One unique feature of online poker is the facility to play two or more online tables at once, either at one site or several different sites. Many experienced players like to take advantage of this opportunity. Indeed, double World Poker Tour winner Erik Lindgren says that early in his career he used to play eight tables at once! Although multi-table players recognise that they won’t be able to play quite so well on two or more tables as they could on a single table, they figure that although they may not earn as much per table, their overall hourly rate will be improved. For example, a player who is able to win two big bets per hour playing at a single table may choose to play two tables instead. Although it is extremely unlikely that they will now be able to make two big bets per hour at each table, they may still very well be able to increase their overall hourly rate to two and a half or three big bets. Furthermore, if they are actually able to play more or less as well on two lower-limit tables as they can on one larger-limit table, their overall variance should be lower, thereby reducing the chance of a prolonged downswing in their bankroll. In essence, by playing more than one table you are arriving at the ‘long run’ faster than you would be otherwise.

Playing more than one table is a good way of avoiding the frustration that can arise when the game is slow or you encounter a long series of unplayable starting hands. By playing two or more tables, you are actually less likely to fall into the trap of playing too many starting hands, since there is enough activity to keep you occupied, and you can avoid getting sucked into playing marginal hands just to combat the tedium of having to fold hand after hand. However, it is important to recognise that if you are only a break-even player when you play at a single table, then you should avoid playing simultaneous tables, since you will most likely become a losing player.

If you do choose to play more than one table, then you should first ensure that the tables are not lined up precisely one on top of the other on your screen, but instead overlap in some way, otherwise you may find yourself accidentally raising on one table when you meant to fold and vice-versa (UltimateBet actually provides an excellent MiniViewâ„¢ feature, which allows players to play multiple tables with no overlapping whatsoever). You may in fact wish to experiment with adjusting your screen resolution in order to fit two tables at once on your desktop (in Windows go to ‘Control Panel’, then to ‘Display’, then to ‘Settings’ and adjust your screen resolution as required; l024×768 is probably adequate for most players, depending on the size of your monitor). Some regular multi-table players (myself included!) have even set up their computers with two monitors and a dual monitor graphics card. With this set-up it is easier to focus on multiple games, perhaps even playing four or more tables at once.

Many players dislike playing simultaneously on two tables for the very simple reason that they find it difficult to keep track of the action, and struggle to cope with the constant barrage of betting decisions. One clear disadvantage of playing on more than one table is that you will miss out on witnessing many of the hands in which you are not participating. You may therefore struggle to pick up on the tendencies of your opponents, perhaps failing to spot that one player is a habitual bluffer, or that another has purchased three re-buys and is completely on tilt. If you play in games in which the players are of more or less equal ability, then playing in two games may not have much of a negative effect on your hourly expectation, but if there are one or two players who are of sub-par standard, then playing two tables hampers your chances of identifying those players and picking on their weaknesses. You should also bear in mind that it is much more difficult to make proper, reliable notes on your opponents for future use when you are playing two tables at once.

Furthermore, when playing multiple tables, some of your actions will also inevitably be rushed ‘reflex’ decisions rather than rationally thought through, which could prove very dangerous unless you have an excellent fundamental understanding of the game in which you are playing. Multi-table players are also almost certainly much more susceptible to allowing their blinds to be stolen or being bluffed, either because they are more likely to use the advance-action boxes and tip their hand, or because they are perhaps focusing on a key hand elsewhere and don’t have the time or inclination to work out whether an opponent might be running a bluff. Conversely, if someone whom you know is playing multiple tables at once puts a strong play on you, the chances are that they really do have the goods!

If you are prone to going on tilt, you should probably avoid playing multiple tables - the action is so fast and furious that it is especially hard to keep a rein on your emotions after a couple of bad beats. Playing two stud games at once can also be very problematic - many players struggle to remember the folded upcards on one table, let alone two at once! And trying to cope with several short-handed games at once would also be living a little too close to the edge for most players. Finally, it is rather inadvisable to play a hi/lo game and a hi game at the same time - it is all too easy to mix up the tables and raise with the nut low in the hi game!

Next time you find yourself playing two tables, ask yourself - ‘Which is the weaker game and would I be better off dropping the other table and just focusing on that one?’ Or to look at it another way, ‘If I’m playing one table myself would I prefer that my opponents were all focusing on that table or each playing two or three tables at once?’ When you are working the lobby looking for a game, you may wish to pay particular attention to any tables that include several players who are trying to play multiple games at once - they may prove to be good opponents. And if you do decide to play two tables, it is well worth considering dropping down in limit to minimise your risk, for example a $2/$4 player might choose to play two $1/$2 tables, or a $5/$10 player, two $3/$6 tables.