What is Rake in poker?

Rake refers to the amount of money a poker room, whether online or live, charges for hosting the game. In cash games, this is typically a small percentage taken from each pot that reaches a certain size, usually capped at a maximum amount. For tournaments, rake is collected as an additional fee on top of the buy-in. Understanding the rake structure is crucial, as high rake can significantly reduce a player's win rate, especially at lower stakes. Efficient poker sites, like some private club apps, often feature highly competitive rake structures compared to larger, public platforms, making them more profitable for regulars.

A typical cash game might have a 5% rake up to a maximum of $3, meaning $3 is taken from any pot over $60.

Rake (Rake) belongs to the General side of the game and shows up in almost every hand of Texas Hold'em. If you are just starting out, read the poker rules and the hand rankings first, then come back here. To practise risk-free you can play against our AI right on the site.