What separates a good winning poker player from a good losing one? It is the ability to manage their bankroll. If you can do this, you minimize your risk of going broke.

All good players use their won money at the poker table as operating funds for a further poker play. They try not to invest it in anything else as they know that their life in poker is in their bankroll. Having won a sum of money at a certain limit, it is best to put it in your pocket or to move forward with them to higher limits.

It is also important to set a maximum amount for yourself that you may lose without being uncomfortable about it. Anyway, there are swings in poker, so it’s better to be ready to suffer expected losses, than unexpected ones. According to statistics, if you want to feel comfortable playing limit poker, you should have a bankroll around 300 times the big bet.

From the other side, it is much enjoyable to build up a large bankroll from a small investment.

There are guidelines which will help you to manage your money better:

Avoid playing with scared money. Do not choose limits where you have to risk too much going broke.

Even if you are losing but playing well, don’t be too fast to leave the game. It can turn to be favourable for you.

Vice-versa, there is no sense to stay in a bad game even if you are winning. You should leave it and find a better one.

If you are about to go on tilt, it’s best to stop where you are. Never let yourself go on tilt.

If you are suffering huge losses at a certain limit, perhaps, you have stepped up too early. Return to lower limits to the moment when you feel strong enough to move up.

It is very useful to have a notebook where you mark all your winnings, losses, played hours and the games you play in.

Don’t play if you are troubled with other issues than poker. To be a winner, you must feel like a winner – confident, concentrated and emotionally calm.