How to build a poker bankroll

One of the most costly errors many online poker players commit is they play above their means: In poker, your means is your bankroll, without money you are incapable of playing poker whether it’s in a card-room or at an online poker site. In this article I will detail some do’s and don’ts for building an online poker bankroll to make sure you build your bankroll and move up to the higher limit poker games.

#1 Seek out a good poker deposit bonus

I have yet to see an online poker room that doesn’t offer its players a first-time sign-up bonus; But buyer beware, while every deposit bonus offer may appear the same, they can vary greatly: It’s all in the poker site’s fine print!

Online poker sites release your deposit bonus money as you clear certain predetermined hurdles –typically by earning a certain number of frequent player points for every dollar of bonus money you are to receive—and depending on the poker site these hurdles can be easy to clear, or very difficult. Make sure you check the sites terms of agreement to see how they calculate the amount of FPP’s you need in order to have your bonus money released.

Additionally, some online poker sites will hold the deposit bonus money until you clear the entire amount, while other online poker sites will release it incrementally –a much better proposition; especially if you are trying to build a bankroll. There is nothing better than having to deal with a break-even session and clearing $20 worth of bonus money!

#2 Always play with a good poker rakeback deal

A rakeback deal is similar to a deposit bonus, but unlike a sign-up bonus that is a one-time offer, poker rakeback is for life, you will receive it as long as you play at the site. This is why a rakeback deal is better in the long-run than a poker deposit bonus. Obviously the best way to go is to use both, which many sites offer: I have listed below some of the top online poker sites that offer rakeback deals and easy to clear deposit bonuses.

Full Tilt Poker offers 27% rakeback and a 100% deposit bonus up to $600

Absolute Poker offers 30% rakeback and a 150% deposit bonus up to $500

Ultimate Bet offers 30% rakeback and a 111% deposit bonus up to $1,100

Cake Poker offers 33% rakeback and a 110% deposit bonus up to $600

All of these rooms have terrific software and good player traffic, in addition to their great rakeback offers and superb sign-up bonuses.

For more information on poker rakeback deals, and how rakeback works check out rakeback FAQ

Avoid high variance poker games and poker strategies

This simple advice could have prevented many poker players from being felted: When you are playing on a limited bankroll you should avoid high variance games and strategies.

What I mean by high variance is where you have a very small edge, but the situation can cause huge swings in your wins and losses. Typically, short-handed games have a higher variance than full ring poker games – short-handed games offer a better return on investment for a solid player, but the risk to reward is higher, and it’s more common for short-handed players to have big down-swings.

Also, as you’re trying to build your poker bankroll you want to avoid pushing marginal situations.  Generally tight/aggressive play is the way to go; leave those fancy plays for a later day when you are properly bankrolled, and playing in a game that demands you use all the plays in your arsenal in order to succeed. Save the thin value bets, daring bluffs, and other high variance poker plays for the situations where they are needed. In lower limit games utilizing an ABC, vanilla, strategy is often the best way to go, and small edges are worth only pennies.

For example: if you are playing $10 NLHE a thin value bet on the river may show a $.02 profit in the long-run: In a $100 NLHE game it’s $.20: And in a $1,000 NLHE game (where you eventually want to be) it’s worth $2. But, you can’t get to the point where it’s worth $2 if you go broke trying to earn an extra $.02! Of course, if you are properly bankrolled for $10 NLHE than value bet away, but if you are trying to build an online poker bankroll from scratch it’s best to just wait for a better spot.

With a lot of practice, study, and following the steps I outlined above you will be fast on your way to building a suitable poker bankroll and can start cashing-out that hard earned money you have been winning!

Author: Alex Galin

Website: http://www.rakebackinn.com – Sign Up Today – for the Best Online Poker Rakeback Deals!

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