And some games might go as high as 10% rake, or alternatively have a decent percentage like 5% but no rake cap. Yes, there are home games with rake as low as 2% and even no rake at all, but those games usually require every player to shuffle the deck and deal out cards when they’re on the button. They simply become hands that have a negative estimated value due to rake, and there’s not much you can do but just play more conservatively preflop.Īs a rule of thumb, you should aim to play in a home with no more than 5% rake and a rake cap of 3 or 4 big blinds. In a game that has a high rake you need to make a few adjustments, the first one being ditching some of the borderline hands preflop that you would normally play. On the other hand, if your goal in poker is to make money, the amount of rake you pay will play a huge role in determining your winrate. If you just want to have fun and enjoy playing, you don’t have to worry about much. Depending on your goal, the rake structure of the game might be one of the most important things to consider or not important at all.

Best poker games to play with friends