Strategy for Mutli-Tabling?

[12AX7]

Hi TStomeMBD,
I think you are hitting on the crux of the matter here.

That is, how to I get a +EV system down in a mechanistic enough method to do what you do.

I'll admit I'm new to both online and HE, but not poker. So for the last week or two I've been having a hard time just staying even on one table with HE online. Nothing too unusual, just the usual ups and downs, no idea if I'm +/- or breakeven EV.

However I know it doesn't feel like I'm "winning". So I suspect that multi-tables would make that even worse unless there's an evening effect.

But, same problem whether 1 table or 4... what is that mechanistic strategy and how do I develop both the strategy and the ability quickly and with certainty that I'm doing it correctly?

[12AX7]

Hi MicroBob,
Well, truth is, after 20 years of looking at mainframe terminals in the world of corporate IT, I'll have no problem with the terminal time. And not being stuck having to live where the "factory" is, is all the incentive I need.

I actually sleep less when I have a project like this going, because I want to do it. (But my first week here of testing HE online has not been the success I'd hoped to see! LOL! Just one game at a time. Limits from .02/.04 all the way up to $3/$6. Sadly, down about 250/300 for the week. Not good. Still have to fill in the spread sheet for the last couple days. I track each game/table and the time, etc. Been too fried to fill out the spreadsheet each eve.)

I sat there and watched 3 tables with where I noticed the same guy was on all three. He was cussing folks out, so I did a search and found he was on 3. I couldn't follow exactly what he was doing, but his downswings did not look nearly as horrendous as mine. And he's operating as 3 table speed.

So clearly the way I'm playing sux big time.

Bottom line, it's that mechanistic level of play that one knows to be +EV that I'm trying to hunt down.

After handling many problems reports day in day out for 5 years of Level 2 software support, the idea of multitasking is not beyond me.

But, even in the world of IT defect support, it is easier to do when you've worked out, in advance, your battle plans and can execute them by rote.

The only (extrinsic) downside to "poker as job" that I see would be the difficulty of getting financing for mortgages, cars etc.

Not exactly an accepted tradition income means.

Tha is of course, overlooking the intrinsic downsides you are thinking of.

The freedom factor is what is driving me here. I really wish to exit the trapping of the rat race, pronto. :-)

[12AX7]

Hi BrainWalter,
Is that the Palm Beach County insignia on your Avatar?

At one time I worked the IT department of their Board of County Commisioners.

Was a lifetime ago about '95/96-ish.

That's my home town. Wish I could come home.

[Brainwalter]

Hi 12AX7.

No sorry, I live about 100 miles from Palm Beach County and the avatar is a poker chip from a local casino boat.

As for your poker issues, others will back me up on this. If you are having trouble learning to play 1 table and win consistently, the answer is NOT to play more tables. Multi-tabling is for experienced winners who want to multiply their already respectable winrate. Learn to beat whatever limit you're playing by spending time in the Micro or Small stakes strategy forums. Read everything there and start posating your thoughts in the threads there. If you try to jump into playing multiple tables without learning to beat your opponents handily first, your long term results will be meager at best, painful at worst.

Walk before you run.

12AX7, If you will heed it, my advice to you is to learn to win at one table before adding more.

[pudley4]

[ QUOTE ]
Hi MicroBob,
Well, truth is, after 20 years of looking at mainframe terminals in the world of corporate IT, I'll have no problem with the terminal time. And not being stuck having to live where the "factory" is, is all the incentive I need.

I actually sleep less when I have a project like this going, because I want to do it. (But my first week here of testing HE online has not been the success I'd hoped to see! LOL! Just one game at a time. Limits from .02/.04 all the way up to $3/$6. Sadly, down about 250/300 for the week. Not good. Still have to fill in the spread sheet for the last couple days. I track each game/table and the time, etc. Been too fried to fill out the spreadsheet each eve.)

I sat there and watched 3 tables with where I noticed the same guy was on all three. He was cussing folks out, so I did a search and found he was on 3. I couldn't follow exactly what he was doing, but his downswings did not look nearly as horrendous as mine. And he's operating as 3 table speed.

So clearly the way I'm playing sux big time.

Bottom line, it's that mechanistic level of play that one knows to be +EV that I'm trying to hunt down.

After handling many problems reports day in day out for 5 years of Level 2 software support, the idea of multitasking is not beyond me.

But, even in the world of IT defect support, it is easier to do when you've worked out, in advance, your battle plans and can execute them by rote.

The only (extrinsic) downside to "poker as job" that I see would be the difficulty of getting financing for mortgages, cars etc.

Not exactly an accepted tradition income means.

Tha is of course, overlooking the intrinsic downsides you are thinking of.

The freedom factor is what is driving me here. I really wish to exit the trapping of the rat race, pronto. :-)

[/ QUOTE ]

Here is your solution:

1 - Buy and read and study the following books: Winning Low Limit Holdem (Lee Jones), Getting Started In Holdem (Ed Miller). Later on (in a few months) you will add the following books: Small Stakes Holdem (Ed Miller), Theory of Poker (David Sklansky)

2 - Buy Pokertracker (www.pokertracker.com) and use it to record your play and to review your play.

3 - Start by playing only one table at a specific limit and stay at that limit (.5/1 at Party is a good place to start). Do not jump around in limits. Do not go higher than .5/1 until you know you're a winning player (winning 300 BB at a level is usually a sign that you're a winning player)

4 - Post at least 1 hand per day on the Micro Stakes Forum. Post a hand that you weren't sure you played correctly.

5 - Respond to at least 5 hands per day in the same Micro Stakes forum. Read the hand, then give your advice, then read the rest of the thread to see how your advice compares with other players. The more you do this, the better you'll get.

[MaxPowerPoker]

[ QUOTE ]
If you are having trouble learning to play 1 table and win consistently, the answer is NOT to play more tables.

[/ QUOTE ]

I agree completely. The only exception would be if you are not winning consistently because you are bored and playing too loose because you can't find it within yourself to fold mediocre hands (after all, you may flop a monster!!). Playing multiple tables can help you be more selective with your starting hands.

[Subby]

[ QUOTE ]
I agree completely. The only exception would be if you are not winning consistently because you are bored and playing too loose because you can't find it within yourself to fold mediocre hands (after all, you may flop a monster!!). Playing multiple tables can help you be more selective with your starting hands.

[/ QUOTE ]
This is the best post in the thread and the main reason why I advocate playing mutliple tables. It forces discipline with respect to your opening standards.

[MicroBob]

these are gvood suggestions.


your assumption that there is some magical and simplistic mechanical style for play is a bit flawed.

it's not THAT hard to learn how to play +EV poker but it does take some effort....and it really doesn't have much to do with whether you are on 1 table or 3 or 4.
Your question is NOT really 'how do I multi-table?' but, as I suspected, is more along the lines of 'how do I win at poker?'

And in order to win at poker you should get WLLHE, GSIH and SSHE.
And you should read much and learn much in the micro-limit forums.
And after you think you've learned a little something...then go back to that forum, read some more, and learn some more.
Lather, rinse, repeat.

[Rockfish]

[ QUOTE ]
Hi MicroBob,

Bottom line, it's that mechanistic level of play that one knows to be +EV that I'm trying to hunt down.

...

But, even in the world of IT defect support, it is easier to do when you've worked out, in advance, your battle plans and can execute them by rote.


[/ QUOTE ]

Therein lies the rub.

I think most of us refer to it as ABC poker.

As MicroBob says, once you get that, doing it on multiple tables is not much harder than doing it on one at a time.

You can do it if you get a handle on ABC.

By the way, I like your handle. I'm a 12AU7 pre-amp kinda guy myself.

[12AX7]

Hi Everyone in this branch of the thread.

I agree, you have to be able to beat 1 game before 2+.

I was not proposing trying to use multitabling as a solution to being a losing player.

However, I was thinking that there must be some abbreviated strategies since 2+ moves so much faster and I'm guessing it's significantly harder to read tables and opponents at that rate of play.

So I guess I'm saying, "Gee, what is this abbreviated strategy and can I try it on one table first and get efficient with it?"

However I do also agree with the boredom thing that was mentioned.

I find when I fold... I want the next deal... *Now!* LOL! I just focus better on a hand when I'm in it and find it harder to try to follow action I'm not in.

So ultimately I see 2+ tables as the boredom solution.

However, MicroBob is correct, I'm still learning HE. And I am in the Read, Play, Rinse, Repeat phase as we speak.

Like most, I'd like to get the basics down solid as efficiently as possible. The ABC (+EV) Poker if you will.

Thing is, whenever I ask, "Has that ever been written in table or tablular form?" the usual response is, "Well it's poker not BlackJack, ya can't!"

Yet the term "ABC Poker" persists. So it seems the answers go in two direction at once.

So I'm all ears.

:-)