Online Poker and Bankroll ManagementNo one is playing online poker to lose, but if you're not managing your bankroll, you're likely to be out of the game before you really get a chance to start winning those big pots.
Playing online poker, or poker in general for that matter, is supposed to be enjoyable, and bankroll management sounds like the antithesis of fun, but with a bit of an awareness of your bankroll, and a few sound rules backing your play, you'll ride out the swings and gradually move up to the serious play…and the serious money.
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How much do you need?
You might get away with as little as 200 times the limit bet, but to really have a bankroll that's going to last, try to keep your bankroll at 500 times the maximum bet. This means if you're playing 2$ games, you need a bankroll of $1000 backing you up. This figure will vary depending on the way you play, and if you play a really tight game (a rarity in online poker!) then you may well need less; but 500 is a figure that's proven to work well, and as long as you play smart, should last for very long time.
You need enough backing your play to ride you through a few sessions of bad luck and keep you playing with confidence. Nothing gets you playing scared more than the thought of a dwindling bankroll; and nothing excites the sharks more than someone playing scared poker!
Never play more than 10-20% of your bankroll in a session
Capping your daily play helps you stay solvent, and can keep you safe from the temptations of the tilts. By playing with a maximum of 10-20% of your bankroll daily, you ensure that you will always live to play another day.
If you've seen a few sessions of bad luck, then you may need to temporarily move down a limit and build up your bankroll again in the relatively easier low limit games. By ensuring that your bankroll can always back your play, you can play with confidence and aggression, and know you're never at risk of being forced out of the game for good.
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Know when to stop playing online poker
Professional advice calls for a maximum of about 50 hands per session. Playing a marathon can loosen your play, and increases the odds of costly mistakes. Pre set a limit of play, and stick to it...win or lose.
Additionally, be on the lookout for the tilts. If you've just had a real run of luck, be it good or bad, examine your emotions and your play, and think about whether you're still playing the smart game that got you this far. Nothing can destroy a bankroll faster than the angry or reckless play of the tilts.
Exceptions
With experience and increasing skill, you may recognize a situation that calls for an abandonment of your bankroll management philosophy.
If you can see that your table is too strong, get out and look for a table with a least a couple of fishes. Even if you're winning now, you're not likely to maintain your success over the long run. The opposite is also true, and if you're having a run of bad luck, but can see that the table is really weak, then keep playing, and over time you should benefit from the inexperience of the opposition.
Watch your bankroll grow
You shouldn't gamble what you can't afford to lose, but with sound bankroll management techniques you're very unlikely to lose your money, and you should eventually increase your bankroll as your skill and experience grows. Remember that you may need to move down a limit in response to a dwindling bankroll. A few days with the fishes in the low limit games may be all you need to get back into the games that really excite and challenge you.
Remember to always choose a limit game that allows you to play with confidence and aggression, to limit your daily wagering and hands played, and to watch out for the tilts, and you'll watch your dollars grow.
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Byron Badd, Gambling911.com
Originally published July 24, 2007 3:54 pm ET
