Rake Calculation Methods

There are a few different ways in which poker rooms calculate the rake that is credited to each players. Depending on your style of play, the method used will affect how much rakeback you receive.

Dealt

For each hand, the poker room takes the total rake taken and divides it by the number of players that were dealt cards. Players that received cards are credited with this amount.

Example: If 8 players are dealt cards in a hand in which $3 in rake was taken, each player would be credited with $0.38 in rake ($3 / 8 = $0.38).

Advantage: Tight players. If you are playing tight, you are still being credited with the same amount of rake as the other players even though you are folding most hands.

Contributed

For each hand, the poker room takes the total rake taken and divides it by the number of players that contributed money to the pot. Contributing players are credited with this amount.

Example: If 4 players see the flop in a hand in which $3 in rake was taken, each player would be credited with $0.75 in rake ($3 / 4 = $0.75).

Advantage: Flop takers. If you are seeing a lot of flops, but folding or not betting as much afterwards, you are still being credited with the same amount of rake as players who are in the hand betting to the end.

Actual

For each hand, the poker room takes the total rake taken and credits each player according to the proportion that they contributed to the pot.

Example: You are in a three-way pot where $3 in rake is taken. You bet on every street for a total of $30. One player calls the blinds, one bet on the flop and folds on the turn for a total of $10. The other player calls each of your bets for a total of $30. The final pot is $70. You would be credited with $1.29 in rake ($3 * ($30 / $70) = $1.29).

Advantage: Loose/Aggressive players. If you are betting and calling to the end, you are getting credit for more rake than the tighter players.