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BB/100 in poker: what is it and how do you improve it?
BB/100measures how many big blinds you win (or lose) for every 100 hands played. It's the number that lets you objectively compare two players or two periods of play — independent of limits, number of tables, and session length.
The definition, simply
Formula
BB/100 = (Total winnings in BB ÷ Number of hands) × 100
Example: you win 350 BB over 5,000 hands → BB/100 = (350 ÷ 5,000) × 100 = 7 BB/100
In practice, you don't have to calculate this by hand. A tracker or FlopIQ calculates it automatically from your Winamax history.
What's a good BB/100?
You're losing over volume. Rake, blinds, and leaks cost you more than you win. Identifying and fixing a structural leak is the priority.
You beat the rake, but your margin is fragile. Bad variance can push you negative over 10,000 hands. Working on key spots can help you break through this level.
Solid winrate for a semi-regular player. You clearly beat the micro-limits or low stakes with this margin. Hard to sustain without discipline on table selection.
Excellent winrate. At this level, you systematically identify and exploit your opponents' weaknesses. Hard to sustain over large volumes.
Rare over large volumes. Often a sign of a small sample or particularly weak tables. Don't extrapolate.
What influences your BB/100
Preflop hand selection
This is the easiest factor to improve. Every hand played with a negative preflop EV digs a hole in your long-term winrate.
Postflop aggression
Passive players leave money on the table. Bet for value, semi-bluff with draws, and don't systematically check hoping for a call.
Position management
Playing in position (acting after your opponents) mechanically increases the EV of every hand. Over-select when out of position, play wider when in position.
Exploiting weak opponents
Identifying the fish at your table and adjusting your game to maximize value extraction — that's where the biggest BB/100 gains happen.
Cash game vs tournaments: different metrics
In cash game, BB/100 is the reference metric. Chips are worth real money at all times, which makes the calculation direct.
In tournaments, chips aren't worth what they cost (ICM). The metrics used are ROI% (net profit / total invested × 100) and ITM% (percentage of times you finish in the money). If you play both formats, FlopIQ analyzes each mode separately.
Calculate your BB/100 and find out what's holding it back
FlopIQ calculates your BB/100 from your Winamax history and cross-references it with your stats to identify the leak costing you the most.
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FAQ
What's the difference between BB/100 and €/hour?
BB/100 measures the quality of your play, independent of pace. €/hour depends on how many tables you play simultaneously and how fast you play. To assess your skill level, BB/100 is more reliable. To assess the raw profitability of a session, €/hour is useful.
My BB/100 is negative over 5,000 hands — should I change my strategy?
Not necessarily. 5,000 hands is a short sample where variance is significant. Before changing everything, look at your stats over that period: VPIP, Fold to 3-bet, C-bet. If the numbers look abnormal, there's a leak to fix. Otherwise, it might just be variance.
Does BB/100 apply to tournaments?
Not directly. In tournaments, ROI% (Return On Investment) and ITM% (In The Money rate) are the equivalent metrics. BB/100 applies to cash game, where chips have a direct value.
What FlopIQ does on this topic
The FlopIQ tools and analyses that directly address what you just read.
BB/100
The unit that makes your winnings comparable across limits, and the thresholds to know.
BB/100 glossary entry →Analyze your Winamax history
Your score out of 100, your leaks quantified in BB/100, and your costliest hands broken down street by street. First analysis free.
See a full analysis →