Ante
A small forced bet that every player at the table must post before each hand begins. Antes increase the size of the pot and encourage action. They are commonly used in tournament play, especially in later stages, and in some cash game formats like ante games or big blind ante structures.
Example
In a tournament with 100/200 blinds and a 25 ante, all nine players post 25 chips each, adding 225 in dead money to the pot before any cards are dealt.
Where this matters
Move from definition to decision.
Glossary pages explain the language. Use the links below to see how the term affects room choice, rakeback value, or payment tradeoffs on the commercial side of the site.
Related Terms
See Also
- Guaranteed Tournament- A tournament where the poker room guarantees a minimum prize pool regardless of the number of entrie...
- Buy-In- The amount of money required to enter a poker game or tournament. In cash games, the buy-in has mini...