Rake and how it affects how YOU play in online cash games .....

[Cam54]

Ok so I'm looking for some information here ... trying to determine and understand if you should adjust your play style or hand ranges to account for rake. It seems nobody discusses this when they suggest hand ranges or even when they are figuring equity ...... by this I mean most poker coaches or teachers will give hand ranges for beginners to use .... more or less a set of training wheels, I have moved past this, however I would think that rake would be discussed in some absolutes somewhere, because, you do not win the pot you have calculated odds on, it is smaller by whatever portion of rake applies, if it is a small pot and a percentage is removed or you cross the threshold where the max rake will be removed.



It seems to me that a winning player by whatever standard above break even they are at would have to account for this in some way, especially if they are taking down a lot of pots, or otherwise you are flying a little blind as you plan your hand preflop, and possibly are not even the winning player they believe that they are.

There seems to be about an equal number in each camp saying that yes you should make adjustments based on rake, or no its so insignificant you should not consider it. The second thought there may be close to right but if it affects your ROI in any way it should be calculated, at least as it occurs to me,

So my questions for those more experienced or smarter than I ... how do you approach this, or do you even think about it, and if so what adjustments do you make, do you consider it to be insignificant, is there any information available online, perhaps a common formula that I am not finding, or otherwise that help you consider this. Maybe a lot more time spent crunching hands ??

I feel like this is important I just am not sure how important or where to look for more information, or maybe, I am just overthinking this ?

To those who answer thank you very much for reading my book and taking the time to answer, it is appreciated.

 

[Tammy]

Bumping this to see if we can get some response now that it's in the Cash Games section.

 

[pentazepam]

If you are talking about a higher percent rake of the pot but no time rake and no rake if you win pre-flop:

1. Call less with speculative hands. Call less over-all. Sometimes no calling range at all if it gets to small against thinking players.

2. Steal more blinds if the other players also do number 1.

3. Have a stronger range but play it more aggressive pre-flop. Mostly a linear 3- and 4-betting range. No calling range at all if you don't get the odds for a speculative hand in the blinds.

4. Don't take coin-flips if you can avoid it (like calling an all-in with AK or worse against a short stack).

5. Only play at tables where you have an even bigger skill-advantage than normal.

So I guess in summary: try to win as much as possible pre-flop and avoid difficult and close situations post-flop that can go either way.

Avoid confrontations if you have nothing invested without the upper parts of your range when someone opens. But be a little more aggressive in yourself when you get involved.

If the rake gets too high it is better to not play at all.