Multiple-Table Strategy

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falstaff99

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Just wondering if anyone had good tips or strategy for playing multiple tables since it seems to be the way to go for online poker. Unfortunately, most of the good books or standard texts on poker were written before this got big, so there seems to be little info. A few things I noticed when playing this way is to have four colored decks and sitting in the same spot on each screen, but I imagine this is what most people do.

Are there any other suggestions? For instance, when you tighten up what sort of range of hands should you be playing? Or do certain aspects like table position get thrown out of the way, or do they play a more prominent role?
 
seanDCFC

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I think your strategy when you play multiple tables should be the same as the strategy when you play one table.
 
Ducky7

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It depends how many tables you are planning on playing, if its only a few more than normal (1) then you should probably be playing the same as you normally would but if its a lot more, eg. 12 - 15 + then you need to be tightening your range imo as you will be getting more hands more frequently
 
MediaBLITZ

MediaBLITZ

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It depends how many tables you are planning on playing, if its only a few more than normal (1) then you should probably be playing the same as you normally would but if its a lot more, eg. 12 - 15 + then you need to be tightening your range imo as you will be getting more hands more frequently

And less time to exercise due diligence.

If it's a bunch consider using a game controller instead of a mouse.
 
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falstaff99

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Thanks for the replies. I was thinking about playing two-four tables because I was reading about how it helps create some variance, but I didn't want to try that without getting some advice first. As a side note, what about table ninja? Is it any good? I was watching a quick tutorial on Youtube with some guy with three screens and twenty-four tables open.
 
Ezekiel162

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I tried multi-tabling on occasion, but only on loose games where quality play doesn't seem to matter too much to me(or other players seemingly...) like freerolls, satellites etc... but never on games where I have money staked. I feel also that if a player is going to multi-table to be considerate of the other players. I've played in games where players had to wait maximum clock time repeatedly for BONEHEADS trying to multi-task beyond their play level... I only feel this way because what looks like genius to people watching the kind of player on YouTube, seems like an inconsiderate *sshole to to people who are actually playing with them, IF they DON'T know how to multi-table properly...
 
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commanderpants

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When I used to play cash games (I play only tourneys now) I never played on more than 2 tables simultaneously. Part of it was because I aggressively take notes on each opponent and it gets really unmanageable with more than 2 tables, no matter how amped up on Red Bull I am. Strategy wise, it might be a neat idea to practice different styles on each table. For example: I would adopt a more aggressive style on 1 table and a more defensive style on the other. It becomes important then, to be consistent with this form of gameplay so that you give the odds of each style to play out over multiple games.
 
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BlueNowhere

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When I used to play cash games (I play only tourneys now) I never played on more than 2 tables simultaneously. Part of it was because I aggressively take notes on each opponent and it gets really unmanageable with more than 2 tables, no matter how amped up on Red Bull I am. Strategy wise, it might be a neat idea to practice different styles on each table. For example: I would adopt a more aggressive style on 1 table and a more defensive style on the other. It becomes important then, to be consistent with this form of gameplay so that you give the odds of each style to play out over multiple games.

Taking notes is vastly over-rated imo.
 
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WiZZiM

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I think your strategy when you play multiple tables should be the same as the strategy when you play one table.

This is actually incorrect. When you move up the amount of tables you play, you will actually need to find shortcuts or "default" plays. So my strategy changes a lot when i multitable, i'm looking to make decisions easier so i don't have to think about them as much and thus, spend less time thinking about them. But when playing few tables, i can think harder about what the most optimum play is and of course take much more time. Since we only really have 30 seconds on a single decision (or whatever the site allows) we simply cannot play the same way as we would with fewer tables.

It depends how many tables you are planning on playing, if its only a few more than normal (1) then you should probably be playing the same as you normally would but if its a lot more, eg. 12 - 15 + then you need to be tightening your range imo as you will be getting more hands more frequently

If you are tightening your range with playing more tables, you shouldn't be playing so many. This is obviously something you don't want to do that i mentioned above about making decisions easier for yourself.


So how do you make decisions quicker and easier without sacrificing quality of your play?

Experience is probably the most important part. You don't start out playing 24 tables and expect to be able to play them profitably. Start out slow, and work up. You can use trackers to find out how you are doing when playing "x" amounts of tables. I started out like you, with 1, moved slowly onto 2, then onto 4. And by slowly, i mean playing 100-1000 games or hundreds of thousands of hands in cash until moving up in tables. The amount of games/hands it takes will vary for each individual. Some may pick it up quicker, others slower. The easy rule is play as many as you feel comfortable with, then push yourself to move up.

Secondly, review your games! this is also huge. You will find in pretty much any form of poker that you will come accross very similar decisions as you play more. So pick up on these decisions and simplify them. you can use review to find out and study what types of ranges are profitable and then find ways to kind of find shortcuts to use while in game.

Software is good, but really only when moving up from say 12 tables to 15 or something. It will buy you that little bit extra time which is crucial sometimes. Table ninja is good but expensive, hjalper is the same. I believe most poker sites actually have hotkey setups, so do some research and spend some time finding out a good setup that you like. This includes the layout, color, key placement, computer setup, computer speed, internet speed etc etc.

i've just lost my train of thought, i might be back later to post some more.

This is also written from a SNG perspective, i've never really multitabled cash games, but the theories are still the same i'd say, just with less amounts of shortcuts while playing, and likely less tables/differant setups.
 
JOEBOB69

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Just wondering if anyone had good tips or strategy for playing multiple tables since it seems to be the way to go for online poker. Unfortunately, most of the good books or standard texts on poker were written before this got big, Not realy. I heard some people say Dan H's online 6 max was good for beginners.http://www.amazon.com/Harrington-Online-Games-6-Max-No-Limit/dp/1880685493 so there seems to be little info. A few things I noticed when playing this way is to have four colored decks and sitting in the same spot on each screen, 4 tables and under tiling is the way to go but I imagine this is what most people do.

Are there any other suggestions? Do you know what a hud is? For instance, when you tighten up what sort of range of hands should you be playing? Or do certain aspects like table position get thrown out of the way, or do they play a more prominent role?
Is there any thing more important than position? See bolded
 
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falstaff99

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Thanks for everyone's input.

Commanderpants, I think trying to present a different table image at each table is a great idea since it gives you a chance to see the benefits/drawbacks of both.

Wizzim, I had looked at the price for TableNinja and was a little uncertain afterward, but you're probably right that you only need it for a massive amount of tables like 12-15.

Joebob69, thanks for the link. I'll definitely have to check it out.
 
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commanderpants

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Thanks for everyone's input.

Commanderpants, I think trying to present a different table image at each table is a great idea since it gives you a chance to see the benefits/drawbacks of both.

Wizzim, I had looked at the price for TableNinja and was a little uncertain afterward, but you're probably right that you only need it for a massive amount of tables like 12-15.

Joebob69, thanks for the link. I'll definitely have to check it out.

Sure thing falstaff! And just to clarify, when I said taking notes, I didn't mean I write down essays on each player, I note down coded text markers such as "tp4" for tight-passive player who has now shown this pattern over 4 hands, etc. I don't think it is "over-rated" if you're efficient about it and I have a couple of years of good bankroll to back me up :)
 
jaxpaboo

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I tend to lose get reads on opponents if I start mulit-tabling 4 tables, don't know if this is an obvious observation or not.

I also don't see it as tightening up on my opening hands, I think of it as reinforcing the same opening hands that you should be using if you were only playing one table. With more table you are playing many more hands so you don't give yourself a chance to play a hand just because you are getting bored of folding so much.

Table position is still paramount. I don't see tabling position changing at all just by multi-tabling.

I fine sitting in the same seat just makes it much more easy to 'find my cards quickly' instead of searching when I get to an active table.

Make sure you don't vary the game type or buyin/blinds.
 
MediaBLITZ

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I tend to lose get reads on opponents if I start mulit-tabling 4 tables, don't know if this is an obvious observation or not.

This is why a HUD is not optional.
 
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