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A Beginner's Guide to Multi-Tabling by Nakamura and Rage2100
INTRODUCTION
A short while ago, Nakamura posted a $2000 profit thread on FTR. In it, there was a brief section on multi-tabling containing some AHK code, written by myself, which was designed to make multi-tabling much easier for the average player. After some feedback, and a few players seemingly having a lot of trouble with the more technical aspects, we (Nakamura and Rage2100) decided to write a clearer and more detailed post, to help the average player play more tables. This thread is a joint effort and we hope you like it.
In this thread, we will describe how to set up your computer to run tables in a stacked formation, that is, one table on top of another table. We appreciate there are other ways of multi-tabling, such as cascading or tiling, but we believe this method is the best way to play 10+ tables at once, for a variety of reasons. Firstly, you will mostly be folding and you will therefore usually not have to move the mouse at all. This will save your neck and wrists from strain. Additionally, both tiling, and to a lesser extent cascading, have a point where adding more tables makes no sense, either because the table size is too small or you have run out of space to add to your cascade. In theory, you could add infinite tables to a stack, although we definitely don't recommend this!
We intend this guide to users who play at Poker Stars and Full Tilt Poker. The primary reason for this is the software needs to have the ability to queue the tables. This means that tables that require action will not pop up until you have acted on the most urgent table first.
Finally, we don't intend that you start stacking 10 tables at once. You WILL initially find the concept of stacking foreign, and somewhat different. Both of us started out stacking what we were comfortable tiling, and built up the number of tables from there. We suggest you do the same.
DEFINITIONS
We believe it makes sense to define the terms we use throughout the thread before we actually use them. Please familiarise yourself with these terms before you read the rest of the post.
AutoHotKey (or AHK) - A powerful open-source software for Windows, which allows you to automate and assign hotkeys to certain keystrokes or mouse actions.
Hotkey – A keyboard key that can be programmed to perform a certain action, by a certain program (in this case AHK).
Main Stack – The main group of tables, which run one on top of another.
MoveTable.ahk – An AHK script, which allows the user to move a particular table in and out of a stack with a certain key press (currently set to Spacebar). There are different versions available for download, depending on your table configuration and the poker site you play at. These have slightly different endings to the filenames, but when we refer to MoveTable.ahk, we are referring to the .ahk file that begins, MoveTable.
Script – Computer code that contains a list of commands, which are executed by a certain program (in this case AHK).
SetTable.ahk – An AHK script desiged to help users exactly replicate their table size on multiple tables. There are different versions available for download, depending on your table configuration and the poker site you play at. These have slightly different endings to the filenames, but when we refer to SetTable.ahk, we are referring to the .ahk file that begins, SetTable.
Slots - The available spaces to shift your tables to if you need to follow the action a bit more closely on a particular table. Tables will always be put into the slot with the lowest number (if available) i.e. first slot 1, then slot 2, then slot 3.
IMPORTANT NOTE: Throughout the post we will refer to accessing menu structures. We will write this as Poker Stars Lobby -> Options -> Advanced Multi-Table Options. We mean, go to the Poker Stars Lobby, click on the Options menu, and then click on Advanced Multi-Table Options.
When we say press Ctrl-h, we mean hold the "Control" key and the "h" key at the same time.
BEFORE YOU START
Please make sure you have the following multi-table options set up at Poker Stars or Full Tilt.
For Poker Stars:
Poker Stars Lobby -> Options -> Advanced Multi-Table Options
Make sure the following two boxes are ticked:
Popup table whenever user action is required
Single click table activation
For Full Tilt:
Full Tilt Lobby -> Options -> Display Table on Action
DOWNLOADING AND INSTALLING AUTOHOTKEY
In order to run the necessary scripts to use the multi-tabling code, you will first need to download and install AutoHotKey.
1. Open your internet browser and go to:
AutoHotkey - Free Mouse and Keyboard Macro Program with Hotkeys and AutoText
2. Click on "Download", and then click on "AutoHotkey Installer".
3. Click "Run" and follow the onscreen instructions. AutoHotkey will be installed on your computer. It will usually be installed to the directory: C:\Program Files\AutoHotkey\
4. Create a separate folder for your AHK scripts. It makes sense to create a separate folder in the AutoHotkey directory for each set of scripts that you will be using. For example, you can create a directory called MoveTable, where both of the scripts you will be using later, can be copied to. The path for this directory will then be: C:\Program Files\AutoHotkey\MoveTable\
IMPORTANT NOTES FOR VISTA USERS: If you are using Windows Vista, and are having problems, please make sure you are logged in as "Administrator". Copy the "MoveTable.ahk" and "SetTable.ahk" scripts to a directory under your "User" section, and not to the C:\Program Files\AutoHotkey\ directory. When the ".ini" file is created, the system may need certain privileges, so your "User" section will be the best place.
Also, with Vista, certain AHK scripts require you to run AutoHotkey with administrator privileges. To set this up, please follow the steps below.
1. Right-click the "AutoHotkey.exe" file, under C:\Program Files\AutoHotkey\ where it is installed by default. If you have a shortcut icon to AutoHotkey on your desktop, you can right-click that instead.
2. From the right-click menu, choose "Properties".
3. Click on the "Compatibility" tab.
4. At the bottom of the tab, is a section called "Privilege level". Tick the box that says "Run this program as an administrator".
5. Click "Apply".
6. Click "Ok".
All scripts should now run as administrator.
DOWNLOADING AND COPYING THE SCRIPTS
There are two scripts that need to be copied into the directory that you created above, so please read this section before downloading. The download link is at the end of this section.
Two different configurations are supported, and these are available for both Poker Stars and Full Tilt Poker. You will need to download the correct scripts depending on where you want your main stack to be positioned, and which poker site you play at. The table configuration is a matter of personal preference, and is detailed below.
Configuration 1
The main stack in an upper left position, with slot 1 in the upper right, slot 2 in the lower right, and slot 3 in the lower left, as shown in the screenshot below.
Configuration 2
The main stack in a lower right position, with slot 1 in the upper right, slot 2 in the upper left, and slot 3 in the lower right, as shown in the screenshot below.
IMPORTANT NOTE: Your tables must be in the correct positions in relation to the other tables, but they do not have to be touching as we have them shown in the screenshots above. You can have a space between your tables, or if you are running on a small laptop screen, the tables can be overlapping slightly.
All files can be downloaded from here:
FTR - http://www.flopturnriver.com/ahk-scripts.zip
Media Fire - Free Cloud Storage - MediaFire
If using Configuration 1 on Full Tilt, please download the following two files:
MoveTable_Config1_FT.ahk
SetTable_Config1_FT.ahk
If using Configuration 2 on Full Tilt, please download the following two files:
MoveTable_Config2_FT.ahk
SetTable_Config2_FT.ahk
If using Configuration 1 on Poker Stars, please download the following two files:
MoveTable_Config1_PS.ahk
SetTable_Config1_PS.ahk
If using Configuration 2 on Poker Stars, please download the following two files:
MoveTable_Config2_PS.ahk
SetTable_Config2_PS.ahk
ADDITIONAL STEP FOR POKER STARS USERS
Note: Full Tilt Poker tables do not appear to suffer from this problem, and this section can be skipped if you are using this guide to multi-table at Full Tilt Poker.
When using the "SetTable.ahk" script in the next step, if a Poker Stars window is made smaller than the default size, the window border will resize, but the table will not, giving the odd effect shown in the screenshot below.
This effect does not happen if the tables are manually resized, but unfortunately will occur using the SetTable script. Follow the steps below to resolve the bug.
1. Open Poker Stars.
2. Navigate to Poker Stars Lobby -> Help -> Open My Settings Folder
3. In the window that opens with all your user settings, double-click on "user.ini" and it will open in Notepad.
4. In the top section, under "[Options]", the following line needs to be added:
f5redrawtable=1
This is shown in the screenshot below.
5. Save the file, and close Poker Stars.
USING THE SET TABLE SCRIPT
If you have already set up your table sizes and have them saved as a custom layout, feel free to skip this section, but please read the section, "Entering Your Co-Ordinates Manually".
1. Navigate to your AHK script folder and double-click on the "SetTable.ahk". A green "H" should appear in your taskbar, next to the clock at the bottom right of your screen.
2. Open Poker Stars or Full Tilt Poker, and Log In.
3. Double-click on any Sit-and-Go in the lobby (preferably ones that fill up quickly), and wait until the table has filled up.
4. Click "Observe Table".
5. Repeat steps 3 & 4 so that you have as many tables open as you are planning to stack, i.e. if you plan to stack 10 tables, open 10 observed tables this way.
6. Move one of the tables to where you want your main stack to be.
IMPORTANT NOTE: The next three screenshots show the main stack in the upper left position, which is its position if you are using Configuration 1. If you are using Configuration 2, the main stack will be in the lower right position instead.
7. Pressing Crtl-h will move the active window to the upper left position.
IMPORTANT NOTE: Users running dual monitors will need to modify the "Origin_X" and "Origin_Y" settings near the top of the script to suit their monitor set-up. Please read the section, "Entering Your Co-Ordinates Manually", to see how to manually edit the script.
8. Resize the table window you just moved, until you have it the size you want it.
9. With this window still active, press Ctrl-g to record the position and size of it.
10. Hover the mouse (i.e. mouse-over) any of the other tables, press Ctrl-Spacebar, and that table will move and resize itself to match your main table.
11. Repeat step 10 for all of your tables, until you have them stacked one on top of another.
12. For Poker Stars - Save this as a custom layout:
Poker Stars Lobby -> View -> Save Custom Layout, and give it a name, "stacked", or another name you choose.
For Full Tilt Poker – Save this as a custom layout:
Full Tilt Poker Table -> Layout -> Manage Custom Layouts -> Save Custom Layout (after picking a slot).
13. Click on your main stack of tables. Use the keystrokes Ctrl-up, Ctrl-down, Ctrl-left, or Ctrl-right to select and move your tables, until you have 4 tables in a quadrant. Only one table needs to be moved into each slot at this point.
14. If you want a slight space between your tables, or you want your tables slightly overlapping, Shift-up, Shift-down, Shift-left, or Shift-right can be used to nudge the tables 10 pixels in the desired direction.
15. The next step will save the positions of the main stack and the slots, but is slightly different depending on whether you are using Configuration 1 or Configuration 2. You will need to press Ctrl-F1, Ctrl-F2, Ctrl-F3, and Ctrl-F4 for both configurations, but on slightly different tables. Please follow the steps on the screenshots for your chosen Configuration. The tables can be left-clicked in any order, but make sure you do all four.
If Using Configuration 1
If Using Configuration 2
16. Press Crtl-s to save all of these settings to a file called "MoveTable_ConfigX_XX.ini", which will automatically be created in the same directory as the two scripts. This step is needed so that "MoveTable.ahk" has access to the co-ordinates. Make sure an ".ini" file has been created before you go to the next step.
17. Close "SetTable.ahk" by right-clicking on the green "H" in the taskbar, and selecting "Exit".
18. Close the Poker Lobby.
Now that you have your tables lined up and saved as a custom layout in either Poker Stars or Full Tilt, and all of the co-ordinates stored in your ".ini" file, you will not need to use the "SetTable.ahk" script again, unless you wish to change and re-save your table positions.
ENTERING YOUR CO-ORDINATES MANUALLY
IMPORTANT NOTE: If you followed the "Using The Set Table Script" section above, you can skip this section, as your co-ordinates will automatically be stored in your ".ini" file.
To manually enter table co-ordinates, right-click on the "MoveTable.ahk" script, and select "Edit Script". The co-ordinates of your tables need to be entered near the top of the script, as shown below. X_home and Y_home are the X and Y co-ordinates of the main stack, and the other co-ordinates are the X and Y co-ordinates of your three slots.
INTRODUCTION TO THE MOVE TABLE SCRIPT
Unlike other multi-tabling options, such as tiling, when you stack, you will not be able to follow the action on every table. Sometimes, you will want to follow the action on a certain table, either because something interesting is happening or you are involved in a hand. "MoveTable.ahk" allows you to move a table out of the main stack and into any available slot on your screen with one push of the Spacebar. Spacebar also moves the table back into the main stack again.
TESTING THE MOVE TABLE SCRIPT
This part is a test to check that everything is set up correctly and functioning properly before you commit to multi-tabling on real money tables.
1. Open Poker Stars or Full Tilt Poker.
2. Ensure your custom, stacked layout is selected on Poker Stars or Full Tilt, so when the tables are opened, they will all open one on top of another, where your main stack should be.
3. Navigate to your AHK script folder, and double-click on "MoveTable.ahk". This places a green "H" in the taskbar.
4. Double-click on any Sit-and-Go in the lobby, and wait until the table has filled up.
5. Click "Observe Table".
6. Repeat steps 4 & 5 so that you have at least 4 tables open. This is enough to give you a good idea of how the script works.
7. Once all the tables are open, your screen should look like the screenshot below, with all tables stacked on top of each other.
IMPORTANT NOTE: If you are using Configuration 2, the main stack will be in the lower right position instead.
8. Mouse-over the main stack and press the Spacebar. The table on the top of the stack should move into slot 1, as shown in the screenshot below. NOTE: You do not need to click on the table, just move the mouse over it.
9. Press the Spacebar again, while the mouse is positioned over the main stack. The top table in the main stack will move into the next available slot, i.e. slot 2.
10. Press the Spacebar again while mousing over the main stack. The top table will move to slot 3.
11. Press the Spacebar while mousing over slot 2, and the table should move back to the main stack, leaving slot 2 empty.
12. If you now press Spacebar while mousing over the main stack, the program knows slot 2 is empty, and will move the table there.
13. Press the Spacebar while mousing over the three tables in the slots to move them back into the main stack.
That concludes your test. You should now have a basic understanding of how the code works. If you have found something has not worked properly, please make sure you have set up your tables correctly using "SetTable.ahk", and have followed the instructions carefully.
USING THE MOVE TABLE SCRIPT WITH LIVE TABLES
1. Open Poker Stars or Full Tilt Poker.
2. Ensure your custom, stacked layout is selected on Poker Stars or Full Tilt, so when the tables are opened, they will all open one on top of another, where your main stack should be.
3. Navigate to your AHK script folder, and double-click on "MoveTable.ahk". This places a green "H" in the taskbar.
4. Open however many Sit-and-Go lobbies you plan to multi-table, and enter the tournaments.
5. If there is action on a table you wish to follow, press the Spacebar to move the table into the next available slot.
IMPORTANT NOTE: If you are using a HUD, please make sure your mouse is not over a HUD stat when you press Spacebar. Otherwise, your table will not move.
6. Press the Spacebar while the mouse is positioned over the table, to move it back into the main slot, when you are finished watching the table.
Personally, we both like to move tables on which we are involved, out of the main stack. For example, Hero is dealt KK. Hero moves the table out of the main stack before raising to 120 chips. We find this helps us to remember the order of actions, e.g. did we raise or call, and gives us a little bit more time to consider our post-flop plays.
IMPORTANT NOTE: If you get eliminated from a table while the table is in the main stack, you can close that table normally, with the "X" in the corner of the window. However, if you get eliminated from a table while it is in one of the slots, closing the table normally may confuse the script counter. To solve this, instead of closing the table normally, mouse-over the desired table, and press the "Escape" key. This will close the table and update the counter.
IMPORTANT NOTE: If all three slots are filled, and you press Spacebar while mousing over the main stack, the table will move to the slot with the least number of tables in. If all three slots hold an equal number of tables, the table will move to slot 1.
IMPORTANT NOTE: If all three slots are filled, and you want to move another table in the main stack to a different part of the screen, you can manually drag that table. However, to move that table back into the main stack, please use the "F1" key. This method does not confuse the script counter.
WARNING: While "MoveTable.ahk" is running, your Spacebar will obviously not work normally; you will not be able to type without spaces! We find you usually don't have time to type in the chat box or make notes while multi-tabling, so this isn't a huge issue. Should you wish to type normally, you will need to right-click on the green "H" and click "Suspend HotKeys". The icon will change to green "S", and your Spacebar will return to its normal function. If you find that you need the normal Spacebar function a lot, you can change the Spacebar hotkey to whatever key you want. How to do this is shown in the section below.
CHANGING THE MOVETABLE HOTKEY
Right-click on the "MoveTable.ahk" script, and select "Edit Script". Scroll down to the line shown in the screenshot below, and change that line to the code for the key you want to use, followed by two colons. A full list of available keycodes can be found here:
List of Keys and Mouse/Joystick Buttons for Hotkeys and Macros
So, if you want to use the Tab key instead of the Spacebar, just change
space::
to
Tab::
We have now shown you the basics of how to multi-table on Poker Stars and Full Tilt Poker. So, go forth and multiply!
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