What it actually means
We don't have this yet but we cannot say we don't have this.
Surface meaning: Minimum required to compete or participate.
If someone just said “Table Stakes” in a meeting, here is what they probably meant, what to do about it, and how to keep your sanity.
In the wild
PM: SSO is table stakes for enterprise.
Engineer: We don't have SSO.
How to respond
When something is called table stakes, ask: 'Do we currently have it?' Half the time the answer is no, and the meeting's whole agenda just shifted.
Origin
Poker term. Adopted by product strategy in the 2000s.
FAQ
What does "Table Stakes" actually mean?
We don't have this yet but we cannot say we don't have this.
Where did the phrase "Table Stakes" come from?
Poker term. Adopted by product strategy in the 2000s.
How should I respond when someone says "Table Stakes"?
When something is called table stakes, ask: 'Do we currently have it?' Half the time the answer is no, and the meeting's whole agenda just shifted.
Related corporate vocabulary
This was, of course, a meeting that should have been an email.
Run the fake meeting simulator. Generate a bingo card. Be busy without being there.
Open the simulator →