Even paint the stake (4)
I believe the answer is:
ante
'stake' is the definition.
(stake in poker)
'even paint the' is the wordplay.
'even' means one should take alternating letters (letters in even-numbered positions are used).
'paint'+'the'='paintthe'
The alternating letters of 'paintthe' are 'ANTE'.
(Other definitions for ante that I've seen before include "Poker pot starter" , "Stake; before (Lat.)" , "Player's stake in poker - a ten? (anag)" , "'Behind, before (4)'" , "Fixed stake" .)