Poker Evaluation and Game Planner

How much poker experience do you have?

How much time do you have to play?

What's your poker budget?

This guide is for recreational players. The goal is to minimise the risk of quickly losing your bankroll.

If you're not comfortable playing with real money or you're a beginner, consider playing freerolls or play money games instead.

The bigger your bankroll the more buy-ins you should have to lower the risk.

18+, www.begambleaware.org. Play responsibly

Last updated: March 2026 · By John Bowman - questions? Connect on LinkedIn.

The Poker Bankroll Planner is a recreational planning tool for poker players. Answer three questions about your experience level, available time and budget, and it returns a suggested game type, stake level and bankroll management approach. It is intended to help players make more considered decisions about which games to play, and to reduce the risk of losing a bankroll too quickly by playing stakes that are too high for their experience or funds.

This tool is for entertainment and information purposes only. It is not financial advice, does not encourage gambling, and is not connected to any gambling operator. Poker involves real financial risk. You should only ever play with money you can afford to lose. If gambling is causing you stress, financial harm or affecting your relationships, please seek support. Free, confidential help is available 24/7 in the UK from GambleAware (0808 8020 133), GamCare (0808 8020 133) and the Gambling Therapy service. You can also self-exclude from UK online gambling sites via GAMSTOP for free.

Frequently Asked Questions
Is this tool connected to any poker site or gambling operator?
No. This tool has no affiliation with any gambling operator and receives no commission from any poker site. It is a standalone information tool built for entertainment purposes.
How many buy-ins should I have for a given stake?
A standard recreational bankroll guideline is 20–30 buy-ins for cash games and 50–100 buy-ins for tournaments, due to higher variance. For example, a £50 bankroll is only suitable for micro-stakes games (£0.01/£0.02 blinds or £1–£2 buy-in tournaments). Playing higher stakes with fewer buy-ins significantly increases your risk of going broke through normal variance.
I think I may have a gambling problem. Where can I get help?
Free, confidential support is available 24 hours a day in the UK: GambleAware - 0808 8020 133 (free, 24/7); GamCare National Helpline - 0808 8020 133; Gambling Therapy - free online support worldwide; GAMSTOP - free self-exclusion from all UK-licensed online gambling sites.
What is the difference between online and live poker bankroll requirements?
Online poker tends to require a larger bankroll relative to stakes because hands are dealt faster, meaning variance plays out more quickly. Live poker has a slower pace and often softer competition at low stakes, but travel and time costs add up. This tool accounts for your experience type when making recommendations.
Does this tool store my budget information?
No. The tool stores nothing. Your budget input and answers exist only in the page for the duration of your visit and are not transmitted to any server.
How It Works
  1. Select your experience level. Choose from never played online, play money only, 1+ year online, or 1+ year live poker. This helps calibrate the recommendation - a beginner should not be starting at the same stakes as an experienced player.
  2. Choose how much time you have. Select 1 hour+, 4 hours+ or 8 hours+. The recommended game format changes based on available time - shorter sessions suit faster formats like Sit & Gos, longer sessions suit cash games.
  3. Enter your poker budget. Input the amount in pounds you have set aside specifically for poker. This should be money you are comfortable losing entirely - not rent money, savings or borrowed funds.
  4. Submit the form. The tool returns a recommended game type, suggested stake level and bankroll management guidance based on your three answers.
Key Points
  • For recreational players only. This tool is designed for people who play poker for fun. It prioritises bankroll preservation over profit maximisation - the goal is to extend your playing time and enjoyment, not to beat the games professionally.
  • No AI, no external API. All recommendations are based on fixed logic rules. Nothing is sent to any server. The tool runs entirely in your browser.
  • Bankroll management is not a guarantee. Even with correct bankroll management, poker involves variance and you can lose your entire bankroll. The recommendations here reduce risk; they do not eliminate it.
  • Beginners are directed to free games. If you have never played for real money, the tool recommends starting with freerolls or play money to build experience before risking any real funds.
  • 18+ only. Online poker is regulated gambling. You must be 18 or over to play for real money in the UK. Use only licensed, Gambling Commission-regulated operators.
Sources
  1. GambleAware - Gambling support and self-help tools. begambleaware.org. Accessed March 2026.
  2. GamCare - National Gambling Helpline. gamcare.org.uk. Accessed March 2026.
  3. GAMSTOP - Free self-exclusion from UK online gambling. gamstop.co.uk. Accessed March 2026.
  4. UK Gambling Commission - Check a gambling licence. gamblingcommission.gov.uk. Accessed March 2026.
  5. Gambling Therapy - Free online support worldwide. gamblingtherapy.org. Accessed March 2026.