Multi-Tabling

All,

I have seen a lot of threads on here about multi-tabling. Found this on-line a while back and been meaning to post it. No idea who the author is:

Should you be playing more than one table at once

If you've got what it takes, it's a great way to maximize your income is by participating in two or more simultaneous games via multi tables, but it can also be a great way to lose money if you're not consistently earning while playing a single hand.
Since the competition is of a lower caliber at low stakes limit tables, a skilled player should be able to consistently beat the table and by increasing the hourly hands played, increase their hourly earnings. As an alternative to multiple table play, players may choose instead to maintain single hand gaming, and simply move up to a higher stakes game. When evaluating your suitability for multiple table play, consider:

1…Do you have the skills?
2…Do you have the focus and discipline for multiple game play?
3…Is it any fun to play this way?

Obviously, the potential for profit maximization increases with a greater number of hands played per hour, but since your attention will be divided between games, we can’t reasonably expect our hourly earn rate to stay consistently high with increasing quantities of play. While some people can play 6 or more tables at once…unless you've got a mind like a computer, this is surely a recipe for disaster. For me anyway

In general, the best games for multiple play are low limit holdem games, where the majority of your decisions are based on tactics, pot odds and chosen strategy; and the needed level of attention per hand is not nearly as great as when playing in no limit higher stakes games. If you need to think about bluffing and play close attention to the situational and player characteristics at each table, then it is very hard to play more than a single hand well.

Skill

When playing in multiple games, you have as little as 15 seconds to evaluate your hand and make a smart play. Unless you’re a very experienced player with an easy comprehension of situational play and the ability to quickly calculate pot odds and value gaming, then you may not want to play beyond your abilities by condensing the time available for decision making.

Discipline

Even if your hourly earn rate is reduced by as much as 50%, when playing two games at once you come out even; but success is probable only when disciplined play is maintained. On one hand, by playing in more than one game at once you are less likely to make impatient bets or play to reduce boredom, but the probability of going on tilt can be increased when a simultaneous run of bad luck occurs at more than one table. Discipline is the key, and if you can't recognize in yourself the signs of on tilt play, then multiple table gaming may be a quick way to empty your bankroll.

Focus

The likelihood of human error increases when attention is divided between multiple hands, and it's too easy to press the wrong button or confuse two game situations to your detriment when your attention is divided; and because a few mistakes per hour can often reverse your hourly earnings into a net loss, unless you've got the ability to maintain a tight focus then you may want to consider sticking with a single game and simply moving up to a higher stakes table when ready.

Fun

Also pertinent is the enjoyment factor, and most people find playing multiple tables more stressful and less enjoyable than a single challenging game. Unless you're playing for a living, you probably don't want your poker hours to start feeling tedious, and you may want to consider having fun with a single leisurely game of poker.

Think about your skills as a player before entering into multiple table play, and don’t assume that because you can consistently win at higher limits, that you'll be capable of playing at the same level when your attention is divided.

Thanks

I dont feel this to be as big of an issue as it is often made out to be.

I find I play much better if I multi-table 4 games instead of 1. If I just play 1 i find myself getting restless and trying to carve out really intricate plays which inevitably dont work, but If i play 4 i find it keeps my instincts sharper, makes you understand the game more and the learning curve is quicker.

just my 2p

From my experience it doesn't seem all that tough multi-tabling mainly because you should rarely be playing multiple hands at once. The lost money IMO comes when you don't have a read on a player, for example he re-raises you and you fold something like JJ because you didn't see him re-raise a PF raise the past 10 hands in a row. Using PokerAce helps, but stats can only give so much, you observe so many more tendencies by paying attention when you play. In terms of attention and gameplay though, rarely am I playing multiple hands at once, and that's when I take advantage of the time button. Not sure how often they refill but pokerstars gives you up to a minute at each table of free time on top of the 15 seconds you get. That's more than enough time for when you get dealt borderline hands that must be thought out at 3-4 of your tables.

Some of that is very relevant to me. I used to multi-table all the time. I discovered I do not have the ability to maintain my concentration and still enjoy playing, so it actually caused me to lose more.

I only multi-table now when there are 2 events at the same time that I really want to participate in and I choose one as a priority. The second is usually a CC freeroll - or maybe playing a low-stakes ring game with my sister.

However I have known people who could easily play multiple tables and overall be successful most of the time. It definitely takes discipline and concentration.

I feel exactly the same way. If I am only doing one table, I tend to make stupid pre-flop calls out of boredom. It's not like at a live game where I can focus on the players around me during hands I don't participate in. I get very restless staring at avatars with hidden cards. I find if I'm playing at more than one table it helps keep me focused.

I can do like, 2 games... no concentration problems, the "clock" never comes on.

Id say if I really wanted I could improve more and go to 3 or 4+ but thats risky buisness