What Is Rake in Poker? Percentage, Cap and Real Cost
The essentials:
- Rake is the fee a poker room charges for hosting the game.
- In cash games it is a percentage of the pot, with a maximum per pot called the cap.
- A lower percentage does not always mean a lower cost: it depends on the cap and the size of the pot.
- All figures in this article are hypothetical examples to help you learn the math. They are not any poker room's actual rates.
If you are new to online poker, the first question is what rake is and how much it really costs you per hand. The short answer is a fee. The useful answer is knowing how to calculate it, because two poker rooms with similar percentages can cost you very different amounts.
The definition, with numbers
Rake is the fee the poker room charges for running the game and dealing the cards. In cash games it is taken from the pot before the winner is paid. In tournaments it is included in the buy-in. It is expressed as a percentage of the pot, with a cap: the maximum amount in euros that can be taken from a single hand.
To measure the cost, it helps to use the big blind (bb). As a reference we will use a hypothetical NL50 table, meaning No-Limit Hold'em with €0.25/€0.50 blinds. Here 1 bb equals €0.50.
Percentage and cap: how rake is calculated
The formula is simple: the rake is the lesser of these two values, the percentage of the pot or the cap.
Hypothetical example: 5% rake with a €3 cap per pot, at the NL50 table.
| Pot (hypothetical) | 5% of the pot | Rake charged | Equivalent to |
|---|---|---|---|
| €12 | €0.60 | €0.60 | 1.2 bb |
| €80 | €4 | €3 (cap) | 6 bb |
In the €80 pot, 5% would be €4, but the cap limits the charge to €3.
Note: the cap applies per pot, not per player. The €3 in the example is taken from the pot only once; €3 is not charged to each player.
A lower percentage can cost more
Looking only at the percentage is a common mistake. The cap changes the result in big pots.
Hypothetical example: structure A charges 4.5% with a €4 cap. Structure B charges 5% with a €2 cap.
| Pot (hypothetical) | A: 4.5%, €4 cap | B: 5%, €2 cap |
|---|---|---|
| €10 | €0.45 | €0.50 |
| €30 | €1.35 | €1.50 |
| €60 | €2.70 | €2.00 (cap) |
| €100 | €4.00 (cap) | €2.00 (cap) |
In small pots, A is cheaper. In pots of €60 or more, B costs less even though its percentage is higher. Which structure suits you depends on how large pots tend to get at your tables and on the rules that apply, not just on whether you play with deep stacks.
Tip: always compare the percentage, the cap, and the minimum pot subject to rake, if the poker room states one. With only one of the three figures, you can't estimate the real cost.
Some poker rooms publish their calculation broken down by stakes and number of players; one example is the ACR rake calculation page. Rates change, so always check the current version for the poker room you're interested in.
Advantages and limits of the percentage + cap model
Advantages:
- •It's easy to estimate: just compare the percentage with the cap.
- •The cap limits the amount charged on big pots.
Limits:
- •In small pots the cap doesn't come into play and the percentage rules.
- •Each room sets its own percentages, caps and rules by game type, stake level and number of players.
- •It doesn't cover other charging systems, such as time collection (see below).
Pot rake vs. attributed rake
There are two different things to tell apart. Pot rake is what the room takes from a hand. Attributed rake is the share of that rake that a room or a program assigns to each player as the base for their rewards.
Hypothetical example: six players are dealt in. X and Y put in €30 each. Z puts in €20 and then folds. The other three put no money in the pot. The pot is €80 (30 + 30 + 20) and the hypothetical rake is €3.
| Method | X (puts in €30) | Y (puts in €30) | Z (puts in €20) | Other 3 | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Weighted contributed (in proportion to what each put in) | €1.125 | €1.125 | €0.75 | €0 | €3 |
| Average contributed (split equally among contributors) | €1 | €1 | €1 | €0 | €3 |
| Dealt (split equally among everyone dealt in) | €0.50 | €0.50 | €0.50 | €0.50 each | €3 |
How the figures are worked out. Under weighted contributed, X gets 30/80 × €3 = €1.125 and Z gets 20/80 × €3 = €0.75. Under average contributed, the €3 is split among the three players who put money in. Under dealt, it is split among the six players who received cards.
These are accounting attributions, not extra charges. The pot pays €3 once, and nobody pays anything more for appearing in this table: the method only decides which part of that €3 counts as yours for reward purposes. Z folding does not change what Z had already put in. Each room or program defines its own method, so read its terms. You can find the details of each one in MGR vs rake contributed vs dealt: rakeback methods explained.
No flop, no drop: when there is no rake
The no flop, no drop rule means no rake is taken if the hand ends before the flop is dealt. If everyone folds to a preflop raise, there is no rake at poker rooms that apply it.
Key fact: it is not a universal rule. Each poker room sets its own, and it can vary by game type. Confirm it in the table rules.
Three cases that often cause confusion:
- •Uncalled bets: the part of a bet that nobody calls is returned to the player who made it and is normally not part of the pot subject to rake. Check how the poker room states this.
- •The flop is seen: even if everyone folds afterwards, the pot is usually subject to rake.
- •Called all-in preflop: this is not the same as everyone folding preflop. If someone calls, the board is dealt, and under the no flop, no drop rule that pot normally does pay rake, even if nobody acts after the flop.
Tournaments: the fee is inside the buy-in
In a tournament the fee does not come out of a pot. It is added to the prize pool contribution and advertised in the format prize + fee. The sum of both is the total entry, or buy-in.
Hypothetical example: a €22 tournament is advertised as 20 + 2. Of the €22, €20 goes to the prize pool and €2 to the room.
- •Measured against the total entry, the fee is 2/22, or 9.09%.
- •Measured against the prize pool contribution, it is 2/20, or 10%.
Both figures are correct; only the denominator changes. When comparing tournaments, always use the same base. If you enter three times (two re-entries), you pay €66 and the room keeps €6: the percentage does not change, but the total fee multiplies with the number of entries.
Other charges besides the percentage
Not all tables charge only a percentage of the pot. There are other formulas and concepts:
- •Time collection: a fixed amount per player or per table at regular time intervals, more common in live play.
- •Jackpot contributions or other charges: as a hypothetical, a table could take a fixed amount per pot in addition to the rake.
Don't assume that these charges fall within the cap, or that they do or don't generate rewards. Only the poker room's terms say so, and it's worth reading them before you sit down.
Rake and rakeback are not the same thing
Rake is what the poker room takes from the pot. Rakeback is a later refund of part of that rake, in cash, points, or other rewards, depending on each room's program or deal. It does not reduce the fee taken from each hand.
Also, the base on which rakeback is calculated does not have to be the pot's rake as is: it is usually the rake attributed to you, and some operators apply adjustments to that base according to their terms. If you want to see how that refund is calculated, check out the rakeback guide.
How to use rake when analyzing your results
Two common mistakes when reviewing your numbers:
- •Subtracting the rake twice. The winner collects the pot with the rake already removed. If your software or the room's hand history already shows net results, subtracting the fee again doubles the cost. Check whether the figure is gross or net.
- •Moving up in stakes because of rake. A fixed cap weighs less in bb the higher the blinds are, but that doesn't justify the move. That decision depends on your bankroll and your level of play; you can review it in the bankroll management guide.
Conclusion
Rake is calculated as the lesser of the percentage of the pot and the cap. To estimate its real cost, measure it in bb, think about the typical size of your pots, check the preflop rule, and don't mix up the rake taken from the pot with the rake attributed to you for rewards. When you want to see what each room publishes, you can review their terms in the poker rooms catalogue.
Frequently asked questions
Is the cap charged to each player?
No. In cash games the cap limits what is taken from the whole pot. What can be split among players is the attributed rake, depending on each room's method.
Is there rake if everyone folds preflop?
It depends on the room's rule. With no flop, no drop, no rake is taken, but not all rooms apply it the same way in every game type.
Is a tournament's fee the difference between what I pay and the guaranteed prize?
Not necessarily. The fee is the part of the buy-in that the room declares as such (the €2 in a 20 + 2). The guarantee is a commitment on the prize pool and may work under its own rules.
