Bankroll management is the least glamorous skill in poker and the one that decides whether you last. Two players of equal ability can have opposite outcomes if one sizes his sessions correctly and the other does not.
What a bankroll is
Your bankroll is the money you have set aside only for poker. Not rent money, not savings, not the budget for next month. If losing it would change your life, it is not a bankroll.
The basic rule: never risk too much of it
A widely used starting point:
| Game type | Typical buy-in per session | Suggested bankroll |
|---|---|---|
| Cash games | 100 big blinds | 20-30 buy-ins |
| Tournaments | Full entry | 50-100 entries |
| Live low-stakes sessions | Fixed amount you planned | 20+ sessions |
If you plan to play a 1,000 peso tournament regularly, a reasonable bankroll before that becomes routine is around 50,000 pesos. If that number is far away, that is fine — it tells you which games you should be in today.
Practical steps for a first bankroll
- Decide the total amount you can afford to lose without stress. Write the number down.
- Split it into sessions. For live play, decide a maximum number of entries or buy-ins per month, then stop when you hit it.
- Track results in a simple sheet. Date, game, buy-in, cash-out. After 30 sessions, patterns become obvious.
- Move down before you have to. If the bankroll shrinks by 25-30%, drop to cheaper games. Rebuilding at lower stakes is boring but effective.
- Cash out wins on a schedule. Some players withdraw a fixed share of profits monthly. This keeps poker money and life money separate.
Mistakes that end bankrolls early
- Chasing losses with bigger games after a bad session. The math does not care about your last result.
- Top-up thinking. Adding money weekly to cover losses means there is no real bankroll, only spending.
- Playing above the plan “just once.” One overpriced session is often bigger than five normal ones.
- Ignoring time cost. A game that ties up a whole evening for thin value is expensive even when you win.
Bankroll and live play in the Philippines
If you are preparing for a first live session, read the first live poker game checklist before choosing a room. To decide between cash games and tournaments for your budget, the cash games vs tournaments comparison breaks down the costs of each format.
Summary
Pick a number you can afford to lose, split it into sessions, track everything, and move down when the sheet says so. Bankroll management will not win you a single pot, but it is the reason good players are still playing a year later.
This guide is for information only. 18+. Play responsibly.