Poker is an inherently volatile game of skill and luck. You could lose or win equally heavily if you play continuously for several hours. This is especially true in online gaming where the games are extremely fast paced. The money that you can afford to lose and have kept aside for your poker game is called your poker “bankroll.” Bankroll and money management will teach you proper guidence whether you play poker for fun or real money.

Most beginners underestimate the importance of bankroll and money management. If you are a novice, begin by playing at very low limits. This will allow you to get a feel of the game, enjoy it as well as minimize your losses.

Not only the beginners, but many experienced players too make bankroll mistakes. One of the biggest mistakes is treating your bankroll like a tournament buy-in. This means that after having played for a few weeks, and once you reach break-even, you are tempted to advance to a higher limit with your entire bankroll. If you do this, you are almost guaranteed to lose all your money very quickly.

Your bankroll is being used unwisely at this juncture maybe because you are playing at higher levels with higher stakes and most likely with better players. Additionally, you will be experimenting with new styles of playing, and may face the risk of being too passive as you cannot afford to lose. Thus playing at reasonable limits for at least a couple of hundred hours is advisable.

If you decide to try a higher limit do so only for just a short period with a smaller test bankroll. Get out immediately, if it is not working well for you, especially if you are more of a recreational player. Give yourself a chance to enjoy your game for a little longer and at lower limits.

To break even or even win in poker, you must start by learning the basic strategies and adopting a tight/aggressive style. This may lead to a very good chance of making a small profit.