Poker Term

Rake

Editor: dezhoupuke.org

In practice, rake directly affects a player's long-term profitability because even when you win a pot, this cost must be deducted. Therefore, tables with low rake or rake caps are more advantageous for players. Typical scenario: In a cash game, when the pot reaches $10, the poker room takes 5% $0.50 as rake, leaving $9.50 for the winner. In tournaments, rake is usually deducted directly from the entry fee, such as a $100 entry fee including $10 in rake.

What this word means at the table

Rake is the fee that the poker room collects from each hand, similar to the commission charged by casinos in traditional gambling. In cash games, rake is typically a percentage of the pot per hand, with a cap; in tournaments, rake is included in the buy-in, e.g., a $100 + $10 buy-in means $10 is the rake.

Rake Methods

Cash Game Rake

  • Percentage of the pot: Commonly 2.5% to 5% of the pot, with a maximum cap (e.g., $3 or $5).
  • Time rake: Some high-stakes games charge a fixed fee per hour rather than per hand.
  • No-cap rake: Very rare, usually only in private games or unregulated platforms.

Tournament Rake

  • Buy-in structure: e.g., $50 + $5, where $50 goes into the prize pool and $5 is the rake.
  • Rake percentages typically range from 5% to 15%; large events may have lower rates.

Impact on Players

Rake directly affects a player's long-term profitability. In low-stakes games, rake represents a higher percentage of the pot, requiring players to have a higher win rate just to break even. Therefore, choosing platforms or game types with lower rake (e.g., fast-fold games may have higher rake) is part of a profitable strategy.

Related Strategies

  • Tight-aggressive play: Reduce participation in marginal hands to avoid contributing too much to rake.
  • Choose low-rake platforms: Compare rake policies across different sites.
  • Utilize rakeback: Many platforms offer rakeback, i.e., returning a portion of the rake to players based on their contribution.

Rake and Rakeback

Rakeback is a percentage of the rake returned to players as an incentive, usually calculated based on the total rake generated by the player, with rates ranging from 10% to 60%. High-volume players often negotiate higher rakeback deals.

Related Terms

Rakeback