Absolute Poker Referral Code

If you think about it, bankroll management might be the most important consideration in poker for serious players, even more significant than poker hand order! I know this might be hard to believe. Let me explain in more detail.

If you are a recreational player and put a poker deposit into your account every couple weeks, then you can just play whatever you’re enjoying most. However, if you’re here trying to learn how to become a good player and don’t want to keep losing money, then bankroll management is not only important, it is vital.

The rest of this entry will list the main poker games and explain how to follow proper bankroll management for each one.

Ring Games

You should have at least 20 buy-ins for the level you’d like to play at. 100 big blinds is generally the amount accepted as the buy-in. So if you want to play the .02/.05 NL level, you should have at least $100 (20 x $5). With a bankroll of $50, you should be playing .01/.02 till you’re able to raise it to $100, then start playing some level .02/.05. When you’re attempting to play at a higher level, don’t be ashamed to move back down if things don’t go well. For example: you just made it to .02/.05 with your $100 bankroll. If you run bad and you just aren’t getting the poker hands you need, it’s imperative to drop a level to .01/.02 if you fall to 15 buy-ins ($75). When you climb back up to $100, you can play the higher level again. I haven’t come across anyone that has played for an extended length of time that did not have to move down at some point. A lot of folks that play this game go broke simply because they were too proud to use bankroll management. Smart players will slide back and forth between almost every new level they try until they get accustomed to the type of play the next level brings.

As you climb up to levels of about 100nl and higher, it would be a good idea to be more careful with your bankroll and probably a minimum of 30 buy-ins would be a better idea.

Sit n’ Go Tourneys (SNGs)

Tourneys most likely will have higher variance than cash games. Therefore, it’s a good idea to have a more generous bankroll to absorb the swings. It’s a good rule of thumb to have about 40 buy-ins for SNGs. For example, with a $100 bankroll, you should be playing something like a $2.20 buy-in until you get up to about $130. Once you’re up to a $130 bankroll you can play $3 games and see how well you play. Like with cash games, don’t be too proud to drop some levels if you are not getting good runs.

Multi-Table Tourneys (MTTs)

MTT poker is tempting for many people since it can provide some absolutely amazing payouts if you last to the end. It’s important to note that the variance is extremely high, and it’s not uncommon to play long stretches without making any money. Because of this it is standard to have a minimum of 100 buy-ins to play Multi-Table Tournaments. You must also factor in at least one rebuy and one add on to the cost of the MTT when rebuys are available. Generally you’ll need even more than that to place, so be cautious. For example, in order to play a $3 re-buy MTT you should plan on a minimum of $9 and when you multiply that by the 100 buy-ins rule, you’ll see that you’d need a minimum of $900 in your bankroll to play.

Here’s some information for people playing with a tiny bankroll that want to play MTTs: think about playing some satellites. Satellites usually have very small buy-ins and the play is often quite poor, so this can be a good way to get some experience and potentially win a ticket worth more than your bankroll will allow you to play. If you happen to win a satellite, it will be tempting to try your hand at a bigger tourney. Temptation is not good! Instead, take the tournament money and grind out more games within your bankroll.

An Easy Way to Pad the Bankroll

The most effective way of increasing your bankroll is definitely to play many poker hands. An important method of padding the bankroll during the process, though, is by getting bonuses at the sites you play. One of the most popular options is the no deposit poker bonus that is offered by some sites. This is a great method of starting off the bankroll if you’re a beginner or to help a small bankroll if you’re grinding micro stakes. If you’re a U.S. citizen, you’ll for sure want to know about the US poker sites.

Final Thoughts on Bankroll Management

The temptation always exists to play higher levels than your bankroll will allow. Stay centered, never stray from correct bankroll management and you’ll never have to deposit again! Don’t get caught up in what levels other players are playing or what other people think of the strategy you follow. Simply stick to whatever you’re most comfortable with and what’s within your bankroll. Staying safe and being cautious is key. It’s all about risk management. However, if you’re well above these bankroll thresholds and are just afraid to climb levels, you’ll need to let go of the fear in order to make progress. When the time feels right, make your move at some higher shots, and don’t be ashamed to slide up and down. Before you know it you’ll find yourself a regular at the mid-stakes games with a hefty bankroll.