Bankroll Management

10 min read

Good players go broke from bad bankroll management. The math of variance is unforgiving.

The Rule of 20-30

For cash games: 20-30 buy-ins at your stake. For tournaments: 50-100 buy-ins. This isn't conservative—it's what the math requires to survive normal variance.

Moving Up and Down

Move up when you have buy-ins for the next level AND you're beating current stakes. Move down immediately when bankroll drops below threshold. Ego doesn't pay bills.

Separate from Life Money

Poker bankroll is not rent money. Not emergency fund. Not investment capital. It's a tool for playing poker. Mixing these is how recreational players become broke ex-players.