Do freerolls really help you improve as a poker player?

[Baco]

I’ve been playing freerolls almost every day to practice, but sometimes they feel too wild.
Do you think freerolls are good for developing real poker skills, or should I focus more on studying strategy and ranges?

 

[perrywh]

Do both!

 

[MK_]

I think if you're hoping to really learn poker and the math of the game I think doing some study away from the table

can help you learn a lot more than just playing👍

 

[recerveau]

Absolutely. You just have to keep in mind the specific type of freeroll players.

 

[schtiuky]

Yes, I take freerolls as a challenge and i try to get used to the pressure of playing your cards when every 5th hand is a all in, on the bubble I experience some bad beats, on final tables learned to be aggressive/ and its consequences They sure learn you something if your beginner if not don't think so.

 

[dreamer13]

It's like hands-on training where beginners can test their knowledge without the fear of losing money.

 

[rhoudini]

Freerolls helped me sharpen my short-stack play big time. Since stacks are often shallow and blinds go up fast, you’re constantly in push/fold spots. That forced me to study ICM and preflop ranges more seriously. It’s not glamorous poker, but if you can master survival mode, you’ll be way more confident in real tourneys when the pressure’s on, that's for sure! The main thing is that you need to play them conciously that you are not a pro. They are a tool to help, not the final end.

 

[veszmo]

I think up to a certain level, if you want to be an MTT player. There are some really good freeroll tournaments. However, there is a big difference between tournaments and cash games.

 

[Prophet]

Related to this community , if you play silver or platinum free-buys , you can improve your game... but the bronze tournament it's just bingo, where players shove with any 2 cards, and hard to win a hand or put someone on a range, which can be from 72off to AA.
If you are interested in MTTs you can just play the top 20% hands as a healthy exercise

 

[tabaskichhh]

yes, you can improve your skills there, but you don't need to take them as a basis, people there don't know anything about ITM ICM

 

[monkeytilter]

You will only go so far learning with freerolls and they can introduce serious flaws into game as you get used to playing against:
calling stations (and you make bets you shouldn't vs. better players);
maniacs (and you end up calling too much and never learn to make good folds).

There is no reason why you shouldn't master your ranges in freerolls, but strategies will be limited to simple value based plays and no complex bluffs (as few villains are making good folds).