Multiple Level Thinking

Multiple level thinking is a term commonly associated with deepstack poker which refers to a players ability to analyse their opponents actions aswell as their own and think on a number of different levels in order to establish a range of poker hands your opponent could be holding and a range of reasons for their corresponding actions. The table image of you and your opponents plays a major part in how you approach the deeper levels of thinking, the poker becomes more about psychology than the mechanics of the game.

There are 5 levels to multiple level thinking:
Level 0	What do I have?
Level 1	What does my opponent have?
Level 2	What does my opponent think I have?
Level 3	What does my opponent think I think he has?
Level 4	What does my opponent think I think he thinks I have?

Using Multiple Level Thinking

There are situations where multiple level thinking is more appropriate than others, it is important to understand how and when to use it.

Thinking at levels 0 and 1 is best when you are in short stack play, when you have'nt got much information to base your decision on, when the decision you have to make is largely insignificant and when your opponent is incapable of multiple level thinking.

Thinking at levels 2, 3 and 4 is more appropriate against better opposition and when playing deep stack play. The deeper your opponent thinks the deeper you are able to think about your decisions, it's impossible to think more than one level deeper than your opponent does because you can't think about what your opponent has'nt contemplated. The deeper the stacks the more complex your strategic options are and therefore a greater level of thinking is required.

It is worth realising that you will rarely get a chance to use the deeper levels of thinking, especially online and at the lower table limits and buyins, because so few of your opponents will be capable of thinking past levels 0 and 1. One must also be careful not to overthink a hand, the best guide being how deeply you think your opponent thinks, the overwhelming majority of your decisions will be at levels 0 and 1.