Poker Bankroll Management Calculator
Calculate recommended poker bankroll from game type and stakes.
Returns buy-ins for cash games (20-30 BI) and tournaments (50-100 BI) to minimize risk of ruin.
Why bankroll size matters
Poker has variance no other casino game has. Even a strong winner running at 5 big blinds per 100 hands will have 20,000-hand stretches where they break even or lose. Without enough bankroll behind them, a normal downswing wipes out their roll and ends their career before the math catches up. Most players who quit poker did not have a skill problem; they had a bankroll problem.
The standard buy-in multiples
These numbers come from decades of variance simulations and pro consensus, not a single textbook:
| Game | Beginner | Solid winner | Crusher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cash (NLHE) | 30 to 40 buy-ins | 25 buy-ins | 20 buy-ins |
| MTT (large field) | 200+ buy-ins | 100 buy-ins | 50 to 75 buy-ins |
| Sit-and-Go (single table) | 50 buy-ins | 30 buy-ins | 20 buy-ins |
| PLO (Pot-Limit Omaha) | 50 buy-ins | 40 buy-ins | 30 buy-ins |
PLO needs more because variance is roughly 1.5x to 2x NLHE. Tournaments need by far the most because winning fields of 1,000+ players is rare and even seasoned regs go 100+ tournaments between cashes.
Risk of ruin in plain English
Bankroll math is built around “risk of ruin” — the probability your bankroll goes to zero before reaching infinity. A 5 BB/100 winner with a 100 BB/100 standard deviation needs about 27 buy-ins to keep risk of ruin under 5%. Drop the win rate to 3 BB/100 and the buy-in requirement jumps to roughly 45.
The hidden cost: moving up
Bankroll rules let you move up. The standard practice is to move up when you have the bankroll for the next level, and move down once you drop below 70% of the requirement at the higher level. Players who refuse to move down on tilt are the most common reason talented players go broke. Stake selection beats hand selection over a career.
Reality check
If you cannot rebuy comfortably, you are underrolled. Money you cannot afford to lose plays differently — you make tighter, more passive decisions and your expected value drops. The bankroll is not just a hedge against variance; it is what lets you make the +EV play every time.