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For a successful poker game, not only knowledge of strategy, but also competent bankroll management, as well as an informed choice of tournaments are important. In this article, we will analyze the basic principles of bankroll management, the use of a table in Excel to track bankroll, and also give recommendations on the selection of the tournament grid.
1. Bankroll management in poker: what it is and why
Bankroll management is a strategy that allows a player to competently manage his poker capital, avoiding significant losses and minimizing the impact of variance on overall profit. Adhering to the principles of bankroll management increases the chances of long-term success in poker and helps to stay afloat, even if the games are unsuccessful at times.
Basic rules of bankroll management in MTT poker:
- Choose your limits carefully.
Only play at bet levels that match your current bankroll. This helps to avoid unnecessary risk and allows you to increase capital more steadily. - Avoid dangerous tournament formats in the initial stages.
It is not recommended to start with satellites (i.e. tournaments where the prize is to enter another, more expensive tournament) and tournaments with a hyper-turbo structure, as they require a high level of preparation and lead to increased volatility (i.e. change) of the bankroll. - Observe daily bet limits.
For example, it is recommended not to spend more than 5% of the bankroll per day. This helps to better control costs and reduces the impact of losing streaks on total equity.
2. Working with the bankroll management table in Excel
To simplify bankroll tracking and analysis of played tournaments, we created a table in Excel, where you can enter data on all games and the current state of capital. Video instructions on how to use the spreadsheets on my channel here video, do not forget to subscribe, there are a lot of interesting things ahead.
Initial table settings:
- Enter the starting amount of your bankroll.
This is your start-up capital with which you start the journey. For example, if you start with $200, just enter this value. - Configure the limits.
The table will automatically calculate the optimal limits for participating in tournaments based on the current bankroll and buy-in recommendations. This approach maintains a balance between growth and safety. - Add data on the results of the games.
The table has sections for entering the number of tournaments played, income and expenses for each day. This data will help you analyze your progress and adjust your strategy.
3. Selection of the tournament grid: which formats to choose
A competent choice of tournaments is the basis of a stable game. At the initial stage, it is best to avoid satellite and hyper-turbo tournaments.
Why you shouldn't play satellites and hyper-turbo tournaments
- Satellite tournaments often have an unfavorable structure for beginners. They require in-depth analysis and selection of strategies, otherwise the risk of loss increases. Details about the specifics of the satellite are described in another article.
- Hyper-turbo tournaments are a format with a rapid increase in blinds, which is why players have to make decisions very quickly. This format creates increased pressure and high variance, making it unsuitable for players seeking stability.
Optimal tournament formats: regular, knock-out and turbo
For a balanced tournament grid, I recommend using the following types of tournaments:
- Regular tournaments.
Have a moderate increase in blinds, which allows you to carefully think through the strategy at each stage of the game. This reduces the randomness factor and provides an opportunity to develop skills in more detail. - Knockout tournaments.
In these tournaments, you get cash rewards for knocking out other players. This format allows you to earn even with an average position and adds motivation thanks to rewards for each knockout. - Turbo tournaments.
A structure with a faster increase in blinds than in regular tournaments, which requires quick decision-making and a high level of preparation. Turbo is best used in small volumes to avoid sharp fluctuations in the bankroll.
Ratio of tournaments in the grid
To maintain stability and increase the chances of bankroll growth, stick to the ratio in which 80% of tournaments are regular and knockout tournaments, and only 20% are turbo tournaments. This balance minimizes risks and helps to control the bankroll at each stage.
4. Instructions for working with the browser version of bankroll management
For convenient and interactive bankroll tracking, you can use the browser version of the bankroll management calculator. This tool adds gamification elements and allows you to easily control your results.
Getting started
- Follow the link to the browser version of the calculator.
- On the first screen, you will see a simple window for entering the initial amount of the bankroll. Enter the amount you want to start with, such as $20, and tap “Confirm.”
Player
level: The calculator will immediately assign you a level (for example, “Beginner – Forest Elf”), depending on the amount of the bankroll. As the bankroll grows, the player's level will increase, which adds an element of gamification and stimulates them to move to higher scores.
Additional features
Recommendations on the format of tournaments.
Depending on the level and bankroll, the system will offer the most suitable types of tournaments (Regular, knock-out, Turbo), which helps to avoid mistakes and choose the optimal grid.
Daily spending limit.
The calculator will tell you the daily bet limit (for example, 5% of the bankroll) to avoid unnecessary spending and control the risk.
Entry of results.
Every day you can add data about the tournaments played, winnings and the number of games. By clicking “Update data”, you will get up-to-date metrics and ROI, which helps track the performance of your game.
Data Management
The browser version saves all your sessions, and you can always see how your bankroll changed during different periods. You can also switch between different rooms and currencies if you play on multiple platforms.
5. Conclusion
Proper bankroll management in poker and conscious selection of tournaments are important elements of a successful poker game.
Use the spreadsheet and browser-based version of bankroll management to control growth and avoid unnecessary risks. The full video guide and additional materials can be found on my YouTube channel. It details pre-flop bands, bankroll management, and basic hand analysis to help you improve your game. Following the recommendations described in the article, you will be able to minimize risks and achieve stable growth.
