Money and games
Buy-in in poker
Definition
The amount of money required to sit down in a cash game or to enter a tournament.
In cash games the buy-in is the number of chips you bring to the table, usually between a minimum and a maximum of 100 big blinds. In tournaments it is a fixed price, often written as a prize part plus a fee, such as $10+$1.
Bankroll rules are usually written in buy-ins: for example, at least 20 to 30 buy-ins for the stake you play.
Related terms
- BankrollThe money set aside specifically for playing poker, separate from the money you need for living.
- RebuyBuying more chips in a tournament, in the rebuy period, after you lose chips or all of them.
- StakesThe size of the blinds in a cash game, or the level of buy-ins you play; it sets how much money is at risk.
- ROI (return on investment)Your profit in tournaments as a percentage of the total buy-ins you paid.