Tilt-proof your poker sessions with proper bankroll management
Low stakes expert and author of A New Queen’s Guide to Poker*, Sara O’Connor, shares the secrets to her success at the tables - and her poker bankroll management golden rules.
Do you want to be a winning poker player?
Then listen up: bankroll management is the foundation of your poker success!
As I stress in A New Queen’s Guide to Poker, a book designed to help beginning and intermediate players crush low stakes cash games, you absolutely cannot afford to ignore this critical skill.
Without it, you’re just gambling, not playing poker.
Why Bankroll Management Matters
Tracking your wins and losses every session is non-negotiable.
Only by looking at real data can you figure out what kind of player you truly are. Some players bleed money without even realising it. Others don’t even have a bankroll. Don’t be those kinds of players!
Always know exactly where you stand financially before you hit the felt.
Proper bankroll management isn’t just about the numbers. It’s also your best defence against tilt. Tilt - whether from frustration, entitlement, or a bad beat - can turn a good player into a reckless one. Keeping your emotions in check will help you keep your bankroll intact. Keep your emotions in check and you’ll keep more money in your wallet.
Set limits and stick to them
Here’s my golden rule: I limit myself to three bullets per session, regardless of the stakes.
If I’m playing 1/2 with a $100-$300 buy-in, my cap is $900. For 1/3 with a $100-$400 buy-in, it’s $1,200. And for 2/5 with a max buy-in of $1,000, I allot myself $2,100 - because I almost always buy in for $700.
In all my time playing 2/5, I’ve only burned through all three bullets a small handful of times. That’s because I stick to my limits.
Set a monetary cap for each session and commit to it. No exceptions. This discipline is what separates smart players from broke ones.
I have never allowed myself to continue to haemorrhage money by trying to get unstuck with a fourth or fifth bullet. Come with a monetary cap for each of your sessions before you sit down to play and absolutely stick to it no matter what.
Poker money is for poker
Here’s another critical point: don’t mix your poker bankroll with money for other forms of gambling. Your poker money is sacred.
I’ve seen players blow their bankrolls chasing losses at Blackjack or other casino games.
Don’t let that be you. Keep poker money for poker and watch your bankroll grow.
Avoid the Short Stack Trap
One of the biggest mistakes I see? Players getting stacked and then rebuying for the minimum over and over. It’s a recipe for disaster.
As I share in A New Queen’s Guide to Poker*¸ “I have seen countless people lose and buy in for $100, lose again and buy in for another $100, and so on for 4-5 times until they ultimately leave defeated. You need chips to defend yourself and not get bullied, but also, if you get the nuts, you want to have a healthy double up.”
Short stacking makes you an easy target. Instead, buy in for a full stack amount or close to it. Trust me, investing in a proper buy-in is worth it.
“If you don’t consider a player’s skill level, the number one reason a poker player goes broke is due to poor poker bankroll management.”
Know when to move down in stakes
Pride has no place in poker. Don’t play at stakes above what you are comfortable losing everything at.
If you’re on a losing streak, don’t be afraid to move down in stakes. I primarily play 2/5, but I’m not above taking a break to focus solely on studying and/or dropping back to 1/3 after a rough patch. Staying at higher stakes when you’re losing is a fast track to busting your bankroll. Play at stakes you’re comfortable with, both skill-wise and financially.
Bottom line: if you don't consider a player's skill level, the number one reason a poker player goes broke is due to poor poker bankroll management. Ask professional players for one tip about how to win at poker and almost all will advise you to practice bankroll management. It’s just that important.
Track your progress
If you’re wondering how to track wins and losses, I’ve got you covered.
I use Poker Bankroll Tracker; an app I love so much I became an affiliate.
It’s free to start, and the pro version is just $25/year. You’ll love the insights it provides.
A Personal Story
When I started playing poker in early 2023, I used $5,000 my grandmother left me.
I saw it as a way to honour her while pursuing something I loved. By managing my bankroll carefully, I went from playing 1/2 and 1/3 to shot-taking at 2/5 within months. I’ve avoided going broke by never playing outside my means and sticking to my limits.
Remember, your bankroll shouldn’t be too small to handle poker’s natural swings or too big for the stakes you’re playing. Balance is key.
Final Thoughts
Poker is an amazing game, but it requires discipline.
Poor bankroll management is the number one reason players go broke. Don’t let that happen to you.
Track your progress, set limits, and play within your means. And if poker ever feels like it’s taking over, seek help. Gambling responsibly is the ultimate win.
Poker is an amazing game, and I wish you the most success on and off the felt. Good luck out there and run good!
About the author
Sara O’Connor’s career spans law, academia, entrepreneurship, the arts, and poker.
Sara ventured into the world of poker, where her strategic acumen has allowed her to rapidly multiply her bankroll in just two years. She has experience playing multiple different stakes in over 22 casinos and card rooms in over 12 cities.
She has written a poker book to help beginning and intermediate players crush low stakes cash games, called A New Queen’s Guide to Poker: The Art of Playing Cash Games Like a Pro for Beginning and Intermediate Players.
She also has two additional books coming out in 2025, Shuffle Up and Deal With It, a collection of stories of dealers around the globe and Between the Blinds, a collection of interviews of professional poker players.
Combining her diverse skills and passions, Sara continues to explore new horizons, driven by a thirst for challenges and a commitment to excellence in all her endeavours.