My Bankroll Requirements

I keep my bankroll requirements really simple. Lately I've started being more aggressive in my bankroll management, mostly because I know I can always get more money if needed, but I want to keep the money I am playing so I am not totally reckless.

A year ago, I was really conservative in my money management. I would just be content at $400 NL because I was making such good money playing many tables that I didn't want to move up and try higher limits. I didn't want to leave my comfort zone.

I cashed out my monthly winnings each month and all was good. Until awhile ago, when I started being more aggressive. And note that my aggressive guidelines will seem conservative to some. If you want to use more conservative guidelines (which I recommend) I would go with 30 or 40 buy-ins for each limit, there is nothing wrong with taking your time.

My Aggressive Bankroll Requirements

1. 20 buy-ins for next level and I will take a 3 buy-in shot
2. If losing, move down and win money back and try again

So if I'm at $400 NL with $12,000 I would take a shot at $600 NL because I have 20 buy-ins for $600 NL, and if I lose $1,800, I'll move down. That's how simple it is. No need to make it harder than that.

Then if you have some specific issues you'd like to target, let's say moving down another level if you're playing $400 NL and everything is going smoothly until you start losing and you go on a 10 buy-in downswing and you drop below $8,000, then you should probably start considering going down to $200 NL, because losing 10 buy-ins will shatter anyone's confidence.

Many players will stay at $400 NL because it is their level and they think SHOULD win and it should turn around any time now, but all they're doing is denying reality. It isn't the end of the world to move down, and you'll always be able to move back up again after you've won money and gained confidence! Remember to keep it simple!

Winning is not a sometime thing; it's an all time thing. You don't win once in a while, you don't do things right once in a while, you do them right all the time. Winning is habit. Unfortunately, so is losing.
- Vince Lombardi

Done?


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