How many tables?

[jackvance]

How many 6max tables can you guys do at once? Two tables is a breeze for me, but at 3 tables I completely lose it and play teh suck and get a headache etc. Is there also any reason someone can think of why it's so hard for me to go from 2 tables to 3? I'd really like to slowly move up to 3-4 tables but I can't even bring myself to it anymore since it always wrecks me so much..

[Renton]

I can do 5.

Gabe, DoGGz, ilikeaces and others have been known to run 8 or 9.

[jackvance]

Just to be on the same page, 8 - 9 shorthanded tables?

[Renton]

Just to be on the same page, 8 - 9 shorthanded tables?

yes

800 hands/hour its ridiculous i know

I have enough of a hard time believing I can handle the 450 hands per hour of 8 tabling full ring.

[gabe]

im posting a 9 tabling pic in blog today sometime

[r8ed]

6max is about reads. If your reads start to suffer by adding tables, then don't bother. I only do two right now but I've done 3 and 4 when trying to blast through a bonus. When I went above two I was basing most decisions on my cards only.

[jackvance]

im posting a 9 tabling pic in blog today sometime

Heh, sounds like something I would want to see. What is the URL?

[Lukie]

I have enough of a hard time believing I can handle the 450 hands per hour of 8 tabling full ring.

It actually goes by incredibly slow, and I'm thinking of buying a second 30" monitor just for my full ring ventures. But 800/hr, I couldn't handle that, yet. Then again when I first started 4-tabling, I thought that shit was CRAZY.

[jackvance]

Mere 3-tabling kills me. I think it's because my game is far from routine still. I need time to figure this and that, catch tiny mistakes and correct them, etc. Maybe given time this can improve though.

[gabe]

im posting a 9 tabling pic in blog today sometime

Heh, sounds like something I would want to see. What is the URL?

gimme an hour or so to get it up, about to head back to my place

[aislephive]

I usually do 4-6. More hands/hr = more $$.

[alias2211]

awhile ago, gabe encouraged me to bite the bullet and get some bigass screens. i finally very recently picked up a new system w/ 2x 1600x1200 monitors. i purchased the new system w/ the specific purpose of increasing the number of concurrent tables. i have only had the system for a very short time, but i have to say, for anyone looking to increase tables, you have to increase screen res so you don't have overlap. it makes all the difference in the world, that is my first impression. up until now, i was playing on a screen res of 1280x760 so i would only be comfortable 2x tabling with each table pulled into opposite corners. now, i can easily tile 4x tables per screen w/ NO overlap and it makes is almost easier than playing 2x tables w/ slight overlap. also, w/ 2 screens, i can even have PT, the lobby window and even FTR in a browser and not get frustrated whatsoever. it is teh shit. i will give some more thoughts about moving up number of tables in a couple of weeks, but for now, i'm quite pleased to say the least.

so vance, i think 3 tables would have also been a headache for me until i got the new screens w/ higher res. now, i think it will be easier to 4x table than the way i was running 2 tables before, if that makes sense.

[Cocco_Bill]

4-6 6-max

[r8ed]

awhile ago, gabe encouraged me to bite the bullet and get some bigass screens. i finally very recently picked up a new system w/ 2x 1600x1200 monitors. i purchased the new system w/ the specific purpose of increasing the number of concurrent tables. i have only had the system for a very short time, but i have to say, for anyone looking to increase tables, you have to increase screen res so you don't have overlap. it makes all the difference in the world, that is my first impression. up until now, i was playing on a screen res of 1280x760 so i would only be comfortable 2x tabling with each table pulled into opposite corners. now, i can easily tile 4x tables per screen w/ NO overlap and it makes is almost easier than playing 2x tables w/ slight overlap. also, w/ 2 screens, i can even have PT, the lobby window and even FTR in a browser and not get frustrated whatsoever. it is teh shit. i will give some more thoughts about moving up number of tables in a couple of weeks, but for now, i'm quite pleased to say the least.

so vance, i think 3 tables would have also been a headache for me until i got the new screens w/ higher res. now, i think it will be easier to 4x table than the way i was running 2 tables before, if that makes sense.

When I try to lock 3+ tables on my screen on party, I can't see things as well and it causes eye strain. I have a 19" CRT (Trinitron) at 1280x760. What monitor did you get and do you think it will resolve the issue? I've been thinking about it for a while but keep putting it off.

[Cocco_Bill]

I got the Dell 2001fp which works fine for 4 tables. I would really need another one, but I have my other graphic card outlet connected to my HDTV.

[biondino]

I am up to 4-tabling now, though I don't always choose to do it - it depends how distracted I know I'm going to be (if I am sitting on the sofa with the gf, laptop in hand, I know she's going to chat to me from time to time and I need to be able to respond even slightly coherently).

I have a 1680x1050 screen, so I can't quite 4-table sans overlap but it pretty much does what I need. If I three table then I have a hand little window left over for chat programs etc.

[Iwind]

Mainly to 8 tablers: How much does your winrate drop when switching from 4 to 8? I'm doing 4, it's all my laptop can handle, but I think 4 gives me plenty of action

[alias2211]

When I try to lock 3+ tables on my screen on party, I can't see things as well and it causes eye strain. I have a 19" CRT (Trinitron) at 1280x760. What monitor did you get and do you think it will resolve the issue? I've been thinking about it for a while but keep putting it off.

i got a dell system w/ a 20" FP, and then i also ordered another 20" FP. both monitors are capable of 1600x1200 res, which is the minium required to tile 4x tables on the screen w/ NO overlap. i chose not to get widescreens, because the 16:9 aspect ratio shortened the height of the native res enough to force slight overlap back into the equation. in all i spent about $1250 and made almost all of that back the first night of 4x tabling LOL.

as for the eye strain comment, some people complain that higher res = more strain. this is because, even though the image is actually sharper at higher res, they appear to be 'smaller' - i.e. the same 800x600 poker table window will appear larger in size when at 1280-760 res than it will at 1600x1200. but, IMO, the large area of the screen and increased sharpness more than compensate. you might just go to an electronics store and toggle around res settings on a bigger monitor so you can see for yourself. also, flat panel displays reflect less glare than round CRT screens (you didn't specify if your CRT is flat or not). that might help some, too. for me it wasn't so much about eye strain as it was all that fukkin window management going on too low of a screen res. that was what was messing me up.

here is a good deal on really good 20" DEll FP, ends up being just under $400 after taxes incl. shipping:

http://dealmac.com/deals/Dell-Ultra-...ed/116995.html

you do need a video card that can handle the larger res and multiple video outs, too, in case you decide to for for two monitors. so you likely can't just go get a bigger display and have it 'just work' you need the card to power the higher res, too. of course gamers will tell you to spend hundreds on them, but for poker software, you don't need anything really fancy or expensive. but if you play WoW or whatever, you might want to get something that allows for more frames per second, more acceleration.

[Renton]

Mainly to 8 tablers: How much does your winrate drop when switching from 4 to 8? I'm doing 4, it's all my laptop can handle, but I think 4 gives me plenty of action

It depends on if you are talking about shorthanded or not.

When I moved from 4 to 8 tables full ring my winrate wasn't fazed.

[fasin8ing]

I just started 4 tabling (full). I play 25 NL. I think alot of it has to do with you standard of play. If you have a set strategy and have discipline to play certain hands you can go 4 tables +. If you are going to sit there and play 4 draw hands at once then obviously it will be difficult. If Gabe was multitabling yesterday like im sure he was, you would notice all his hands were somewhat standard PF play which is easier to play when you multitable. If you are playing all these crazy hands from the blinds, suited Aces, connectors and all that jazz its going to overwhelm you if your not used to it. It takes some getting used to. 6 max could be even more difficult because you can loosen up a little with your starting hand requirements. GL.

[jackvance]

6 max could be even more difficult because you can loosen up a little with your starting hand requirements. GL.

My only longhanded experience comes from MTTs, but I'd say 6max is more difficult more multiple reasons:
- more hands per hours (100 as opposed to 60, generally)
- looser starting hand requirements
- more read dependant

But I'm thinking, after reading the very useful replies here, that the orientation on my screen might indeed be a factor. If I think back, I totally lose the sense of "what is happening at what table" when I move to 3. If I want to start playing more tables, it would probably be a good idea to either attach the monitor from my desktop PC to my laptop and put the extra table(s) there, or increase the resolution on my laptop. It's a typical 17" broadscreen; I just checked and it can still go higher than I am using it for now.

[johnny_fish]

I 8-table 6max now and I might consider adding 2 more if the Party software wasn't so bad. I also 12-tabled at Full Tilt to clear a bonus..

[Harry]

I started off 2-tabling, then that became boring and I began 2-tabling. 2-tabling gets boring when you are just playing poker, so I added a third table. This was hard at first, but eventually I got used to it, and now I can 4 table if I focus.

I run 1280x1024, so there is a decent amound of overlap with 4 tables.

[gabe]

i 12 table at 3/6 and try to play less when im at 5/10 or lately when im taking shots at 10/20

[TerryToma]

im posting a 9 tabling pic in blog today sometime

hey gabe what is your vpip/pfr?? if you lagging at 9 tables that must be pretty intense. being a 15/7 nit might not be too difficult though.

[TerryToma]

Mainly to 8 tablers: How much does your winrate drop when switching from 4 to 8? I'm doing 4, it's all my laptop can handle, but I think 4 gives me plenty of action

i 8 table 100NL full ring.. i play much better when i'm 8 tabling.. i loosen up too much 4 tabling because i get bored.. and start playing bad hands and draws where i shouldnt..

i highly recommend getting 2 1600x1200 monitors.. it does wonders to the winrate.

[TerryToma]

now, i can easily tile 4x tables per screen w/ NO overlap and it makes is almost easier than playing 2x tables w/ slight overlap. also, w/ 2 screens, i can even have PT, the lobby window and even FTR in a browser and not get frustrated whatsoever. it is teh shit.

thats true.. i like to fill up my first 7 tables quickly, have a left over 800x600 area for a browser/lobby/pt/gametime+ all stacked on top of each other.. once i get the HUD up on all my screens i finally get the 8th table running.

[gabe]

im 21/16 ish, sometimes more sometimes less

[andy-akb]

I play 4 or 8 tables of 5max depending on how much attention I want to pay to the game. With 4 tables I can be posting here, talking on aim, etc, with 8 it takes up both montors so I cant really do much else nor would I want to. I run at about 21/15 and currently play mostly at the ongame network doing a bunch of bonuses.

If I were playing at party where the tables are resizeable I think I could play atleast 9, maybe more. And at stars where the games are slower I dont think 10+ tabling would be that tough to get used to.

[gutshot]

On prima, I find it challenging playing 4 tables of 6 max. The games move very quickly there for the most part. At Stars, 4 tables is a breeze. I may try 6 tonight there.

[euphoricism]

I can 6 table 6max, but I have a lot of multitabling experience (8+ tables of LHE are no problem). But I'm also playing 50NL and nutcamping, so I'm understandably a nit.

[LimpinAintEZ]

I can do 6 tables at full ring with the 1280x760 res that everyone is talking about - I can 5 table 6 max but only at Full Tilt (because I can put my character anywhere and it makes it easy to see whats going on) - When I first started doing 4 tables it was nuts for me, but once I got used to it I think it actually helps me a lot - I tend to play some weak crap out of boredom or in the effort to promote a weak table image - But then i realized at 25nl you don't really need to have any table image so for me it forces me to tighten up and play better cards, which really makes a difference for me - Reads suffer, so notetaking is big (i loaded gametime+ but don't know how to run it - different topic i guess)

[pgil]

i would suggest getting the normal two tables open, and getting a really good feel for the tables/players. then, once you know what is going on on these two, open up a third. it really makes it a lot easier to only be dealing with one unknown table when first making the switch, in my experience at least.

you could also try making the third table a full ring table until you get used to juggling three windows. one session should do it.

[lolzzz_321]

8 at full tilt at the moment.

[aislephive]

9 on Party 1/2, but I've moved up to 2/4 so I'll go back down to 6 tables for the time being to get my feet wet.

[Irisheyes]

9 on Party 1/2, but I've moved up to 2/4 so I'll go back down to 6 tables for the time being to get my feet wet.

Hey move back down ASAP you're not allowed move up without me.

[neophyte]

I usually play 4-5 tables.
I've got 1600x1200 res also and that helps alot.
If you seem to get eye strain/ head aches when they try to multi-table it might not be the amount of tables or even the resolution, its normally the refresh rate of the monitor that gives you those symptoms.
It doesn't matter on a Flat Panel LCD, but on a CRT monitor, if you crank up your res but it can only go at 60hz refresh that will cause those problems.
85hz and above is great, no flicker.
My viewsonic CRT can do 75hz at 1600x1200 and theres no flicker.

[Fnord]

3-4 tables.

Once I add a 5th table, my game suffers a lot.

I'm also cycling through tables pretty fast. When I used to play for a living I would set a timer and drop the worst table every hour (unless all 4 were very good games.)

[Harry]

3-4 tables.
When I used to play for a living I would set a timer and drop the worst table every hour (unless all 4 were very good games.)

That's an interesting idea.

[Jethro87]

Just got my 2007FP. Its quite a diff from my old 15" lcd samsumg. Neways, i moved up from 4 tables of 6 max to 9. lol. It is quite different, but with party scripts it makes it much easier.