So I've been playing FR 2NL for a while now and doing pretty well....so far. I downloaded poker tracker about a week ago and I'm no where near 10k hands played. Obviously I need to start multi-tabling to get a move on this. Any tips or can anyone refer to any guides on how to start multi-tabling (I found a thread here and didn't really give me much help.) BTW I've been playing TAG style and it's pretty straight forward in 2NL b/c like 7 of 9 are all 50/2 limpers.

1. How do you adjust to playing 2 tables or more?

2. Will I continue to be successful if I just play TAG on both tables w/o being as observant?

3. Should I bluff less? Playing TAG allows me to steal post flop when I bet preflop.

Any other advice would be helpful. Thanks ahead of time for all you vets spending time to help an internet newbie out when you could be making dough.

"I downloaded poker tracker about a week ago and I'm no where near 10k hands played. Obviously I need to start multi-tabling to get a move on this."

This is a weird, backward motivation that I'd caution against.

In any case... here goes.

You can be successful at this level (and the next few) without ever bluffing. C-betting is not the same thing as bluffing, so I'd caution against confusing those two. Nevertheless, bluffing is basically a waste of money at this level.

Second, you need to figure out why you are playing. Is it to learn how to play or is it to make money. The more tables you play, the less you are going to learn while playing. That is a trade off that you need to decide that you were willing to take.

When multi-tabling, I was able to start at 4-tables without much trouble and then I added one or two at a time until I could handle many many tables. If you need to start at two, that is fine, but just slowly add tables as you realize that you have some wasted at time. 2NL is so mindless that I think you can learn to add the full amount of tables pretty quickly.

I'm no expert - I've never played more than 4, and probably shouldn't play more than 2! - but it's probably best if you add one table at a time, and see how you get on.

Add another if and when you want to.

It's a question of practice, basically.

(For some reason there are guys who try to go from one table to, like, six, in one go. That's never going to end happily.)

Most multitablers I know of seem to accept that their winrate will be slightly reduced but that overall the effect on total $ won is entirely positive.

Good Luck.

Happy Christmas


you shouldnt really adjust to two tables or a few more. If you have to change your game to be able to multitable 2 or 3 tables, then it probably isnt worth it. When you can multitable 9-12 tables (my comfortable max) you might start to tighten up and play far more selective starting hands. At micro limits noone will notice anyway so it isnt going to make any difference to getting paid off when you have your big hands. Its really just being alert and practice. Get used to running over the levels you play so most decisions are just basic and you dont have to think about 90% of the hands you are dealt.

That said, if you really want to learn the game, I wouldnt worry about multitabling playing microstakes poker. You will increase your profits, but you wont learn much doing this. Work on your game and move up the limits. Long term you are going to be much better served learning to play higher level poker than grinding penny games. Multitabling may be useful when you get to the 0.50/1 and 1/2 limits, before you really have to focus, but you should make your aim to move from micro games first. Do that, then start practicing multitabling in my opinion.

I found this other post on multi-tabling that is relatively new. You might find it helpful.

Experience with making poker decisions quickly and well. Poker decisions should come naturally and then it will be no different.

Learn to be as observant as you are when one tabling as possible.

Eh, no. You should bluff the amount that is most profitable, which, oftentimes, is not very often to begin with.

Multitabling should be a goal because it improves profitability and also, to a degree, experience with dealing with marginal situations quickly (if at all). HOWEVER, your first goal in poker this early in your career should be emphasized on PLAYING WELL.

That said, it's hard to learn how to play well at 2NL. Learn basic concepts and weak-tight play, wait till 10NL, and start ramping up aggression, seeing what works what doesn't, learning from posts, posting hands, etc.

The start of your learning experience is often the hardest, especially without special talent, help, luck, or all three.

Do you honestly suggest that he learn by single tabling penny games? You realize how long it will take him to build his roll that way? Like you said, there isn't much to learn at 2nl, so might as well gain experience in other areas.

Now is the perfect time for him to learn to multi table and when he gets to a higher limit, is when he should focus on learning more poker skills. He'll learn more by Multi Tabling now, then reducing at a higher stake vs single tabling at 2nl then multi tabling at 50nl.

I think you're assuming that I just started playing poker. I'm not going to tell you that I'm a pro or anything but I can beat weak games. And 2NL is an extremely weak game. It really is mindless. But thanks for the advice for the other questions. I will keep all those points in mind.

Thanks for your advice too. I started playing 3 at the same time and I did extremely well today. When is it time to say bye bye to 2NL?

When you are rolled for 5nl.

You shouldn't really need to make many(if any) reads at this level. Play like a robot.

In my experiences, tight-aggressive play usually requires being observant to be profitable. Since you're full-ringing NL2, you may want to switch to tight passive+value bets every time.
I don't think you need to bluff at all at this level.

The advice above is for max profit at NL2, but the strategy doesn't really translate at higher levels. If you really want to get better at poker, I suggest moving to NL5 immediately and playing tight-aggressive with fewer tables. (Assuming you know the basic rules, 3 of a kind beats two pair, etc.) "Bankroll management" isn't really important at this level.

Because you can't get coolered at this level, nor will donks call you and take your whole stack.

It's not hard to redeposit 50 bucks for another 10 full buy ins

You're time is worth more than the money you could win/lose at this level.

$110 is enough right? That's 20 buy ins for 5NL