When you play poker, whether it’s online or at a brick-and-mortar casino, you should always have a bankroll in place. It’s a necessary part of the game, and is especially important if you want to become a pro poker player. A proper poker bankroll will help you deal with bad luck and long periods of time without winning. It will also prevent you from investing too much of your own money into the game and ultimately ending up broke.
Generally, you should never risk more than 5% of your total bankroll when playing any poker game. While this percentage is subjective, it should be your general guideline and something to stick by at all times. Betting more than this can easily put you at risk for losing all your money and leaving the game, preventing you from ever becoming a professional poker player.
In addition to establishing the size of your poker bankroll, you should also consider what stakes you’re going to be playing for. Some players will prefer to stay low and play small games, while others will want to move up levels as quickly as possible. There are pros and cons to both options, but the key is to be patient and stick with your limits until you’re ready to make a bigger jump.
Even if you’re the most talented poker player in the world, you will still encounter rough patches from time to time. If you’re not properly bankrolled, these bad runs will quickly drain your account and force you to leave the game altogether. The best way to avoid this is by sticking with your bankroll limits and moving down to lower stakes when you’re struggling.
Another aspect of poker bankroll management is knowing how to track your wins and losses. There are many poker apps on the market that can help you keep track of your results, but you can also use a notebook and pencil if you prefer. The most important thing is to track your hands and understand the amount of money you’re losing and making. It will take a while to build up an accurate picture of your win rate, but once you’ve tracked enough hands you should have a good idea of the average return on investment for each game.
Poker is a skill-based game, but it takes discipline and patience to build a poker bankroll that lasts. By following these simple tips, you can ensure that your bankroll is always sufficient for whatever level you’re playing at. It’s also a good idea to use a free tool like Poker Stack to monitor your bankroll, which will help you stay on top of your game and keep track of your progress. This is a tool that every serious poker player should have, so don’t hesitate to download it! The app is free to use and will provide you with an in-depth analysis of your money and winnings. It works with all types of poker, from cash games to sit & go tournaments.