Rake

Basic Definition

Rake refers to the fee collected by casinos or poker rooms from players for operating the game. It is mainly collected in cash games by deducting a certain percentage from the pot, but in tournament-style events, it may be included in the entry fee. Rake is primarily collected post-flop, so if the hand ends pre-flop, it often does not incur a rake.

Specific Situation

In a cash game, when the pot reaches $100, the casino takes $5 as a rake, leaving $95 to be distributed among the players.

In a situation where the rake is as high as 10%, you want to aggressively raise pre-flop to collect the pot before the rake is taken.

Important Information

The rake percentage varies between poker rooms and online platforms, typically ranging from 5% to 10% of the pot. However, there may also be a cap set on the amount.

The higher the rake, the more it eats into the player's profits, so it's important to choose an environment with a low rake for long-term play.

Examples of Term Usage

"The rake at this poker room is a bit high, but I like it because the facilities are comfortable."