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Poker glossary

Buy-in

What it means

A buy-in is the amount of money required to enter a poker game or tournament. In cash games, it’s the chips you purchase to sit at the table. In tournaments, it’s the entry fee that goes into the prize pool plus any administrative fees. The buy-in directly determines the stakes you’re playing and the potential risk to your bankroll.

How it works at the table

In cash games, buy-ins typically have minimum and maximum limits. A $1/$2 No-Limit Hold’em game might allow buy-ins from 50bb ($100) to 200bb ($400). You’d exchange cash for chips at the cage or table before playing. Tournament buy-ins work differently - a “$100+$10” tournament means $100 goes to the prize pool and $10 to the house. Once you pay, you receive a starting stack (say 10,000 chips) regardless of the buy-in amount.

Strategic context

Your buy-in amount affects your strategy significantly. In cash games, buying in for the maximum gives you more room to maneuver and apply pressure. Short-stacking (buying in for the minimum) requires a different approach focused on getting all-in preflop or on the flop. Bankroll management suggests having 20-30 buy-ins for your regular stakes to handle variance. In tournaments, the buy-in determines your risk - playing above your bankroll leads to scared money decisions.

Common mistakes

Players often buy in for awkward amounts like 80bb in cash games, limiting their options without the benefits of either deep or short-stack play. Many recreational players treat tournament buy-ins as the only cost, forgetting about rebuys and add-ons that can triple their investment. The biggest error is playing stakes where one buy-in represents too much of your bankroll - if losing hurts financially, you’re playing too high.

Understanding buy-ins connects directly to position play since stack depth influences positional advantages. The concept also ties into ICM considerations in tournaments where your buy-in represents real money equity. Proper buy-in selection forms the foundation of long-term poker success alongside game selection and emotional control.