Bankroll management

Didn't know where else to put the question and I haven't noticed but thought I should ask.

How do you define bankroll management? When do you go up in stakes or when do you go down in stakes? I know you make money faster in ring games but I won't feel comfortable playing those until I get a lot more cash.

As far as tourney buy-ins are concerned, I'm fairly comfortable with what I'm playing now but when is it right to go up to the next few steps normally? What percentage do you use?

I know there is more than one question but I'm just really trying to still learn the game and want to make sure it's the right time to move up.

Thanks in advance.

Usually you would move up a level after you reach a certain amount of money. You never want to put more than 7% of your roll into the buyin. not sure about the percentage but i think its around 5-7%

Bankroll management is the single most important aspect of poker. Without it, even the best of the best will go broke. That being said, you need to set your own rules with what you feel the most comfortable with. The standards are as follows:

Limit Ring Games: 300 big bets

NL Ring Games: 20 maximum buy-ins. If you play NL with blinds of .10/.25 and the maximum you're allowed to sit in with is $25 then your BR to play this type of game is $500

Single Table SNGs: 30-40 buy-ins including fee. So for $5.50 SNGs BR should be $165-$220 depending on what you find the most comfortable.

MTTs: 100 buy-ins including fee. If you play $5.50 MTTs then BR should be $550.

Starlights buy-in's are spot on for someone who absolutely can't lose his roll.

One thing to add is that $200-$500 isn't that hard to replace.

If you are just starting out you can probably do 30 buy-ins for SNG and 50 buy-ins for MTT's. If you go on a bad run and lose 30% of you roll just redeposit to bring you back to your original roll.

No more then 2.5%

much does depend on how good you are, what your goals are and how swingy your game is.

Starlight is spot on in terms of a risk adverse strategy but much depends on what style or type of game you are talking about etc.

If you are playing ring games where you are putting your whole stack at risk often then you need a bigger bankroll.

Tourney wise much depends on how long the odds are of the tourney. I would say for instance if you were playing 10$ double or nothing tourneys then a bankroll of 100 should be enough to support the swings if you are winning 3 in 4 but if you are only winning just over 50% then really you should have a lot more.

Also you should base stakes on what you are profitable in which could mean not playing at your total bankroll. Also much depends on what the money means to you. If you could withdraw your money and that extra money could make a difference to you then just remember that when you risk it at the poker table.

I currently use the 2-5% range. My bankroll right now is a bit over $100 and since I play almost exclusively in SnG's, that would mean I can play in any SnG with a $2-5 buy-in. However, lately I've just stuck to the lower $2 buy-ins because it allows more leeway should you just have a bad run of cards all day.

My worst day as of late was being knocked out of 6 SnG's in a row. By playing on the lower end, you can accept these days a little easier. If I happen to be on a hot streak however, I'll throw in a couple of the $5 buy-ins.

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SNG's are what I have been playing a lot of as well. I got a MTT win last night but that was about 5% of my roll. now up to just over 200 again. I've tried a few of the ring games with minimum buy ins but will not be going back. I really think my game, what little of it there is, is more suited to SNG and MTT's . Just wanted to have an idea about what was good to use.

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proper bankroll management is extremely important, but shots at various levels can be done if, and only if you can honestly tell yourself you have the ability to exit, if it goes sour.

My total bankroll is just a hair over $900 (all earnings since 4/20/09) ok enough back patting, and as I write this I am currently playing a $2/$4 limit game. I am technically under rolled for this game, and I have no money available to add to BR so mine is a BR I must protect.

But that being said, i can play this game because i have the ability to leave if I hit a preset loss amount, I don't tilt, as a full time player i cannot allow myself to, and I have the discipline to do what is needed when it is needed to maintain a positive growth. If a player cannot do this, they must never "take shots" at higher levels IMO. If you are a player that can indeed do this, and won't insist on staying to recoup the losses before dropping back down, then a shot here and there at higher levels will not hurt you as long as you make sure you never allow it to.