What does Table Stakes mean?

2 Answers

In poker and other gambling games, table stakes are a limit on the amount a player can win or lose in the play of a single hand. A player may bet no more money than they had on the table at the beginning of that hand and consequently cannot go back to their pocket for more money once a hand is dealt. In between hands however, a player is free to re-buy or add-on so long as their entire stack after the re-buy or add-on does not exceed the maximum buy-in.