Bankroll Management: The 20-Buy-In Rule in Poker Explained

There are a couple of ways a poker player can lose everything. One is to simply play badly. The other comes from a lack of respect towards their own bankroll. In truth, poker is more than just a game of skill. It also revolves around how well you can protect yourself during the ebb and flow of luck. Without proper bankroll management for online gambling, even the world’s most savvy player is going to go broke fast. Some time ago, I too wasn’t doing so well at the poker table, with my bankroll often being depleted in no time. Then I discovered the 20-buy-in rule in poker. From that moment, everything changed. It gave me the structure I’d been missing, as well as peace of mind. It was only after this did poker become a fun game as opposed to a stressed out game. Now I don’t worry about bad beats. With all that in mind, let’s have a closer look at how the 20-buy-in rule can help us become better poker players.

What Exactly Is a Poker Bankroll?

It’s best to think of your poker bankroll as the funds you set aside for playing poker and nothing else. So, not money for the rent or groceries. Just for poker! It’s a huge separation that needs to be adhered to, whatever. When I first began my journey playing online poker at 1xBet Casino, I made the mistake of using my checking account. Thinking back on it now I know better gives me the shivers. After all, with just one bad session, I’d be already stressing out about bills. However, once I realised the wisdom of making a separate bankroll solely for poker, things began to change. Now, for the first time, I could actually track wins and losses without emotion. With the 20-buy-in rule in poker, I got a clear line: if I didn’t have at least 20 buy-ins for a game, then I wasn’t ready to play. Yes, it’s that simple. 

The Importance of Separating Skill and Luck

One factor that many poker players struggle with is the fact that you can play perfectly, yet still end up losing. This is down to variance. It’s the natural ups and downs that go hand in hand with all games of chance. Unfortunately, it means you can play your best hand and still get crushed. But with the 20-buy-in rule in poker, there’s a greater chance to smooth out the chaos. In other words, it can act as a safety net. By hanging on to the buy-ins, you’re better able to handle losing streaks without getting into a panic. We probably all experienced weeks where everything went wrong. But by following my plan, trusting in the maths, I survived. 

Understanding Buy-Ins: The Basic Unit of Risk

So, what exactly is a buy-in? It’s the amount of money you bring to the table. For example, in a £$1/2 cash game, the buy-in might be £$200. In other words, that’s your ticket to be able to play. With a 20-buy-in rule, you’d need to have £$4,000 before taking a seat at that limit. Though it sounds overly strict, it’s also very smart. I mean, you wouldn’t drive without a seatbelt? So you shouldn’t play poker without a sensible bankroll cushion. In reality, buy-ins let you access the risk cleanly. We suggest that you only think of “buy-ins” and not Pounds or Dollars. 

The Origin of the 20-Buy-In Rule in Poker

Keep in mind that the 20-buy-in rule isn’t just some random number. It comes from years of experience, both in land-based casinos and online iGaming platforms like HellSpin Casino. The story goes that old-school players noticed that those who kept back at least 20 buy-ins, rarely went broke. After a while, this became standard practice as a means to protect yourself against variance. If you read the old poker forums back in the early days of the internet, you’d see how players talked about going broke over and over before this rule came along. In many ways the seat belt analogy is correct in that you don’t need it until you crash.

What the 20-Buy-In Rule in Poker Really Means

Many of you probably want to know what the 20-buy-in rule in poker looks like in practice? Well, it’s actually pretty simple: don’t play at a limit unless you have at least 20 buy-ins for it. So if your bankroll is £$1,000, then your maximum buy-in should be £$50. If the cards happen to turn cold during a game, your bankroll still remains safe. If you choose to ignore this rule, you may start to feel the pressure. However, by sticking to this rule, you’ll be much more relaxed during the session and able to make longer-term decisions without fear. I guess you could say the foundations of this rule are freedom from fear.

Why 20 Buy-Ins Is the Magic Number

So what’s the reason why we’re sticking with 20 rather than 10 or even 50? It’s because the 20-buy-in rule strikes a good balance between caution and growth. It allows you to play enough hands to build some solid experience, yet at the same time being able to manage any losses that might arise. There are plenty of players out there who need 30 or 40 buy-ins, simply because they titled too easily. However, most players agree that 20 is the sweet spot. So when you’re playing on a platform like Bet365 Poker, you’re able to have an active bankroll while still maintaining protection from downswings. In many ways, it’s more about psychology than plain maths.

Adjusting the Rule for Different Poker Formats

It’s important to understand that not every rule fits all games. On the whole, the 20-buy-in rule in poker is good for crash games, but tournaments are a different story. That’s because, in multi-tournaments, the variance goes through the roof. So it’s quite possible to go to 50 tournaments and fail to score any big wins, or wins at all. For this reason, many professional players recommend 50 to 100 buy-ins for MTTs. Sit and Gos and Spin and Go land somewhere in between. For these, around 30 to 50 buy-ins is pretty safe. Keep in mind that by default, online players face bigger swings than those playing at real life tables. Once I played a steady 20 buy-in set up and it lasted for months, shielding me from some brutal runs.

How Player Skill Level Affects Bankroll Needs

It’s worth noting that we don’t consider the 20-buy-in rule in poker as Gospel. It’s flexible and isn’t a commandment. Perhaps you’re still learning and need more buy-ins. If on the other hand, you’re crushing the stakes, then there’s a good reason to handle fewer buy-ins. Many players are under the illusion that they can beat any game with just half their bankroll. But such confidence is often misplaced. It’s better to be realistic and accept your standing. Always be honest about your abilities.

Moving Up and Down in Stakes

Unfortunately, for most players, moving down in stakes is a hard pill to swallow. After all, it feels like you’re losing ground. However, if you follow the 20-buy-in rule you’ll realise it;’s actually a smart move. For example, if your bankroll dips below the 20-buy-in mark, don’t hesitate to take a step back. In doing so, you’ll be protecting your bankroll. On the flip side, moving up the stakes should feel earned, not forced. Personally, I prefer to wait until I have 25 – 30 buy-ins before taking a shot. In this way, even if I fall short and lose a few, I still have my head above water. It’s a bit like a week-by-week gambling strategy where small but steady adjustments are made, not huge emotional jumps.

Managing Bankroll Growth Over Time

Consider your bankroll as more than just a number of Pounds or Dollars. In some ways it could be viewed as a living thing that can grow or shrink with time, and change the way you play. Although the 20-buy-in rule in poker gives you a basic foundation, you’ll still need to manage it week by week. One way to achieve this is to set small milestones for yourself. For example, you might double your bankroll and so move up a level. However, in such a case, it can only be after consistent wins, as opposed to one-offs. The wait to move along helps to build stability. In fact, I’ve seen the patience of players pay off after they crush a bunch of low stakes thanks to following a disciplined plan. In other words, their wins were down to more than luck.

Common Bankroll Management Mistakes

It’s a hard truth, but many poker players believe they are better players than reality would suggest. At the end of the day, such ego can prove very expensive. Probably one of the biggest bankroll killers is mixing personal funds with poker money. This is followed by the huge mistake of chasing losses. Likewise, ignoring the 20-buy-in rule after a winning streak. Some players have done all three of these. It’s all part of the Kruger-Dunning effect, where players assume they are better after only playing for a relatively short time. After just a couple of sessions, they start to believe they’re invincible, quickly moving onwards to higher stakes. Then comes a crash that completely wipes them out. 

Tools and Apps for the 20-Buy-In Rule in Poker

With any form of gambling, tracking is an often overlooked but essential element if you want to see improvement over time. After all, you can’t manage what you can’t measure. by tracking each and every session, you’ll actually improve your career playing poker. The 20-buy-in rule in poker only really works if you can see the numbers as you play. Many players use apps that log buy-ins, profits, and graphs. I remember, in the beginning, I used nothing more than a simple Excel spreadsheet. Some websites feature special stats so you can see in real time how you’re performing. It’s a given, that the more data you have, the clearer your decisions become. After a while, you’ll begin to notice patterns, which along with greater awareness, can save you from making rash and costly mistakes.

The 20-Buy-In Rule in Poker for Professional Players

All professional poker players live by following strict bankroll rules. Though the 20-buy-in rule might appear basic to you, it forms a foundation for many professional players. They always maintain separate rolls for live games, online play and even travel expenses if they’re visiting land-based casinos around the country. Many also follow the 1-3-5% rule in bankroll management. This means they only risk between 1% to 5% of their bankroll per game or session. In some ways, it’s exactly the same mindset, but applied to larger numbers. As professional players, because they want poker to pay their bills, they have to treat it as a business. This means budgeting, saving, and planning ahead.

Conclusion: Play Smart, Stay in the Game

As a player, you are probably aware that poker is a mix of skill, patience, and emotional control. However, without solid bankroll management, it’s nothing more than gambling blind. The 20-buy-in rule in poker helps to give some structure to what would otherwise be pure chaos. It’s a way of using simple maths to save yourself from emotional pain further down the road. And it’s not difficult maths either. However, you will need discipline and the will-power to follow through. If you can manage that, then you can sit back and watch your bankroll grow, whilst at the same time, playing without stress. At the end of the day, smart bankroll management doesn’t just keep you in the game. It makes the whole experience more enjoyable, with a greater possibility of scoring some profits thrown in.

Click here to test your luck and knowledge at bet365 Poker