How many tables are too many?

SyKoChiller

SyKoChiller

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I was just reading a post where a member was talking about playing 12 tables at a time. I've read a lot of other post where people say they play around 8-10 at once. If he or you can more power to you, but I personally find it difficult to play more than 2 or 3. 4 is definitely my limit but I tend to do a lot better focusing on 1 or 2.
Say with 3 tables going with the auto-focus thing on, it's just popping from one table to the next so fast I barely have time to look at my own hand, let alone pay attention to what is going on at the table. Online you don't get that much time to make your moves anyhow and playing that many tables doesn't give you time to pick up on players habits either. How is it possible to play well on that many tables at once?
Then there is the issue of internet connection. I have a fairly good (30 meg) download speed, but since I don't live alone and there are smart devices and cellphones there is always at least 5-10 different things connected at any given time. If I open 5 tables it tends to lag a bit.
Where do you stand, is it better to focus on quality or quantity? How many tables do you generally play at once?
 
Skull_Sniper

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I totally agree with you. I'm not a pro, but I don't even see how a pro could play more than 5 or 6 tables effectively, unless they just play AA and KK only. 4 tables are my max, and even then I'm not able to give each table as much attention as I need. I'm on the same page with you when it comes to watching each player and trying to pick up on his/her habits. That's really the only form of tells you have to go on. Basically two tables are ideal for me. I don't get too bored from lack of action at just one table, and I can focus on both tables equally, and I don't miss too much.
 
SyKoChiller

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Exactly. I think some of them are full of it because I've played with them & they chat with people. (Not the guy I originally posted about playing 12 tables) You cant play 8 or 10 tables & chat! Not even 4 or 5 tables and chat too. Its just not possible.
 
SyKoChiller

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Also I've gotten screwed so many times multi-tabling when the pop to front feature switches tables on me mid click. I just refuse to play more than four because you can tile four and watch all four at once.
 
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jsh169

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This is a completely a person to person basis, just experiment and find what your comfortable, if your timing out and feel pressed for time, your playing to many tables.
 
GrandMaestro7

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My main problem is screen size when tile tables.

I never play more than 4 at once for that reason, but am looking into buying a monitor to plug into my laptop, perhaps then I could do 6 tables. I don't cascade tables because of the pop up feature. It becomes far less personal, and you struggle to pick up on the habits of players, and your game does become slightly robotic.

I think there is definitely a diminishing marginal utility with multi-tabling.
 
italiano

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Good raised yours many or few tables? See if the idea is to reach supernova elite (pokerstars) you will not have another option to play very many tables, to reach 1 million vpp. or play several 6 O 7 tables HU of 5.0000 or $ $ at once, but if you do you play for fun or just to hang out at two tables I would play better if you only play one and the other any tournament! I think it's very difficult consentrarse in 12 tables do not enjoy the game do not know how come the hands, I prefer to earn less to have low status but earn money!
 
A

atownshend

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I find that three tables in my optimum number.
 
Vollycat

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Everyone is different. In the heyday of PS, there were guys playing 40+ SNG's at once. It's not that hard to do really. The thing is at that many tables, ABC poker comes into major play. Click and go. Not much to it really. 8-10 isn't all that much when you get used to it. Becomes a habit.
 
R3DRANG3R

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i tried four. i was getting headaches lol. but playing multiple tables keeps me from going on tilt for some reason. now 3-4 depending on how i feel and i just started playing cash.
 
Tom1559

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I understand why grinders multi table but like you I have never felt comfortable doing this. There is no doubt in my mind that I would lose trying to play 4 plus tables at any one time.
 
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What most pro grinders do is find a balance between quality and quantity. Sometimes it makes sense to sacrifice part of your winrate if you're able to get more hands in at a slightly lower winrate. Of course you just have to use your best judgement when it comes to the perfect amount of tables because it would take a very long time to have accurate winrates at each table limit. Also most professional grinders don't really have to follow the flow of the table if they have HUDs. As you get larger hand samples on your opponents, you don't have to be 100% focused on each table because when the action gets to you, you can look at your opponent's stats and then make your decision based on stats, not gameflow.
 
1ofTheFellas

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Just like anything you do in life, the more you multitask, the better and more efficient you become at it. When I first started playing, I hated playing more than 2-3 tables.. But as time went on, and I became more comfortable multitabling, and as my note taking became more advanced I could more easily add more tables. If you can successfully add tables, and still play at a high level, its going to greatly decrease your variance as you will be able to experience you longrun much quicker.

But as someone posted earlier, this is totally dependant on the player.
 
Bambilo1986

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I too don't understand as people play more than 4 tables at once. It is necessary to be very fast, but scattered. I think a limit - 4 tables, and it is better one or two.
 
SyKoChiller

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That's what I wanted to see. People who play tons of tables giving advice & tips they use. It is all about what your comfortable with.
I've been against using the HUD's & software until now. I get it, it would be a great tool to have if I wanted to play a ton of tables. Maybe after I get a couple more years experience under my belt I will invest in some good tracking software.
I can be a profitable player at my levels, I just need to be able to play more tables at a time to make it worth while.
 
midgetfactory

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the max i can play with is one, i think anymore you cant concentrate fully, i dunno how people can play with more, its a skill iguess
 
dudemanstan

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Same here only one for me. I can't get a read on my competition with more then one at a time.
 
T-Dubs82

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i play 6-9 tables, can chat and even post on Cardschat ;)
 
mamutmamut

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Im fine with 2, lol :D 3 are okay too, but I need to concentrate really hard, so 2 are my favorites. :)
 
Arjonius

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It depends. Some people process information / think faster than others. Some are better players than others. And you can choose the level(s) where you play, which means you can choose to play against opponents who are inferior enough to make you +EV against them even if you're not paying full attention to every hand and action i.e. not playing your best game.
 
B

BiznizKid

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I completely agree with u on this.They dont know what goin on with the players when u play that much tables.
 
Michael Paler

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I was just reading a post where a member was talking about playing 12 tables at a time. I've read a lot of other post where people say they play around 8-10 at once. If he or you can more power to you, but I personally find it difficult to play more than 2 or 3. 4 is definitely my limit but I tend to do a lot better focusing on 1 or 2.
Say with 3 tables going with the auto-focus thing on, it's just popping from one table to the next so fast I barely have time to look at my own hand, let alone pay attention to what is going on at the table. Online you don't get that much time to make your moves anyhow and playing that many tables doesn't give you time to pick up on players habits either. How is it possible to play well on that many tables at once?
Then there is the issue of internet connection. I have a fairly good (30 meg) download speed, but since I don't live alone and there are smart devices and cellphones there is always at least 5-10 different things connected at any given time. If I open 5 tables it tends to lag a bit.
Where do you stand, is it better to focus on quality or quantity? How many tables do you generally play at once?

I mostly play MTT games. Those are far less mechanical and require, IMO, more careful attention as you cannot replenish your stack if you screw up. So never more than two, and I prefer only one. Otherwise the other table(s) take away from picking up betting and other tells. Especially when you need to make a careful decision and 6 other tables start popping up. Missing just one good opportunity at the time most needed in a MTT can kill you later. Since you cannot simply re-pop the buy in later, you just cannot afford mistakes like missing a double up. In a cash game, it's no biggie if you miss one, you just wait for the next good opportunity to come along.

So, if I was playing cash games, far more mechanical IMO, I would play the max tables my concentration and computer/internet could handle. For me that is 4 right now. I have played 8-10 Fun Steps before at once and won 90%, but so what? It's a fish game where outright winning does not matter until the final step game for the top cash prize ($1.00, ho-rah!). Even then the sudden pop up of the other umpteen tables can make me screw up if I am not careful. So you need to make snap decisions (honestly, 12 tables?? How do they do that for actual $$$?). You still lose the concentration to pick up on betting tells, but since it is more math (mechanical) based I think you can get away with more. Provided you have a home location completely free of any and all distractions and can make all those snap decisions. For me, constant snap decisions take a lot of fun out of the game. Makes it too much like work.

So, I much prefer quality over quantity, to keep it fun and profitable. Thats why I do not play much cash.:beer:
 
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I think it totally depends on the person. If you have multiple screens multi tabling is very easy. I have played up to 18 tables but this was lower limit sng. I generally will play 8 tables max anymore. I agree also that the more tables played I notice my play is not as consistent. I think it also comes with time. I find that when I started to add tables I would slowly add them over a long period of time to adjust to the increased play. The webiste also matters as well as if the tables are speed tables or not.
 
10058765

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For some 1 may be to many, for some 20 may not be enough.
As a rule of thumb I'd say if your total profit/hr goes down because of adding more tables, you play to many tables.
I could also say, if your quality of life goes down by adding more tables, you're playing to many.
 
jaworek1405

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I used to play 2-3 SNG at once, but I came to a conclusion that it is too many for me. I can't focus on action. I used to play like kind of bot. I don't read my opponents. Something was wrong with that game. Otherwise I win a little more in o1 SNG than 2-3 and more. So for me only one SNG at this moment is the best.
 
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