How to Multi-Table successfully

Introduction

One of the major differences between playing in a bricks and mortar game and playing over the internet is the ability to play several different games at once.

Many of the top players online frequently play multiple games at a time. Personally I am often multi tasking writing articles such as this while playing poker that I don’t get to multi-table so often but yes even I have been known to multi-table.

So before I even tackle this complicated topic I think it should be plain to see that Yes people multi table and some do so very successfully. Let’s see why if you are a winning player why you should multi-table…

Building up a Bankroll

The major benefit of multi-tabling is that you can build up your bankroll rapidly without ever putting it in jeopardy(that is assuming you can beat the game you have chosen.)

A quick appraisal

Ok now before you dive right in and start opening 5, 6 tables all at once let’s analyze how you should go about successful multi-tabling, for regular limit players you are at an advantage right away - it’s a game that lends itself to multi-tabling much more so than no limit and though I have criticised fixed limit in the past for being a frustrating game that was in my pre-multi tabling days.

Why Fixed Limit Hold’em is more suitable for multi-tabling than No limit

Fixed Limit Hold’em is just so much easier to play on several tables, how you fare in no limit or pot limit can be defined in just a few hands out of your entire session where you are faced with big decisions and knowing the opposition can be vital in these times. Personally when I am feeling alert I am comfortable playing 2 full ring tables of no limit or pot limit hold’em at the same time - I haven’t even begun to attempt any more than that and at this point in time I am in no hurry. I have however seen some players play on up to 6 tables at the one time and no doubt some may even do so successfully but they are either poker geniuses, using some software to aid them or just pure delusional.

Multi-tabling in Fixed Limit poker on the other hand is much more manageable, sure your attention is divided and your knowledge of the opposition is diminished, still it is so much more a mechanical game that you can still increase your overall earnings if you are strong enough at the limit you have chosen and once you get used to it.

Multi-tabling encourages tight aggressive play

There is also one big advantage of multi-tabling and that is you are guaranteed to be involved in hands, on a single table you may not get a decent hand pre-flop for a whole session and I think just about all of us have been known to play hands that we may otherwise fold when we have been so quiet for so long. Therefore there is little excuse for playing marginal hands.

If and when you should multi-table

Ok if the above sounds all good, multi-tabling does make things complicated and it is not always right to do so let’s look at when it is or is not the right situation to multi-table…

1. If you are a relative beginner and have still to master the basics the answer is of course not, though I guess if you want to have a bit of fun experimenting and multi-tabling on a few fun micro limit games and don’t mind blowing a few dollars well that’s a choice that you have but as for a learning process in poker it’s definitely a leap too far for a newbie.

2. Multi-tabling is also best suited to the times that you are feeling your best, it is very demanding in terms of brain power, for this reason I don’t multi-table as much as the full-time online professionals, when you come back from a long days work at the office you may find your ability to multi-table successfully is either diminished or non-existent. Keep your multi-tabling times to when you are at your peak.

3. In practical terms multi-tabling is best when you have a lot of hours free that day for poker, for most of us it’s better to start off at 1 or 2 tables before we start playing 4 or more tables.

Don’t mix your games when multi-tabling

Keep it not only to the same type of game but the same blinds, the same limit structure (No Limit/Pot Limit/Fixed Limit etc.) and preferably the same site, you have already introduced an element of complication by choosing to play on several tables at once, do you really want to make it any more complicated, making a mistake because you get confused about which table is which or pressing the wrong button because you got confused between your sites are examples of easy but very likely to be costly mistakes to make.

High Resolution Monitor

Think about getting a high resolution screen which at a minimum supports 1600x1200 resolution, in fact if you are serious about poker like me you may even think about getting 2 monitors, these days most graphics cards are capable of supporting 1 analog and 1 digital monitor. I will give you a helpful tip as well buy the same type of monitors, my monitor is a DELL - Dell Ultrasharp 2001FP 20" performance LCD Flat Panel Monitor which supports 1600x1200 resolution. This allows display of up to 4 tables without any overlap from most poker sites. Check out the following example of playing 4 tables on party poker at same time with no overlap.

Turn chat off

Think about turning chat off, the less distraction to your play now the better. True you do pick up some information from chat but it’s minimal and is another variable.

Fully concentrate on poker

No looking at poker articles, internet chatting or heaven forbid porn! You have enough to concentrate on without Pamela Anderson adding to it.

Make use of poker software

Use some software such as the excellent popular pokertracker to monitor your online play, you can also get a free program GameTime+ which works in conjunction with pokertracker, this displays some info on your opposition such as their calling and raising percentages, this means that when you are involved in a hand with them you have some information about them that you may otherwise not have had because of your divided attention.

SNGs

Don’t start 2 sngs at the same time as near the latter stages of these you will be getting very busy and every decision becomes critical do you really don’t want to be faced with these kind of big decisions on 2 or more tables at the same time.

Burnout

Though poker can be a serious money earner, it is after all a hobby and should be enjoyable, if multi-tabling is stressful and just plain unenjoyable even if you can manage it then I would advise not doing it.

People’s ability to multi-table successfully differ

It also stands to reason that every successful player’s ability to multi-table successfully will differ, while some players can eventually successfully play 8 or more fixed limit games not everybody can manage this, you are going to have to do an honest assessment of how you are faring.

Youth is a major asset in multi-tabling

I’m in my mid-thirties, not exactly over the hill I hope you agree but the mental agility of some of the whiz kids is quite frankly beyond me, many of the good multi-tablers that I have managed to chat with tend to be young full-time pros. One well known example that I have heard of is a 19 year old American Justin Bonomo who has been known to play 8 $200 SNGs on party poker at the one time, that to me is simply mind-blowing.

To round up multi-tabling definitely gets the thumbs up but it is not for everyone and even for a good player it is not for every occasion. Here’s wishing you good luck at it!

Senior Poker Columnist
Barry O'Callaghan
www.firbolg.com

Enough of theory? Why dont you take some time to read our online poker section, where we feature the majority of the online pokerooms. We play there, test them and rate them - you can also read reviews and comments of other players and visitors.