Bankroll management for sit and go tourneys

Sit and go tourneys are popular. One of the advantages of SNGs is that there is less risk and variance.

There is less risk than ring games as you only invest a fixed amount each time you sit at a sit'n go table, and you cannot add more until the end of the match. But what is the optimal bankroll management for sit and go tournaments?

SNG Bankroll Management

Correct bankroll managment firstly depends on your goals. Variance cannot be avoided in any poker variation or format, including sit'n goes. So even though there is less variance, even the top professional players suffer bad runs or series of bad beats.

Some casual players are OK to redeposit into their poker account as they see it as entertainment after a hard day of work. So depending on how lucky they are for a given month, they may be up or down a bit. Such players may not even expect a profit at all.

Casual players still need to be aware of bankroll management unless they have millions to burn. A rule of thumb for them is a bankroll of 20 buy-ins if they play one or two tables simultaneously. So at the $20 + $2 sit n go level they need a $440 bankroll.

Once they become solid sit n go players if ever and reach a $660 bankroll, they should move up to the $30 + $3 tables to maintain this same ratio of 20. For those playing multiple turbo SNGs or over 3 tables simultaneously they must have at least thirty times the buy-in amount due to the specifically higher variance.

If you’re professional player whom we define as someone who plays poker as his primary source of income, then you need a much larger starting bankroll. An inadequate bankroll has derailed many gifted poker players before, simply because they can’t manage their finances during a run of losses.

Some of these players become discouraged, give up their professional poker dreams and return to their 9 to 5 jobs. Those who rely solely on poker for a living should have a proven winning record and a bankroll of at least 50 times the buy-in amount for the game you’re playing.

Achieving a decent hourly income from sit n go games will require playing multiple tables. With playing multiple tables generally comes a lower hourly income because it is harder to get accurate reads on opponents. You simply can’t collect as much information for your decision making.

Most players who are making a living playing sit n go poker do so by playing multiple tables. The increased hourly rate from multiple tables offsets the reduced overall return for each individual game.

Review sit-n-go strategy books thoroughly before you start playing. The vast majority of players in the sit-n-go tournaments arena have no real strategy. That’s why so many good recreational and professional poker players are hitting the sit'n go games. These players are there to have fun and hope to have an incredible run of luck so they can make their big score. Learn solid sit n go strategies and you will have a decisive advantage against these players.

Playing at your level and managing your bankroll properly are the most important factors that will keep your sit'n go poker games profitable in the long term. If that’s what you want, then go back and read this again. Always practice good bankroll management and enjoy the returns!

One online poker room offering active games in all types of sit'n go tournaments is PokerStars. They have more games and poker variants than at any other online poker room.

When you register, use the marketing code PSP8181 to get a 100% up to $600 sign-up bonus. You can buy in for any amount and receive the 100% bonus. We just recommend the full buy-in because of the generous 100% bonus for new players.