How Do I Build My Poker Bankroll? An In-Depth Guide for Serious Players

Building a strong poker bankroll to support your poker dreams takes patience, smart strategies, and the right mindset. As an avid poker player myself, I‘ve made every mistake in the book when trying to build up my bankroll from scratch. In this comprehensive guide, I‘ll share everything I‘ve learned about optimal poker bankroll management so you can avoid the pitfalls and steadily grow your funds.

What Exactly is a Poker Bankroll and Why Does it Matter?

Simply put, your poker bankroll is the amount of money you have specifically set aside for playing poker. This bankroll is kept separate from any money you need to cover your monthly bills, living expenses, and other real-life obligations.

Having a properly-sized and managed bankroll is the single most important factor separating profitable poker players from broke gamblers. It‘s what allows you to ride out the inevitable downswings and come out ahead in the long run. Without it, even the best players can go bust.

Think of your bankroll as the engine that powers your poker profits. You want to make sure it‘s big enough and properly maintained to keep you cruising safely on the poker highways without running out of steam.

Let‘s look at some recommended bankroll sizes and smart management strategies to help your poker funds thrive…

Bankroll Size Guidelines – How Big Should Your Poker Bankroll Be?

One of the most common questions I get is "How much money do I need to play poker profitably?" Unfortunately, there‘s no one-size-fits-all answer. The ideal poker bankroll depends on several factors:

The poker format – Are you playing cash games or tournaments? Each has different bankroll requirements.
The specific poker game – Texas hold‘em, Omaha, mixed games all impact your optimal bankroll size.
The stakes you play – Higher stakes require a larger bankroll cushion.
Your skill level – Less-skilled players should err on the side of caution with a bigger bankroll.

That said, here are some general guidelines from expert players on bankroll sizes:

Cash Games

Low stakes NLHE ($1/$2 blinds) – $10,000 to $20,000 bankroll
Mid stakes NLHE ($2/$5 blinds)- $30,000 to $50,000 bankroll
High stakes NLHE ($5/$10+ blinds) – $100,000+ bankroll
Low stakes PLO ($1/$2 blinds) – $20,000+ bankroll
Mid stakes PLO ($2/$5 blinds) – $40,000+ bankroll

Tournaments

Low stakes MTTs (up to $100 buy-in) – $10,000 bankroll
Mid stakes MTTs ($100-$500 buy-in) – $20,000+ bankroll
High stakes MTTs ($500-$1000+ buy-in) – $50,000+ bankroll

For cash games, you generally want to have at least 50-100 maximum buy-ins for the stakes you play. So for a $1/$2 NLHE game with a $200 max buy-in, have at least $10,000-$20,000 behind.

The minimum for tournaments is around 100 maximum buy-ins. So for a $500 MTT, have $50,000+ in your poker bankroll.

Remember, it‘s always better to be conservative. Don‘t play at stakes higher than 5% of your total bankroll. You can always move up as your bankroll grows.

Key Strategies for Managing Your Bankroll

Having a correctly-sized bankroll is only half the battle. You also need to actively manage it by:

Only Risk 1-5% Per Session

Never risk more than 1-5% of your total bankroll on any given poker session. So if playing $1/$2 with a $10k bankroll, bring $100-$500 for buy-ins and rebuys.

Use Stop Losses

Decide the maximum amount you‘ll risk before starting a session and stick to it diligently. Poker pros often risk around 3 buy-ins or $500 at lower stakes. Stop as soon as you lose this amount.

Move Down Quickly When Losing

If you lose 10-20% of your bankroll, immediately drop down in stakes. Don‘t try to regain losses at the same limits. Rebuild your bankroll first before taking shots.

Avoid Adding More Personal Money

It‘s easy to deposit more from your personal funds when you hit a downswing. Resist this urge. Wait until you rebuild your bankroll at lower stakes before moving back up.

Separate Your Finances

Never mix your poker bankroll with bill money or personal savings. Treat your bankroll like a business account.

Use Tracking Software

Keep detailed records with tracking software. This helps detect leaks, provides insights into your play and results, and keeps you disciplined.

Here‘s a real example of proper bankroll management in action:

Mike has a $10,000 bankroll for playing $1/$2 NLHE
He brings 4 buy-ins or $800 to each session.
After losing 3 buy-ins ($600), he stops playing and takes a break.
He resumes at lower stakes to rebuild his roll before playing $1/$2 again.

This disciplined approach prevents huge downswings that can demolish your poker fund.

Building a Bankroll from Nothing – Tips for Beginners

I know starting from scratch with a small or non-existent bankroll can be daunting. Here are some tips to build up your poker funds without risking much of your own money:

Play free play money games first – Sharpen your poker skills risk-free before investing real cash on the line.
Enter freerolls to win small prizes – Poker sites run freerolls with no buy-in but a small prize pool. They‘re a great way to build up a starting bankroll.
Use deposit bonuses wisely – Many sites offer generous deposit bonuses that match your initial deposit up to $500 or $1000. This instantly doubles your bankroll.
Consider staking deals – Selling action to other players is a fast-track to building a big enough bankroll for mid or high stakes games.
Grind micro stakes – Cut your teeth at the lowest limits like $.01/$.02 NLHE to build up your confidence and roll.

The key is to avoid playing at stakes where you‘re risking serious money from your personal funds. Build your skills and bankroll at low risk first.

Smart Strategies to Grow Your Existing Bankroll

Once you have a solid starting bankroll, here are my top tips for growing it consistently:

Table select – Always sit with weaker players who provide more profit potential. Avoid tough regulars who play ABC poker.
Review your play – Analyze your hands and decisions after each session to fix any leaks. Study other pros for ideas.
Stop when winning – One of the biggest bankroll mistakes is playing too long when running well and giving back profits. Quit while ahead.
Keep improving – Read books, use training sites, get coaching – never stop honing your skills and optimal strategy.
Manage your life – Lack of sleep, exercise, and healthy habits lead to poor decisions. Take care of yourself away from the tables.
Avoid tilt – Tilting and playing on emotion instead of logic is every poker player‘s Achilles heel. Know when to walk away.

With the right table selection, optimal strategy, and stop loss discipline, your bankroll can steadily grow over time. Here‘s an example bankroll growth chart using sound BR strategies:

Month	Starting BR	Finish BR	Net Change
1	$500	$525	+$25
2	$525	$600	+$75
3	$600	$750	+$150
4	$750	$950	+$200
5	$950	$1100	+$150
6	$1100	$1500	+$400
7	$1500	$2000	+$500
8	$2000	$2500	+$500
9	$2500	$3000	+$500
10	$3000	$4000	+$1000
11	$4000	$5000	+$1000
12	$5000	$6000	+$1000

As you can see, the compounding effect in poker is powerful when you manage your bankroll properly and win consistently. Your roll can snowball faster than you expect.

Bankroll Mistakes That Ruin Poker Players

While good bankroll management habits lead to growth, poor habits ruin poker players every day. Here are some major bankroll mistakes to avoid:

Moving up stakes too quickly when winning
Playing drunk or tilted and punting off buy-ins
Chasing losses by playing higher than usual
Ignoring stop losses and playing undisciplined
Not dropping down stakes when losing
Depositing more money when busto
Withdrawing money you need for bills
Playing above your skill level or proper bankroll size

We‘ve all been tempted by these destructive behaviors. But avoiding them is key to building and keeping a healthy poker bankroll.

The Mental Game of Poker Bankrolls

Mastering the technical side of bankroll management is only half the battle. You also need to win the mental game by:

Controlling tilt – Walk away if you feel yourself getting emotional.
Avoiding greed – Don‘t move up stakes too fast when winning.
Having patience – Building a bankroll takes time. Avoid unrealistic expectations.
Staying focused – Eliminate distractions which lead to poor decisions.
Accepting variance – Poker has constant ups and downs. Stick to your game plan.
Staying disciplined – Following stop losses, game selection guidelines, etc.

Learning to master the mental game takes time and self-awareness. But it‘s the key to long-term poker profits.

Tracking Your Progress

Here are some of my favorite bankroll tracking tools:

PokerTracker – The industry leading poker tracking software. Lets you analyze your play and results.
Poker Bankroll Tracker – Specialized software just for tracking your bankroll over time.
Spreadsheets – Simple to create your own Excel or Google Sheet to log your poker funds.

Tracking your progress gives you accountability and insights into your leaks. It helps you make better decisions about managing your precious bankroll.

So there you have it – my complete guide to building and growing a solid poker bankroll from scratch. I hope you found these bankroll tips helpful. Remember, stay patient and focused on optimal play, and your poker funds will steadily grow over time. Let me know if you have any other bankroll questions!