Bankroll Management in Poker | Rules & Strategy

Bankroll management is how you control the amount of money you risk in each poker game, relative to the total bankroll you’ve set aside. It’s the system that keeps you in action even when luck turns against you, and it’s one of the most important skills you will need to learn if you want to play consistently over the long term.

What Does Bankroll Management Mean in Poker?

When you practice bankroll management, you’re making deliberate choices about which stakes to play in poker games and how much of your bankroll you want to risk.

• Cash games: You will need a buffer of multiple buy-ins to survive swings.
• Tournaments: You need a much deeper cushion because the variance is much higher.
• Risk control: You never risk a large chunk of your bankroll in a single game or poker.
   

By setting these clear rules for yourself, you can focus on playing the best poker possible, as opposed to constantly worrying about going broke. And once you commit to this mindset, bankroll management becomes your safety net for every stage of your poker journey.

Why Bankroll Management Matters to You

If you ignore bankroll management, you could eventually hit a downswing that wipes you out, regardless of how good you are at poker. By following good management, you turn those same swings into manageable setbacks.

• Survive variance: You stay in the game through those inevitable losing streaks.
• Play stress-free: You make better decisions when you’re not scared of losing rent money.
• Grow responsibly: You can take shots at higher stakes only when your bankroll allows.
   

Think of your bankroll as the fuel for your poker career, but bankroll management is the engine that makes it last. Even pros with millions in winnings still follow their own strict bankroll rules.

Examples of Bankroll Management in Action

Let’s say you have a $2,000 bankroll:

• For $1/$2 cash games ($200 buy-ins), you’d want to have 20–30 buy-ins, which equals $4,000–$6,000. With a $2,000 bankroll, you’d need to play smaller stakes closer to $0.25/$0.50.
• For $50 tournaments, you’d want to have at least 100 buy-ins, which equals $5,000. With $2,000, your safer move is to play at $20 events.
   

This example shows how bankroll management points you toward the games you can afford, while protecting you from ruin during bad stretches. When your bankroll grows, you can safely move up.

Variance and Why It Affects Your Bankroll

Even if you play perfectly and are in your a-game, poker is full of swings, and variance means you can lose multiple buy-ins in a row despite consistently making the right decisions.

• Cash games: Swings are smaller, but they still add up.
• Tournaments: Variance can be brutal; you could easily play 50+ events without a big score.
• Psychological pressure: Without bankroll management, variance pushes you into tilt or even worse, panic.
   

By planning for variance, you stay calm when the deck turns cold, because you know your bankroll is built to absorb it. Once you can handle variance, you’ll play more confidently, in spite of bad runs.

Taking Shots and Moving Stakes

Bankroll management does not mean that you’re locked into just one level of play forever; you can take shots at higher stakes, but you need to be smart:

• Shot-taking: Risk only a small portion of your bankroll on higher stakes when you feel confident.
• Have a stop-loss: If you lose one or two buy-ins at a higher level, drop back down immediately.
• Move down when needed: If your bankroll shrinks, lower your stakes until you rebuild.
   

Flexibility keeps your bankroll safe while still giving you room to grow as a player. When you balance discipline with opportunity, you can climb the poker ladder without risking a total wipeout.

Tips for Better Bankroll Management

To keep your bankroll strong, follow a few proven principles:

• Set rules: Decide how many buy-ins you need before playing a certain stake.
• Separate funds: Never mix your poker money with personal expenses.
• Be disciplined: Never chase losses by jumping into bigger games.
• Track results: Keep records and track results so you know when your bankroll is healthy enough to move up.
   

Good bankroll management isn’t just about poker survival; it’s a vital discipline that gives you the freedom to play your best game over and over again.

FAQs

How many buy-ins should I have?
For cash games, aim for 20–30 buy-ins. For tournaments, closer to 50–100 buy-ins is safer.

Should beginners follow bankroll management rules?
Yes. Beginners especially need it since they face bigger swings while learning to play poker.

Can I ever take shots above my bankroll?
Yes, but do it carefully with stop-loss rules, and always be ready to drop back down.