Smelling a Rat

Ratholing is one of the more hated behaviors at a poker table, and it is normally now found only online.  It is when a player sits at a table (often short-stacked), takes down a big pot, then quickly leaves the table, pulling off the money from the table and booking the win.

Playing $5/10 LHE on Party this morning, and I can’t figure out why this one guy is ratholing limit.   He sat with $100, picked up 99 and grabbed a $240 pot, then left and returned ten minutes later with $100 again.  I guess it limits his losses in some way, but it seems bizarre.  Rathole on high stakes NLHE, and you’ll earn a nice reputation that will stay with you for quite awhile.
Finally, a good night’s rest.  We watched Survivor, then Sweetie and I headed upstairs to crash around 10:30.  I woke up early this morning at 5:00, but I’ll take it.

I have a couple of great interviews that should go up next week.  Charlie Hyde is probably my favorite person in all pokerdom.  He’s a 60-something player from Midland, Texas that is a common sight at the Bellagio anytime you sit at the $15/30 tables.  With his distinctive frog card protector, his Raise the Mutha monogrammed white shirts, his wild suspenders, and a mountain of red chips most of the time, he’s hard to miss.  If you’ve visited the same card room over the years, there are specific people who you remember but they probably would never recognize you.  Charlie is one of these people for me, and I had a great hour with him during the WSOP.

Jeff “yellowsub86″ Williams goes to the University of Georgia (my wife went to Georgia Tech–go Jackets!).  As a freshman 18-year old in the spring, Jeff parlayed a small satellite win into a $1,000,000 first prize at an EPT event in Monte Carlo.  A really, really down-to-Earth guy who will play sick limits from time to time online.

(5:50:  live blogging $10/20 LHE while finishing this.  I get 22, in middle position, there is a raise and re-raise to me so I fold.  The only cards I get to see on the board are 2372 as the re-raiser takes the pot after raising the turn.  I’m now on perma-tilt for the rest of the day.)

Spiro “lucky55″ Mitrokostas is a MTT legend on PokerStars.  He owns a seafood restaurant near Cape Cod but otherwise plays online as well as at Foxwoods.  He’s won countless events online, final tabled this year at the WSOP, and came in 7th in the WPT event at Foxwoods earlier this year.  I look forward to getting some clam chowder at his place sometime soon.

As an INTP/introvert, I don’t naturally fall into meeting a ton of folks at the poker table, but being able to make connections and follow folks is something I do really enjoy.  These interviews have been a great way of really connecting with folks, getting deeper than I normally would with someone.

(6:15  Who calls 49o from the bb to a raise?  Serves me right calling with Qd-Jd, flopping nothing, catching the OESD on the turn with three hearts showing, then rivering my queen.  Ratholer limps with J9 and flops trips to my 88, then I three-bet AQo and catch nothing but air vs. the multi-tabler to my right.  He check/raises me on the turn and I have to muck)

My parents are coming this weekend along with my brother and his family from Athens.  It will be quite a busy weekend with soccer practice this afternoon, games tomorrow morning (7:30 for pictures for the Big Guy’s team), birthday celebration for The Big Guy, my nephew, and my niece since their grandparents are here.

(6:25  A6o in early position, A33 on flop with two spades, third spade hits and goes to the UTG limper with Ks-10s.  Now dealt QQ in CO so I three-bet, 10-high flop and I bet the checker, A on turn and river keeps me from value betting the river.  He had JJ.  The ratholer has returned for the third time since I’ve been here, but the table just had four players flee.  Back up to eight now.)

I often wonder if I should table hop as often as folks seem to do.  It also looks like I’m getting in a bad habit of checking my monsters and betting my weak hands, so I need to get a grip on that quickly.  It’s been the second down session on PartyPoker.  And the ratholer has again gotten up flopping top pair with junk.  I still don’t know that I understand ratholing limit, so anyone with any thoughts should let me know.

I would like to thank any and everyone who has left comments or tried to since I’ve moved to PokerWorks.  There is some sort of major comments snafu, and I know how frustrating that is.  It’s frustrating for me as well, but not nearly as mush as those trying to leave comments.

(6:40  Table has dropped to four handed, and I won a couple pots.  I need to split from this though, but I just left and headed to a $5/10 table.  Down around $300-350 for the session)

Time to go shower and make some coffee, so I’ll leave it at that.  Thanks for stopping by, and have a great weekend.

This entry was posted on Friday, September 29th, 2006 at 5:46 am and is filed under Uncategorized.