How to manage lots of tables

In a recent review session, Barry shared that many of the mistakes he made during a Sunday grind were the result of feeling overwhelmed by the number of tables he was playing.

This isn’t an amateur error; it happens to all of us.

Almost every online session I play, somebody will send me a hand where I made an unusual play. Within 30 seconds of looking at it afterwards, I’ll usually know exactly what I should have done. But at the table, with just a couple of seconds to decide, mistakes creep in.

Students often expect me to play a flawless strategy in-game because, when coaching, I can give what seems like the perfect answer every time. The reality is that coaching allows for reflection and analysis, while actual play forces quick decisions under pressure.

Managing tough decisions under pressure

When juggling multiple tables, folding can be a valuable tool to preserve mental bandwidth. For example, folding bottom-of-range opens and marginal defends remove some of the trickiest hands from your workload, giving you more focus for critical spots.

With only a few seconds to act, calling is often the worst of three options. If a spot feels close between call and fold, lean toward folding. If it’s close between call and raise, raising is usually the better choice. Folding keeps your mind clear, while raising can sometimes buy you time and create opportunities for your opponents to err.

Calling, however, tends to prolong tough decisions with weak holdings, which only adds to the cognitive load. By being selective in these spots, you conserve energy for the hands that truly matter.

Ultimately, preserving mental bandwidth is just as important as playing technically sound poker when multitabling. Don’t just focus on executing strategies correctly. Prioritise your mental focus on the most impactful decisions at the table.

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