BRM in poker refers to Bankroll Management, or Bankroll Management. This is a term that defines the management of poker resources. Knowing how to manage funds properly is necessary for any bet, project and strategy to come to fruition. Therefore, it is essential that all poker theoretical training in terms of hands, bets, concepts and strategies take into account the bankroll.

In order for you to learn how to make a good bankroll management, we have prepared this article that gathers some of the most important recommendations for you to be a good manager of your own bankroll and have guaranteed continuity.

What is BRM in poker

The BRM, bankroll in poker is the total amount of funds we have to bet.  That is why knowing how to manage these resources wisely is basic to be able to play. Because if we mismanage our bankroll, no matter how good we are at bluffing or with this or that strategy, we run the risk of betting inadequately or running out of funds, in addition to the possibility of entering into losses that we cannot assume.

To enhance a good bankroll management in poker, it is important to be trained because the way you play often has a lot to do with whether or not you do a good management of these funds.

That is why continuous training is key, as well as the possibility of resorting to games with fictitious money to improve this management and be good at bankroll management. Poker, strategy and management are concepts that always go hand in hand, and one cannot be understood without the other. That is to say, it is impossible for you to know how to play well if your BRM in poker is recurrently bad.

Aggressive BRM in poker: what does it consist of?

When it comes to managing your bankroll, you can adopt a more conservative or more aggressive profile. Conservative models can set a very different limit to move up a level than aggressive models. For example:

  • Conservative model: you level up when you have 30 stacks / 300 BB.
  • Aggressive model: you level up when you have 10 stacks / 100 BB.

Therefore, an aggressive BRM model in poker implies to reduce significantly the stacks limit. And the best way to manage the BRM aggressively is to use Tankroll, a system aimed especially at players who want to manage it aggressively. This happens when a player wants to quickly leave the micro-limits, or when he returns to the game after a break in his career.

But Tankroll, and therefore aggressive BRM management, is only recommended when:

  • The ups and downs do not affect you. It is important that you remain unperturbed with a constant back and forth of bets. Ups and downs can affect you if you don’t know how to control your emotions or if you get nervous. In order to be able to aggressively manage your bankroll it is important that this is not a problem.
  • You have the predisposition to work on your game. Using the Tankroll you can play in NL50 and up to NL100. The opponents that play in these limits are not invincible, but they require an extra effort and a lot of dedication on your part to be able to beat them. Therefore, being predisposed to work on your game is crucial. If not, you can opt for a conservative BRM that doesn’t commit you to so much.
  • You are a level player; you are no longer a rookie. You have to have a certain level to show off an aggressive BRM in poker. And the use of Tankroll requires experience and a good winrate in micro limits. And a novice usually doesn’t have a good enough winrate to use Tankroll or to aggressively manage his bankroll.
  • You can afford an unprotected initial investment. Bankroll management in poker, when managed aggressively, requires exposure. Therefore, you should be aware that your initial investment is likely to be exposed to losses, something you will not be able to avoid if you choose to take an aggressive approach to your bankroll in a poker game.

Bankroll management tips

The size of your bankroll should be proportional to the level of bets you place. For example, if you play at a $1/$2 betting level, you should have a bankroll of at least $1000.

  • You must be disciplined with your bankroll. Don’t play with more money than you can afford to lose.
  • You must have a loss management plan. If you lose a significant amount of money, you should stop playing and come back later when you have had a chance to recover.
  • Good bankroll management is essential to success in poker. If you do not manage your bankroll responsibly, you are likely to end up losing money.

Additional tips for managing your bankroll

  • Have a profit target. This will help you stay motivated and avoid playing more than you can afford to lose.
  • Set loss limits. If you lose a certain amount of money, stop playing.
  • Take breaks. If you’re losing, take a break from poker and come back later when you’re fresh.
  • Play at betting levels you can afford. Don’t play at betting levels that are too high for you.

Tips for beginners

A series of tips that may come in handy for you to make a good management of your bankroll in cash games and multi-table tournaments are the following. Take note:

  • BRM in poker for cash games
    • Normally, the value for cash games is 25 buy-ins.
    • Applying those 25 buy-ins to any limit is the basis for a good BRM.
    • For example: if we enter a table 0,05 € / 0,10 €, the minimum bankroll for a good BRM would be 250 €.
  • BRM in multi-table tournament poker (MTT)
    • Here, a higher skill leads to a lower budget.
    • Be careful with the variance: it will be higher the more players participate.
    • The same goes for the bankroll: it will increase the more players there are.
    • The faster the tournament, the bigger your bankroll will have to be.
    • Deep stack tournaments usually have a smaller variance, so you can play with a less comfortable bankroll.

This implies that bankroll management in poker depends not only on the type of game: it also depends on the number of players, the mode, the speed and the skill of the player. Hence, the stacks ranges are wide and the BRM in a poker game is indicative, but it is important to keep it in the right limits, both for an aggressive BRM approach in multi-table poker or cash games, and for those who prefer conservative bankrolls.