Negative freeroll

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Negative freeroll is a term used in poker. It refers to a situation, usually occurring in no-limit or pot-limit when contemplating an all-in wager, where the player acting first checks in a situation where they would be forced to call an opponent's final bet (due to pot odds or the strength of their holding). If the opponent has a stronger hand, the opponent will most likely bet and the player will lose money regardless. However if the opponent has a weaker hand, betting may be the only way to get the opponent's money into the pot, as checking allows the opponent the opportunity to check in turn.

Negative freeroll is relatively common in low stakes amateur play, but in higher stakes play allowing negative freeroll on the final round of betting is a serious blunder.

[edit] Hypothetical example

In a no-limit game of Texas hold'em, in heads up play on the river both players have $2000 remaining in a $8000 pot. The board is 5♠ 6♠ 9♣ 9♠ Q♣. If the player acting first holds 6♦ 9♦ they must bet to avoid negative freeroll even though they are losing to an opponent holding 7♠ 8♠, a pair of Queens, or the 9♥ with a Queen. In this case the higher holdings will almost certainly bet and the player will be compelled to call due to pot odds and hand strength, while lesser holdings such as a lesser full house, a flush, or a straight that would have called the bet may simply check to see the hand down.

[edit] Further Reading

Harrington, Dan; Robertie, Bill (2006). Harrington on Hold'em: Expert Strategy for No-Limit Tournaments; Volume III: The Workbook. Two Plus Two Publishing, pp. 41-56. ISBN 1-880685-36-1.