Bankroll Management
The foundation of every successful poker career
What is Bankroll Management?
Bankroll management is the practice of properly managing your poker funds to minimize the risk of going broke due to variance. It's one of the most important skills for any serious poker player.
Essential Bankroll Tips
Keep Poker Money Separate
Never mix your poker bankroll with personal finances. This helps you track results accurately and prevents emotional decision-making.
Follow Buyin Requirements
Always maintain at least 20-30 buyins for cash games and 50-100 for tournaments to handle variance properly.
Move Down When Necessary
Don't be afraid to drop down in stakes if your bankroll requires it. Protecting your roll is more important than ego.
Understand Variance
Even winning players experience downswings. Proper bankroll management ensures you can weather the storm.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
Playing Above Your Bankroll
This is the fastest way to go broke. Always respect your bankroll limits.
Chasing Losses
Never move up in stakes to try to win back losses quickly. This usually leads to disaster.
No Emergency Reserve
Always keep some funds outside your playing bankroll for emergencies.
Ignoring Variance
Don't assume you're playing poorly during a downswing. Variance is normal.
Recommended Buyin Requirements
- • Cash Games: 40–60 buyins
- • Spins (standard): 100 buyins
- • Spins (Nitro 10–15bb): 150–200 buyins
- • Tournaments: 100–200 buyins (depends on field size and stakes)
Edge vs Variance
Greater edge reduces relative variance, but poker remains swingy. Manage expectations and size your bankroll for downswings.
- Even strong winners face long breakeven stretches.
- Large-field MTTs (1000+ players) are highly variant even with high edge.
- Use conservative BRM to keep playing your A-game during downswings.
Mix Field Sizes (for MTTs)
- Balance large fields (big top-heavy payouts) with smaller fields to smooth swings.
- Prioritize smaller fields when rebuilding confidence/bankroll.
- Track average field size to align BRM with your actual schedule.
Variance Calculators
External third‑party calculators. Links open in a new tab.