One benefit of playing with an ante is the size of the pot. Once each player has made the ante, the dealer will distribute cards and the game of poker can begin. If you’re playing a cash game at a club or casino, your ante may be as small as a single poker chip.
An ante amount can be as low as a few dollars and can be lower than the minimum bet for the table. Usually antes are relatively small bets, but they ensure each player has a stake in the game. You’ll come across a few types of bets in poker, but the ante is the very first bet of the game and it’s required of all players. The term ante means “before” in Latin, so it makes sense that ante bets are made pre-flop. What is an ante in poker?īy definition, an ante is a forced bet made in the beginning of the round. Read on to learn all about forced bets, poker antes, and additional bets that you’ll encounter as a beginner. You’ll not only sound more like a pro - you’ll feel more like one, too. Soon, you’ll sit down with enough confidence and patter to fit in with the pros. Without that knowledge, you’re stuck at square one and your play won’t leave the amateur zone.īelow, you’ll learn what the ante bet is, why it’s called a “forced bet,” and the ins and outs of similar forced bets. And one of the most basic steps in learning how to bet is to understand the ante. In poker, if you don’t know how to bet, you may win hand after hand, but your winnings won’t amount to much.
