Bankroll Management
Separate poker funds and account for variance.
Read guide →Double Up Sit & Go Fees & Break-Even Cash Rate
Cashing half of your Double Up tournaments does not necessarily mean breaking even. Entry fees create a gap between the percentage of the field paid and the percentage of events you must cash to avoid losing money.
Break-even cash rate = total entry cost ÷ gross payout when you cash. If you pay $11 total and receive $20 when you cash, the simple break-even rate is 11 ÷ 20 = 55%.
The simple formula
Break-even cash rate = total amount paid per event ÷ gross cash payout
Example: a nominal $10 Double Up with a $1 fee costs $11 to enter. If a cash returns $20, then $11 ÷ $20 = 0.55, or 55%. Over a very large sample, cashing less than 55% would lose money before considering any rewards, promotions or other adjustments.
Calculate your own structure
Use the Double Up Break-Even Calculator for your entry cost, fee and gross payout.
Why 50% is not enough
If exactly half the field is paid, a random player's pre-fee cash probability is 50%. The operator fee means the average participant must lose money in aggregate unless some external value offsets the fee. A sustainable edge therefore requires cashing often enough to overcome that cost.
Example over 100 tournaments
At $11 total cost each, 100 entries cost $1,100. If 55 cashes return $20 each, gross returns are $1,100: break-even. At 58 cashes, gross returns are $1,160. At 52 cashes, gross returns are $1,040.
What the formula does not tell you
It does not measure variance, skill edge, game quality, rakeback, loyalty rewards, currency conversion, taxes or opportunity cost. It is a first-order check that prevents the common mistake of equating “half the field gets paid” with “50% cash rate breaks even.”
Related reading
Rules & Format
Verify the exact fee and payout.
Read guide →Common Mistakes
Correct format-specific misunderstandings.
Read guide →Last updated: August 26, 2026 · Publisher: Double Up Poker