Formula
rake per raked hand = min(average pot × rake %, cap)
rake per hand = rake per raked hand × share of hands raked
rake per 100 hands = rake per hand × 100 / big blind
Example
$0.05/$0.10 6-max, 5% rake capped at $0.50, average raked pot 25 bb ($2.50), 70% of hands raked, 400 hands per hour across 4 tables.
- Rake per raked hand: $2.50 × 5% = $0.125
- Rake per hand: $0.125 × 0.7 = $0.0875
- Rake per hour: $35
- Rake per 100 hands: 8.75 bb
A player with an 8 bb/100 pre-rake edge nets close to zero here. With 30% rakeback the same player gets 2.6 bb/100 back and becomes a modest winner.
Why rake matters for hand selection
Rake is paid by the pot, so it hurts loose, small-pot play the most. Tight ranges from the preflop charts and fewer marginal calls, which the pot odds calculator helps you filter, are the practical response.
Frequently asked questions
How is rake calculated?
Most rooms take a percentage of the pot (typically 3–5%) up to a cap in dollars or big blinds, only in hands that reach the flop. The calculator multiplies the average raked pot by the percentage, applies the cap, and weights it by the share of hands that get raked.
What is a normal rake in bb/100?
At micro stakes 6-max cash games, 8–12 bb/100 is common; at mid stakes the cap keeps it around 3–5 bb/100. A 5 bb/100 winner before rake at the micros is often a loser after it.
How does rakeback change the picture?
Rakeback returns a percentage of the rake paid. 30% rakeback on 10 bb/100 of rake adds 3 bb/100 to your win rate, which is often the difference between a break-even player and a winning one.