When the word 'rake' is mentioned, one usually envisions yard cleanup — except when it's used in conjunction with poker. Put poker and rake together in the same conversation and it creates a rift between poker players and room management as a whole — unless the word rake has 'lower' in front of it. Today's Inside Shuffle isn't wrapped around the rake, but poker wouldn't exist without it in a controlled, regulated environment. Let's get right to the latest news on the rake at the world's largest online poker site and other interesting tidbits.
PokerStars.com Raises the Rake
PokerStars recently announced the introduction of a new currency exchange rate. A new announcement arrived on Thursday stating that beginning November 4th, 2014, PokerStars is going to increase the rake in the heads-up hyper turbo Sit N Go tournaments.
"The cap for ring-game rake for hands dealt at [pot-limit Omaha or no-limit hold'em] games to exactly two players will increase to $2 for stakes $25/$50 and higher and $1 for all other stakes," from the PokerStars' announcement. "The cap for ring game rake for [pot-limit Omaha or no-limit hold'em] games at $25/$50 and higher stakes with 5+ players dealt in will increase from $3 to $5."
For the full story, head over to PokerNews.com.
@BrokeLivingJRB Weight Loss Bet
Down to the wire and November 1st is moving up fast. Will Jean-Robert Bellande be able to drop the last few pounds he needs to shed in order to keep from coughing up $70,000 in prop bets?

BrokeLivingJRB Jean-Robert Bellande I have 70k in weight loss bets riding on me getting down to 145lbs by nov 1 (started at 187lbs)… http://t.co/kx27zPXkQv
2014-08-06
Weighing in at 187 pounds when the bet started, Bellande has to stand at 145 pounds in two days. Instead of losing weight on the 29th of October, he managed to gain a pound:

BrokeLivingJRB Jean-Robert Bellande Noooooo! I swear I did everything correctly yesterday but somehow gained 1 lb instead of losing 1or 2. #brokepumpkin http://t.co/wmeAWDvSMa
2014-10-29
Some of the Twitter comments are worth a chuckle or three but Bellande probably isn't enjoying the humor right now. Follow the weight loss saga here.
The Works at PokerWorks
Play a Freeroll to Win Coaching by November Niner Bruno Politano - taking a seat in a poker game is easy, learning to conquer can be much more difficult. 888poker and PokerWorks are giving you an opportunity to win a coaching session with November Niner Bruno Politano. Find the information here.
10,000 Reasons to Play the PokerWorks-Exclusive Freeroll at PokerStars - freeroll opportunities are one of the best ways to tackle building a bankroll from the ground up. Most freerolls are not packed to the hilt with $10,000 in the prize pool but when you join PokerStars through our link, you are eligible to take a seat in one that is. Time is short — you must qualify by the 31st of October. Follow this link for more information.
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