Bankroll management is honestly one of the most important skills in poker. A lot of players with good strategy still go broke because they underestimate variance.
There isn’t one “perfect” chart because it depends on the format you play, but these are pretty standard and safe guidelines:
- Cash games: around 30–50 buy-ins
- MTTs: around 100–300 buy-ins (variance is huge)
- Sit & Gos: around 50–100 buy-ins
For example, if you play $10 tournaments seriously, having at least $1,000–$2,000 is much safer long term.
Also:
- Move down in stakes when your bankroll drops
- Don’t mix poker money with personal money
- Track your results and volume
- Be more conservative if poker isn’t your only income
You can find great bankroll management content on sites like Run It Once, Upswing Poker, and even free YouTube channels. The key is consistency and discipline, not just having a big bankroll.