Poker Bankroll Management for Players

 Poker Bankroll Management

Bankroll Management is simply the ability to keep your bankroll safe and allow you to play more hands while still not going under. Good bankroll management skills will increase your chances to win bigger pots. It will also allow you the time to grow your limits slowly and productively, allowing you to get more out your time and your effort. This guide is a good place to start. Next, you need to be able to keep track of your bankroll. While it can be difficult to adhere to the bankroll management rules, if you manage to do so, the rewards of self-control will outweigh any difficulties.

Limitations

Bankroll management is based on the limits that responsible poker players will choose to play at. Learn to determine the limits your bankroll can handle and how skilled you are to keep them there. It is difficult to master this skill without putting in the effort. Many players will be too inconsistent at the table to have the discipline required for textbook bankroll management.

When players become more proficient at managing their bankrolls, it is possible to move up in limit. However, that happens later. Once you've mastered the basics of bankroll management and are comfortable with each step, you can then move up to higher limits. But even then, it's important to be ready for when things don't go as planned. This lesson will cover how to move up limits.

Bankroll Limit Ratios

The hard part of managing your bankroll is learning the mathematical ratios you must follow, and then using the formula to determine your table limits. This isn't math, it's simply multiplication. If your ability to play poker can help you figure out the minimum bankroll value. It is important to be able to continuously calculate where you are in terms of your bankroll/big wager ratio.

Limit Poker

Your bankroll should be 300x the size of your big bet for limit poker at low- or middle-limits. This applies to a six-player table. Due to the length of the limit cash game's long-term duration, a large bankroll will be necessary. Your bankroll should be large enough that it can cushion losses but big enough to be efficient. If you do not apply this rule, your losses will eat away at your bankroll and make it impossible to move ahead mathematically.

Even if the limit table is higher, the bankroll management system can be learned at a lower limit table. Play a $0.10/$.020 limit-cash game with no less than six players. To win 300 times the big wager, you'll need $60 in chips.

Poker No-Limit or Pot-Limit

No-Limit, Pot-Limit and Pot-Limit game minimum bankroll values should be calculated in terms buy-ins. Low-stakes games ($1/$2) should start with a bankroll equal to 20 times the buyin. Mid-stakes games ($2/$4 – $5/$10) should increase the bankroll to 30 times the purchase-in. Higher stakes games will require a stack of at least 40 times that buy-in. This type of game is more competitive, especially if you increase your stakes. It can get very fierce so be cautious.

Limits to Moving Up

You can move up to the next limit if your bankroll is greater than 300 times the maximum big bet. If the limit is $0.10/$0.20 and your bankroll exceeds $150 (or $0.50 X 300), you may move to the next limit.

Congratulations, you've passed the first stage. If your bankroll falls below the 300x mark for big bets, it is important to be ready to adjust. Don't let the system get you down and don't play outside your limits. You cannot expect to reach your goals by constantly adjusting your limits. A healthy bankroll management strategy must allow for both progression and regression to ensure long-term success.

The Bottom Line

Do not make the same mistakes that novice players make. Many experienced players are waiting to see you make them. You don't have to win a lot of money to make it time for you move. Keep watching the numbers until your bankroll has enough cushion to protect you. If you do not, your bankroll will be destroyed. Poker - Bankroll Management