This guide will cover the following topics:
What Does It Mean to Charge Rake in Poker?
During a hand that goes to a flop, the dealer will extract a specific percentage from the pot. In online settings, this deduction occurs automatically. While rake is typically taken as a percentage of the total pot, some casinos may opt for a fixed fee that is charged at designated intervals.
How Much is the Rake in Poker?
The rake typically ranges from 0% to 10% of the total pot for most types of games. It's important to note that live poker games often have higher rake compared to their online counterparts. Additionally, many rooms implement a 'cap', which is the maximum amount that can be deducted from a pot. Usually, rake is only applied to pots that see a flop.
What is the Rake in Online Poker?
In online poker, the rake generally falls within the range of 0% to 7% of the total pot. Most online poker sites impose an upper limit on the rake that can be charged from any pot, known as the 'cap'. This cap often increases depending on the stakes of the game; for example, mid to high-stakes tables might have a cap of around $3 or $4.
What is the Rake Mechanism in Tournament Poker?
In tournament poker, the rake is included with the entry fee. Some poker rooms may clarify how much of the fee is designated for the buy-in as opposed to the rake. For instance, if the entry fee is listed as $5 + $0.50, this indicates that $5 contributes to the prize pool, whereas $0.50 is allocated to the venue as a fee for organizing the tournament. It's common for a poker room to take about 10% of the total prize pool as rake. After the tournament begins, however, no further rake is charged to avoid reducing the chip quantity for the remaining players.
What is the Rake Cap?
The rake cap represents the maximum amount that can be deducted from a single pot. It works in conjunction with the rake percentage to calculate the total rake extracted.
For example, if a venue charges a 5% rake with a $3 cap and encounters a $200 pot, only $3 will be deducted since 5% of $200 ($10) exceeds the cap limit.
What is Rakeback?
After a poker venue collects the rake, it's common for them to return a portion of that rake to players as incentives or rewards. If a poker room has a loyalty program for frequent players, this can function as a kind of 'rakeback', even if they don’t explicitly label it as such.
What is Meant by ‘No Flop No Drop’?
'No flop no drop' is a well-known phrase in the poker community, indicating that rake is not collected unless a flop occurs. This rule is standard in many poker rooms, although there are some that may take rake regardless of whether a flop has been seen or not.
Final Thoughts
Many players may overlook the rake and jump into games without a clear understanding of what they are actually paying. Excessively high rake can create scenarios where winning becomes virtually impossible, a situation commonly referred to as a 'rake trap'.
It’s advisable to evaluate the rake structure before participating in a poker game, making comparisons and doing basic calculations. Just like making a purchase, it’s wise to ensure that the deal you are getting is fair before proceeding.
See Also