Quote Originally Posted by jackvance
Instead if going a few stakes higher, maybe putting some more hours into it per day and playing multiple tables at once is better.

If I can, say, 2-table 6max on 50NL 3 hours a day at 5BB/hour (around 5BB/100 at 6max) that gives me $900 per month or so.
I firmly believe that multi-tabling 2, 3, 4 hours per day is how most people with a consistently winning game make money. (even MTT players have to grind it out.) The value of multi-tabling is that you can play weaker players, it keeps you from getting overly wrapped up in personality contests on any single table, and it keeps you from getting bored and making plays out of boredom or frustration. (I'm talking about NL ring here. I haven't played limit since the turn of the milenium.)

To back that up, instead of playing NL200 (where the players are better than NL50), play 4 NL50 tables. You are playing weaker opponents (generally). You are seeing 150-200 hands per hour - which keeps you from being bored. And trying to get into personal pissing contests is harder because you attention is demanded elsewhere.

What's the downside? If you are a "read" player you won't be watching enough for reads. "Did that guy take 2 seconds to click or 8 seconds". "How many hands/hour is he playing"? etc. You're going to be playing more "rules" based poker. Some people think that's bad.

I won't express their oppinions for them. But I think if you can make 1BB net per hour at a certain level consistently, then you have a winning game. The question is do you take that winning game up in stakes or exploit multiple tables at once? It's up to you...

.... OK, here's the real deal. Want to know how much you can make playing poker? Well, how much did you make, NET over the last 10,000 hands? Can you play that same game against those same opponents again? Then (within variance) look for something similar... AND THEN ASK how much did you make Net over the last 20,000 hands? And continue that process. Anytime you change stakes or sites, be sure to play particular attention to if you need to change your game or your style.

The real pickle of it it, however, that playing 5,000 hands per week turns poker from fun and exciting into work and a job. Ask anyone who has actually done it for more than their 2 week vaction. Do it for 3 months straight. It's still cool, but it starts to warp your brain. So you need to be mentally tough.

The reason I say this is because this thread will draw those who want to do it. Just understand that you have to monitor your mental state as much as your table. Over the long term "poker toxins" build up and start to warp your game if you don't watch out.

gl