Newbie: What percentage of hands do multi-table players play?

[evensteven]

Have this newbie question about how to play several tables:

Don't get mad at me now, because I am only curious.

Is the "main reason" that multitable players can play 4-12 tables and still make a profit, that they play only a very small percentage of their hands?
(And thereby really only play one or two tables at any one time, but with much better hands?)

Is this how it is done?

(OK, I also know there is skins, programs and tools that can help. There is good articles about those things here at 2+2. I do understand that with experience comes good judgement and fast decisions)

[BigBadBabar]

hi even, welcome to the forums. 2+2 in general and especially the microlimits forums advocate a 'tight' style of play, meaning, as you said, playing only a small % of hands preflop (the good 20-30 percent or so, with some variations obviously), and playing those aggressively, which should in the long run yield a profit. by playing lots of tables at once you can help the long run get there more quickly, plus a lot of people are clearing bonuses at the same time. hope this helps!

bbb

[milesdyson]

[ QUOTE ]
Is the "main reason" that multitable players can play 4-12 tables and still make a profit, that they play only a very small percentage of their hands?

[/ QUOTE ]
no.

the main reason is because playing fewer tables involves a bunch of "dead time," where you could be playing additional hands and making additional decisions. of course, the downside is when you have to divide your attention up between 4+ tough hands, and of course you attempt to play a number of tables that minimizes this and also minimizes dead time.

after getting the basics, anyone should be able to play two tables with no problems at all. then you just continue adding tables as you develop

[evensteven]

Thanks Babar,

It is a good forum, though I do not have much to contribute with yet.

[evensteven]

Thanks for your answer miles,

I guess you are right that one improves ones capacity over time.

I think there is a real problem for me when several tables needs to be adressed at the very same time. There is often just not enough time to take all information in accont before a decision must be made. (Like who raised, who often bluff, who is a bully, who hesitated, what different hands could someone bee drawing too, pot odds, odds).
In these situations I often just check instead of raise and I call instead of raise/fold. = mistakes.

That is why I wonder if multitable players really see the flop/turn/river on several tables at one time. I think it must be very easy to make mistakes that way. I know for sure that I loose a lot of money that way.

[Bilgefisher]

From my newbie perspective I definatly agree with milesdyson.
After my first 5k hands I went to two table. Mostly because I now see more hands for the same time period. Now I find I can 2 table and still read a forum post now and then. Eventually I'll move up to 3 tables, but right now I think 2 tables is great for learning.

edit: Forgot to add. Playing 2 tables helps clear those bonuses much, much faster. Bonuses are what keeps us newbies breathing. For instance, I cleared party pokers bonus and broke even over about 2k hands. Earned 100 dollar bonus for my effort. Thats huge IMO.

[tbart]

I just switched from 2 tables to 4 recently at .50/1 and noticed that my winrate has dropped significantly, but im actually pulling a slightly bigger profit due to the fact that im playing double the hands I used to in the same amount of time. I really like to think through decision's especilly post flop, and it's difficult to do when you got multiple post flop hands going on at once, but another agrument for playing more tables is simply more experience.

[Xhad]

[ QUOTE ]
I just switched from 2 tables to 4 recently at .50/1 and noticed that my winrate has dropped significantly, but im actually pulling a slightly bigger profit due to the fact that im playing double the hands I used to in the same amount of time.

[/ QUOTE ]

This is exactly how it works for pretty much everyone; if you're going to play more than two tables you have to accept that your BB/100 WILL deteriorate to some degree, but hopefully the extra hands make up the difference.