Tools
Bankroll Calculator
The bankroll a given winrate actually requires to keep your risk of going broke below a line you choose.
—Buy-ins you need
—Bankroll in big blinds
Required bankroll = variance × ln(1 ÷ risk of ruin) ÷ (2 × winrate). A lower winrate or a stricter risk tolerance demands a deeper roll — fast. With a non-winning winrate, no bankroll is safe.
Frequently asked
- How many buy-ins do I need for poker?
- It depends on your winrate and variance, not a fixed number. Enter both plus the risk of ruin you will accept and the tool returns the exact bankroll, in big blinds and buy-ins.
- How is the required bankroll calculated?
- Required bankroll = variance × ln(1 ÷ risk of ruin) ÷ (2 × winrate). A smaller edge or a stricter risk tolerance demands a much deeper roll.
- What if I am a break-even player?
- No bankroll is safe with a non-winning winrate — risk of ruin approaches certainty over a long enough sample.
- Is this bankroll calculator free?
- Yes. It runs in your browser, needs no signup, and the result is an exact formula.