Double or Nothing ROI

Double or nothing tournaments can be beaten for a nice ROI.  In addition to a good per-tournament ROI, simple DON strategy allows for more effective massive multi-tabling, leading to a higher per-hour ROI.  This article discusses the finer points of ROI in double or nothing tournaments.

How does Double or Nothing ROI compare to normal SNG ROI?

ROI in double or nothing SNG tournaments is generally lower than regular SNG tournaments.  This is because double or nothing (also known as DON) tournament strategy is more straightforward than a typical payout SNG.  As a result of the optimal strategy being straightforward, the skill level of the average player is better in a DON than a regular SNG.  In other words, the average player is playing closer to the optimal strategy.  If you aren’t familiar with DON strategy, check out this double or nothing strategy article.

Double or Nothing Rake

With ROI being lower in DONs than regular SNGs, the rake can be a larger determinate factor of whether or not a player is a winner or a loser.  Visit the Double or Nothing Rake Chart for various poker rooms’ rake info, as well as a chart which shows the ITM percentage necessary to beat different rake levels.

Double or Nothing Rake

The rake in double or nothing tournaments can be the difference between a winning and a losing player.  These double or nothing rake charts should help you in deciding which rooms to play at, and what kind of win % you need to make money at the various levels.  If you want more help beating the rake, get rakeback!

One way to combat the rake in double or nothing tournaments is to get rakeback.  If you are not familiar with rakeback see Poker Rakeback Guide.

Achievable Double or Nothing ROI

This is a general estimate of the achievable ROI at DON tournaments for different skill level players.  This list only includes positive ROI numbers.  I’ll let you decide how bad of a negative ROI you can generate.  Numbers vary based on rake, site, competition, playing times, etc.  This list only

Good Player:

A good DON player knows the right move for every situation.  He/she is incredibly accurate with Push/Fold situations on the bubble, never ever makes mistakes early, and has a great sense of the right time to make a move during the mid-late stages of the tournament.  Besides great skill at the table, the good DON player is also good with his/her table selection, and tourney selection (finding the lowest rake tournaments available).  Achievable ROI for a good DON player are as follows:

• $1: 20%
• $5: 15%
• $10: 12%
• $20: 9%
• $50: 6%
• $100: 3%

Average Player:

The average DON players make decent money if they are focused and playing to the best of their ability.  They don’t table select all that well, and play at sites where they are comfortable, instead of finding lower rake games with worse players.  At the table, the average player may splash around a bit too much early, and in the mid/late game, their ranges for pushing all-in or calling all-in pushes are slightly off in some spots.  Achievable ROI for an average DON player are as follows:

• $1: 12%
• $5: 9%
• $10: 6%
• $20: 3%

Fishy Player:

The money that the average and good DON players make has to come from somewhere.  That money, of course, comes from everyone’s favorite poker buddy: the fish.  The fish is pushing all in preflop in level 1 with KJo.  Some flounders will make ball-busting –EV calls on your bubble pushes with two low suited cards, sending you into a monkey tilt freefall.

Some of the better fish are able to squeak out a small profit at the lowest stakes, but for the most part these players are losing money.  With a few weeks of hard work and studying, any player can gain the knowledge to become an average player.

Need help increasing your ROI at the Double or Nothings?

Visit the feltpoker forums and post hands in the tournament section ß feltpoker forums link

Play a few DON’s at the fishiest poker site on the net ß link to cpa poker room

Read 7 tips for increasing your ROI at the Double or Nothings. ß 10 tips to increase Double or Nothing ROI link

Double or Nothing Rake

The rake in double or nothing tournaments can be the difference between a winning and a losing player.  These double or nothing rake charts should help you in deciding which rooms to play at, and what kind of win % you need to make money at the various levels.  If you want more help beating the rake, get rakeback!

Rake % by Poker Room and Stakes

Double or Nothing ITM Chart