help me move down - advice needed

[Marlow]

Up until very recently, I have only played 1 table at a time. I have played as high as 3-6, but spent most of my time before an extended break playing 2-4. When I started playing again, my BR allowed for me to play .5-1 and 1-2. For two months now, I've been playing 2 tables with no help from a HUD.

Last week, I started playing three tables at a new site (FT), with the benefit of Realtime HUD. My goal short-term is to beat the game 4-tabling. Well, my game has dropped off pretty significantly with the third table. I find myself making very hasty calls and raises a few times a session, which is more than enough to put me in the red. To preserve my roll while learning, I've moved all the way down to .25-.5 which I've never played before. I'm trying to work out ways to play in a little bit more of a zen mindset, but it's obvious that these games play significantly differently than .5-1 and 1-2 do. And honestly, I'm most comfortable with the style of play common at 2-4 and 3-6.

So here's my question. I typically play a 23/18ish style but often change gears and play like a 33/25 (have not been doing too much of this with third table, tho). Am I better off tightening the conservative end of my range? If so, what would you recommend given my situation? Am I best off sticking to ABC play with little room for bluffing? Of course, my stats could be OK, but I'm just getting killed by bad play on later streets...

Also, any advice about habits/mindset for multitabling is welcome.

[dragonystic]

dont tighten up just to add more tables. you'll get the best winrate playing your best poker at however many tables you can handle.

dunno if you already do this, but listen to music while you play. its weird, but i can play more tables comfortably when im listening to music. im more settled and relaxed.

in any case, just slowly work up playing more tables, dont jump into 3 or 4 all at once. it takes a while. play no more than 2 until you are totally comfortable with that, then and only then add a third. and so on. it would take me several months before i could add a single table. so be patient.

[Marlow]

Also, I should have added- what do people focus on between hands? The eyestrain was considerable from playing on more/smaller tables (could be the mods I'm using, too - I need to experiment). I found that I need to start looking away from the monitor between action after about 2.5 hours.

[DWarrior]

I just slowly destroy my eyes, haven't had computer eyestrain since I was about 12.

[TianYuan]

[ QUOTE ]
Also, I should have added- what do people focus on between hands? The eyestrain was considerable from playing on more/smaller tables (could be the mods I'm using, too - I need to experiment). I found that I need to start looking away from the monitor between action after about 2.5 hours.

[/ QUOTE ]
I would get a good monitor so you don't have to use smaller tables.

I used to 9 table (and even 12 table) on stars with tiled tables, and I know what you're saying about eyestrain.

2 monitors with 8 tables is much easier on the eyes, or just 1 good monitor (I use the Samsung SyncMaster 204b which I bought from the Pokerstars FPP store) and 4 tables full sized (which is what I'm doing now).

I was 12 tabling on my second day of poker tho, I guess coming from playing starcraft day in and day out playing many poker tables didn't feel that hard, plus I was a major nit [img]/images/graemlins/smile.gif[/img]

[CybrPunk]

[ QUOTE ]
Also, I should have added- what do people focus on between hands? The eyestrain was considerable from playing on more/smaller tables (could be the mods I'm using, too - I need to experiment). I found that I need to start looking away from the monitor between action after about 2.5 hours.

[/ QUOTE ]


What kind of monitor do you use? If it's a CRT, that could explain the eye strain. Studies have shown that LCD monitors cause much less strain on the eyes because they operate at 60Hz, whereas many CRT monitors have refresh rates much higher that cause your eyes to have to refocus more often resulting in eye strain and headaches.

[Marlow]

[ QUOTE ]
What kind of monitor do you use? If it's a CRT, that could explain the eye strain. Studies have shown that LCD monitors cause much less strain on the eyes because they operate at 60Hz, whereas many CRT monitors have refresh rates much higher that cause your eyes to have to refocus more often resulting in eye strain and headaches.

[/ QUOTE ]

I have a 21 inch Dell flatscreen. I also checked last night and it is indeed set to 60Hz.

Another possibility was my setup. I think all the dark graphics was a little too much for my eyes.



I'm playing around with different mods now. Going back to a green table and using more traditional cards. I think I need the contrast. We'll see...

[RepulseMonkey]

Dark/sombre graphics are better for your eyes(excessive screen brightness/contrast is probably the main cause of your eye strain).
Not true you want your screen refresh to be a lot higher - 75/85hz is much better for your eyes than 60hz. also less headaches etc.
LCD's generally cause less strain because they're not pulsing out radiation (cathode rays) at you.

[Corpsebean]

You're better off playing however many tables you can handle while still playing optimally IMHO. If you're currently winning at a good rate and still trying to improve your game then adding more tables at the cost of your current play style, as well as real non-robotic thought process for your difficult hands, is a very bad idea.

Personally I've realized I can only play 6 tables at a limit I am very comfortable at, and four absolute max while trying to play a new level. You really just have to find the level you're optimal at, and that takes experimenting for everyone.

Main point though - Unless you're playing uNL I think tightening up simply in order to add more tables probably isn't the way to go. As dragon said it will just come naturally after a while, so give it some time.

[Marlow]

So based on what you and Dragon are saying, it sounds like I should actually move back UP to .5-1 or 1-2, and then add a table there once I'm completely ready. Glad I posted here, because this never would have occurred to me...