Tip #25 - Don't play above your bankroll

Proper bankroll management is crucial for long-term success in poker. Playing at stakes that are too high for your bankroll puts you at risk of going broke, even if you're a winning player. The variance in poker means that even good players will have losing streaks, and you need enough money to weather these downswings.

Recommended bankroll requirements for different games:

• Cash Games: 20-30 buy-ins for your regular stakes
• Sit & Go Tournaments: 50-75 buy-ins
• Multi-Table Tournaments: 100+ buy-ins
• Heads-Up Games: 40-50 buy-ins
• High-Variance Games (PLO): 40-50 buy-ins

Signs you're playing too high:

• Feeling nervous about the money in play
• Making overly conservative decisions
• Unable to make proper bluffs due to money fears
• Worrying about day-to-day swings
• Playing fewer hands than usual out of fear

Benefits of proper bankroll management:

• Ability to play your best game without money pressure
• Protection against variance and bad runs
• Mental comfort to make correct decisions
• Opportunity to move up stakes systematically
• Sustainable long-term approach to the game

Remember that poker is a long-term game, and your goal should be to stay in action and improve over time. Don't let your ego or impatience push you to play higher stakes than your bankroll can handle. Many promising poker careers have been cut short by poor bankroll management. As the saying goes, "You can't go broke taking a profit, but you can go broke taking shots."