QA- Allen – How to start a bankroll!

Annie, What is the best way to get a good starting bankroll? I am a good / solid player, but I have to spend many of my winnings to pay the bills and it is difficult to get a bankroll built up. Any suggestions? Thank you. Allen

It’s the age-old problem, isn’t it? If you’re a carpenter or a bricklayer, it’s easy to keep your tools separate from the rest of your life. But when you’re a poker player, your bankroll is your number one tool, and you just can’t afford to let it slip away. Here’s what I suggest: Get your hands on some money that you don’t need for bills – even if it’s only $50 – and let that be, officially, your poker bankroll. Play in games that are small enough to keep that bankroll going, and try to build it up. But when you do build it up, don’t dip into it for anything. In other words, keep your poker money and household money completely separate. That way, if you’re a winning poker player, you’ll be able to build up your bankroll to the point where you can play in bigger games. Eventually, we hope, you’ll have a bankroll big enough to keep you in the games you’re comfortable in, but still be able to “declare a dividend” from time to time. Here are the key things to remember: 1, play in a game that works for your bankroll. Your buy in to any one game should not be more than 10% of your total bankroll. 2, don’t try to make a living off a small bankroll. Only when you can protect a small bankroll and grow it into a big one, are you ready to make a go at going pro. Good Luck.  xo Annie