Why Bankroll Management Matters
Poker has variance. Even the best players in the world go on losing streaks that last weeks or months. Bankroll management ensures you survive those downswings and stay in the game long enough for your edge to play out. Without it, you'll go broke — not because you're a bad player, but because you played too high for your bankroll.
The Rules
- Cash games: 20-50 buy-ins depending on your win rate and risk tolerance
- Tournaments: 50-100 buy-ins minimum due to higher variance
- Sit & Go's: 30-50 buy-ins
- Never risk more than 5% of your bankroll on a single session or tournament
Downswing Reality
A winning cash game player who wins 5bb/100 hands will still have stretches of losing 10-15 buy-ins over thousands of hands. This is mathematically normal. If your bankroll can't absorb that swing, you'll bust before the math works out in your favor.
Tournament players face even wilder swings. A player with a 20% ROI (very strong) will still go hundreds of tournaments without a significant cash. You need the bankroll to survive the drought between big finishes.
Moving Up in Stakes
The worst thing you can do is take a shot at higher stakes with inadequate bankroll. Here's the disciplined approach:
- Win consistently at your current level (track results over at least 30,000 hands for cash, 200+ tournaments)
- Accumulate enough buy-ins for the next level (20-30 for cash, 50+ for tournaments)
- Set a stop-loss: If you lose 3-5 buy-ins at the new level, move back down immediately. No ego, no exceptions.
- The games play differently: Higher stakes have tougher opponents. What worked at $1/$2 might not work at $2/$5.
Separating Poker Money from Life Money
Your poker bankroll is not your savings account. Never play with rent money, bill money, or money you need for anything else. A dedicated poker bankroll means you can make correct decisions without the emotional pressure of needing to win to pay bills.
If your bankroll drops to a level where losing another buy-in causes anxiety, you're playing too high. Drop down, rebuild, and come back stronger. The games will still be there.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many buy-ins do I need for cash games?
For No-Limit Hold'em cash games, a minimum of 20 buy-ins is recommended for recreational players. Serious grinders should have 30-50 buy-ins. If you play $1/$2 with a $200 max buy-in, that's $4,000-$10,000 dedicated poker bankroll.
How many buy-ins for tournaments?
Tournaments have much higher variance than cash games. A minimum of 50-100 buy-ins is recommended. For a $50 tournament, that's $2,500-$5,000. If you play higher-variance formats like turbos or hyper-turbos, lean toward 100+ buy-ins.
When should I move up in stakes?
Move up when you have the required buy-ins for the next level AND you're a proven winner at your current level (at least 50,000+ hands of data). Move back down immediately if you lose 3-5 buy-ins at the new level.