Rake

Rake is the commission or fee, taken by the casino or poker room in cash games out of each pot, or as a cut of the buy-in in tournaments. It is the main revenue source for the house as a form of reward for dealing the game and providing the venue.

Types of Rake:

Fixed Rake: A fixed amount that is taken from each pot regardless of size. For example, it may be said that some casinos take $3 of rake from each pot over a certain size.

Percentage Rake: The house takes a rake that is in proportion to the size of the pot and then caps that at an upper limit. The house might take a rake of 5%, up to $5 maximum, of the pot.

Time Rake: This is sometimes applied in cash games, where players are compelled to pay based on the time they have spent on the table. Usually, it is gathered up regularly, say, every half an hour.

Impact on Players:

Rake affects players’ profitability, as it reduces the overall winnings from each pot. Players need to consider rake, when calculating their expected value and determining, whether a game is worth playing.

Rakeback:

Some of the online poker rooms have rakeback programs, when some of the rakes collected from players are given back to players as a form of reward. This will encourage players still playing in a given platform and could have great change in their overall profitability.

Rake in tournaments:

In tournament play, the rake is, usually a certain percentage, taken off of the buy-in off the top before the prize pool is funded. 

Example: If a tournament has a $100 buy-in and $10 of that goes toward rake, only $90 goes into the prize pool.

Mitigation Strategies for Rake:

These are normally achieved by either searching for games with more compact rake structures, or by finding promotions that offer lower rake. Additionally, when players know the rake inside and out, it will significantly improve their choice of games.