C
clusterDuck
Rising Star
Bronze Level
I was playing 5/2 cent rush poker on FT today when I realized just how much I was paying FT in rake just in one single hand.
In the particular hand, I was on the button with AK and called a raise from early position for 20 cents (4xBB). Both blinds fold and I am HU. Total pot is now 44 cents, 5+2 (blinds) + 2x20 - 3 cent rake. Flop comes A55, and the opponent bets 47. I call. There is now 0.44*3 = $1,32 in the pot, making the total rake 9 cents so far. Turn brings a blank, and the opponent goes all in for another 1.44. I call, making it an additional 2.88 to the pot. Of this FT keeps a 19 cent rake, making the total pot 4.01 dollars net of 28 cents rake. In the end we tie for the pot as both have AK. I recover $ 2 out of the 4.01 pot.
To sum up, in this pot which ended up a tie, the accounting goes as follows:
My net loss: 11 cents
My opponents net loss: 10 cents
BB+SB net loss: 7 cents
_________________________
FT profit = 28 cents
To put this in perspective, my opponent and i lose more than 6.5% of the total pot in one single round.
I have two questions:
1. How can anyone remain profitable in the long run when the rake represents such an incredibly large fraction of the pot?
2. I clearly have to quit playing at FT (or at the very least I have to quit playing cash games). Can anyone recommend me another site where the rake structure is not a complete robbery AND the site is not a scam in other ways?
In the particular hand, I was on the button with AK and called a raise from early position for 20 cents (4xBB). Both blinds fold and I am HU. Total pot is now 44 cents, 5+2 (blinds) + 2x20 - 3 cent rake. Flop comes A55, and the opponent bets 47. I call. There is now 0.44*3 = $1,32 in the pot, making the total rake 9 cents so far. Turn brings a blank, and the opponent goes all in for another 1.44. I call, making it an additional 2.88 to the pot. Of this FT keeps a 19 cent rake, making the total pot 4.01 dollars net of 28 cents rake. In the end we tie for the pot as both have AK. I recover $ 2 out of the 4.01 pot.
To sum up, in this pot which ended up a tie, the accounting goes as follows:
My net loss: 11 cents
My opponents net loss: 10 cents
BB+SB net loss: 7 cents
_________________________
FT profit = 28 cents
To put this in perspective, my opponent and i lose more than 6.5% of the total pot in one single round.
I have two questions:
1. How can anyone remain profitable in the long run when the rake represents such an incredibly large fraction of the pot?
2. I clearly have to quit playing at FT (or at the very least I have to quit playing cash games). Can anyone recommend me another site where the rake structure is not a complete robbery AND the site is not a scam in other ways?