Rake
Rake in poker is a fee, or commission, taken by a cardroom from each pot. This is how casinos and online poker rooms make money.
How rake works
Most rooms take a percentage of each pot, up to a cap. The rake percentage and the cap vary depending on the casino or online platform, the stakes and the number of players at the table. For example, in $2.5/$5 6max online games rake is around 4.5-5% of the pot in each poker hand, capped at $3-$8 (0.6-1.6bb) depending on the poker room.
Some poker rooms rake preflop pots. Others follow the "no flop, no drop" rule, which means the rake is only taken in pots that see a flop.
Types of rake
Besides a percentage of the pot, there are several other ways for a casino to rake the poker games:
- Dead drop: before dealing the cards, the dealer collects a set fee from the player on the button.
- Time collection: a set fee is collected every half-hour during the game. It can be done in two ways:
- player time: a set amount is collected from each player
- time pot: a set amount is taken from the pot every time it exceeds a certain value
How rake changes strategy
Rake has a significant influence on players' strategy. That is why every RangeConverter sim is solved with a set rake (or none), shown with the sim's name, for example 6max 100bb 500z: 5% rake, 0.6bb cap. The Preflop report in the Range Viewer can set two sims side by side, which shows what a different rake or stack depth does to preflop play.
FAQ
What does "no flop, no drop" mean?
It means the poker room only takes rake from pots that see a flop. Hands that end preflop are not raked.
What is a rake cap?
The rake cap is the most a poker room takes from one pot, however big the pot gets. In $2.5/$5 online games it is typically $3 to $8, depending on the room.
What is the difference between rake and time collection?
Rake is taken from each pot. Time collection is a set fee charged every half-hour, either from each player or from the pot.