Multi-Tabling 6MAX

For those of you who both multi-table and play 6max (edudlive ):

How many tables do you usually play at once? I have no issues playing 4-6 tables full ring but getting into 6max requires me to focus on one table. I normally play shorthanded for my live games and want to improve my online-shorthanded skills. How can you concentrate on multiple tables for short-handed play? Do a lot of your plays become mechanical?

Any help/feedback would be greatly appreciated. Thanks.

I only play 2 tables so that my plays could be based both on my cards AND the players, might be able to play 3, perhaps I will try that later. I know that a lot of guys are playing 4+ tables, dunno how good their reads are..

I usually play 4 tables of 100NL which isn't too hard. I play very lag at all four tables sometimes. Usually the main focus of my concentration will be on one or two tables while the other two become somewhat mechanical. After a while, I'll realize my main focus of attention has changed to two other tables. It takes getting used to, but its not too hard. As for reads, I have a basic set of reads that assign all players at my site at 100nl that only change when they prove me wrong. For example, I assume how all opponents play flopped made hands until I note otherwise. At higher stakes against tricky opponents, I have no idea.

if you want to improve your SH skillz, i would suggest no more than 2 tables. i think ping is right to suggest that you have to look at players AND cards, and 6max can be fast action, making 4 tables difficult to keep up with and still maintain your best play. i like to start with 3-4 right away, to see which tables i like, but i usually end up moving down to 2 unless i am fortunate to find 4 great games going on at once. also, if you do go 4 tables, make sure you have high enough screen resolution so that you can tile them with small overlap. if you only have 1024 res, it can seem like you're on a Geocities website with all those goddamn popups...

Originally Posted by SmackinYaUp

I usually play 4 tables of 100NL which isn't too hard. I play very lag at all four tables sometimes. Usually the main focus of my concentration will be on one or two tables while the other two become somewhat mechanical. After a while, I'll realize my main focus of attention has changed to two other tables. It takes getting used to, but its not too hard. As for reads, I have a basic set of reads that assign all players at my site at 100nl that only change when they prove me wrong. For example, I assume how all opponents play flopped made hands until I note otherwise. At higher stakes against tricky opponents, I have no idea.

Thanks for the info. A few questions for you though.

How long have you been playing 6max? I really like your strategy links sticky in this forum and I respect your posts, so I figure you know what you're talking about.

Also, when you say " I assume how all opponents play flopped made hands until I note otherwise" do you mean that, if a paint flop falls and someone reraises you strongly, you put him on a good hand unless he later reveals to be LAG?

Originally Posted by Krieg1984

Thanks for the info. A few questions for you though.

How long have you been playing 6max? I really like your strategy links sticky in this forum and I respect your posts, so I figure you know what you're talking about.

Well thanks. I've been playing shorthanded about a year now, and have been at 100NL for the last six or seven months of that, which is way longer than it should take for most people who play as much as me to move up - so keep that in mind when I'm giving advice.

Originally Posted by Krieg1984

Also, when you say " I assume how all opponents play flopped made hands until I note otherwise" do you mean that, if a paint flop falls and someone reraises you strongly, you put him on a good hand unless he later reveals to be LAG?

Yes, kinda like that. There are certain plays that most players use when they try to slowplay or when they are on a draw and then there are other plays that those shortstack players use when they're bluffing and stuff like that, so I usually play according to those basic guidelines until proven wrong.

And if an all paint flop falls, I'm usually folding even if the reraiser is lag.

I usually do 2. 3 if I'm really focused but I play a lot at night when I'm somewhat tired.

Usually 3. I pretty much go by SmackinYaUp's rule; I assume they play like any other 100-200NL player, until they show me otherwise.

Yea, and lots of player notes helps too

4 tabling

Originally Posted by SmackinYaUp

Yea, and lots of player notes helps too

Perhaps I should start a new thread on this topic, but do you use any conventions for your notes? For example, Vorhaus reccomends typing "CB" or "CB+" when noticing continuation bets from opponents.

I find myself typing rather extensive notes, but for multiple 6MAX tables: I don't think I would enough time for writing all those notes (let alone rereading them during the heat of battle.)

I like to note what street people begin tipping hands.

I usually play three at a time.

6, sometimes more

have u started the notes thread?
If not i'll put one up in hold em strats i was interested in what other people (oh look fnord's here! his input will be good) keep on other players

I play at least 6 and as as many as 8 at once, though I don't use many player specific reads other than PT/poker ace hud stats.

I play one and then as soon as I feel confident with reads on half the table, I open up another. Once I feel confident with read/notes on at least half that table, open up one more. If a table drastically changes with players, I may close one to focus back on reads (reading is my strongest strength in poker).

Tons of notes become helpful because I'm sitting at a table where I have notes on half the players already. After a few orbits of making sure the notes are correct (making sure the tag didn't suddenly start lagging it up) I quickly open up another