What is 'Rake'?

What is 'rake'?

The 'rake' is basically how the poker site makes it's money.

Every time a flop is dealt in a hand the site will take it's 5% commission. This is called the 'rake'. This 5% is generally capped at a maximum of $3.

For example, if a pot is won and it contained $5 then the winner gets $4.75 and the site keeps the other 0.25 cents as it's 'rake'. If the pot contained $5000 then the site would take the maximum $3 of rake.

If you enter a SitnGo or Multi-table tournament then the fee that you pay is the 'rake'. For example, you enter a tournament that costs $10+$1, the $1 fee is your 'rake'.

When 'rake' has been generated in a hand then the poker site needs to decide who should be given credit for creating this amount for the site. To add to the confusion, There are 3 main ways that poker sites can use for making this calculation. They are called 'dealt', 'contributed' and 'weighted contributed'. The explanations of these different methods can be found below but players need to be aware of which method their chosen site uses because it can have a big effect on the amount of rake you are generating yourself and therefor it affects the amount you receive back.

By reading the explanations below you will see that your own particular style of play will have an influence on how much rake you generate with the different methods.

Once you realise how important all this is then you will see why you are at such an advantage by using Poker-essentials when you register for your chosen deal.

We can guide you through all this using our wealth of experience so you know that when you finally choose which deal to sign up to, you can relax knowing that you are getting the absolute maximum possible amount back for your play.

'Dealt' method.

This particular method is more favourable if you are a generally tight, more conservative player.

This method means that every player that has been dealt cards in the hand will receive an equal share of the rake, even if they fold their cards preflop.

For example :

Lets assume a hand is played out to the showdown. It's a big pot and $3 rake is taken by the site.

If there were 10 players dealt cards at the start of the hand then every player will be credited with 0.30 cents of rake ($3/10). With 6 players it gets split 6 ways so 0.50 cents each and with HU play it would be $1.50 each.

It doesn't matter whether you folded pre- flop or ended up all in on the river, every player that was dealt cards at the start of the hand will be credited with an equal share of any rake taken.

You can see why this method is more favourable for a tight player.

'Contributed' method.

This method is more favourable to looser players who like to play a lot of pots.

It is different to the 'dealt' method in a very important way. Only the players that actually contributed to the final pot will be credited with a share of any rake taken.

For example :

Lets assume a hand is played out to the showdown. It's a big pot and $3 rake is taken by the site.

If either 6 or 10 players were dealt into the hand at the start but only 3 players actually stayed in for the flop, then the $3 rake will be split 3 ways. $1 each.

If you were in the big blind and were just called by one player plus the small blind there are 3 of you that have 'contributed' to this pot. If you then fold after the flop and the other two players end up shoving all in for a huge pot, each player still receives an equal third of the rake taken.

You can see why this method is more favourable to looser players who like to see a lot of flops.

'Weighted Contributed' method.

This method may be slightly better for players who like to play very aggressively whilst seeing a lot of pots.

It is similar to the dealt method apart from one difference.

The amount of rake the player is credited with will be proportionate to the amount he put into the pot.

For example :

If the Big Blind is $5, lets say that hands are folded round to the Button. He calls the $5 and the small blind also calls and the Big Blind checks. The flop comes down and the small blind bets $15. The Big Blind calls and the Button folds. There is now $45 in the pot. The Small and Big blinds have each put in $20 and the Button put in $5.
Lets say that the two players now check it to the river. We have a final pot of $45. The site take $2.25 rake (5%). This rake will be shared according to how much each player actually contributed. the blinds each contributed 44.5% of the pot and the Button put in 11%. Therefore the Blinds will each be credited with $1 rake and the button 0.25 cents.