Rake and game features

This block has two kinds of settings: rake — the club’s income from every hand — and game features that change the table rules. Be especially careful with rake: players compare clubs by it first, and above-market rake is the top reason for bad reviews and regulars leaving.

Rake on ClubGG is set with two numbers (17): Fee — the percentage the club takes from the pot — and Cap — the maximum it can take from a single hand, however big the pot. In clubs the rake is typically a few percent of the pot with a cap of a few big blinds. With no cap, big pots are raked in full, and regulars notice quickly. How rake and rakeback work on ClubGG is explained on our ClubGG rake page; before launch, compare your numbers with ClubGG clubs in our catalog.

CallTime (18) and No Rathole (19) protect the table from hit-and-run play, where a player wins a pot and leaves straight away. No Rathole stops a player from coming back with a smaller stack than they left with for a set time. CallTime also limits leaving the table too quickly; the exact mechanics are described in the “i” tooltip next to the toggle in the app — read it before turning it on.

The rest are features that add action: Bomb Pot (20) — periodic hands where everyone antes and play starts on the flop (see what a bomb pot is); Double Board (21) — two boards, the pot is split between them (double board games). Bomb pots are especially popular in Omaha and home games, but it’s better to leave them off on a first hold’em table: they can confuse beginners.

The all-in features — All-in Insurance (22), EV Cashout (23) and Run it Multi Time (24) — reduce variance: a player can insure an all-in, take their equity or run the board several times. Players usually appreciate them, especially regulars coming from other platforms. EV Cashout and Run it Multi Time can go on right away; with insurance, work it out first: when it’s available, what it costs and how the payout is calculated are described in the “i” tooltip in the app — explain this to players if you turn it on.

Rake and game features (screenshot 1)

• 17 — Fee (Cap): rake — a percentage of the pot (Fee) and the maximum per hand (Cap). 3% with no cap is expensive for players; above-market rake is the top reason for bad reviews. Recommendation: always set a cap and compare your numbers with other clubs.
• 18 — CallTime: a rule against hit-and-run play — see the “i” tooltip in the app. Recommendation: turn it on once you have regulars complaining about “win and leave”.
• 19 — No Rathole: a player who leaves can’t come back with a smaller stack for the set time (e.g. 6 hours). Recommendation: on — it’s the cash-game standard.
• 20 — Bomb Pot: periodic bomb pots — everyone antes and the hand starts on the flop. Recommendation: off on a first table.
• 21 — Double Board: two boards, the pot is split between them. Recommendation: off; more popular in Omaha and bomb pots.
• 22 — All-in Insurance: insurance in all-in spots; terms are in the “i” tooltip in the app. Recommendation: optional, if you’re ready to explain to players how it works.
• 23 — EV Cashout: take your equity in an all-in without waiting for the run-out. Recommendation: fine to turn on.
• 24 — Run it Multi Time: run the board several times in an all-in. Recommendation: on — players value it.