When Playing Online...

When you guys play online how many tables do you usually end up playing? Also, are you screwing around on the net or watching a show while playing?

I tend to be easily distracted or get bored when I'm playing. I usually play two PLO tables while watching a downloaded show or talking to several people on instant messaging. But this is serious -EV since I do not have any read on the players I'm against... What can help to fight the urge to multi-task while playing?

I typically play 6 tables and focus intensely on them, so 2 tables while doing other things would be easy.

Heck I could play two PLO tables while having sex, watching a movie and doing some math homework. I'd be more worried about poor sexual performance then I would making bad poker players from being distracted.

When I was a cash game player 3-4 tables was ideal.

For tournament games I prefer to load up as many as possible, having 8-10 all going at the first time is fine for me. This is because during the first hour of play I am going to play a near mechanical style whether I am paying attention or not. There is not all that much reason to get fancy or creative during the first few rounds of a tournament. Also the table is likely to change and the reads aren't nearly as important.

The goal is that by the 3rd hour I am deep in a couple tournaments that I am now really focused on. If I happen to be fortunate enough to still be in a bunch of them I'll stagger those tables across the bottom of my screen and continue to play those mechanically while intently watching hands of the ones I'm focused on.

I might have a muted sports game going on in the background where I'll occasionally glance up at the score but for the most part when I'm playing poker I'm playing poker while doing other things.

What can help to fight the urge to multi-task while playing?

This is an obvious question of self discipline and focus, so i don't think there is any real sort of answer therefor I don't have any advise general enough that it is worth posting.

One thing I might suggest though is if you feel doing other things is having an effect on your game, play less tables. In your case seeing as your playing two this would mean play one.

There are a lot of times when I am working on an article or doing programming and there is a tournament I really want to play but at the same time need to be doing work I'll just play one table and do work along side of it.

I tend to 2-4 table while watching TV or surfing 2+2 or something, but when I bump it up from 4 to between 6-8 I have to focus closely or my games drops off big time. I've found although I'm still profitable while 6+ tabling my edge falls considerably, I think 6 is my ideal number where I can still concentrate on individual players without only relying on the HUD, and while not being rushed with decisions.

Great reply Jim.

What it comes down to is self discipline. That is basically the reason why I don't play online poker or attempt to play it as a job. I'd way rather play recreational and try to win a few bucks or kill some time.

There is a big difference between NL and FL. I doubt anyone can play more than about 6 tables of fixed limit without their game deteriorating.

Originally Posted by Barton

There is a big difference between NL and FL. I doubt anyone can play more than about 6 tables of fixed limit without their game deteriorating.

Really? Even with tools like Hud and Pokertracker?

Originally Posted by Barton

There is a big difference between NL and FL. I doubt anyone can play more than about 6 tables of fixed limit without their game deteriorating.

I disagree, if anything its the opposite. Playing many limit tables is FAR easier than playing many NL tables. NL has so many spots where you have to think, where you have to ponder bet sizes, c bets and c bet sizes, opponents tendancies and their bets and what they mean, etc etc etc. Limit is so simple I could teach a 5 year old to beat live 3/6 just with starting hand requirements and position. Online I'm sure I could profitably 16-24 table micro stakes limit where as with that many tables I'm a breakeven or losing player playing NL, even at micros, because its just so much more complex.

I should of specified I was talking about 6 max limit. It isn't that the decisions are so difficult it's that there are so many of them. Counting the blinds you may be seeing close to 50% of the flops in FL (Ie your VP$IP is mid 30's). In NL it would be much lower. Correct play in limit means much more "chasing". The decisions may be less complex but there are 5X as many of them per table.