Verb

To remove a portion of one's money or chips from the table without leaving the game.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION: Occurs most commonly after a player has won a large pot. Some cardrooms prohibit ratholing. Many cardrooms also apply a rule that players who leaves a table and want to join that table again after a short period of time must buy-in for at least the amount they left with earlier. This rule is used to prevent ratholing by simply leaving the table and joining in again immediately.

EXAMPLE: "I used to rathole some of my winnings in no-limit games so that if an opponent with a big stack went all-in I wouldn?t have to risk as much in order to make the call. I didn't really know when I first started that this was frowned upon. Anyway, even if it were OK, I wouldn't do it anymore because even though you are risking less money, you can't win as much with the smaller stack size."

APPLIES TO: Online and Land-based Venues

Noun

A player who regularly removes a portion of one's winnings from the table before leaving the game entirely.

EXAMPLE: "I try not to play against ratholers. If I lose a big pot, I want the money staying on the table so I have a chance to win it back."

APPLIES TO: Online and Land-based Venues