No Limit Poker Bankroll Management

Bankroll management in no limit Holdem is pretty easy to understand but it’s pretty tough to actually stick to. No limit bankrolls are set in terms of buyins. You want to have X number of buyins for each level you play. If your bankroll dips below that number, you should move down in stakes to a level where you once again have X number of buyins.

Casual Poker Players

Casual players can have bankroll guidelines as loose as they want. If you’re not serious about poker and you just want to have a little fun, your bankroll is simply whatever money you have set aside for gambling. The only thing you need to worry about is making sure you don’t spend money that you didn’t plan on spending in the first place.

Serious Poker Players

As you get more serious about poker, you’ll want to increase your bankroll requirements to at least 20 buyins per level. So if you want to play $.50/$1.00 no limit, you should have a bankroll of at least $2,000 ($100 buyins x 20). This bankroll is fine to use as long as you understand that it’s a little riskier. If you always step down as soon as you dip below 20 buyins, you should be fine.

A good solid amount for serious conservative poker players is 40 buyins per level. Big downswings happen to even the best of poker players so keeping a 40 buyin minimum will help you weather most storms. You’ll have a bigger bankroll for your current stakes and if you ever have to move down when you reach 40 buyins, you’ll have a comfortable bankroll for the next stakes down.

Professionals

Professional players should keep at least 100 buyins plus 6-12 months of living expenses that are completely separate from the bankroll. If you’re paying the bills with poker, you have to maintain the strictest bankroll standards of all because big downswings will hit you every once in a while.

The living expenses are important too because if you hit a big downswing, your bankroll and your mindset will be in a precarious position. Making withdrawals from your bankroll to pay for living expenses during a downswing can very easily start a vicious cycle. During the tough times, that extra living cash is vital.

Closing Notes

None of the bankroll recommendations in this article are cut and dry or are absolute musts. Ultimately, you are the only person responsible for your bankroll. Pick a minimum bankroll amount and stick with it.

Also note that these guidelines are all minimums. As you play at a certain level for a while, you’ll move up above the minimum guidelines until you either withdraw or move up in stakes. Following these bankroll guidelines will also help you maximize your chances to win a bad beat jackpot by extending your time at the tables.

The smaller bankroll guidelines (like 20 buyins) are best for those of you who are more intent on moving up in stakes rather than withdrawing. If you constantly withdraw your money, you’ll want to keep a bigger bankroll. Tittering constantly on the edge of 20 buyins isn’t a very good idea.

If you play limit holdem as well you might want to learn about limit holdem bankroll manangement.