Cash management in ring games

Managing your bankroll well is just as important as being a good player. In the course of my career, I have seen many good players lose because of poor bankroll management, or a complete lack thereof. They either bet more than they could afford or played with bad buy-ins. Both can prove fatal. That means that when you play at a certain level with a certain limit, you should stick to it and increase very carefully or not at all until you have built up a big bankroll and can play without worrying about it. It is important to choose your buy-ins carefully, too. Don’t rely on typical mathematical formulas, such as ten times the big blind. It all depends on the type of game, pot limit, limit or no limit, as well as the players at the table, how many fish and sharks there are, what stack they are playing with, how your own position is and, finally, the nature of the table: tight, loose, etc.

Players also often expect to win too much. In the long term, winning one big blind per hour may not look very impressive, but it’s sufficient for successful professional play.

The last tip sounds logical but often goes unheeded: accept it when you are doing poorly and end the game early. And, vice-versa, when you are doing very well, make use of the opportunity, set a new limit for yourself, and make the most of it.

Written by Thomas Lamatsch 

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