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Poker glossary

ROI

What it means

ROI stands for return on investment. In poker, it measures how much profit a player makes compared with the amount they invest in buy-ins, entries, or sessions. Tournament players use ROI constantly because cashes can be irregular and field sizes vary.

How it works at the table

If you play 100 tournaments with an average buy-in of $100, you have invested $10,000. If your total cashes are $12,500, your profit is $2,500 and your ROI is 25%. A player with a 10% ROI in tough online tournaments may be very strong, while a soft live event could allow a skilled player to produce a much higher number.

Strategic context

ROI helps separate winning play from short-term results. A single big score can inflate the number, so serious players track ROI over a large sample. It is closely tied to variance, because even profitable players can go long stretches without a deep run.

Common mistakes

Players often quote ROI without saying how many tournaments are included. A 60% ROI over five tournaments means almost nothing. A 15% ROI over 5,000 tournaments says much more. Another mistake is ignoring expenses such as travel, markup, swaps, or staking arrangements.

ROI connects to expected value, bankroll, and variance. In tournaments, it also depends on field toughness, payout structure, and how well a player handles ICM spots.