Blackjack Bankroll Management

It takes a lot of practice and planning to play blackjack successfully. Anyone can hit the tables and be lucky a few times, but it takes a different kind of player to be able to head over to the tables and be confident that you are going to win. It takes someone with a strategy, discipline and rock solid Blackjack Bankroll Management.

Bankroll management is one of the most overlooked parts of an overall blackjack strategy. People think all they need to win is a good card counting strategy or a bit of luck. This is not the case, though. If you don't manage your money, you may win a bit but when you lose, you will probably lose it all. You do not want to make a habit of this because it can often lead to addictive behavior and can really change your life.

The good news is that bankroll management is actually pretty easy. It can really be reduced to three easy tips or steps. If you follow them, you will be able to have fun while gambling, while not worrying about money if you do hit a cold streak.

The first tip is to only play with money you can afford to lose. Now, some people think the money they have they can afford to lose but often it is not the case. Some people will play with next months rent money with the belief that if they lose it all, they have time to make it back. This is the wrong mindset. You should be playing with money you can totally afford to lose and not have to make back for something at a later date. The plan is to never lose your whole bankroll, however you should plan for it because it can happen to anyone and it can happen unbelievably fast.

The next tip is to divide your bankroll accordingly and play within your limits. Let's look at an example. If you play $10 per hand, how much should you have in your bankroll to feel safe? The safe answer is around $2000. You usually want to have a bankroll of 10x your table buyin, which in this case would be $200 ($10 x 20). This way, you can sustain a few losing streaks before you start to get into money issues.

The last tip is to leave the tables when you are having some bad luck. Many players fall into the trap of not leaving the tables, because they feel the need to make back their losses immediately. This usually leads to desperate plays and results in more money being lost. Usually, it is a good idea to only spent one buyin per day, and once that money is gone, leave the tables. It can be very difficult but it can save you and your bankroll.

If you follow these basic guidelines, you will be able to manage your bankroll effectively and will be a more profitable blackjack player!

Read more to master the blackjack game:
Blackjack Strategy
Blackjack Terms
Blackjack Tips
Blackjack Variations