Betting systems

Poker Bankroll Calculator

How many buy-ins your bankroll really needs.

Recommended bankroll

600 ₽

30 buy-ins for this format

How it works

Poker has swings, so the bankroll you need is measured in buy-ins, not money. Cash games run lower variance and need fewer buy-ins; tournaments swing hard and need far more. A typical guide is around 30 buy-ins for cash, 50 for sit & gos and 100 for MTTs.

This calculator multiplies your buy-in by the recommended count for the format, and — if you enter your bankroll — shows how many buy-ins you actually hold. Keeping enough buy-ins is what lets you ride out variance without going broke at your stake.

bankroll = buy-in × recommended buy-ins

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How the Poker Bankroll Calculator works

Poker swings mean the bankroll you need is measured in buy-ins, not money. This free poker bankroll calculator shows the recommended roll for cash, sit & go and tournament play, and whether your current bankroll holds enough buy-ins for the stake.

Buy-ins, not dollars

Variance is the reason a bankroll is sized in buy-ins. Cash games have the lowest variance and need the fewest buy-ins; sit & gos sit in the middle; multi-table tournaments swing hardest and need the most, because you cash in a minority of events and the top prizes are rare.

Common guidelines are around 30 buy-ins for cash, 50 for sit & gos and 100 for MTTs. Aggressive players go lower, cautious players higher.

Using the calculator

Enter your buy-in and format to get the recommended bankroll, and optionally your current bankroll to see how many buy-ins you actually have. If you are short of the recommendation, the disciplined move is to drop to a lower stake until the roll catches up.

Holding enough buy-ins is what lets you keep playing your best through the inevitable downswings without going broke.

FAQ

How many buy-ins do I need for poker?expand_more

Roughly 30 for cash games, 50 for sit & gos and 100 for MTTs as a starting guide. Higher-variance formats need more; cautious players add a margin on top.

Why is a poker bankroll measured in buy-ins?expand_more

Because variance, not the absolute amount, determines how likely you are to go broke. Buy-ins normalise the bankroll to the stake you play.

What if my bankroll is below the recommendation?expand_more

Drop to a lower stake until your poker bankroll rebuilds. Playing under-rolled is the most common way winning players still go broke.

Key terms

ICM (independent chip model)Rakeback SPR (stack-to-pot ratio)

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