Mechanics for Multitabling SNG's (Timing & Breaks)?

[DrButch]

There are many posts in the beginner's area about screen resolution and other technical issues for playing on multiple tables (and suggestions like take it slow, modify your BR accordingly, and so on). However, I couldn't find suggestions on the timing mechanics of multitabling SNGs (forgive me if I missed posts due to bad UBB searching). Specifically I would greatly appreciate a discussion on:
<ul type="square">[*]Is there a good way to stagger the start time? (For example, if you are doing 3 SNG's do you offset each 15 minutes, assuming a 45 minute game length?)[*]How do you handle the mundane issue of going to the bathroom? Do you plan 45 minutes ahead and unstagger the games, plan to multitable in X hour increments, avoid drinking Diet Coke while playing, or what?[*]When you find yourself in more than one heads-up game, do you intentionally prioritize and miss hands in other tables, or for those of you who do 32 tables, write 2+2 columns, and file their taxes at the same time never miss a hand? [img]/images/graemlins/smile.gif[/img][/list]Thanks!
Butch

[Scuba Chuck]

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When you find yourself in more than one heads-up game, do you intentionally prioritize and miss hands in other tables, or for those of you who do 32 tables, write 2+2 columns, and file their taxes at the same time never miss a hand?

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If this is your strategy or process, you have too many tables open.

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How do you handle the mundane issue of going to the bathroom?

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Assuming we're talking about #1, I just wait for a time when I can hit fold on all the hands at one time, and run, and hope to make it back before the beeping stops.

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Is there a good way to stagger the start time?

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This is clearly a beginner question. Before the flames begin, note that I will quantify my answer by answering it the way that benefits OP. Before I was multi-tabling (I currently fire up 4 at one time), I would get so bored after I finished one game to start all the way over on the next from the beginning. It was most frustrating when I was out on a bad beat. So, I began firing up the next SNG once I completed (or near to) level 3. And so on. This generally allowed me to make sure my primary focus was on the game I was furthest into, and so that I was not at GO (monopoly term) for the next game after I won (or was out).

IMO, you need to give every hand for every table you play the time and priority it deserves. If you cannot do so, then you need to reduce the number of tables you're playing.

[DrButch]

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If this is your strategy or process, you have too many tables open.

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I agree, and being comfortable at 2 tables that's where I'll stay for a while. However I find it amazing to think that this doesn't occur at 8+ tables (which is a common claim on these boards).

As for your comment on staggering the start times, I can see how it is a beginner's question, but on the other hand I assume that there are some interesting techniques that are not trivial. I stagger in a new table when the first is about level 4, but I assume that only works for 2 tables (rather similar to your suggestion). I guess I could be more specific in asking if there is a number at which a simple stagger doesn't work (just like moving from juggling 3 to juggling 4 balls), and what do you do?

Thanks for your thoughtful reply.

[Scuba Chuck]

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I guess I could be more specific in asking if there is a number at which a simple stagger doesn't work (just like moving from juggling 3 to juggling 4 balls), and what do you do?


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The correct general answer to this question is, whatever leads you to making mistakes is too many.

For me, I don't care much for being on Level 5 on one hand, and Level 1 on the next. That's why firing up all 4 at once is right for me right now. For others, when one drops out, they fire up a new one. But, anything that could lead you to make mistakes is wrong, IMHO. (For example, I called an allin with AQ once, and realized I was on level 2 - bleh. That's how I knew starting all four at once is correct for me.)

[citanul]

Stagger the games enough so that you will be comfortable playing as many as could get to 4 or 5 handed or less at once possibly. This amount can be 0, or length of one tournament. It varies by person, and varies for that person over the course of their career. Only you can determine your confidence/comfort level.

Re: bathroom -&gt; you're going to get a lot of "get a laptop" answers from other people. From me, you'll get: if it's number 1, you should be able to figure it out during hte tournaments, and run. If it's number 2, hold it, plan your tournament starting times around it, whatever.

Re: do you let your other games die away - absolutely not. If you can't play all your tables given anything that may come up, don't play so many games.

citanul

[jackdaniels]

"Stagger the games enough so that you will be comfortable playing as many as could get to 4 or 5 handed or less at once possibly"

Does this mean that it is preferable to play the latter stages of the SNG at the same time on all tables? Why?

[1C5]

It is for me as that way I am in the same stage so I won't be folding A8 on the bubble on one table and pushing with KT on another in level 2 by mistake.

[AA suited]

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It is for me as that way I am in the same stage so I won't be folding A8 on the bubble on one table and pushing with KT on another in level 2 by mistake.

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yup, same here. i fire up all 4 at one time to prevent accidents where i thought the blinds were higher than what they were and pushed because i thought i was shortstacked.

it only took 1 $30 accident to learn my lesson.

if i'm out early (lvl 1/lvl 2) in one of the games, i'll fire up another one. as soon as any of my games hit lvl3, i wait till all are over b4 i start my next set.

of course if u never get confused and can play mixed levels, then start a new SnG as soon as you get eliminated.

[DrButch]

OK, even with just 2 tables, I'm now convinced that starting them at the same time is simply easier:
<ul type="square"> [*] Since the games are at relatively the same level, its much easier to keep the importance of specific hands in perspective, [*] You don't have the issue of ramp up or slow down times[*] It creates discrete sessions so it's easy to schedule and avoid the wonderful urination devices thoughtfully shared by the 2+2 community :-)[/list]I was convinced that doing multiple end games were such a limiting factor that you couldn't start all of the games at the same time.

Thanks again.

[citanul]

For some people, yes, see the other person who already responded.

For many others, they like to pay less attention to the early stages, and more to the bubble/itm part of the game, since they have to play more of the hands, and they come faster. It's all about your personal comfort level at some point. Things that work for one person doesn't always work for another.

If you find that you lose track of things if you have too many shorthanded tables at once, play fewer tables that could possibly be shorthanded at once (stagger them). If you like having them all sh at the same time, don't stagger them.

citanul