Poker bankroll: how many buy-ins to keep
A poker bankroll is money set aside only for poker. Common guidelines suggest about 20 to 40 buy-ins for no-limit cash games and 100 or more buy-ins for tournaments, because results swing a lot.
Reviewed Oct 15, 2026
Answer first
90s- 01Keep poker money separate.
- 02Cash games: about 20 to 40 buy-ins.
- 03Tournaments: 100 or more buy-ins.
Key numbers
Bankroll guidelines
In short
Key takeaways
- Bankroll is money you can afford to lose.
- Bigger fields need bigger cushions.
- Move down when the roll shrinks.
- Rules of thumb, not guarantees.
Progress
How bankroll rules work
- 1
Set aside
Money only for poker
- 2
Pick stakes
Within buy-in rule
- 3
Track results
Every session
- 4
Move up
After hitting a target
- 5
Move down
After a set loss
The aim is to survive normal swings without going broke.
Example bankroll by game
| Game | Buy-in | Guideline | Bankroll |
|---|---|---|---|
| $1/$2 no-limit | $200 | 30 buy-ins | $6,000 |
| $1/$3 no-limit | $300 | 30 buy-ins | $9,000 |
| $4/$8 limit | $200 | 300 big bets | $2,400 |
| $100 tournament | $100 | 100 buy-ins | $10,000 |
| $20 sit-and-go | $20 | 50 buy-ins | $1,000 |
Common guidelines; your own risk comfort may differ.
Why poker needs a cushion
Even winning players lose often. A good cash game player may win only a few big blinds per 100 hands, while one bad night can cost two or three buy-ins.
Tournaments swing more. Most entries win nothing, and a few deep runs pay for many losses, so long losing stretches of 50 or more buy-ins happen to good players.
A bigger bankroll in buy-ins lowers your risk of ruin, which is the chance of losing the whole roll before your edge shows up.
Cash game buy-ins and comfort
| Buy-ins | Style | Risk of going broke |
|---|---|---|
| 10 | Very aggressive | High |
| 20 | Aggressive | Moderate |
| 30 | Standard | Lower |
| 50 | Conservative | Low |
Rough guide only; risk depends on your win rate and variance.
Moving up and down
Many players set clear rules. For example, move up when the bankroll reaches 30 buy-ins at the next stake, and move back down if it drops below 20 buy-ins there.
Taking a shot is fine with a plan. Some players try a higher game with a small part of the roll, such as two buy-ins, and drop down if they lose them.
Live poker costs more than online for the same stakes, because of tips, travel and fewer hands per hour, so live bankrolls often need a little extra.
Sequence
Setting your bankroll
Step 01
Pick an amount
Only money you can lose.
Step 02
Choose a rule
e.g. 30 buy-ins.
Step 03
Pick your stakes
Fit the rule.
Step 04
Track every session
Wins and losses.
Step 05
Review monthly
Move up or down.
A worked example
Say you have $3,000 for poker and follow a 30 buy-in rule. That fits $0.50/$1 no-limit with a $100 buy-in, since 30 times $100 is $3,000.
If the bankroll grows to $6,000 you could move to $1/$2 with $200 buy-ins. If it falls to $2,000 you would stay at $0.50/$1 or drop to $0.25/$0.50.
Never add rent or bill money to the roll. If you keep refilling it from savings, the bankroll rule is not protecting you.
Floor rules
Bankroll terms
Know before you sit
- Buy-in
- Chips bought to sit, e.g. 100bb.
- Risk of ruin
- Chance of losing the roll.
- Downswing
- Long losing stretch.
- Shot taking
- Trying a higher stake.
A downswing example
A player wins 5 big blinds per 100 hands at $1/$2 and plays 30,000 hands a year. That is about $3,000 of expected profit.
Normal variance at that win rate can still bring a losing stretch of 10,000 hands or more, worth 10 or more buy-ins, about $2,000 or more.
With 30 buy-ins, or $6,000, the player can ride out that swing. With only 10 buy-ins, a normal downswing could empty the bankroll before the edge shows up.
Common mistakes
- Playing with rent money
- Bankroll must be spare.
- Moving up too soon
- One win is not a trend.
- Not moving down
- Pride costs money.
- Not tracking results
- You cannot manage it.
Keep reading
Related pages
Go play
Where to play in Las Vegas
Tap a resort — each row opens that casino’s White Gambling page (hours, poker status, floor facts). Print poker rooms, sorted by published table count.
Open a casino page
Real listings · not adsAfter the 90 seconds
Questions before and after you play
A 90-second guide cannot cover every table moment. Tap a group, then a question — answers are short paragraphs, not one-liners.
01Basics
What is a poker bankroll?
Money set aside only for poker, separate from money you need for bills, rent or other spending.
How many buy-ins do I need for cash games?
Common guidelines suggest about 20 to 40 buy-ins for no-limit cash games, more if you prefer lower risk.
How many for tournaments?
Many players keep 100 or more buy-ins for multi-table tournaments because results swing so much.
02Rules
Is there an official bankroll rule?
No. These are player guidelines, not rules. Casinos and poker rooms only set table minimum buy-ins.
When should I move down?
A common rule is to move down when the bankroll falls below about 20 buy-ins at your current stake.
Should live poker use the same rule?
Many players keep a bit more for live games because tips, travel and slower play add cost.
03Strategy
Why do winning players go broke?
Variance. Even good players hit long losing runs, and too small a bankroll cannot survive them.
Is taking shots a good idea?
It can be, with a plan: risk only a small part of the roll and drop back after losing it.
Where can I get help?
If gambling stops being fun, call or text 1-800-GAMBLER for free, private help any time of day.
Sources
- Wizard of Odds — Poker Not from a registry (Reference source, not an official registry)The gaming industry’s standard reference for casino-game math, by actuary Michael Shackleford. Not an official registry; our calculators compute these numbers independently. · accessed Oct 15, 2026Poker rules and math
- UNLV Center for Gaming Research Not from a registry (Reference source, not an official registry) · accessed Oct 15, 2026Research library on casino games and gambling
- American Gaming Association — Research Not from a registry (Reference source, not an official registry) · accessed Oct 15, 2026US casino industry data
- National Council on Problem Gambling — Help and resources Not from a registry (Reference source, not an official registry) · accessed Oct 15, 2026Free, confidential help: call or text 1-800-GAMBLER