A mandatory amount paid by one or more players before receiving hole cards in a tournament or cash game. Antes are mostly limited to Tournament play however some cash games uses antes to stimulate action. Antes in Tournament play can be taken from each player or be taken from the Big Blind only (see Big Blind Ante). Typically antes start after 1 or 2 levels in a Tournament. The size of the Ante progressively increases in Tournaments based on level changes.