Whether you’re a beginner looking to join your first low-stakes cash game or a tournament enthusiast aiming for deep runs, one question always matters: How much money do you really need to play texas-holdem-pokers.com responsibly and sustainably? The answer depends on the format, your goals, and how seriously you plan to take the game.

This guide breaks down the recommended bankrolls for cash games, tournaments, and online play, and offers smart tips on managing your money at the tables.

Understanding Bankroll in Poker

Your poker bankroll is the amount of money you’ve set aside strictly for playing poker. It should be separate from your daily living expenses, rent, or emergency funds.

Bankroll management helps you:

• Survive downswings and bad beats
• Avoid going broke due to variance
• Move up (or down) stakes responsibly
• Play with confidence, not fear

Cash Game Bankroll Guidelines

Cash games (where chips equal real money) have relatively lower variance, but solid bankroll management is still key.

Recommended Bankroll:

• Live cash games: 20–30 buy-ins
• Online cash games: 30–50 buy-ins (due to tougher competition and variance)

Example:

• Playing $1/$2 live = $200 buy-in → recommended bankroll = $4,000–$6,000
• Playing $0.10/$0.25 online = $25 buy-in → recommended bankroll = $750–$1,250

Tip:

Only move up in stakes when you’ve consistently beaten your current level and your bankroll supports the next tier.

Tournament Bankroll Guidelines

Tournaments have higher variance than cash games because you’re often playing for hours with a chance of winning nothing. Bankroll requirements are steeper.

Recommended Bankroll:

• Low variance formats (SNGs): 50–100 buy-ins
• MTTs (multi-table tournaments): 100–300 buy-ins or more

Example:

• $11 MTTs → minimum bankroll = $1,100 to $3,300
• $5 SNGs → bankroll = $250 to $500

Tip:

Be cautious with re-entry and rebuy events—they can inflate your real investment per tournament.