In poker, a "live" game played with "real" chips and money, usually with no predetermined end time. Players may freely buy into or cash out of a ring game between hands.

In "no limit" poker ring games, there is normally a maximum buy-in for ring games that prevents players from buying a chip stack size advantage. In limit poker games, there is seldom a maximum buy-in because betting limits on each hand already limit the advantage of having a larger chip stack.

Contrast this to a poker tournament, which is played with tournament chips (worth nothing outside the tournament) with a definite end condition (usually, only one player left).

In a casino, rake is usually taken from a pot if the player is in a hand while a flop is shown.

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