Definition
The share of the pot at cash tables that is taken by the poker room as a commission for its services. Rake is usually charged only on pots that reach the flop, so no commission is deducted from a hand that ends preflop. In poker tournaments the rake is included in the buy-in and paid by the player together with the entry. For example, in a $50+$5 tournament, $50 goes to the prize pool and $5 is the poker room’s fee.