If you’re interested in poker but don’t know much about it, the concept of rake may be confusing. A rake is a small commission fee that is collected by the cardroom that operates a poker game, and it’s used to cover operating costs such as software development and maintenance, customer support, server costs, and various other staff that keep the site running smoothly. It also helps fund the multiple promotions that poker sites run to attract players and introduce them to the game.
There are several ways that a poker room can take a rake, but the most common is to collect a percentage of the pot in each hand. This is a method that’s typically used in cash games both online and live. There are some rooms that use other methods, such as a timed rake where players pay a fixed amount every 30 minutes or hourly. This is more commonly used in higher stakes live games, but it can be beneficial for players because it allows them to play a lot of hands without paying too much rake.
Another way to take a rake is to charge a flat fee per player, regardless of how many hands they play. This is known as a dead drop rake, and it’s often used in high stakes live games to prevent the table from being too shorthanded. It’s less common in online poker, but it can be a useful tool to get the most money out of a game.
While a rake is generally considered to be a good thing by most players, it can lead to some problems. First, it can make a table unprofitable for average players. In addition, it can cause the overall winnings of the poker room to decline over time. This is because the rake eats into profits, causing it to shrink over time.
Taking a rake in a poker game can also be illegal, particularly if the party that takes it isn’t licensed to do so. This can lead to a number of problems for the poker room, including the fact that it won’t be able to protect its customers’ rights or offer fair treatment to them.
There are a few things you can do to minimize the rake you’re paying, such as playing tighter. This will help you reduce the number of hands you play, and it will also prevent you from winning too many pots. In addition, you should try to find a poker room that doesn’t charge a high rake. While this can seem like a hassle, it’s well worth the effort to avoid paying too much rake.
