MTT bankroll management: how many buy-ins you need
Short answer: for online MTTs, plan for 150 to 300 buy-ins at your average buy-in. The bigger the fields and the smaller your edge, the closer to 300. Below, the numbers behind that range, from 1,000 simulated runs per case, and the rules to move up and down.
The numbers, case by case
We ran our variance calculator on 1,000 tournaments, 1,000 times per case, with 15% of the field paid and a standard rake. Each cell gives the worst downswing in buy-ins: the typical one, then the one you hit once in twenty runs.
| Players per tournament | ROI 10% | ROI 20% |
|---|---|---|
| 200 | 105 / 205 | 85 / 160 |
| 1,000 | 130 / 250 | 105 / 200 |
| 5,000 | 150 / 285 | 120 / 235 |
Your bankroll should survive the second number, not the first: the typical downswing happens in most runs, the bad one is what ends a bankroll. Losing runs are common too: with a 10% ROI, between a quarter and 40% of runs are still below zero after 1,000 tournaments. Run your own numbers in the MTT variance calculator.
MTT bankroll rules that hold up
Why MTTs need more than cash games
In cash games you win or lose a little every session. In MTTs, most tournaments end with no cash and the profit comes from a few deep runs. Between two of them, a winning player can lose for weeks. The bankroll is what keeps you in the game until the next one.
Count in average buy-ins
Your average buy-in is your total buy-ins divided by the number of tournaments, re-entries included. A night with three $11 tournaments and one $55 is a $22 average, not $11. Build your target from that average, and treat a big tournament as a shot: decided in advance, with a set number of attempts.
When to move up, when to move down
Set the rules before the downswing, not during it. Example with a 200 buy-in target: at an $11 average you need $2,200. Move up to a $22 average when the bankroll reaches $4,400.
If you have a move-up strategy, you owe yourself an equally disciplined move-down strategy: a bankroll threshold set in advance, below which you move down without debate, even when you feel the run is about to turn. For example, back to an $11 average if the bankroll drops under $3,300. Moving down is part of the plan, not a failure. Bankroll Lab helps you keep a clear and precise plan.
One bankroll, several rooms
Money spread over several rooms is one bankroll, but each room can only pay for its own tournaments. A room with too little money pushes you to skip good tournaments or to transfer at the wrong time. Bankroll Lab tracks your bankroll room by room and checks every tournament of your session against it.
MTT bankroll: common questions
How many buy-ins do I need for MTTs?
Between 150 and 300 buy-ins at your average buy-in for online MTTs. Closer to 150 with small fields and a solid edge, closer to 300 with fields of several thousand players or a thin edge.
Is 100 buy-ins enough for MTTs?
Rarely. In our simulations, the downswing you hit once in twenty runs over 1,000 tournaments is above 150 buy-ins in every case tested, and close to 300 in big fields at a 10% ROI.
Do re-entries count in bankroll management?
Yes. Each re-entry is a new buy-in. If you often fire twice, your real average buy-in is higher than the tournament price, and your target should follow.
When should I move down in stakes?
As soon as your bankroll falls under the threshold you set for your current average buy-in. Set that threshold before a downswing starts, and apply it without waiting for a good run.