless someone is playing a pocket pair. In small stakes games with people chasing, it is quite possible that someone is playing a 2 3 or some bs, and when you put your money in the pot for a hand that you should win, you come out behind a bs straight.

This is typical for low stakes games, and even more typical/frustrating (for me anyways), are flush draws that everyone seems to chase.

Uh.. so? You'll find in high stakes games that some people might play a 2/3 suited just to throw everyone off. it all really depends.. you gotta get a feel for people.

[b166er1337]

Honestly, if you can't see how having many people chasing crap hands is of benefit to you, then you will never learn the game of poker, and you're welcome at any one of my home games any time.


I guess what he means is that it's sucks when your pocket aces lost to 6T offsuits even when you play the hand correctly . I don't realy remember most of my winning hands, but it's those BAD BEATS that haunt you :D .

Trust me, it's not fun when your QQ goes headup with 34o and the other guy caught runner runer cards to make his straight. :twisted:

[deep]

When you play a lot of hands, you'll see everything (like your QQ) lose to everything (like the hypothetical 34o) at some point. What you won't keep track of is the number of times your QQ comes out on top, because YOU'RE EXPECTING IT TO.

You only remember the improbable hands...especially bad beats.

People keep talking about playing "properly". What on earth does that even mean? If you are seeing the same thing happen again and again, then you should be able to adjust to it (unless you're in a geniunely crooked game, in which case, goodnight). If you are seeing the same thing happen again and again and still losing, then you are doing something wrong.

I can't be any more clear. If you are playing against loose passive players who will call and chase everything, then you need to be winning on a consistent basis, or you need to stop playing poker. Losing a heartbreaking hand is a given, losing an entire session to "bad beats" is to be expected, but if you're continually finding yourself losing on average in that kind of game, then there is a giant gaping hole in YOUR game, not theirs.

Like ill_mango said, the one playing properly is the one with the cash.

[grant]

The simple fact is, it doesn't matter how good your hand is until all the cards are dealt.

It's the poor poker players who get married to their QQ or AK or whatever and can't conceive it won't end up the strongest.

[deep]

The simple fact is, it doesn't matter how good your hand is until all the cards are dealt.

It's the poor poker players who get married to their QQ or AK or whatever and can't conceive it won't end up the strongest.

Bam. Good synopsis.

[bionicbadger]

Absolutepoker has a bunch of free tournaments every day. Usually they get about 1500-2000 people per tourney and only the top 9 split the prize of.....$50. So first place get $10 and 2-8 get $5. But they do have about dozen free tourney a day if thats your thing. After an hour or so, the tournement is usually down to around 3-400.