Multiple Tables
Internet poker has two advantages in regards to speed when compared to live
games. First. Internet games go much quicker than live games. You don't have to
wait for dealers to shuffle, you can use the "act in turn" buttons, there are never any
misdeals, there are no mistakes with chips, and there is a set time limit to act.
Second, you can play two, three, or even four tables at the same time! Playing one
hour of Internet poker at two tables is the equivalent of playing three to four hours in
a live game.
Playing multiple tables is a great advantage for good players who are able to
increase their overall hourly earn rate; however, there are also several
disadvantages that can sometimes destroy your earn rate.
How to Play Multiple Tables
There are several ways to play multiple tables. You can play two tables
simultaneously at the same poker site. Most poker sites allow this, although there
are a few exceptions. The other way is to play one table at two different poker sites.
For example, you could play one table at Paradise Poker and one table at The
Poker Club.
Some sites are more difficult to play when playing a game at another site. For
example. Paradise Poker software usually overrides the other site by automatically
popping up the Paradise Poker table when it is your turn to act. This sometimes can
be a distraction when trying to play a hand at another site. For example. I find it
difficult to play at Paradise Poker and Planet Poker at the same time. At True
Poker, you have to click on your cards to be able to see them. This requires more
action from your part to play the game, and makes it more difficult to go back and
forth between sites.
From a technical perspective, there are two ways to play two tables on your
computer screen. Most players simply sit down at two tables and then switch back
and forth between the two tables. Another option is to reduce the screen size for
each table, so that you can see both tables on the screen at the same time. To do
this, right click on your desktop and select properties, then settings, and then adjust
the screen area. You will need to increase the pixels to reduce the size of each
table, For those with poor eyesight, beware! The screens will be very small. Also,
some older monitors may not be able to handle changes in pixels, so only try this
with newer models.
for those who don't mind the small screens, this method has a few benefits since
you can follow the action better at both tables. I prefer switching back and forth
between the screens since the small screens are not very good on my eyes for long
periods of time.
His also possible to play three or more tables at the same time; however, this is not
recommended. It requires a great deal of concentration that makes you prone to
make errors. If you do play three sites, it is easier when you play a couple of games
at a site with slow software, and then the third game with fast software. A few sites
will allow you to play three tables simultaneously, but this can get quite confusing at
times.
Advantages and Disadvantages
There are advantages and disadvantages in playing more than one table. Of
course, only try multiple tables if you are a winning player, otherwise you will lose
your money twice as fast! If you are a winning player, there are still some
downsides that must be considered.
First, you can sometimes make mistakes by hitting the wrong button. For example,
you might call when you actually meant to fold, decreasing your earn rate for that
table. Most importantly, because you are playing two tables, it is more difficult to
evaluate your opponents. You will not be able to follow all of the betting sequences
and see all of the showdowns.
It takes a great deal of concentration to try to learn the playing styles of 18 players
at the same time. I only try playing two tables when I am fresh and alert, and am
already familiar with many of the players I am playing with. For example, I might
play a game where I am familiar with almost all the players, and then play another
game at another site. I'll concentrate more on the action and players at the second
site to learn their styles.
Your earning rate per table will inevitably decrease since you are unable to fully
concentrate on every hand at each table. For example, you may not notice that a
player has gone on tilt and is betting and raising every hand. You then might fold a
hand that you would have called or raised had you known this opponent was
playing so loose. Therefore, if you normally earn one big blind an hour at one table,
do not expect to earn the same rate at two tables simultaneously.
You will also experience greater variances by playing two tables at the same time.
Sometimes you will lose at both and lose a lot of money in a short time. This is a big
problem if you tend to go on tilt. When playing at two tables, there are more
opportunities for something to go wrong. If you lose two bad beats pretty close
together and then go on tilt, you are jeopardizing your bankroll at two tables. If you
are like many players who get too upset when something goes wrong, I would not
recommend playing at two tables.
Although there are downsides, there is a great advantage to playing more than one
table. You can increase your overall hourly earning rate. For example, let's assume
that you average one big bet an hour playing one table. If you are playing two
tables simultaneously, you should expect your earning rate to decrease per table. If
it decreases to 1/2 a big bet per hour, you will be earning the same per hour at two
tables but with greater fluctuations. However, if your earn rate only decreases to 3/4
a big bet per hour, your overall hourly rate will increase to 1.5 big bets per hour.
For example, you usually earn $40 an hour playing $20-$40. By playing two tables,
your earn rate might drop to $30 per table, but now you are making $60 an hour!
The ability to play multiple tables is a great advantage over live poker games. For
good players, this can add to your earning rate per hour and is more fun since there
is more action. However, playing multiple tables is not recommended until you are a
very solid player, and should only be done when you are at your full concentration
potential.
NEXT...Record Keeping
