Bankroll & money

Stake in Poker — Bankroll Strategy Explained

Here's a clear definition with real-hand context, plus how it connects to the rest of your strategy.

Quick answer

Stake — The blind / buy-in level of a game (NL10, NL25, $1/$2, etc.).

In more detail

Naming convention: NL10 = $0.05/$0.10 NLHE with $10 max buy-in. Sometimes called 5NL/10NL.

Common questions

What does Stake mean in poker?

Naming convention: NL10 = $0.05/$0.10 NLHE with $10 max buy-in. Sometimes called 5NL/10NL.

Related terms

Bankroll
The money set aside for poker, separate from living expenses.
Buy-In
The amount required to enter a game or tournament.
Rake
The percentage of each pot taken by the poker room.
Rakeback
A percentage of paid rake returned to the player.

New to poker? Start with our preflop strategy guide and the free TAG cheatsheet.