Rake (poker)
The fee a poker room takes for running the game. In cash games it's a percentage of each pot, usually capped. In tournaments it's added to the buy-in.
Cash-game rake
In a cash game, the room takes a small share of each pot, up to a maximum per hand called the cap. Many rooms use "no flop, no drop", which means no rake is taken if the hand ends before the flop. As an illustration, a room taking 5% capped at $3 would take $1 from a $20 pot and $3 from a $200 pot. Actual rates and caps vary by room, stake and number of players, and are usually published on a rake page.
Tournament rake
In tournaments, the fee is added to the buy-in. "$10 + $1" means $10 goes into the prize pool and $1 goes to the room. The fee is often a bigger share of the total at low buy-ins.
Why it matters more than people think
Rake comes out of every pot you win, so it adds up over thousands of hands. At micro-stakes it can be the difference between a small profit and a small loss for a decent player. Small pots at low limits pay proportionally the most, because the cap is rarely reached.
Rakeback and rewards
Many rooms give back part of the rake through cashback, points or reward levels. Check how it's calculated, how often it's paid, and whether it has its own wagering conditions. A generous-looking rakeback figure on a site with a high rake can still cost you more than a lower rate somewhere cheaper.
Rake and fairness
Rake is also why a licensed room has no reason to rig hands. It gets paid no matter who wins. See is online poker rigged?
Related
18+ only. Gambling can be harmful. Set limits before you play, and see our responsible gambling guide if it stops being fun.