One of the biggest advantages online poker offers to competitive players over live poker is the ability to play at more than one table at a time. This is known as “multi-tabling”.
One of the reasons it is so popular with successful online players is because it gives them the opportunity to sit down with numerous weak players in multiple sessions, simultaneously, thus opening up the window for posting huge profits. While multi-tabling can lead to big wins, it can equally lead to massive losses if you do not make the transition correctly.
Hone Your Single-Table Skills First
Before you start playing more than one table at once, you need to be sure your poker skills are good enough, to the point where you are dominating single-table games. If you cannot show consistent revenue-generating sessions, then there is no way you are ready to play more than one table.
Multi-Table Buy-In Levels
If you believe your track record is good enough to make the jump, the first thing you need do is pick a limit to try multi-tabling at. A common mistake is to try and play more than one table at the same limit you play in single matches. More opponents mean more focus and less time to make decisions. To adjust for this you should drop down at least one level.
If you are used to a single $5-$10 game, you should multi-table two $4-$8 games or even two $3-$6 games until you get the hang of it.
Once seated at the right tables, you can start to think about the adjustments you will need to make to your personal technique. As you start to play at two, three, four and more tables at once, you will have less time to dedicate towards decision making.
Play The Best Hands
You will need to become very familiar with which cards to play in each position and avoid playing medium to low strength as often as possible, as you simply will not be able to be crafty. Stick with premium cards, particularly in the early stages of your multi-table experience and gradually open your hand range as you become more comfortable.
Key Points
• Make sure you are first successful at single table cash games before considering multi-tabling.
• Start with just one extra table and progress to more as your experience and comfort levels grow.
• Drop down at least one buy-in level every time you add a new table to your sessions.
• Stick with premium hands until you are having successful sessions and then open up your hand range appropriately.
