Chris Wooding: Retribution Falls

Rake is played with 2-8 players, though 6 at a table is considered optimum.

The Ante

Players make a minimum bet before the hand commences, the value of which is agreed and determined beforehand. This goes into the pot—the money available to be won—and will be taken by the victor of the hand.

The Deal

Each player is dealt three cards, face down. The player does not show these cards to anyone, but may look at them.

First round of betting

The players bet based on the cards in their hand. A player’s bet must be matched or raised by the players to their left, or they may fold, forfeit their ante and take no further part in the hand. Betting continues until all bets are even, at which point the money goes into the pot. There is no limit or restrictions to the betting in Rake. Players can choose to bet nothing, as long as nobody around the table raises them.

The Middle Cards

Now the Middle Cards are dealt. For each player at the table, one card is dealt face up, and one face down. So if there are six players, six cards are dealt face up and six face down, along the middle of the table. These are cards available to be picked up by all the players.

First Pick-up

Each player now takes one of the Middle Cards, hoping to improve their hand. The player to the left of the dealer picks up first, followed by the player to their left, until all players have picked one up. Players may take a face-up card or a face-down card. Face-up cards have the obvious advantage that the player knows their value, but they also give away information about the player’s hand to their opponents. They may also be useless to some players, who would rather take an unknown card in the hope of picking one up that helps their hand. Experienced Rake players may use their choice of cards in the pick-up to bluff and deceive their opponents, by misrepresenting the cards they hold.

Second round of betting

Another round of betting, identical to the first.

Second Pick-up

Now the remaining cards are picked up, in the same order as before: left of the dealer, and clockwise after that. In Rake, the dealer is at a considerable disadvantage, being the last person to pick up a card. However, they are also the last one to bet, and have the advantage of studying their opponents’ bets before deciding their own.

Third round of betting

A final round of betting.

The Reveal

If there are still two or more players contesting the hand—those who have not dropped out during one of the rounds of betting—they now reveal their cards. The winner takes all the money in the pot. The position of dealer moves one place to the left, and the sequence of play begins again.