Feeding the rake

[krakajak]

Suppose I have an Ace, and the board is K,Q,J,T,2, not 3-suited. I bet and and an opponent, whose game I don't know, raises me. I will often just call the raise, figuring that my opponent would not have raised me without the ace, and if I re-raise and he caps, we're each contributing an extra 2 big bets for the house to rake.

Usually we split the pot and I'm happy to have saved myself a few cents (because they all add up in the long run), but occasionally my opponent doesn't have the ace, and I feel bad for letting him off cheaply.

Do any of you ever flat call with the nuts when you think you will split the pot, to avoid paying extra rake?

[BigSlugger09]

it really depends on the situation, but if you dont know the guys play I would think you should raise because when he doesnt have the ace you will win a lot more than you lose by the rake when he does have it. (10X more in most places I think).

Lets say its 1/2 and the pot is raked 10 cents for a big bet. On the end you can win $4 with those two extra big bets when he doesnt have it, but you will only lose 40 cents in rake when its a split. so if he doesnt have in 1 in ten times you break even.

[wEbMaStEr]

The only situation like this where i wouldn't re-raise, and it really really pisses me off when people do, is when the nut hand is on the board.
So yeah, re-raise and damn the extra few cents, chances are, if you're playing at a reasonable level, the max rake will already have been reached, or it won't make much difference.