Bankroll Management

You can read piles of books and use a Hand Converter to analyse your play, but one of the questions asked most often by beginning players is: "What level should I be playing if I have X amount of money". The answer to this question varies, depending on what you're trying to get out of poker. If you are a recreational player and put a poker deposit into your account every couple weeks, just for fun, then play whatever you want. However, if you'd like to become a great poker player and don't want to keep losing money, then bankroll management is not only important, it is vital.

So here are some bankroll management tips for the serious beginning player:

Cash Games

It's important to have about 20 buy-ins for whatever level you'd like to play. 100 big blinds is generally the amount accepted as the buy-in. So if you want to play the .02/.05 NL level you would need a minimum of $100 (20 buy-ins x .05 big blind x 100). If you have $50 you should be playing .01/.02 until you get to one hundred dollars, then you're allowed to play at level .02/.05. While trying your hand at a higher level, don't feel bad if you have to drop down a level if things don't go well. Here is an example: With your $100 bankroll you've just made it to the .02/.05 level. If you're on a stretch of bad luck and you just aren't getting the poker hand order you need, it's imperative to drop a level to .01/.02 if you fall to 15 buy-ins ($75). When you climb back up to $100, you can play the higher level again. I haven't come across anyone who has played the game long enough that did not have to drop in levels. Some players find themselves bankrupt because they were too bull headed to move down. Most people will use Hand Converter tools and slide back and forth between almost every different level they try until they get accustomed to the type of play the next level brings. Even incorporating a deal like the Full Tilt bonus code it’s still sensible to move down when the going gets tough.

PokerStars Bonus Clearing Requirements

PokerStars Bonus Requirements

Online poker enthusiasts can consider themselves lucky because there are tons of sites made for bringing players together from around the globe and placing them around the felt. That being said, it's difficult to find one quite so giving as PokerStars, which is now offering up to $600 as a signing bonus when you join up with them. That's right - they GIVE you money to play cards! It's just a matter of typing in the PokerStars bonus code 'STARS600' when you deposit real money for the first time.

Is this too good to be true, you may be wondering? It's a reasonable concern. After all, no one these days just hands money to people - there's always a motivation, always a reason they try so hard to get your hard earned cash.