Building a poker bankroll is the cornerstone of progressing in poker, whether you dream of sitting at the highest stakes cash games or competing in major tournaments. The 2025 Guide on How to Build a Poker Bankroll is your playbook to grinding it up. To take your poker game seriously and make substantial money, not just play casually or break even, having a solid, logical bankroll strategy is essential.
In this guide, we’ll cover everything you need to know about building a poker bankroll in 2025, from finding games you can beat to managing your bankroll and playing smartly. The advice here is distilled from years of professional poker experience and is designed to help you grow your poker bankroll consistently and sustainably.
Why Building a Poker Bankroll Matters
Many players get stuck winning small amounts at low stakes, thinking that consistent small wins are enough. The truth is, if you’re only winning tiny amounts, your bankroll will stay tiny. To really succeed, you need to approach poker as a business and focus on building a bankroll that allows you to move up stakes responsibly and consistently.
Building a poker bankroll is as much about protecting your roll as it is about increasing it. The goal is to make real money by playing smart and disciplined poker, backed by a solid bankroll plan.
If you’re new to app-based poker, you should also read our guide on how to find top poker clubs in ClubGG to make sure you’re playing in games you can consistently beat.
Three Pillars of Building a Poker Bankroll
- Find Games You Can Beat
- Play Lots of Poker
- Keep a Proper Bankroll
1. Find Games You Can Beat
This is the most important step and the one many players overlook. For example, private poker apps are growing fast, check out the best poker clubs on ClubGG to discover softer fields with recreational players.
- Play against bad players: Find games where opponents make frequent mistakes. Even if you’re not an expert, having a big edge over weak opponents will help you win consistently. For example, local 1/2 no-limit hold’em games often have many bad players who haven’t moved up stakes yet.
- Get really good at poker: Study hard, master fundamentals, and become a strong player. If you’re better than most in any public game, you’ll usually be a winner or at least break even. This requires significant study and practice but gives you control over your success.
Ideally, combine the two: get very good and find weak games to maximize your edge. Years ago, soft public cash games were abundant, but today you may need to network and work harder to find profitable live games, especially in places like Las Vegas, Texas or LA.
2. Play a Lot
Quantity matters. The more hands or tournaments you play, the more value you extract from your edge. If you’re curious about the legal status of ClubGG in different regions before grinding heavily, make sure you check that guide.
Playing more also helps smooth out the inevitable swings in poker. For example, it’s normal to lose several buy-ins over multiple sessions due to variance, even if you’re a winning player in the long term.
Playing fast and consistently can increase your hourly win rate. In live poker, playing more hands per hour (by acting quickly) can increase your win rate. Don’t waste time, your bankroll, the dealer and the other players seated will also appreciate it.
3. Keep a Proper Bankroll
Bankroll management is critical. Without enough money set aside to handle downswings, you risk going broke and missing profitable opportunities. Many players don’t keep enough buy-ins and end up moving down stakes or quitting prematurely.
The general rule is to keep a bankroll that allows you to withstand the natural swings of poker. For example:
- If you’re winning about 3 big blinds per 100 hands online, you might want around 100 buy-ins (100x the big blind) to avoid “Risk of Ruin” aka, going broke.
- If you’re winning around 6 big blinds per 100 hands online, a smaller bankroll of around 55-65 buy-ins might suffice.
- In live poker, win rates can be higher (e.g., 10-20 big blinds per hour), but variance and expenses like tipping must be considered as well.
Be disciplined about moving down stakes if your bankroll shrinks and avoid gambling or taking wild shots without proper bankroll support.
Additional Key Tips for Building a Poker Bankroll
Track Your Results Carefully
Keep detailed records of your sessions, including win rate per hour, times of day you play, days of the week you play, and quality of opponents. You might find that certain times (like nights or weekends) have softer games, or specific players who are very weak and profitable to play against.
Choose Games and Tables Wisely
Don’t just play any available game. Get on waiting lists for different stakes, and be ready to take shots at higher stakes if the game is soft and you’re properly bankrolled. If the game isn’t soft, don’t hesitate to leave and wait for a better opportunity.
Manage Variance and Downswings
In poker, you must expect downswings, even if you’re a winning player. Losing multiple buy-ins over days or weeks is normal. Avoid emotional decisions and stick to your bankroll and game selection discipline.
Study and Improve Continuously
Poker is a game of skill and study. The more you study, the better you get, and the bigger your edge. It’s crucial to use tools like solvers, training sites, and coaching to sharpen your skills. Playing autopilot poker is only effective when your autopilot is excellent.
Be Realistic About Growth
Turning a small bankroll (ie: a few hundred dollars) into six figured quickly is unrealistic without taking huge risks. Instead, focus on steady growth by playing within your bankroll, improving your skills, and grinding consistently over months or years.
Be Patient and Disciplined
Success in poker bankroll building comes from discipline: quitting when the game is tough, moving down when necessary, avoiding shots without bankroll, and always playing games you can beat. Patience is key to long-term success.
For more strategy breakdowns, visit our main Bluffing Monkeys poker blog where we cover bankroll tips, poker psychology, and exclusive app-club insights.
Frequently Asked Questions About Building a Poker Bankroll
How long does it take to know if I’m winning?
In live poker, a few months of consistent play (3-6 months) might give you a decent sample size. Online, you will need many tens of thousands of hands or more to get a reliable picture of your win rate due to variance.
How many buy-ins should I have before moving up stakes?
A good rule of thumb is to move up when you have a bankroll that can handle your current stakes with at least 50-100 buy-ins, assuming your edge at the higher stakes is roughly half of your current edge. Always be ready to move back down if things don’t go well.
Are satellites a good way to build a bankroll?
Satellites can be tempting for quick bankroll jumps but are generally risky. You have a low probability of success and often face tougher opponents in the bigger events you qualify for. It’s better to build your bankroll steadily through regular games you can beat.
Should I play live or online to build my bankroll?
Both have pros and cons. Online allows more hands per hour and multi-tabling, which can speed up bankroll growth. Live poker offers softer games in some locations and different edge opportunities. Choose based on your strengths, location, and preferences.
How important is bankroll management?
Bankroll management is critical. Without it, you risk going broke during downswings. Keeping the right number of buy-ins and moving down stakes when necessary protects your bankroll and your ability to keep playing and winning.
How should a beginner start building a bankroll with no money?
Start by playing freerolls and low-stakes games to build initial capital. Consider working a job to save money for a proper bankroll. Study poker fundamentals intensely before playing higher stakes to maximize your edge.
Conclusion
Building a proper poker bankroll in 2025 requires a clear plan, discipline, and patience. Find games you can beat, play them consistently, and manage your bankroll wisely. Avoid gambling and reckless shots, and focus on continuous improvement through study and smart game selection.
Remember, poker is a long-term game where steady, disciplined bankroll growth will lead to success. By following these principles, you’ll position yourself to move up stakes confidently and make substantial money playing poker.
Good luck at the tables, and may your bankroll grow steadily in 2025 and beyond!
