32Red Poker Blog

The advantages of multi-tabling

The idea of multi-tabling has become increasingly popular in online poker. What is it, and is it a good idea? Multi-tabling embraces the idea that the correct way to play Hold’em is to fold most hands before the flop. Therefore, each one table is idle for much of the time, and it becomes possible to play on more than one table.

How many tables can you play?

If you are planning to add more tables, it is worth increasing steadily as some practice is required, but you will quickly be able to add more tables. I usually play 6 six-handed ring games at the same table, but the recent software improvements on the 32Red online poker site have allowed me to increase to eight tables with some ease. 

If you are going to play a few tables, it is worth exploring the table layout that you are most comfortable with, that will allow you to not make the fatal mis-clicks, and will help you to keep an even pace at all the tables. The best way used to be to tile the tables, so that you can see each of the overlapping tables at any one time, but 32Red Poker have just introduced an even easier option.  If you choose the mini-view, you can now fit six tables together into one screen, even on a laptop. The ability to see all of your tables at any one time makes multi-tabling a lot easier, and allows you to keep complete control over all those flashing tables.  The mini-view tables may seem a little small at first, but you will quickly get used to them. All of the features on the table are still there, and are surprisingly still easy to understand, given the reduced size of the table.

How should you adapt your play?

I feel one of the great advantages of cranking up the number of tables is that it enforces the right style of play on your game. You will no longer feel impatient in your wait for a hand. With hands popping up all over the place, it becomes necessary to play only the best starting hands.  In a six-handed game, my general guideline is that I fold KQo in first position, but really open up my range on the button.

If you are playing a few tables simultaneously, you will know as soon as you start to play too loosely, as things will threaten to get out of control. It is a very satisfying way to choose your starting hands, as it means you will feel you are continually looking down at quality hands. Indeed, you will now find that you are looking down at aces a few times every hour, and multi-tabling becomes a very good way of practicing over and over again how to play the real premium hands.

Drilling the right style

One of the reasons that online poker has produced some sensational players is the one in which it allows you to play a massive body of hands in a short space of time. Multi-tabling of course is integral to this, and you should aim to really build up a big bank of hands. It will allow you to constantly adapt your game, and monitor how you are playing with certain hands in certain positions. If you can use one of the programs like Poker Tracker in conjunction with playing all these tables, your game will improve very quickly.

Are there any disadvantages?

It does of course take some quickness of mind, and a good deal of practice, to build up so many tables. By dividing your attention between so many games, you do sacrifice some focus on each game. If you multi-table, you cannot expect to build up the same quality of reads on each player that you might in ‘live’ play. However, if you are a winning player, this loss is more than made up for by being able to play so many games at once.

A word of advice

When playing so many tables, you are likely to be faced with more than one hand flashing at you at any one time. It is tempting to first of all deal with your big hands, and make sure you quickly make the bet or raise. Be careful to maintain an even pace- an observant opponent might pick up on the fact that those tables where you act quickly are more likely to be those where you hold a big hand. You can get round this by mixing things up, and deliberately delaying on the tables where you hold the best of it.

Stuart Rutter’s Multi-Tabling Challenge

To highlight the idea of multi-tabling, 32Red Poker are launching a multi-table challenge, where four different $1 buy-in tournaments will start concurrently, allowing you to enter all four. The small buy-in means this is a great opportunity to give multi-tabling a try, as you are not putting too much at risk. If anyone is quick and skillful enough to reach four out of four final tables, they will receive a $32 bonus chip!

Good luck at the tables, and most of all, have fun!