One of the best ways to make a profit at online poker is by playing at multiple tables.
This allows you to maximize your profit per hour while always being in the middle of the action.
Poker players that may be new to playing multiple tables can be at risk of bleeding off chips while acclimating.
Here are few tips to help you maintain a good, profitable balance while playing multiple real-money online poker tables.
Start Off Small
When you start multi-tabling, you want to start small. The best thing to do is start with one additional table and as you feel comfortable handling the additional table you can then consider adding more tables.
Being comfortable isn't just about being able to physically handle moving back and forth between tables. It also means that you're able to make solid decisions and turn a profit while doing so.
Some players find the need to install multiple monitors on their computer for multi-tabling purposes.
Tighten Up Your Game
The whole purpose to multi-tabling is to increase your profits. As such, you don't need to worry about making tons of fancy plays or even playing the odds that often.
At lower stakes, a basic solid strategy for many players is sufficient to allow them to grind out a profit while they multi-table.
Granted, you will want to play a strategy based on the opponents at your table. But for many grinders, a solid strategy will allow them to grind profits.
While you are learning to multi-table this will help you maintain your balance. When you multi-table you will not have all your focus in one spot.
As such, a solid strategy allows you to simplify decisions.
Don't Mix Games
All too often you will find players try and mix up the type of games that they play while multi-tabling. For example, they may have a full ring game up while playing a heads-up game and a six-handed game.
These games are too different and require their own poker strategy to be successful. You can easily confuse yourself by playing different games so stay away from doing so.
This goes double for you mixed-game players. Don't play No-Limit Hold'em while also playing Omaha Hi-Lo and Seven Card Stud.
There are too many differences in rules and you're probably going to wear yourself out mentally.
Set a Loss Limit
Multi-tabling can allow you to maximize profits but it can also cost you when you are running bad. Poker odds are never 100% so you will lose some of the time.
You need to set a stop-loss for your play. Limit players should chose a 30 to 40 big bet stop-loss and No-Limit players should set a 3 to 5 buy-in stop-loss.
Of course, this can fluctuate depending on your bankroll. For example, if you have the bankroll to play $1/$2 NL online and are playing 25c/50c, you can stand to lose a few more buy-ins at the low level.
But don't go overboard. Managing your bankroll requires that at some point you will walk away so that you don't devastate your roll.
The Best Shot at Growing Your Bankroll
Learning to play multiple tables online will give you the best shot at growing your bankroll. It is better to gain $10 over five tables in an hour than to earn $30 an hour playing one table.
The main component to multi-tabling is to not overtax yourself and play the number of tables that allows you to play comfortably. If that means only playing 3 or 4 tables at one time, then so be it.
There are no rules that state you need to be able to 12- or 15-table online. Leave that to the online ballers that like to show off. You need to focus on playing the game that allows you to make the most money over the long term.
