Wiktionary
n. (context poker English) A rule where players are only allowed to bet the money they have on the table.
Wikipedia
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.
This rule generally applies to cash or ring games of poker rather than tournament games and is intended to level the stakes by creating a maximum and minimum buy-in as well as rules for adding and removing chips from play when playing with cash. A player also may not take a portion of their money off the table, unless they leave the game and take their entire stack out of play.
Table stakes is the rule in most cash poker games because it allows players with vastly different bankrolls a reasonable amount of protection when playing with one another. Contrary to classic Hollywood poker movie scenes, money taken from the wallet during a hand does not play under table stakes.
Usage examples of "table stakes".
He waited until the hardeyed man strolled over to watch the game, then he breathed on the dice, bet all his table stakes-and blew it all with a single roll.
He waited until the hardeyed man strolled over to watch the game, then he breathed on the dice, bet all his table stakes‑.
He waited until the hard eyed man strolled over to watch the game, then he breathed on the dice, bet all his table stakes-and blew it all with a single roll.
Like a professional poker player who has just seen the pot raised to table stakes level, he studies Henry with steady, gray eyes.