18 replies to this topic

[pbwl11]

Do you take any notes when playing live, and if so, how detailed do you go?
I'd like to keep track of the hands I play, position, flop percentage, etc.
How about something along the lines of hands folded pf/flop/turn/river, posistion, hands won and BB?

Second question: Should I take notes at the table, or step away so no one sees and thinks I'm "Taking this game far too seriously?"

Thanks in advance for your input.

[jmkiser]

If you are able to take an honest overall consensus of what you're doing, that will work just as good as taking notes down action by action and will probably be doing more for your game then most poker players.

[Head_Trauma]

Do you take any notes when playing live, and if so, how detailed do you go?
I'd like to keep track of the hands I play, position, flop percentage, etc.
How about something along the lines of hands folded pf/flop/turn/river, posistion, hands won and BB?

Second question: Should I take notes at the table, or step away so no one sees and thinks I'm "Taking this game far too seriously?"

Thanks in advance for your input.

At every game I can remember ever playing at, taking notes would kill my table image. If people see you doing that, I'm guessing it would kill your action. At all the loose, wild games I play at, I try to work the same image that others have, that I am just looking to have fun, hang out with friends, and play some cards while I'm at it. I like to fly under the radar so that only very perceptive opponents realize that I am a consistent winner at the game. The bad players think I am just like them and so they give me action.

As for notes in general, or away from the table, I think the detailed ones you're talking about are pretty worthless and would be very difficult/annoying to keep accurate. The only notes I take are when I get home I record where I played, the limit, my buy in, my cash out, hours at the table. This gives me all the info I need over the long run to choose the best games and limits to play at. It also shows progress as you advance as a player. When it comes to more specific stats, I simply remember the way the key hands of the night played out. Talk about and learn from the interesting ones, but there is no need to record statistics. I can still remember exact details of hands I played 4-5 years ago. I think you will learn more from analyzing the key hands that you remember than to look at statistics.

[DonkSlayer]

I think it's not kosher or very smart. If you play live against many of the players consistently, go home and write down their tendencies. Note-taking could slow the game up, will kill your action, and probably make them razz you pretty hardcore.

[Moneyball16]

I think it's not kosher or very smart. If you play live against many of the players consistently, go home and write down their tendencies. Note-taking could slow the game up, will kill your action, and probably make them razz you pretty hardcore.

Does anybody do this? I play with alot of the same people so often that this could be very helpful before a session. Im not sure why I've never thought about doing this.

[Shimmering Wang]

Does anybody do this? I play with alot of the same people so often that this could be very helpful before a session. Im not sure why I've never thought about doing this.

In the live games I play, I usually don't have to. There's not a big enough consistent lineup for me to be unable to remember the specific tendencies of most players. Usually I'll distill the information I gain during a session down to a few useful nuggets, and commit those to memory on the drive back. Or I'll think a lot about what a certain hand means, and remember the conclusion and not the specific hand.

But if a similar hand comes back up again, I'll usually be able to track down in my memory banks what happened the last time we danced like this. Besides, if I STOP playing with SomeGuy, there's little chance I'll run into him 3 years down the road and want to check my notes.

But, yes, this is a great idea. Keep a notebook, divide by location/stakes. Carry a little bookbag with you. If you see a familar lineup at a table, excuse yourself, take your bag to a cafe, and review your notes for a few minutes. Can't hurt if you won't remember it without them.

Wang

[pbwl11]

Thanks for the input guys.
I wasn't referring to keeping notes on individual players per se, but more about the hands I was folding/playing and from what posistion. How many I raised with, limped with, etc.
Then noting where I folded, showdowns and stuff like that and hopefully learning where my leaks are from the info.
At my B&M, I can only play on Saturdays, and usually see the same group of older AARP retirement people, so I got a good line on most of their tendencies.

[LottaNirvana]

Does anybody do this? I play with alot of the same people so often that this could be very helpful before a session. Im not sure why I've never thought about doing this.

I saw a WPT game last week where TJ Cloutier, said " ...if you can't remember, take notes" and then they showed a player with a piece of paper he kept next to his chips where he wrote down notes during play. (I'm not sure who it was)
So, it's Ok by TJ, and it looks like a good idea to me. esp. for someone new to the game.

[7s7c]

Relax and take notes while I toke and puff on this marijuana smoke.

Or something like that.

[Zach6668]

Relax and take notes while I toke and puff on this marijuana smoke.

Or something like that.

I just want the paper. I just want the paper.

[mikeysong]

i wouldn't take notes live for the reason that, if players see that you are taking the game seriously rather than for enjoyment, it may either anger them or make them play seriously as well. We don't really want either. Talk, have fun, take a lot of mental notes

[benhoug]

Thanks for the input guys.
I wasn't referring to keeping notes on individual players per se, but more about the hands I was folding/playing and from what posistion.

I think you'd be missing the point if the other players weren't your focus. Personally I don't think keeping notes in a live cash game would work out. Keep mental notes on the other players' tendancies, paying most attention to the 2 or 3 people on your right, and 2 or 3 people on your left. The hands you played/raised with/folded, etc. should all be second-nature to you, and not really all that important. Play your position, and pick on the donkeys closest to you.

[_Great_Dane_]

Thanks for the input guys.
I wasn't referring to keeping notes on individual players per se, but more about the hands I was folding/playing and from what posistion. How many I raised with, limped with, etc.
Then noting where I folded, showdowns and stuff like that and hopefully learning where my leaks are from the info.
At my B&M, I can only play on Saturdays, and usually see the same group of older AARP retirement people, so I got a good line on most of their tendencies.

I've done it a few times in tournaments. It's kind of cool to look over some big hands later but I've thrown it all away and not paid too much attention to it so I probably won't do it again.

I've had a couple of players ask about it, but no one ever seemed concerned.

[TheCinciKid]

I've done it a few times in tournaments. It's kind of cool to look over some big hands later but I've thrown it all away and not paid too much attention to it so I probably won't do it again.

I've had a couple of players ask about it, but no one ever seemed concerned.

I think it's a bit different in a tournament, especially in a big tournament, where everyone is kind of expected to be taking things seriously.

In a cash game I think takes notes would be a major mistakes for the reasons already mentioned above. Unless you're playing ultra high stakes where everyone takes the game seriously anyway, taking notes will just paint a bullseye on your forehead. Like mikey said, others will either get pissed at you for being to serious and/or start trying harder against you, you don't want either. Just relax, have a good time, blend in and take mental notes while you slowly relieve the people at the table of their cash.

[Zach6668]

I think it's a bit different in a tournament, especially in a big tournament, where everyone is kind of expected to be taking things seriously.

In a cash game I think takes notes would be a major mistakes for the reasons already mentioned above. Unless you're playing ultra high stakes where everyone takes the game seriously anyway, taking notes will just paint a bullseye on your forehead. Like mikey said, others will either get pissed at you for being to serious and/or start trying harder against you, you don't want either. Just relax, have a good time, blend in and take mental notes while you slowly relieve the people at the table of their cash.

If you do take occassional notes, just say you are writing down an interesting hand you just witnessed for your blog or something.

[No_Neck]

If you do take occassional notes, just say you are writing down an interesting hand you just witnessed for your blog or something.

I have a tiny flip book that I will take notes on. Someone asked me what I was doing and I just told him that I can never remember the action and my friends always give me **** because I screw it up so I write it down.

He just said gave a grunt and kept giving his money away....

[antistuff]

i like to mix pulling out a notepad and scribbling like a madman after a hand with pulling out a magic 8 ball before i make a big decision.

not for an edge or anything, just for the looks people give me.

[iggymcfly]

i like to mix pulling out a notepad and scribbling like a madman after a hand with pulling out a magic 8 ball before i make a big decision.

not for an edge or anything, just for the looks people give me.

This would be hilarious to do at a live game. I'm definitely going to try this some time.

As for the OP, it's a terrible idea. The physical notes you gain at the table will be much less valuable than the mental note everyone else gains on you: "HUGE NIT; TAKES DOWN NOTES AT THE TABLE".

If you want to figure out little details of your play, do that online where it's 100x easier, and where it won't affect your table image. When you're playing live, work on getting reads on the other players around you and projecting a loose image.

[pbwl11]

Okay...so I'll leave my little notebook at home and try to have fun as I'm getting sucked out on by the donks.

I kinda figured that wouldn't be the best idea to try. If a weird hand comes up, I can just post it here and see what you guys think.

I'll just try harder at my people/hand reading skills to keep the losses to a minimum.

Thanks for the suggestions everyone. Much appreciated.