Antes in poker explained

What is an ante in poker?

An ante is a forced bet that all players must contribute before a hand begins.

Players who fold lose their ante

 

What's the purpose of an ante?

An ante:

• Encourages players to stay in the hand
• Increases the pot size
• Makes play more competitive
• Discourages tight play in later stages

 

Where are antes used in poker? 

They are:

• Most common in Razz and Stud poker
• Less common in blind-based games
• Used in some blind tournament formats