Why Bankrollbeheer Matters
Bankroll management is the discipline of only playing stakes you can afford, given your total poker funds. Even the best players experience significant downswings due to variance - proper bankroll management ensures you can survive these swings.
Many skilled players have gone broke not because they were bad at poker, but because they played stakes too high for their bankroll. Don't let this happen to you.
Recommended Bankroll Requirements
The number of buy-ins you need depends on your format and risk tolerance:
| Game Type | Conservative | Standard | Aggressive |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cash Games | 40 buy-ins | 25-30 buy-ins | 20 buy-ins |
| MTT (Tournaments) | 200 buy-ins | 100-150 buy-ins | 50-75 buy-ins |
| Sit & Go | 100 buy-ins | 50-75 buy-ins | 30-40 buy-ins |
| Spin & Go | 300+ buy-ins | 200 buy-ins | 100 buy-ins |
Never risk more than 5% of your bankroll in a single session or tournament. For high-variance formats like MTTs, keep it under 2%. This ensures you can always recover from bad runs.
Cash Game Bankroll Rules
For cash games, a buy-in is typically 100 big blinds:
- NL2 ($0.01/$0.02): Need $40-$60
- NL10 ($0.05/$0.10): Need $200-$300
- NL25 ($0.10/$0.25): Need $500-$750
- NL50 ($0.25/$0.50): Need $1,000-$1,500
- NL100 ($0.50/$1.00): Need $2,000-$3,000
Tournament Bankroll Rules
Tournaments have higher variance, requiring larger bankrolls:
- $1 MTTs: Need $100-$200
- $5 MTTs: Need $500-$1,000
- $11 MTTs: Need $1,100-$2,200
- $22 MTTs: Need $2,200-$4,400
Moving Up and Down in Stakes
When to move up:
- You have the required buy-ins for the next level
- You're a consistent winner at your current stake
- You've studied and are prepared for tougher competition
- You're mentally ready for bigger swings
When to move down:
- You've dropped below the required buy-ins
- You're on a significant downswing
- The games at your stake have become too tough
- You're experiencing tilt or playing scared
The Stop-Loss Principle
Set session limits to protect your bankroll:
- Daily stop-loss: Quit if you lose 3-4 buy-ins in a session
- Weekly review: If down 10+ buy-ins, evaluate your play
- Move-down trigger: Drop stakes if bankroll falls 30%+
Professional vs Recreational
Your situation affects your bankroll needs:
- Professional: Need 40-50 buy-ins minimum (this is your income)
- Semi-pro: 30-40 buy-ins with backup income
- Recreational: 20-25 buy-ins (can reload if needed)
Common Bankroll Mistakes
- Taking shots too often: Playing above your bankroll
- Not moving down: Pride prevents dropping stakes
- Mixing bankrolls: Using poker money for life expenses
- Ignoring variance: Expecting linear results
- Withdrawing too much: Not leaving enough cushion