What Is Rake in Poker: Grinder’s Guide 2026
Rake in poker is the main method by which poker rooms earn money. Poker rooms online and at land-based casinos take a cut of nearly every pot (or tournament buy‑in). The average percentage of a pot taken is between 4% and 6%. Land-based casinos tend to charge slighly more rake than online casino sites.
To get the most out of Rakeback deals, it is crucial to first understand a site’s rake system.
At VIP‑Grinders we’ve analysed over 500 cash‑game sessions and reviewed more than 30 poker site rake policies, with a view to having the best possible data to understand how rake works, and which poker sites offer competitive rake contributions to players. Knowing exactly how the percent, cap, rake types are, and when they apply is often the difference between a winning session and a losing grind.
Rake Is Critical for Online Poker Players
Think you just crush at NL50? Ask yourself: How much rake did you pay vs how much you won? Because rake reduces your net win rate measured in big blinds per 100 hands, ignoring it can mask losing patterns until it’s too late.
So, What Is Poker Rake?
- Rake = the fee or commission the poker room charges for hosting a cash‑game hand or running a tournament.
- In cash games, rake is almost always a percentage of the pot (e.g. 3–6%), up to a capped maximum per hand.
- In tournaments / SNGs / MTTs, rake is included in the buy-in (e.g. $100 + $10) — the fee portion goes to the house while the rest builds the prize pool.
Because rake is taken from each pot (or buy‑in), it reduces the expected value (EV) of many marginal plays. The higher the rake, the tighter you need to play to remain +EV over the long run. Of course, one way to offset this -EV is to ensure you are signed up to a competitive Rakeback deal.
How Rake Is Charged: Pot Rake Mechanics Explained
The principle of how rake is charged by poker sites is simple, but there are many nuances, and other factors such as caps, no flop rules and table or poker variants that alter the rake.
| Factor | What It Means for You |
|---|---|
| Percentage of pot | Typically 2–6% on online sites |
| Rake cap | Maximum rake per hand. |
| “No flop, no drop” rule | If a hand ends before the flop. |
| Number of players / hand type | Rake may vary depending on the number of players. |
| Tournament / sit-and-go rake | Rake is taken as a fee at registration. |
Rake Contribution Snapshot: Top Online Poker Sites
This table summarizes the standard cash game rake structure at the top poker sites online.
| Site | Stakes (Example) | Typical Rake % & Cap (5+ players) | Key Notes / Contribution Factors |
|---|---|---|---|
| CoinPoker | $0.05/$0.10 to $1/$2 NLH | 5% Rake; Caps are very low | Lowest Caps in the Industry |
| ACR (Americas Cardroom) | $0.01/$0.02 to $5/$10+ NLH | 5% Rake; Caps increase by stake | Weighted Contributed Rake |
| WPT Global | $0.05/$0.10 to $1/$2 NLH | 4% Rake | Uses a slightly lower rake percentage |
| GGPoker | $0.01/$0.02 to $1/$2 NLH | 5% Rake; Caps are generally high | Pre-Flop Rake & Jackpots |
Advertised Rake vs Effective Rake: What Actually Matters
Poker rooms advertise rake as a simple percentage, for example: “5% capped at $3.” But experienced players know that effective rake is what determines whether a game is beatable.
Effective rake is the total rake you pay expressed as BB/100 over a meaningful sample size. It is influenced by:
- Average pot size
- How often pots reach the rake cap
- Table format (6-max, full-ring, heads-up)
- Game type (NLH vs PLO)
- Whether rake is taken pre-flop
For example, a 5% rake with a low cap may result in an effective cost of 5–7 BB/100, while a “lower” 4% rake with a higher cap can quietly cost you 10+ BB/100 at the same stake.
This distinction is critical when comparing poker sites, and is one reason many experienced players prioritize low caps over low percentages.
How We Analyse Rake at VIP-Grinders
Our rake evaluations are based on a combination of:
- Published site rake tables and official policies
- Hand-history analysis from real cash-game sessions
- Effective rake measured in BB/100 across stake levels
- Direct comparison of pre- and post-rakeback profitability
Where possible, we cross-reference site-stated structures with observed data, as real-world rake often differs from marketing descriptions, particularly in formats involving jackpots, fast-fold pools, or pre-flop rake.
All recommendations on this page assume disciplined bankroll management and are intended for educational purposes rather than guaranteed profit claims.
6 Tips for Smart Poker Site & Game Selection Based on Rake
- 1Always check the stake-based rake table on the site before playing
- 2Opt for tables with cap and deeper stacks
- 3Use “no flop, no drop” to your advantage
- 4Avoid hyper‑raked micro tables with thin action
- 5If multi‑tabling, track average rake per 100 hands
- 6For tournaments, always scrutinise the rake portion vs prize-pool portion of buy-in
Common Misconceptions about Rake
There are many false assumptions about how rake works and is charged at poker sites. Here are some of the most common misconceptions about rake contributions:
- Rake is always a fixed small %: Effective rake depends heavily on pot size, number of players, cap, and how much you contribute to the pot.
- Low stakes = small rake = easy profits: Micro-stakes tend to have high effective rake relative to pot size, making many marginal hands -EV over time.
- Rake only matters for beginners: Even high-stakes and pro players must respect rake, especially in deep‑stack or high-variance environments.
- Tournaments have no rake: Tournament rake is hidden in the buy-in fee structure; always check the rake percentage before registering.
What Rake Does to GTO Strategy
Game Theory Optimal (GTO) solutions are typically generated in rake-free environments. Once rake is introduced, optimal strategy shifts, and that’s especially at low stakes.
High rake environments force:
- Tighter opening ranges
- Fewer thin value bets
- Reduced bluffing frequency in small pots
- Less defending from blinds
In solver simulations with realistic micro-stakes rake, many marginally profitable hands become outright losers. This explains why players who follow “standard” charts without adjusting for rake often struggle to win consistently online.
3 Reasons Why Rake Structure Matters to Your Game
- 1Understand the core concept of GTO and why it provides an unexploitable baseline strategy.
- 2Learn to balance your ranges and bluff frequencies to avoid predictability.
- 3Apply exploitative adjustments by reading opponents’ tendencies and adapting your strategy to maximize value.
What is Rake FAQs
What is the difference between Rake and a Rake Cap?
Rake is the percentage (typically 3%–6%) taken from the pot on every hand. The Rake Cap is the fixed maximum dollar amount the site will take from any single pot, regardless of how large the pot grows. Once the cap is hit, no more rake is taken.
What does the "No Flop, No Drop" rule mean?
It means that if a cash game hand ends before the flop is dealt (e.g., all players fold to a pre-flop raise), the poker room does not take any rake (drop). This benefits aggressive players who frequently steal the blinds.
Is there rake in tournaments (MTTs/SNGs)?
Yes, tournament rake is taken as a hidden fee within the buy-in structure. It is the portion after the plus sign (e.g., in a $$100 + $10$ buy-in, the $$10$ is the non-refundable rake/fee).
Why is the effective rake higher at micro-stakes?
Although the percentage (e.g., 5%) is the same, the rake cap is rarely hit at micro-stakes due to small pot sizes. This means rake is taken on a higher percentage of total pots, resulting in a higher effective rake burden compared to large pots at high stakes where the cap is frequently reached.
How does GGPoker's rake system differ from other sites?
GGPoker often applies rake on pre-flop 3-bet pots, even if the hand does not reach the flop (violating the “No Flop, No Drop” rule). They also typically charge an extra Jackpot Fee on large pots, increasing the total rake extracted per hand.
Which rake structure is best for Cash Game profitability?
Structures with the lowest rake caps (like CoinPoker) are generally best, as they limit the amount the house can take, especially in the larger pots where most profit is made.