A rope tensioning device for removing slack in a rope includes a plate, which has a hole positioned therethrough. A tongue engaged to and extending from the plate is can be inserted into a loop of a rope inserted through the hole so that the rope is slidably engaged to the plate. The rope has a first end secured to an object, positioning a user to extend a second end of the rope through or around an anchoring element. An L-shaped protrusion engaged to and extending from the plate defines a groove. The rope extending back from the anchoring element can be inserted into the groove. The user is positioned to knot the rope so that the rope is engaged to the plate. The plate then can be slid along the rope toward the object to tension the rope.