My problem with Multi-tabling

[robthedlphin]

I'm sure I'll get slammed for this, but I want to offer up my opinion about multi-tabling online.
First, I understand the advantages of doing it. If your performance at each table is 75% of playing only one table, your still making 50% more by being at that second table. You get to play more hands, and I'm sure it is much more exciting than only playing 1 table.
But this is my opinion: Multi-tabling online is analogous to sitting down at a live game, flipping out your cell phone, and talking on it during the whole game.
I can sometimes tell when someone is doing this because they get very distracted. they take long amounts of time to bet--sometimes taking the whole betting period until they are auto-folded, then coming back to the table 2 seconds later, only to do it again. When this happens I'll go to the lobby to take a look and what do you know! There's this person at 2 other tables!
I want to get as many hands in per hour as possible at one table. I consider it very rude to take up my time, then be auto folded after 30 seconds-1 minute are up. The bottom line is those who do this cost me money.
Opinions?

[junYUN]

i don't mind if people multi-table..i do it myself. i definitely do not take 30seconds-minute on ANY of my decisions...as i have all the tables laid out where you can see obviously when teh action is to me...

[2Tone]

I try to be respectful and not delay any of the tables I'm playing. Usually, it's no problem, but admit that if I have a tough decision to make one, the other table might have to wait a moment or two for my action.

But I multitabeling is simply the status quo nowadays. There's simply no way I could clear Party's 7-day bonuses without it.

Do you think that you might actually be making more money from players too distracted to pick up on betting patterns, take decent notes, inadvertently fold, etc.?

[Talking Poker]

I'm with junYUN. I don't mind it at all, and I'm glad when my opponents multi-table. As you said, if they are earning LESS per table, then you should be making MORE by playing with them.

I think your logic is good, but you're conclusion is all wrong. Them autofolding themself and not being able to fully pay attention - these are all good things for you. Using your numbers, would you rather sit at a table of opponents who are earning 75% as much they could, or 100%? Obviously you'd rather play with the 75% guys.

I try not to ever have more tables open than I can handle, but once in a while, I get very involved in multiple hands at once, and I respond a little bit slowly (usually I'm autoplaying plenty quickly). I don't feel the least bit of guilt about it when that happens though. That's what the time limit is for.

[PShabi]

I'm sure I've pissed people off occasionally. But, I'm folding most of the hands anyway pre-flop. Post flop at a couple of tables can get a little sticky and I do drain the timers occasionally. Like TP said, that's why they're there.

One thing about my multi-tabling that I was going to make a post on a while ago:

I cannot play 3 tables. I've played up to 4 in a full ring, but my winrate sucks. I am making more playing 2 tables than 3 at six-max so far. Yeah, I haven't been playing that long, I know.

It changed for me last Monday when I dropped about 50BB 3-tabling. I cut back to 2 the next day and won a few pots with some awesome reads. I made a killer call in a huge pot with AK that I know I wouldn't have made without a specific read. It made me realize that these are plays I just don't make with 3 tables up. I think I was getting run over a lot. I was making cookie cutter plays and not playing my opponents as much.

At the risk of sounding arrogant or full or myself, I have made some fucking awesome plays in the last week that definitely were "by the book" based on a feel and reads of opponents.

I'm sticking to two tables from now on. If I can solidify 2BB/100 hands playing 3/6 short, I'll take that cash. $20-$25/hr not including rakeback, which looks like it could be insane. Sweet!

[robthedlphin]

Sorry for the gross generalizations:

Let’s say I sit at a table with two people who are multi-tabling. Both of these people are running approximately at 75% of their potential. Now, let’s say that both of these people are taking 5 seconds extra each time they bet, fold, etc. I say 5 seconds, because I’m sure they will be auto folding a lot and will not be 30 seconds late in doing this a lot of the time.

Those players see about 25% of the flops, 15-20% of the turns, and see about 10-15% of the rivers. (very gross generalization, I know)

Out of 100 hands, I’m missing out on 5 seconds for each flop = 500 seconds
5 seconds for the turn = 75-100 seconds
5 seconds for the river = 50-75 seconds

500 + 75 + 50 = 625 seconds

625 (2 players) = 1250 seconds

1250/60 seconds per minute = around 21 minutes extra for 100 hands

Now, each of these guys is playing at 75%. So say they normally win 10% of all hands dealt to them. Now for every 100 hands they are dealt they will lose an extra 2.5 hands each, or 5 all together. These hands are distributed evenly amongst the players so that I get 1/10 of them. This means out of 100 hands I’m going to get ½ hand. This means that I need to play for 42 minutes to win 1 extra hand--just because they take an extra 5 seconds to bet each time.

[2Tone]

But keep in mind, that's per table. If you play four tables at once, then you only need to play an extra 10.5 minutes.

[Talking Poker]

....but I don't think so.

For starters, I multi-table, and no way am I 5 seconds slower per action (on average) than the average player. I can't prove it, but I would venture a guess that I am actually FASTER than the average player, even including the rare occasions when I get caught up in something and the clock starts ticking.

Of course, that's just me. In an extreme example, I could see a multi-tabler taking an extra 5 seconds per action maybe 10% of the time... so really, that's only an extra 1/2 second per action. Rerun your numbers and you'll want to play with the multi-tablers.

If you don't, so be it. Change tables.

One more piece of advice: You'll never be successful at poker if you don't learn to be patient.... This is as good a place as any to start.

[robthedlphin]

Maybe it's the website I'm at then. I don't think Pokerroom lets you see multiple tables at the same time. I think most people stay at one table until the other table(s) starts flashing at the bottom of their screen, then switch, look and think, and bet.

[GeoffM]

I can comfortably fit 2 tables on my monitor at Pokerroom. Just gotta play with the settings a bit.

[PShabi]

No, no, no. You need to change the resolution on your monitor. People generally see all of their tables simultaneously while multitabling.

[PShabi]

Uhh, never mind what I said about 3-tables. Disregard that totally.