Note taking

Sorry if there is something on this already, I did look around.

Something I am sorely lacking in is note taking. Sure I do it but they are not as helpful as I am sure they could be.

What do you put in your notes so they are quick to read but give you the info you need?

I usually add a note when I think I see a pattern, something like: Raises big with marginal hands and raises low with big pocket pairs. OK this one might be a decent note but most of mine are not that great.

Any tips on how to have short and informative notes?

Rather than explain, I figure I'd just post a snipet of my PS notes file:

[username=xxx]
calls dwn w undrpr
bets out 2nd pr 1st
calls re-rz all-in w 2nd pr
[username=xxx]
calls 4x rz w 99
calls 1/3 pot w undrpr
[username=xxx]
slowplays sets
[username=xxx]
calls all-in agst flush brd w JJ
calls dwn undrpr w prd brd
calls 7x rz w 66
[username=xxx]
calls 5x rz w 66 BB
[username=xxx]
will chk-call when drwng
[username=yyy]
rzs w Q8o
pushes low tp
[username=yyy]
lucky idiot
LIMIT:calls dwn low PP
3 bets ATo MP
do not bluff
[username=zzz]
chk-rzs set
bets out w PP & prd brd

here is a sample from my ps notes

[username=]
complete moron

[username=]
really, truly, hugely bad

[username=]
doooonkey

[username=]
HEEE HAWWW

[username=]
HEEE HAWWWW

[username=]
omfg he played 2223 loool (o8)
HEEEEEEEEEEEE HAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAW

[username=]
GOOD GOD HE IS BAD CALLING STATION LOLZ

[username=]
STUPID IDIOT DONK RETARD LOL WE HAVE A GUTSHOT

[username=]
possibly the worst player i have ever seen



oh ok so i do actually make some useful non-tilty ones sometimes



[username=]
played jj v passively
generally vvv passive, calling station
huge overbet on flop w/ top 2 pr
c/rs a lot
will only bet w/ overpr+?
only seems to bet allin regardless of stacks

[username=]
folded to small pfr after limp
slowplayed top 2 pr, c/c'ed f/t/r 1st to act

[username=]
called 3bb MP raise in bb w/ J5
huge overbet pf w/ 88

[username=]
limp/rr'd qq pf utg

[username=]
stupid bets pf w/ mid pps (2,000 into 45 pot w/TT)

[username=]
small bet = scared
slowplayed flop tpqk on co-ord board, minraised rag turn

just basically note anything out of the ordinary or any trends you see. i used to make basic notes like 'TAG', 'LAG', 'Call station' etc but PAHUD does that for me now tbh.

Whew!! No mention of a nit.

"Can it, you nit!"

yup, most of mine are noting mistakes:

chased flush or straight against odds
re-raising with middle pair or TP, rag kicker
calling small PPs to the river
min bet/min raise with TP/TK (or better)
slow plays sets
plays any face card
limps from any position
etc.

I think I may take too many notes...

When I first see players unless they have an obvious style my notes center around the cards they had and the action generated, I don't try to read them at all. For example:

- limps with K9s+, 55+
- limps with KK, built $30 pot DANGEROUS
- Raised 4x with 77 late
- limps late with 78s with 2 limpers
- goes to river with K4o K paired, 14x pot

When I join a table and see players with notes I've made, I take a quick glance through them. If I haven't made any notes on their playstyle I'll read through the hands I've seen, and start notes on their playstyle based on those.

If anyone's got an obvious playing style I'll put that at the top straight away:
- Very LAG preflop
- Weak postflop
- Tricky!!

Most of the time I'll prefix the playing style notes with "seems" unless I'm sure of the read:
- Seems tight
- Seems LAG

If I see someone I can make big money off, those notes go in caps at the top:
- CALLING STATION
- AGGRESSIVE, CAN'T LAYDOWN - PUSH WITH A MONSTER

I'll also make notes if they'll play a big pot with mediocre hands:
- Played $50 pot to river with K7s K paired, LAG opp, won.


My notes aren't short, but the info I want to see most often is at the top.

mosty do patterns and not specifics hands. i feel like if i put "limps with AA in ep" then i discount the fact that he might actually raise with it occasionally, or limp ep with nothing. i try to stick to betting/raising patterns, a range of hands he will call down with vs raising with & when he raises in the game with the nuts/near nuts

I do patterns and if someone does a huge pot raise I'll note it.

Thanks to everyone who has replied, great help.

mine mostly say things like allin a%%&*@! donkey, chaser, .