Agent Fee
代理费
**Term: Agent Fee** Refers to the commission taken by the poker platform or agent from the pot of each hand. It is the platform's primary source of revenue.
Context: Term article: Agent Fee
Overview
Agent Fee in Texas Hold'em is usually equivalent to "Rake", which is the service fee charged by poker platforms or agents for organizing games. Online poker platforms typically deduct it based on pot size or a fixed amount after each hand. In cash games, it is commonly a percentage of the pot (e.g., 5%), while in tournaments, it is taken from the buy-in in advance (e.g., buy-in $100+$9, where $9 is the agent fee).
Calculation
- Cash games: Charged as a percentage of the pot, usually with a cap (e.g., maximum $5 per hand). Some platforms use a "no rake" model but charge time fees (e.g., $5 per half hour).
- Tournaments: The buy-in structure consists of entry fee + agent fee. The agent fee is not added to the prize pool.
- Rakeback: High-level players or regulars may receive a partial refund of the agent fee (rakeback), calculated based on daily, weekly, or monthly profits.
Impact on Strategy
The presence of agent fee reduces the player's long-term expected value, especially in small pots where the proportion is higher. Therefore, in a high-rake environment, players should be more aggressive in contesting pots to achieve positive expectation, avoiding excessive passivity. A high rakeback rate can alleviate the rake burden, making a tight-aggressive strategy more viable.
Example
In a $1/$2 cash game, if the pot reaches $50, the platform takes 5% which is $2.5 (cap $3), so the players are actually competing for a $47.5 pot.