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Poker rake
We all know why poker is such a hugely popular phenomenon nowadays. Besides the exciting gameplay, and the possibility to win loads of money there's the fact that separate players are in it to rip each-other off and not go up against the house. This kills the usual house edge associated with other casino games, and let's face it, it makes the whole game tons more trustworthy. Why us that you might ask? I suppose lots of people have certain problems going up against the house in casino games, and these problems are not all about the house edge. Let's take slots for instance. They are all 100% fair of course ( in certified online casinos that is) however, call me paranoid, but I just can't get over the feeling that they're set in a way that is adverse to the player. In online poker however, the house never gets directly involved in the game so all possibilities of any and all unfair antics are excluded from the very get go. ( there is of course the matter of cheating players, but then again that's all part of the game) All of this being cleared, how do you suppose online poker rooms make their money? The same way real poker rooms do: through the rake. The rake is usually a percentage of the pot taken by the house and as such it is paid by the winners of each pot. Normally, at first glance, players who lose do not contribute to the pot, as the money that's in it doesn't belong to them anyways. The rake is paid by the guy who bags the cash and – what a wonderful setup – because of this probably doesn't mind handing out a meager tip to the house. The system is absolutely cleverly thought out and it works great too. At a closer analysis, however, one can see that the influence of each and every player on the pot is far more complicated than what I just described above. A passive "calling station" of a player can contribute enormously to the amount of rake the house collects. Getting in on the action and never getting past the flop is one heck of a rake generator for the house. The player himself pays no rake, yet the few dollars he contributes to the pot every hand also raise the amount of the rake the house is entitled to. Looking at it strictly from a rake point of view this "fold-often" strategy is probably the worst approach one can take to the matter if he/she is set on not helping the house to any rake. Interestingly enough the same folding strategy is one of the most effective strategies as far as any indivudual's poker game is concerned. This again illustrates the care poker rooms paid when they invented the rake. The same thing that is good for the players is also good for the house. All of the above being said, in my humble opinion, the rake-based player versus player system is probably the perfect internet gambling setup. Players cannit and will not blame the house for their losses, and the house gets its fair share of the action. This fact might have well contributed to the worldwide success poker is enjoying nowadays. |
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