Poker Bankroll Management

The question I’m probably asked the most is "How much money do I need in my poker bankroll to play at specific limits." The standard answer I give out is 300BB’s (big bets). I don’t how exactly this became the rule of thumb, but 300BB’s seems to be the size of the average poker bankroll. This rule will suffice for probably 80% of players. You could probably get away with having less in your poker bankrolls as it’s not often you’re going to go through a 200BB downswing, but it could happen. And if it does happen then you’re far less likely to tilt and lose your cool if you know that you have enough money left to see you past the negative down swing. Because that’s really what poker bankrolls are for, to see you through the negative fluctuations we all experience from time to time. Most downswings never go past 100BB’s but if you’ve only got 150BB’s in your poker bankroll, as you begin to approach that negative 100BB point you’re going to get emotional. And that will almost always lead to playing emotionally driven poker as opposed to making logical, cool headed, intelligent decisions at the table. I’ve been through 100BB downswings several times, and I know for a fact that I wouldn’t have played as well if I knew that I only had another 100BB’s left in my bankroll. Poker bankrolls are there to support your emotional well being as much as your financial well being. Your bankroll is there to keep you from playing scared.

If you’re planning on earning a living playing poker, then in my opinion 300BB’s is not enough to keep in your poker bankrolls. I would go with a minimum of 500BB’s. Personally if I played poker for a living and had to support a family, my poker bankroll would have 1k BB’s in it, but then I don’t like risk. But then again I’d never play poker for a living. I enjoy it too much and don't want it to become a grind. I think of poker as being a serious hobby that allows me to purchase cool toys from time to time that I otherwise wouldn’t have purchased for myself.

The poker bankroll you require also depends on at what limits and what game you’re playing. Again, if you’re doing this for fun as I do, then 300BB’s should be fine, but if you’re going to play for rent money, then you need more. If I was going to play high limit or no limit and support my family while doing it, then I would have at least 1k BB’s available to me. I know that’s a lot of money to keep in a poker bankroll, but then I know people who do this for a living that have experienced down swings that have lasted a month or longer. Not fun. For the rest of us, try to keep 300BB’s in your poker bankrolls and you’ll be just fine.

Poker Bankroll Limits Chart

Limit		Bankroll Needed
$.50 - $1.00		$300.00
$1.00 - $2.00		$600.00
$2.00 - $4.00		$1,200
$3.00 - $6.00		$1,800
$5.00 - $10.00		$3,000
$10.00 - $20.00		$6,000
$15.00 - $30.00		$9,000
$20.00 - $40.00		$12,000

If your poker bankroll drops down to 300BB’s of the limit below you, then drop down to that limit until you again reach 300BB’s at your current limit. For instance, while playing $1.00 - $2.00, your poker bankroll drops from $600 down to $300. Then drop down to $.50 - $1.00 and play until your poker bankroll is back up to $600. Always try to stay within the correct poker bankroll limits.

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