How to use the poker bankroll calculator
- Choose your game type. Cash games, multi-table tournaments (MTTs) and Sit & Gos need very different bankrolls because their variance is different.
- Enter your buy-in. For cash games this is a full 100 big blind buy-in (for $1/$2 that is $200). For tournaments, use your average buy-in including the fee.
- Pick a risk level. Conservative suits players who can't easily reload; aggressive suits players with outside income who are happy to move down if they lose.
- Optionally enter your current bankroll to see how many buy-ins you have and the biggest buy-in you can comfortably play.
How much bankroll do you need for poker?
A poker bankroll is money set aside only for poker, separate from rent, bills and savings. Bankroll management means sizing your games so that normal downswings don't wipe you out. The calculator uses widely used buy-in guidelines:
| Game type | Conservative | Moderate | Aggressive |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cash games (100bb buy-ins) | 40 buy-ins | 30 buy-ins | 20 buy-ins |
| Multi-table tournaments | 200 buy-ins | 100 buy-ins | 50 buy-ins |
| Sit & Gos / single-table | 100 buy-ins | 60 buy-ins | 40 buy-ins |
Tournaments need far more buy-ins than cash games because most of your profit comes from rare deep runs. Long stretches without a cash are normal even for winning players. Large-field online MTTs are even swingier, so many professionals keep 300 or more buy-ins for them.
Bankroll calculator examples
Example 1: $1/$2 cash game
A full buy-in at $1/$2 is $200. With a moderate 30 buy-in rule you need $6,000. A conservative player would want $8,000; an aggressive player could start with $4,000.
Example 2: $55 online tournaments
At a moderate 100 buy-ins you need $5,500 to play $55 MTTs. If your bankroll is $2,000, you have about 36 buy-ins, so $20 tournaments (100 buy-ins) are a better fit for now.
Tips for managing your poker bankroll
- Set move-up and move-down rules in advance. For example, move up when you have 30 buy-ins for the next level and move down if you drop below 20.
- Track every session. You can't manage a bankroll you don't measure. Log buy-ins, cash-outs and hours so you know your true win rate.
- Know your variance. Use the poker variance calculator and risk of ruin calculator to see how big your swings can get.
- Never play with money you need. If losing a session would cause stress outside poker, you are playing too big.
Want the full picture? Read our guide to poker bankroll management.
Poker bankroll calculator FAQ
How many buy-ins do I need for cash games?
Most players use 20 to 40 buy-ins of 100 big blinds. Thirty buy-ins is a sensible middle ground for a winning player who plays regularly.
How many buy-ins do I need for tournaments?
At least 100 buy-ins for a winning tournament player, and 200 or more for large-field online MTTs where variance is extreme.
Should my bankroll include money in poker site accounts?
Yes. Your bankroll is all money set aside for poker, whether it's in cash, a bank account or online poker accounts.
What if I'm a losing or break-even player?
Bankroll rules assume you win over time. If you don't yet know your win rate, start conservative, track your results and move down quickly after losses.
Is this the same as a risk of ruin calculation?
Not exactly. Buy-in rules are rules of thumb. A risk of ruin calculator uses your actual win rate and standard deviation for a more precise answer.