Easing Yourself Into Multi-tabling

[PieIx 0]

I have managed to build up some moderate success (8% ROI) at the sit n go's over the span of a couple of years. I play as a hobby and play the $38 6 man sit n go's almost exclusively. I have tried experimenting with multi tabling in order to increase the actual dollar value of my return, but inevitably feel somewhat overwhelmed. I feel that I lose out on too much information available by watching the play. To that end, I created a setup with two screens and have been able to play a low limit cash game on one screen (maximizing the size of the table) and the sit n go on the other (again maximizing the table). The reason that I play the low limit game is to prevent myself from getting bored at the sit n go while at the same time minimizing my exposure. More often than not, I will end up losing money on the cash game - thank goodness for micro limits.Ultimately, my concern is that this transition to multi-tabling is much harder for me than need be. Has anyone faced a similar set of challenges and have you been able to "train" yourself to increase the number of tables that you can play simultaneously? I read people discussing how they can multi-table ten to twenty games and I can't even imagine. I would be happy with two to three. My priority is to keep the poker fun and ultimately, feeling overwhelmed is not fun at all.As always, thanks for the input and feedback!

[Napa_Don 688]

I have a dual monitor setup (22" monitor and 15" laptop) and I find it easier to multitable with all of the tables on one screen as opposed to some on one screen and some on the other. I think it's a lot easier to have all tables in my line of sight without having to move my eyes to much. Although, I realized while typing this I have my 22" monitor directly in front of me and my smaller monitor off to the left so, maybe that's why it's harder for me to multitable on both screens. However, I will say that I think you'd be best two tabling sngs as opposed to one table of sng and one table of cash since the way to play both games is fundamentally different and I can see how you could easily make big mistakes in either one since you're trying to use two different mindsets at once. So, maybe try two tabling lower limit sngs until you get more comfortable if you don't think you could handle two $36 sngs at once.

[TheCinciKid 0]

Can't help you much. I tend to get bored and play bad if I play less than 3 tables.

[HighwayStar 8]

Just drink tons of coffee and put some calming music on.And yea, 2 monitors is key - i tend to put all my tables on 1 monitor at the start and once I get big stacks/get deep in a tourney move them to the other. I tend to cascade the tables and keep them at the default size.As for SnGs, aren't they fairly robotic? I don't think you can get decent reads more than 4 tabling without an HUD, and often that doesn't paint the whole picture. I'd just build up - you'll be 20 tabling in no time. If you ignore looking for dead on reads and just exploit the bad players and concentrate on the basics you can probably efficiently 8+ table whilst maintaining a solid ROI.I'd get bored and play too many hands if I didn't massively multi-table when playing, some people can't cope with all the decisions though.

[Mercury69 3]

I'm having a USB port installed in my head, so I can multi table without a screen and, basically, the bet sizing and such is synapse based prompts. I'm having a little trouble writing the software, though...A little help?

[psujohn 0]

I think it's easier to multi-table cash rather that tourneys (whether STT or MTT) because cash is basically always the same. Stack sizes vary less and you'll never have <100BB yourself and blinds do change. If you're multii-talbing tourneys then you're going to have to constantly adjust from one table to the next since you'll do different things with 30BB at a 6 handed table then you'd do with 12BB at a 3 handed table.That said I'd think it'd be easier to multi-table just SNGs than to mix SNG and cash. It sounds like you're just using the cash table as a distraction to help maintain patience and I guess that's fine but in that case I'd probably just read forums or watch videos or something.Like others have said just try dropping down a bit and playing multiple SNGs. With SNGs you can even manage to start them relatively close so the blinds will be going up on both at about the same time which might make things easier.

[outsider13 0]

I just recently started 9 tabling. At first I thought it was hard, but then once I realized the flow of things I found it easier to do. Just make sure you pay attention to stack sizes before making a bet. I found that the hardest thing to do was paying attention to mine and others stacks.

[mtdesmoines 2]

I just recently started 9 tabling. At first I thought it was hard, but then once I realized the flow of things I found it easier to do. Just make sure you pay attention to stack sizes before making a bet. I found that the hardest thing to do was paying attention to mine and others stacks.

This.

[HighwayStar 8]

ya it usually goes (for tourneys)-my stack and position-raisers/limpers stack-if folded to stacks of those left to act - especially BB/SB-cards-any useful info on people to act (usually from an HUD if I have it running)Just becomes a automatic instinct after a while.The tough part is going to the toilet - although I have the technique down to a fine art so I rarely time out anymore.

[mtdesmoines 2]

The tough part is going to the toilet - although I have the technique down to a fine art so I rarely time out anymore.

Unplug your laptop and take it with you. < looks around > What, am I the only one?

[HighwayStar 8]

How do you manage that if you have 2 screens. When I unplug the second screen, the screen goes black for about a minute (yea my laptop sucks)Also my laptop mouse doesn't work any more so i'd have to take my mouse too.

[Fade2241 0]

I am def a multi-tabler and the thing I find that makes it the easiest is playing all of the same game/limits. I max out at 15 $4 180's at the same time or 8 LHE tables at the same time. It's a double-edged sword, tho - you get bored way easier when you get used to this! I think people that can play 4+ NLHE at $2/$4 and above have some skill. Especially short handed. Those games are so read dependant that I could image doing that.

[Dratj 0]

I have managed to build up some moderate success (8% ROI) at the sit n go's over the span of a couple of years. I play as a hobby and play the $38 6 man sit n go's almost exclusively. I have tried experimenting with multi tabling in order to increase the actual dollar value of my return, but inevitably feel somewhat overwhelmed. I feel that I lose out on too much information available by watching the play. To that end, I created a setup with two screens and have been able to play a low limit cash game on one screen (maximizing the size of the table) and the sit n go on the other (again maximizing the table). The reason that I play the low limit game is to prevent myself from getting bored at the sit n go while at the same time minimizing my exposure. More often than not, I will end up losing money on the cash game - thank goodness for micro limits.Ultimately, my concern is that this transition to multi-tabling is much harder for me than need be. Has anyone faced a similar set of challenges and have you been able to "train" yourself to increase the number of tables that you can play simultaneously? I read people discussing how they can multi-table ten to twenty games and I can't even imagine. I would be happy with two to three. My priority is to keep the poker fun and ultimately, feeling overwhelmed is not fun at all.As always, thanks for the input and feedback!

Why don't you watch a movie or something on one screen instead of losing money at cash and then play the sng on the 2nd screen if it's boredom that you are worried about?

[mtdesmoines 2]

How do you manage that if you have 2 screens. When I unplug the second screen, the screen goes black for about a minute (yea my laptop sucks)Also my laptop mouse doesn't work any more so i'd have to take my mouse too.

cascade them. some sites, cascading tables is a one-button command. also, GET A NEW LAPTOP COMPUTER. Best Buy is talking $275 for their lowest model.

[king1305 0]

cascade them. some sites, cascading tables is a one-button command. also, GET A NEW LAPTOP COMPUTER. Best Buy is talking $275 for their lowest model.

That'd be cool and all if he wasn't FROM THE UK.

[Vtlaxer09 4]

just play 16 sng's on one monitor.. cascade them or stack them.. and then you have room for aim, email, forums, and youtube on the other monitor. Ez game imo.

[mtdesmoines 2]

That'd be cool and all if he wasn't FROM THE UK.

Then who gives a ****?

[HighwayStar 8]

lol

[Largetotals 0]

I have a dual monitor setup (22" monitor and 15" laptop) and I find it easier to multitable with all of the tables on one screen as opposed to some on one screen and some on the other. I think it's a lot easier to have all tables in my line of sight without having to move my eyes to much. Although, I realized while typing this I have my 22" monitor directly in front of me and my smaller monitor off to the left so, maybe that's why it's harder for me to multitable on both screens. However, I will say that I think you'd be best two tabling sngs as opposed to one table of sng and one table of cash since the way to play both games is fundamentally different and I can see how you could easily make big mistakes in either one since you're trying to use two different mindsets at once. So, maybe try two tabling lower limit sngs until you get more comfortable if you don't think you could handle two $36 sngs at once.

this.

[PieIx 0]

Thanks for the help guys. I think that I might be "out-thinking" myself on these sit n go's. From the sounds of things, you guys are mainly concerned with bet/pot/blind/stack sizes to make your decisions. I guess I will try putting it more on autopilot in some lower sng's and see how things go.Thanks again!

[PieIx 0]

And of course thanks for the input on your setups with the screens.Cheers!

[theinvestor 0]

Unplug your laptop and take it with you. < looks around > What, am I the only one?

So if you have to piss do you still sit down?

[timwakefield 69]

Honestly, I think that playing more than 5 or 6 sngs at a time is a large difference than playing 5 or less. If you've got as many as 12 games going, for instance, you're simply not ever going to be able to pick up on a lot of reads, reads that can actually be very important later and can change a fold into a shove, or vice versa. Of course, playing more games means more opportunities to win. I think basically you should find a happy medium for what is comfortable for you. If you're only comfortable playing 1 or 2 sngs at a time, just do that. Adding 7 more won't necessarily raise your hourly rate. Once you're comfortable at 2, then you might wanna add one or 2 more, and so on, or you might find that you play best with just 2 at a time, and lose focus or are overwhelmed by more than that.

[No_Neck 0]

Tilt control becomes a lot more important when multi tabling as well.I mean if you tilt out of 2 SNG's whatever but if you tilt out of 12 that is really going to hurt your bottom line.

[zoo 0]

For you guys that multi-table sngs, how do you handle it when you get heads-up in a couple or few of these at the same time?