Am I the only one not multitabling?
 

Been playing online for almost 2 years, still have not learned to multitable (not even two tables!), it seems I just can't learn to do it. Am I the only one?

Re: Am I the only one not multitabling?
 

there is no reason to play online besides multi-tabling. the concept of you not being able to play 2 tables at once is mind blowing, i could play 2 with ease within my first day of playing online.

Re: Am I the only one not multitabling?
 

I frequently play 1 table only. I can play more but it detracts greatly from my enjoyment of the game.

Re: Am I the only one not multitabling?
 

I 6 table now and find 1 tabling really boring/frustrating.

The exception is when I'm playing the stray NL tourney here and there, then I stick to the 1 table.

When I multi-table it's low limit so I just can auto-pilot.

Re: Am I the only one not multitabling?
 

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there is no reason to play online besides multi-tabling. the concept of you not being able to play 2 tables at once is mind blowing, i could play 2 with ease within my first day of playing online.

[/ QUOTE ]

Correct! I would love to be able to play 4 tables, or atleast 2 and then go from there. It sucks playing only one table.

I must have some stupid mental block or something.... *sigh*

Re: Am I the only one not multitabling?
 

I dont understand how anyone could have trouble playing 2 tables at a time. I played 3 my second day of online poker. I now 8 table if playing full ring, but only 4 if playing 6 max, and have no problems doing either of those, and I know there are a lot of people on here who are capable of playing more tables than I do

Re: Am I the only one not multitabling?
 

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I dont understand how anyone could have trouble playing 2 tables at a time.

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Exactly! Why the hell can I not do it? When I play one table I play realy good, with two it usually ends up with atleast one busted stack.

Re: Am I the only one not multitabling?
 

I don't usually multi-table, but I don't have much problem with 2 at a time.

If it's the popping up of the windows that throws you off, change your screen resolution or try UB and use mini-view.

Re: Am I the only one not multitabling?
 

does your screen have a really small resolution? I know that 4 tabling is much easier on my 2001fp because I can see all the tables with no overlap.

Re: Am I the only one not multitabling?
 

also when trying to multi table you might be trying to hard to pay attention to every detail about how every one play(like you would if you are only playing one table) When playing 4 or more tables that is very hard to do, and that is what pokertracker, pokerace hud/gametime + do automaticaly for you. If you are trying to give as much attention to each table as you do to a single table when yuo are only playing one, than yes, it would be extreamly hard to multi table. If you are multi tabling you will still pick up on betting patterns and such on people, maybe just not as fast as if single tabling, but as I said pokertracker with pokerace hud help out with your reads while multi tabling

Re: Am I the only one not multitabling?
 

I can see both tables at the same time, that is not the problem.

Re: Am I the only one not multitabling?
 

I normally only play 3-4 tables. I've done 6 before but I can only play for an hour like that. I'll start missing check raises, and I feel like a robot. I really can't see how you guys play 8 tables, and still play good. Also when you play 8 tables do you ever time out on your turn because you have a hand at 3 other tables?

Re: Am I the only one not multitabling?
 

The problem is that I might try to play too good on both tables you mean?

Re: Am I the only one not multitabling?
 

[ QUOTE ]
I normally only play 3-4 tables. I've done 6 before but I can only play for an hour like that. I'll start missing check raises, and I feel like a robot. I really can't see how you guys play 8 tables, and still play good. Also when you play 8 tables do you ever time out on your turn because you have a hand at 3 other tables?

[/ QUOTE ] yes, if I am playing more than 4 tables i feel very robotic also. I dont have a problem timing out while playing 8 tables, and actualy play faster than more the donks at the tables. If you have 2 screens where you can see all your tables than it is pretty easy not to time out

Re: Am I the only one not multitabling?
 

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there is no reason to play online besides multi-tabling.

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Right, because not living in a gambling state is irrelevant.

Re: Am I the only one not multitabling?
 

[ QUOTE ]
I normally only play 3-4 tables. I've done 6 before but I can only play for an hour like that. I'll start missing check raises, and I feel like a robot. I really can't see how you guys play 8 tables, and still play good. Also when you play 8 tables do you ever time out on your turn because you have a hand at 3 other tables?

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I play 7 to 10 tables on a 17inch crt piece of crap. sometimes i do time out, sometimes i fold monsters, sometimes i raise junk, sometimes i forget what position I'm in and try to raise for a free card, only to find I was the small blind and had checked. It can be very funny sometimes. I've still managed to keep a winrate of over 3BB/100 at the 1/2 tables.

I would suggest for the OP to drop in stakes and then try 2 tables. If you've been single tabling for a long time, your brain is going to take longer to adjust. Kinda like the relationship/break up thing.

Re: Am I the only one not multitabling?
 

You are not the only one. I play one table and get totally involved in the tournament. I can play two, but I feel rushed at times and it causes at least one mistake per tournament. And one mistake can be all it takes. I can't imagine playing 8 at once.

Re: Am I the only one not multitabling?
 

I'm just learning to multi-table myself. Just got PT and PA Hud and a 1200x1600 monitor for that purpose. I have a hard time playing more than two tables when it comes to postflop play. I expect it will get easier when I get more used to the software.

Still, I play best when only playing one table. Lately I have been on a long break-even streak, and have started just playing one table at a time again to concentrate on my game.

Re: Am I the only one not multitabling?
 

Did you grow up playing video games? I think that helps.

Re: Am I the only one not multitabling?
 

[ QUOTE ]
Did you grow up playing video games? I think that helps.

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Nope, I never owned a x-box or whatever, only computers, on gaming were not the nr 1 priority.

Re: Am I the only one not multitabling?
 

If your only going to play one table I recommend quiting and just playing live the games are 10 times easier

Re: Am I the only one not multitabling?
 

I definitely think that a video-game background helps.

For those who are 35 or 40-ish and younger one's childhood might have been partly spent accidentally 'in training' for poker-multi-tabling.

Younger generation on the X-Box or Sega and what-not.
I'm 35 so I played lots of Atari (and the old Activision games....I need to get one of those 'retro' video-game things that they're selling now) and was also popping quarters into machines at the arcade (Ms Pac-Man, Centipede, Frogger, Pole Position, Time-Pilot, Galaga, etc etc).



For those 40 and over who might not have been into video-games I think it looks like it is all moving too quickly (for some).


I know an older guy who says he would try playing online, but he watched somebody playing on just 1 table one time it looked 'really really fast'. He couldn't keep up with it (it looks faster than it really is I think because of 4 or 5 players in a row all clicking on auto-fold or check-call or whatever).
But this is a guy who doesn't really understand much poker to begin with.


Some people who learn that I play 3 or 4 tables at a time think I must be some sort of genius to be able to do that....as if I told them that I can play 20 simultaneous chess-matches blind-folded while memorizing the phone-book and solving a rubik's cube with my feet.

Re: Am I the only one not multitabling?
 

Wait? You can memorize the phone book blindfolded?

Teach me.

Re: Am I the only one not multitabling?
 

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The problem is that I might try to play too good on both tables you mean?

[/ QUOTE ] I wouldnt think of it that way. A lot of people are able to play just as good playing 4 tables as one, its just that you will not be able to study the table and get as good of a feel for everyone there, thus pokerace hud helps a lot.

Re: Am I the only one not multitabling?
 

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Did you grow up playing video games? I think that helps.

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I agree. I grew up a crazy mad gamer.

Anyone with a few thousand games of StarCraft (real SC, not that BGH sh!t) under their belt has no problem 6-8 tabling.

Re: Am I the only one not multitabling?
 

single tabling is good whilst you develop your game (I.e. if you've just move to 6max or moved up to higher stakes).

Soon as you feel comfy multitable.

Reads are another factor - Most guys who multitable has crap reads unless experienced.

Once your comfy note taking, own a PT/PA type program and are comfy preflop and postflop multitable.

If your never comfy, then dont.

Re: Am I the only one not multitabling?
 

also for growing into multi-tabling...
try playing 1 table of your regular stakes and you focus on that table.

then add a 2nd table of .5/1 or smaller where you just make automated, straight-forward plays. Obviously this will mostly involve folding pre-flop...and you can go back to your original instincts of concentrating on reads and the play of the hand at your primary table.

This may help ease the transition of multi-tabling for some.


I'll do something like this occasionally if I feel like I need to give more concetration to reads.
Instead od 5-6 tables of 5/10 I might just play 2 tables of 5/10 and 2 tables of 3/6.

I'm barely paying any attention at all to the 3/6 (because straight-forward play will still get you the money there) while I'm devoting as much attention as possible to my 2 higher-limit tables.


I also believe that this is a helpful way for players like me...I don't necessarily have a problem multi-tabling...but I do have a tough-time getting all the reads and following as much of the action as I think I should.
This gets one in the habit of really focusing on a table (or two) while also maintaining the same multi-tabling 'skills' (as it were).

Re: Am I the only one not multitabling?
 

Have I mentioned lately how much I hate multitablers.

I like to play a fast game, but I only want to concentrate on my one table.

I hate waiting on the multitabling jerks who take 40 seconds to fold, then the next multitabling jerk does the same thing because he is to anal to look ahead and fold his 52o.

I am wondering how long it is going to take the major sites to figure out two things.

ONE: Multitabling TAGs (or just plain rocks) deplete the recreational player (AKA fish) pool way too fast. they lose revenue that would be otherwise churned and, therefore, raked multiple times vs once after which the recreational player departs forever and the multitabling jerk pockets the money.

TWO: While we are all waiting on the multitabling jerk to get around to folding, the table is generating zero income. Now it is true that one or two of the players are perhaps generating some rake somewhere else (although it is most likely they are simply folding their way through the tables), the rest of the table is sitting on their thumbs doing NOTHING. An idle table is a table not making any money.

I have enjoyed some instances where there were no laggards, and I am convinced we got in twice to three time as many hands.

Come on poker rooms, get the games speeded up!!!

BTW, did I mention I hated multitablers....

Re: Am I the only one not multitabling?
 

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Reads are another factor - Most guys who multitable has crap reads unless experienced.



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I've always thought this was a wierd thing to think. When i first started playing i would time my actions thinking my opponents would get certain ideas from them. But people multitable, watch tv, surf, jack off, read, eat, and bla bla bla, while they are playing online. The timing of actions(the only real read you can get) are of little use to online play.

Getting a feel for you opponents, and knowing their tendencies is valuable, and is not the same as reading an opponent. This is something you might do better playing less tables, but it is quickly remedied with a hud.

Re: Am I the only one not multitabling?
 

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I hate waiting on the multitabling jerks who take 40 seconds to fold, then the next multitabling jerk does the same thing because he is to anal to look ahead and fold his 52o.

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I am one of those jerks. If i'm early I will check the auto-buttons, if not I wait to see what everyones done before folding my 52 off. I don't think you can asses how increasing or decreasing multitable limits will affect the revenue of a poker site by "eyeballing" it like you are.

Re: Am I the only one not multitabling?
 

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it seems I just can't learn to do it.

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Hogwash! Like most things in life, it just takes some practice. As one who just recently began multi-tabling, I'll repeat some advice that others have given. Drop down to a level that is simply meaningless to you financially and play two tables at a time, preferably on a site whose software is slow. If you can find two tables where you can sit in the same (or close to the same) seats, that would also help at first. Use of PAHud or GT+ eases some of the burden of having to follow the action so closely. And, accept the fact that it's ok to make a few mistakes playing more than one table since you'll be getting into the "long-run" more quickly.

BTW, I wish you'd re-consider your desertion from the Computer Technical Help page [img]/images/graemlins/grin.gif[/img]

Re: Am I the only one not multitabling?
 

It's a matter of desire, not ability, for me. I generally play one table (6-max) for a few reasons.

1) I play better
2) I often watch TV out of the corner of my eye
3) I have wife/kids around that ask questions.

With 1 table I can handle distractions and still play well. If I'm playing 10-handed I'll usually play 2 tables though.

Re: Am I the only one not multitabling?
 

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Reads are another factor - Most guys who multitable has crap reads unless experienced.



[/ QUOTE ]

I've always thought this was a wierd thing to think. When i first started playing i would time my actions thinking my opponents would get certain ideas from them. But people multitable, watch tv, surf, jack off, read, eat, and bla bla bla, while they are playing online. The timing of actions(the only real read you can get) are of little use to online play.

Getting a feel for you opponents, and knowing their tendencies is valuable, and is not the same as reading an opponent. This is something you might do better playing less tables, but it is quickly remedied with a hud.

[/ QUOTE ]

I think you may be confusing "reads" with "tells".

Trying to determine if a player has a monster by how long he takes to act is trying to get a tell, just like in a live game you would study the player to see if you notice anything.

A read is really a pattern in the player's game. For instance, a player might always bet the river when checked to, every time.

Tells are pretty much useless in online games. Reads, on the other hand, are very useful and most multitablers miss a ton of them. Even a HUD doesn't tell you everything.

Re: Am I the only one not multitabling?
 

I currently multitable at a site which does not support PT (Bodog), and one on another site (4 total). Usually I play NL 50 or 100

I have no reads whatsoever without PT, but it still works very well. I play ultratight, only premiums and any pocket pair. My goal is to win big pots w my sets and high pocket pair that hold up and medium to small pots w/ my TPTK. I dont even mess around w/ any marginal hands or suited connectors.

Maybe the reason you can't multitable is because you are trying to "play" instead of just falling into a system. I think most people who multitable play much tighter than they would on one table, and for as retardedly tight as I play, no one ever seems to catch on.

Maybe this will help. Try to 2 table w/ a VP$IP of around 10-15%, get reeeaaally used to folding everything but pp and premiums, and play ABC poker, and I dont see why you shouldn't quickly get accustomed to it.

Hope this helps

Re: Am I the only one not multitabling?
 

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Reads are another factor - Most guys who multitable has crap reads unless experienced.



[/ QUOTE ]

The timing of actions(the only real read you can get) are of little use to online play.

Getting a feel for you opponents, and knowing their tendencies is valuable, and is not the same as reading an opponent. This is something you might do better playing less tables, but it is quickly remedied with a hud.

[/ QUOTE ]

A few things i find odd in this quote mate.

Timings is not the only read you can get, and they are worthless.

Would you bet your TPTK on a 4flush board vs someone watching porn(So taking longer to check) than someone focusing and automatically checking?


a HUD doesnt come NEAR well written and observed notes on a players tendencies.

I.e. "Player bet turn when board paired holding high cards" The day a hud tell you that will be the day bots become AWESOME. [img]/images/graemlins/smirk.gif[/img]

Re: Am I the only one not multitabling?
 

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I hate waiting on the multitabling jerks who take 40 seconds to fold, then the next multitabling jerk does the same thing because he is to anal to look ahead and fold his 52o.


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These people are certainly extremely annoying, but don't lump all multitablers in with them. Some of us are fast. I wouldn't multitable if it was going to take me more than two or three seconds to act (apart from real decisions) and I use advance action buttons liberally.

If I wasn't so hung up on that, I could probably multitable non-holdem games. As it is I generally just play one at a time.

Re: Am I the only one not multitabling?
 

Thanx everyone for the advice. I guess I have to lose a little more money while practising. I know that once I get the skill that money will come back fast.

Btw, I did play alot of play money multitable to practice. I can quad table there and still win since the games are so easy, but even when dual tabling real money I just seem to be able to make it.

I must be jinxed.

Re: Am I the only one not multitabling?
 

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I wish you'd re-consider your desertion from the Computer Technical Help page [img]/images/graemlins/grin.gif[/img]

[/ QUOTE ]

Hehe, nah, I were there just the time I was not playing poker. I had a long break. I just got fed up with hepling people who could not even say thanx or even if my help worked or not (much advice I gave I have not ever tested myself but knew it "should" work). Plus all the priv msg that people sent didn't help either. Unthankfulness (or whatever the word is) is one of the things I hate the most.

Re: Am I the only one not multitabling?
 

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Reads are another factor - Most guys who multitable has crap reads unless experienced.



[/ QUOTE ]

The timing of actions(the only real read you can get) are of little use to online play.

Getting a feel for you opponents, and knowing their tendencies is valuable, and is not the same as reading an opponent. This is something you might do better playing less tables, but it is quickly remedied with a hud.

[/ QUOTE ]

A few things i find odd in this quote mate.

Timings is not the only read you can get, and they are worthless.

Would you bet your TPTK on a 4flush board vs someone watching porn(So taking longer to check) than someone focusing and automatically checking?


a HUD doesnt come NEAR well written and observed notes on a players tendencies.

I.e. "Player bet turn when board paired holding high cards" The day a hud tell you that will be the day bots become AWESOME. [img]/images/graemlins/smirk.gif[/img]

[/ QUOTE ]

I appologize for confusing the terms read, and tell. I was referring to tells. A hud is a remedy, not a full on cure for not being able to observe everything everyone does at a table. I do keep notes, and coupled with hud, it does well. It just takes longer to get good reads.

If an opponent had a went to showdown stat of 39, yea I'd bet my TPTK, if an opponent had a PF aggresion of 4 and a went to showdown of 18, i would raise him on the turn when the board paired. Obviously Focusing completely on 1 table will improve your winrate. Thanks for clearing up my misconception.

Re: Am I the only one not multitabling?
 

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I hate waiting on the multitabling jerks who take 40 seconds to fold, then the next multitabling jerk does the same thing because he is to anal to look ahead and fold his 52o.


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These people are certainly extremely annoying, but don't lump all multitablers in with them. Some of us are fast. I wouldn't multitable if it was going to take me more than two or three seconds to act (apart from real decisions) and I use advance action buttons liberally.

If I wasn't so hung up on that, I could probably multitable non-holdem games. As it is I generally just play one at a time.

[/ QUOTE ]

same here. unless i was in a situation where i had noticed that the blinds were super tight i'd auto fold 52o in any position ( since i wouldn't even try to steal from the sb with it if it was folded around ).