The ability to multi table is one of the main reasons for online poker’s overwhelming popularity in relation to live games. I have yet to find a casino that lets me play six tables at once. Besides the fact that multi tabling passes the time more effectively, it also allows players the opportunity to increase their win rate. Hourly earnings are much higher if you play 6 tables of 25NL than you could likely expect from a live .50/1 or 1/2 NL game. This is because not only are you playing more tables, but because the action is incredibly faster playing online than it is live. While a definite benefit to any online player, there are pitfalls to multi tabling as well.
Benefits of multi tabling
The benefits of multi tabling far outweigh the downfalls, if you want them to. The first and most obvious benefit is the ability to multiply your win rate. It makes much more sense to play six tables than it does to play one table, provided it does not hurt your game. In addition to the additional profits are the other financial benefits seen outside of actual winnings. These include increased rakeback and bonus earnings as well as a faster accumulation of whichever type of rewards the site you are playing on gives to its players. Aside from the monetary benefits is the elimination of boredom from playing. Many players get burnt our after playing a few tables for an extended period of time. This burn out can be, at least partially, alleviated by multi tabling. Your mind is always thinking and reacting at a higher frequency when you multi table, which in effect eliminates the space occupied by boredom.
Pitfalls of multi tabling
The problem with multi tabling is that there are far more pitfalls than benefits. These detrimental side effects can wipe out all of the benefits you derive from multi tabling. What’s even worse is that poor multi tabling habits can eventually turn you into a robot-like player that eliminates all conscious decision making and replaces it with predetermined actions. One of the biggest keys to becoming a successful poker player is having the ability to adjust to different games and circumstances. When you start playing too many tables at a time you lose all adjustment capability. It is virtually impossible to play fourteen or more tables at a time and still play as well as you would at five or six tables. The reason that players end up destroying themselves is greed for the additional monetary benefits achieved by mass multi tabling. They think that the rake back is so good that they don’t need to worry about their decreased win rate. These players then keep piling on tables until they are at their limit. Sure, the rakeback might be great, but if you are making $40/hour in rakeback while losing $50/hour through actual play is it really all that great? Of course not. You want to find a happy medium. This is best done through trial and error. Measure your win rate when you play six tables, compare it to when you play ten tables, and then factor your rakeback and bonus earnings into the equation. One set amount of tables will help you realize your greatest profit potential.
Tags: Online Poker, poker multi tabling, poker strategy