Pots Odds vs. Casino Rake

[JackB03]

This is probably a simple answer. As you know, casinos take in rake. Well when determining pot odds, etc.. Do you include the rake or just not worry about that?

[supafrey]

the odds are rarely if ever that close that the rake will make a difference in your decision.

[xDiamond_CutteRx]

the odds are rarely if ever that close that the rake will make a difference in your decision.

Agreed. I can't ever think of a time when it was even close.

But theoretically, yes, you should only count the money you will WIN, so you should subtract the rake.

[Gunslinger]

From your other posts, you said you're playing mostly $4/$8 limit hold 'em.

For starters, in limit, never keep track of the size of the pot in terms of money, but in terms of small bets pre-flop and on the flop, and big bets on the turn and river. This makes it faster to calculate your pot odds, because it's usually just one bet to you into a pot of x number of bets. Also, whenever you move up to different limits, your process is exactly the same.

When you reach the turn, you just divide the size of the pot in small bets by 2 to get its size in big bets. If this isn't an whole number, you usually drop off any fraction to account for rake.

But, like the others said, there will rarely be instances where the rake will affect your pot odds. Here in L.A., the rake (with jackpot drop) is usually $5 (more than one small bet at $4/$8), and it is all taken on the flop. So, if there are say only one or two limpers plus the blinds, that one small bet removed might affect your odds if you flop a small draw or something. But this would not be very common.

In another thread, Phil recommended you get Small Stakes Hold 'Em, by Miller and Sklansky. Get it today. Seriously.