Rake
Rules Level · Beginner Aliases: house fee, poker rake, service fee
Rake is the fee a card room takes from the pot or from tournament entries to run the game.
What is Rake
Rake is what a card room charges for hosting the game. Cash games commonly take a percentage of qualifying pots with a cap per hand, while tournaments usually separate the prize pool contribution from a service fee in the entry. The exact rules vary by operator, stake, number of players and jurisdiction, so check the schedule before you sit. Rake directly reduces the expected value of every hand, and the proportional effect is heaviest at low stakes and in small pots. It also changes strategy: marginal calls, entering pots too wide and small-edge confrontations can all stop being profitable once the fee comes out. Do not judge results by the table alone — count rake as a cost when you review the long run.
On the felt
TableCash games and tournaments
PositionWhole table
FlopAny board
ActionCheck the percentage, cap and conditions before sitting
Example
Two sites can look like the same stake with the same quality of opponents, yet differ in rake percentage and cap, producing very different long-run profit. Compare the full schedule before choosing a table, not just the blind level.
Common mistakes
- Treating rake as a minor administrative charge. Across a large number of hands it can consume a substantial share of a thin edge.
- Assuming rake is the same everywhere. Operator, table type, stake and the number of players can all change how it is charged.
Related terms
Ante
An ante is a forced chip contribution made before each hand, by every player or by the big blind.
Blind
A blind is a forced bet posted before cards are dealt, by a designated position, to start the action.
Buy-in
A buy-in is the amount paid to join a game or tournament in exchange for starting chips.
Heads Up
Heads up means only two players remain, either at the table or in the pot.
Showdown
A showdown is when the remaining players reveal their cards after the last bet to compare their best five.
Raise
A raise increases the current highest bet, forcing everyone behind to pay more to continue.