How many table can you play at once effectively?

[silversun87]

I've read some posts with people saying they play a ridiculous amount of tables at the same time (16-40). If you play more than let's say four tables at once can you really still pay attention to the details of the game?

For example noticing position, analyzing villains patterns, range, stacksizes, pot odds versus draw odds, betting that was done on previous streets, and all the other factors that should determine how you play the hand?

Or do people that play a lot of tables at once just wait for AA, KK, AK and just bet-bet-bet?

 

[Vlaad]

In my opinion, it's very hard to pay much attention to your opponents and remember previous streets when you're playing more than 4 tables. Everything else you mentioned, like thinking about pot odds versus draw odds, can still be done because those who play 4 or more tables are probably very experienced players who can do that quickly. Also, you have to take into account that if you're playing 5 tables, you're mostly playing effectively only 2 at a time, because you folded in the other 3 (for 9 max tables at least).

 

[Katie Dozier]

Playing a lot of tables usually involves: an extreme familiarity with the other regs (involving studying them away from the tables), a great HUD, a minimalist but useful note taking/color tagging feature, and a setup (both using software and the physical setup—ie desk type, mouse) all being as optimized as possible.

That being said, mass multi-tabling def is an intentional trade off—a lower overall ROI is the trade off for a higher hourly. Of course this is easy to overshoot and actually damage your ROI to the point that your hourly is lower even with more effort! But done correctly, adding tables very slowly over time and with much attention to detail, it can be extremely important in terms of maximizing how much money we can expect to make in the long run

 

[Mahdi]

So far 2, but if important I try only one, even though it`s boring, but most effective

 

[pcurley17]

Only two at the moment
But trying too increase it slowly

 

[KizherXVII]

Usually play 2 no need to play more than that

 

[AllOut]

Usually I play tournaments, so I like one table mostly. But I play 2 tables sometime, no more.

 

[Collin Moshman]

Mass multi-tabling was much easier in the past when games were soft enough and volume high enough that you could load a large number of tables and beat them with a fairly mechanical strategy.

Today, there are definitely players like Katie who can still get away with this and do very well But for most players, building up to 6-8 tables is a very solid accomplishment (and lower is fine too of course!)

 

[albosaltenio]

In my opinion the most effective is one, then you can play the ones you want more if you are supported with programs like hud, pokertraker ....

 

[Iryna Stryzheuskaya]

I am comfortable playing 4 tables.

 

[igroksash]

For me, 2 tables for the game are comfortable to play.

 

[pribalt49]

You can easily play effectively at 5-6 tables, the main thing is that no one distracts or interferes, it is better to play alone.

 

[suehtam05]

I am not good at multi table. I play no more than 3 or i make many mistakes

 

[campp]

Lately? Zero lol. Overall I’ll try to do no more than three.

 

[0546474]

I can play four games without losing quality !!!

 

[Luvepoker]

I can play 6 at a time but there is a drop off in my play. I will only play this many at a time when its early of there is just an overlap of a very late game IE final table and a new one just starting that I can just play fit and fold the 1st few levels. I normally dont play more that 2 at a time as there is a bigger drop off after that. I want to play the best poker I can and improve my game every day and after 2 tables you start to miss a lot of thinks that can cost you in the end.

 

[suitedsadness]

I usually play 3 tables, but I can sometimes move up to 4 tables if the action is slow enough and I am getting bored to stop me from playing all loosey-goosey.

 

[ToNy70929]

It was successful to play simultaneously, only at two tables. A large number of open tables begins to distract from details, which leads to a drop in attentiveness and correctness of the chosen decisions

 

[Sschafell]

I play up to 8 very quiet tables!

 

[Iddm]

I've read some posts with people saying they play a ridiculous amount of tables at the same time (16-40). If you play more than let's say four tables at once can you really still pay attention to the details of the game?

For example noticing position, analyzing villains patterns, range, stacksizes, pot odds versus draw odds, betting that was done on previous streets, and all the other factors that should determine how you play the hand?

Or do people that play a lot of tables at once just wait for AA, KK, AK and just bet-bet-bet?

I can only play 2 tables if I'm also doing crypto trading... I tryed 3 and it was a madness!
Windows poping up all the time and I trying to set/draw the lines right in the graphs to set my positions and windows keeping poping up... my mom calling me all the time... dogs barking... not cool...
2 tables and trade less my mom calling and dogs annoying is the maximum for me!

 

[Evan Jarvis]

I've read some posts with people saying they play a ridiculous amount of tables at the same time (16-40). If you play more than let's say four tables at once can you really still pay attention to the details of the game?

For example noticing position, analyzing villains patterns, range, stacksizes, pot odds versus draw odds, betting that was done on previous streets, and all the other factors that should determine how you play the hand?

Or do people that play a lot of tables at once just wait for AA, KK, AK and just bet-bet-bet?

The biggest key for being able to multi table effectively is having a HUD (heads up display) program like Pokertracker. These programs will track the hands for you so that you can have a pretty good read on how your opponents play by glancing at the statistics.

Before HUDs exists the most games I would ever play was 4, and I usually spent more time playing 1 or 2 tables so I could really pay attention and take notes on my opponents.

Once HUDs became a thing and I learned how to build an effective one I was able to play up to 8 Shorthanded Cash Tables no problem or 12 Full Ring Tables.

Having the right stats and color coding the hud so it's easier to read makes a big difference. Here's a video on how I set mine up for cash games (maybe it will give some inspiration).

also on the specific topic of multitabling, I have a nice video I made with some tips on how to add more tables, signs you are playing too many tables, and how to find the sweet spot.

I hope you'll find some good lessons in these videos (and in the rest of the thread, as we have some great posts in here!)

Good Luck & Happy Stackin'

 

[619Leafs]

I can only concentrate to play at 1 table. Any more tables I lose focus.

 

[Phoenix Wright]

I love being focused on everything at the table and that means one at a time. I've played 2 tables simultaneously a few times when two CardsChat events overlapped, but that is the most I've ever tried. I did all right with it, but I'm sure a good HUD is crucial to multi-tabling and I currently play without a HUD lol

 

[pribalt49]

The effectiveness of playing at several tables depends on several factors, the player must be rested, other factors must not interfere, these are family members, animals and the player must be sober, then it is quite possible to play at 5-6 tables.

 

[Poma Lekain]

I think up to 8 tables can be played effectively.