Poker Guide
Poker Rake

In poker, a rake is a fee taken by the casino or cardroom from each hand played. The rake is typically a small percentage of the pot, usually not more than 5%, and is taken from the pot before the winnings of that particular pot are distributed amongst the winners.

The rake serves as a source of revenue for the casino or the gaming platforms and helps cover the costs associated with running the game, such as paying dealers and other staff, maintaining the equipment/websites and apps, and providing amenities for players.

In addition to the rake, some casinos and cardrooms may also charge players a seat fee or a time charge to participate in a poker game. These fees are typically separate from the rake and are charged on a per-hour or per-session basis.

There are several different types of poker rakes that may be used in a casino or cardroom. Here are some most common ones:

• Pot rake : This is the most common type of rake in poker. It is a percentage of the pot, usually around 2.5% to 5%, that is taken by the casino or the gaming app. For example, if the pot is INR 100 and the rake is 5%, the casino will take INR 5 from the pot.


• Time rake : In some casinos and cardrooms, a time-based rake can be implemented. This is a fee that is charged for every hour that a player spends at the table, regardless of whether they win or lose. The fee is usually a fixed amount, such as INR100 per hour.


• Tournament rake : In poker tournaments, the casino or the gaming app may take a percentage of the buy-in fee as a rake. For example, if the buy-in for a tournament is INR100 and the rake is 10%, the casino will take INR10 from each player's buy-in fee.

In poker, a dead drop is a type of rake that is used in some high-stakes games. In a dead drop, a fixed amount of money is taken from each pot by the gaming app or cardroom, regardless of the size of the pot. The amount of the dead drop is typically a fixed one and is usually higher than the percentage-based rake that is used in lower-stakes games.

Dead drops are generally used in high-stakes games to ensure that the casino or cardroom makes a certain amount of money, regardless of the size of the pot. This can be advantageous for players who are playing in games with larger pots, as they will be paying a lower rake fee. However, it can also be disadvantageous for players who are playing in games with smaller pots, as they will be paying a higher effective rake.

Understanding the rake and its impact on your poker strategy is crucial because it can significantly affect your profitability. The rake is essentially a commission that is taken by the gaming app or cardroom from each pot, and it reduces the amount of money that is available for players to win. Since the rake is taken from each pot, it means that the more pots you play, the more rake you will pay. This means that if you are playing in small pots, you may be paying a significantly higher effective rake than if you were playing in fewer, larger pots.

In order to maximize your profitability in poker, it is important to minimize the amount of rake that you pay. This can be achieved in several ways, such as playing fewer, larger pots, playing in games with a lower rake, and using strategies that minimize the number of pots that go to showdown. This also depends on the type of games you play, in heads-up and sit-and-go tournament games rake can turn out to be a determining factor on how much profit you will make.

At PartyPoker, the rake is calculated based on the amount of money that is in the pot at the end of each hand. The rake is typically a percentage of the pot, up to a certain maximum amount. The exact rake structure varies depending on the type of game and the stakes being played.

PartyPoker also charges a fee for some tournaments, which is typically a percentage of the buy-in. The fee varies depending on the tournament, but is usually between 5% and 10% of the buy-in. It is important to note that the rake at PartyPoker, like at any other poker site, can have a significant impact on your long-term profitability. As such, it is important to be aware of the rake structure and adjust your strategy accordingly to minimize the amount of rake that you pay.

Party Poker's rake structure varies depending on the type of game and stakes being played. For cash games, the rake percentage is 5%. For tournaments, the rake percentage varies depending on the buy-in and the format but is generally between 7-10 %. In sit-and-go games, the rake percentage ranges from 5-10 %. It's worth noting that Party Poker may make adjustments to their rake structure at any time, so it's important to check their website for the most up-to-date information.

Yes, most poker tournaments have a rake. The rake in a tournament is typically a percentage of the tournament buy-in, with a portion of that percentage going toward the tournament prize pool and the rest going to the poker room as profit.

For example, if a tournament has a buy-in of INR 100 and a 10% rake, the rake would be INR 10 per player. If there were 100 players, the total rake for the tournament would be INR 1,000, with INR 900 going toward the prize pool and $100 going to the poker room. It's important to read the tournament rules and information to understand the rake structure before entering a tournament.