Betting concept

Ante in Poker — What It Means and When to Use It

Ante is a betting move. Here's exactly what it means, when it's right, and when to avoid it.

Quick answer

Ante — A forced bet all players must post before each hand.

In more detail

Antes seed the pot, increasing pre-flop competition. Tournaments use them in later levels; some cash games (notably big-bet stud and some online formats) use them too.

Common questions

What does Ante mean in poker?

Antes seed the pot, increasing pre-flop competition. Tournaments use them in later levels; some cash games (notably big-bet stud and some online formats) use them too.

Related terms

All-In
Betting all your remaining chips.
Barrel
A continuation bet on a later street (double = flop+turn, triple = + river).
Blind
A forced bet posted before the cards are dealt.
C-Bet
A bet on the flop by the preflop raiser.

New to poker? Start with our preflop strategy guide and the free TAG cheatsheet.