Bankroll Management in Poker

Bankroll Management Definition

Bankroll management is how a poker player handles their poker money—called their bankroll—to avoid going broke. It’s about setting limits on how much you risk at any one time, so you can keep playing even when you hit a losing streak (which will happen, even to the best players).

A good bankroll strategy helps you:

• Choose the right stakes (betting levels)
• Avoid playing emotionally when losing
• Stay in the game long enough to let your skill win out over luck

There’s no one-size-fits-all rule, but here are common guidelines:

• Cash Games: Have at least 20–40 buy-ins for the level you’re playing.
• Tournaments: Aim for 50–100+ buy-ins, since tourney variance is much higher.
• Sit & Gos (small single-table tournaments): Somewhere in between—30–50 buy-ins is typical.

“Buy-in” just means the amount you need to enter a game. So if you’re playing $1/$2 cash games with a $200 buy-in, a $4,000–$8,000 bankroll is a safe zone.

Examples of Where the Term “Bankroll Management” Is Used

• Poker Advice: “You’re playing too high for your bankroll—you should drop down until you recover.”
• Online Poker: Sites sometimes offer tools to track your bankroll and help manage your play.
• Strategy Videos: Coaches often say, “Solid bankroll management is just as important as good hand selection.”
• Player Stories: “I went broke because I ignored bankroll management and took shots at higher stakes.”

Poker isn’t just about skill—it’s also about survival. And bankroll management is what keeps you in the game long enough for your skill to matter.