Natox
Enthusiast
Silver Level
Hey Liviu,
it depends on your experience. I recommend a conservative bankroll management. Setting extremely low unit sizes, such as 0,5% of your total bankroll, and strictly adhering to these rules, even during hot or cold streaks, to ensure long-term sustainability and to endure inevitable downswings in gambling or poker. Key principles include only wagering funds you can afford to lose, separating gambling funds from personal finances, and maintaining discipline to avoid emotional decisions like chasing losses or overbetting after a win. If you gamble at a high lvl or multi-tabling i would even go more conservative. I highly recommend not to trust the standart rules of 100 buyins.
Good luck and be patient,
Natox
it depends on your experience. I recommend a conservative bankroll management. Setting extremely low unit sizes, such as 0,5% of your total bankroll, and strictly adhering to these rules, even during hot or cold streaks, to ensure long-term sustainability and to endure inevitable downswings in gambling or poker. Key principles include only wagering funds you can afford to lose, separating gambling funds from personal finances, and maintaining discipline to avoid emotional decisions like chasing losses or overbetting after a win. If you gamble at a high lvl or multi-tabling i would even go more conservative. I highly recommend not to trust the standart rules of 100 buyins.
Good luck and be patient,
Natox
EvertonGirl
Professional Fish
Loyaler
I don't play cash so haven't got a stop loss. For tournaments my BI is very conservative. If I'm playing a 100+ player field then I use a 500x BI and if it's a massive field then I use a 600x BI.
If I do play cash game then I would use a 100x for 6max and 75x for 6max, as I said very conservative
If I do play cash game then I would use a 100x for 6max and 75x for 6max, as I said very conservative
bremp555
Enthusiast
Silver Level
When it comes to bankroll management for tournaments, I try to be on the safe side because variance can be brutal in MTTs. My general rule is to keep at least 400 buy-ins for the average stake I’m playing. This might sound very conservative, but it allows me to weather long downswings without having to constantly move down in stakes.
I also take into account the field size and structure of the tournaments. For large-field MTTs with thousands of players, I prefer to go closer to the 500 buy-in mark, since the variance is higher and the cashing frequency is lower. For smaller-field or faster structures, I may be comfortable with something closer to 300–350 buy-ins.
Another thing I like to do is separate bankrolls for different formats. For example, if I decide to mix in some PKOs or turbos, I give them their own portion of the bankroll because the variance in those formats is even higher. This keeps things more organized and prevents one type of game from affecting my overall stability too much.
I also take into account the field size and structure of the tournaments. For large-field MTTs with thousands of players, I prefer to go closer to the 500 buy-in mark, since the variance is higher and the cashing frequency is lower. For smaller-field or faster structures, I may be comfortable with something closer to 300–350 buy-ins.
Another thing I like to do is separate bankrolls for different formats. For example, if I decide to mix in some PKOs or turbos, I give them their own portion of the bankroll because the variance in those formats is even higher. This keeps things more organized and prevents one type of game from affecting my overall stability too much.
Roller
Legend
Platinum Level
I’ve been trying to get better at managing my poker bankroll properly. I used to just jump into games that “felt right,” but that’s how you end up reloading way too often 😅
Right now, I’m sticking with the basics:
For cash games, I like to have at least 30/40 buy-ins for the stake I’m playing.
For tournaments, more like 100 buy-ins, since variance hits harder.
And I’m trying to follow a 3 buy-in stop-loss — if I drop three buy-ins in a session, I’m done for the day
Right now, I’m sticking with the basics:
For cash games, I like to have at least 30/40 buy-ins for the stake I’m playing.
For tournaments, more like 100 buy-ins, since variance hits harder.
And I’m trying to follow a 3 buy-in stop-loss — if I drop three buy-ins in a session, I’m done for the day
F
fundiver199
Legend
Loyaler
Lots of numbers begin thrown around, some of which seem reasonable and others not so much. But with no information about OPs experience, his game selection, his track record or the size of his bankroll, its important to begin with the basics, which are:
1) The purpose of a bankroll is to protect a winning player from undesirable large swings forcing them to move down or from "going broke" and not being able to play any more.
2) From point 1) follow, that its not possible to have a bankroll, unless you are a winning player in the games you play.
3) From point 2) follow, that you need some sort of track record to suggest, you are winning, before it makes sense to talk about bankroll management. Until you have such a track record, you should think about a poker budget rather than a bankroll. Like maybe deposit $50, every time you get a paycheck, and then dont deposit again before the next paycheck. Or whatever your financial situation allow.
4) You dont need a bankroll, if you are mostly playing poker for fun. Make a poker budget instead and just play whatever games give you the most fun.
5) It makes no sense trying to manage some random very small amount of money in a poker account as a "bankroll", since you can just deposit more, so losing it does not mean, you need to move down or stop playing.
6) Being overly conservative with a small bankroll will hold you back and prevent you from moving up and winning some real money. Or from having more fun, if point 4) apply.
I hope, this helps.
1) The purpose of a bankroll is to protect a winning player from undesirable large swings forcing them to move down or from "going broke" and not being able to play any more.
2) From point 1) follow, that its not possible to have a bankroll, unless you are a winning player in the games you play.
3) From point 2) follow, that you need some sort of track record to suggest, you are winning, before it makes sense to talk about bankroll management. Until you have such a track record, you should think about a poker budget rather than a bankroll. Like maybe deposit $50, every time you get a paycheck, and then dont deposit again before the next paycheck. Or whatever your financial situation allow.
4) You dont need a bankroll, if you are mostly playing poker for fun. Make a poker budget instead and just play whatever games give you the most fun.
5) It makes no sense trying to manage some random very small amount of money in a poker account as a "bankroll", since you can just deposit more, so losing it does not mean, you need to move down or stop playing.
6) Being overly conservative with a small bankroll will hold you back and prevent you from moving up and winning some real money. Or from having more fun, if point 4) apply.
I hope, this helps.
TheniT
Rock Star
Bronze Level
1. Set aside a bankroll just for poker
Don’t mix it with personal or everyday money.
2. Follow buy-in guidelines by game type:
Avoid jumping to higher stakes without proper bankroll.
4. Track your results
Use spreadsheets or Apps to record wins and losses.
5. Adjust as your bankroll goes up or down
Move up only when your bankroll allows it. Move down if needed.
6. Stay disciplined and avoid tilt
Emotional control is key to protecting your bankroll.
Don’t mix it with personal or everyday money.
2. Follow buy-in guidelines by game type:
- Cash Games: at least 20 to 30 buy-ins.
- Tournaments (MTTs/SNGs): at least 100 to 200 buy-ins.
Avoid jumping to higher stakes without proper bankroll.
4. Track your results
Use spreadsheets or Apps to record wins and losses.
5. Adjust as your bankroll goes up or down
Move up only when your bankroll allows it. Move down if needed.
6. Stay disciplined and avoid tilt
Emotional control is key to protecting your bankroll.