Bankroll Management Basics

Bankroll management is the most important skill for long-term poker success. Without it, even the best players will go broke.

Why Bankroll Management Matters

Poker has high variance. Even with a positive expected value strategy, you will experience losing streaks. Proper bankroll management ensures you survive these downswings.

Recommended Buy-in Levels

**Cash games (NLHE)**: 30-50 buy-ins for your stake level

**Tournaments (MTT)**: 100-200 buy-ins due to higher variance

**Sit & Go**: 50-75 buy-ins

Example: For $1/$2 NLHE ($200 buy-in), you should have $6,000-$10,000 dedicated to poker.

Understanding Variance

Variance is the natural ups and downs in poker results. A winning player can lose for weeks or even months due to variance. This is normal and expected.

Win Rate Expectations

**Recreational player**: -5 to 0 BB/100 (losing or break-even)

**Solid regular**: 1-3 BB/100

**Strong regular**: 3-8 BB/100

**Elite player**: 8+ BB/100

Rules to Follow

Never play above your bankroll

Move down in stakes if your bankroll drops below the recommended level

Keep poker funds separate from living expenses

Track your results consistently