Player notes in Live games

Does anyone know rules/etiquette on note taking at live games, be it home, pub or casino? Is it allowed/tolerated/looked down on? If its OK, do you have an actual notepad? Is it just a "keep your eyes open and make notes after" deal? I have found my note in online play to have saved my game more and more. I also dont (yet) use a HUD, ( I will get one ITF tho) so my notes are worth their weight in gold. I will be going to a casino for the first time next month and will play a SnG, and after dabble a bit in the cash game - maybe - and in the course of an average online SnG I take loads of notes on all players, and have come to depend on em a lot. If notes are not the way to go for whatever reason, (maybe only newbies do it and you get targeted, I am a newbie SIGH ??) are there any tips on helping me keep player quirks fresh in my mind?

Try just taking mental notes, the game moves a lot more slowly.

I don't think you would have any trouble writing on a notepad but it's really not necessary and will look a little odd.

It is ok to make notes during a game, but it can cause friction with other players. Just as its fine to make notes on a particular hand to review later.

I have heard of some people using a dictaphone, I guess if you tend to speak in a sort of retorical way (sort of like Phil Hellimunth) then you could discretely make notes via a dictaphone and people wouldnt really realise that is what you were doing.

As the game moves very slowly (30 hands is per hour) you probably wont have all that many notes to make in the space of an hour, so its possible you could discretely make notes on players during the breaks or maybe excuse yourself for a 5 min break every hour or so.

What you need to remember is that a lot of people who play in smaller tournaments or smaller cash games are not all that serious about poker. The thought of making notes never even crosses their minds and when they see someone doig something strange that they dont understand they fear it. Now he isnt going to be so overcome with fear that he cowers under the table, but it will get some reaction, what exactly that reaction is is impossible to say, its probably going to be that he just thinks you are wierd. It might be that he tells you this, It might be that he asks if you are allowed to do this with a view to you being told you cannot. It may be that he makes insane hero calls because he dosent like you and its his mission to bust you. It may be he makes big lay downs as he thinks you are a por and becomes very wary, who knows. It may be that he chuckles and does nothing.

The reason I mention this, is that I have heard a lot of live pros (not TV stakes but real life stakes) say that the key to table image is to blend in not do things that will make you stick out.. i.e make notes, dress like a stereotype poker player, not to berrate people etc, insted the key is to look and act "normal" be pleasant, keep people relaxed and happy and try and make your skill look a bit like luck.

I've seen people reading at the table before, while the game is going on, but never anyone taking notes.

A lot of poker player read at the table.

I think it's a pretty funny question really. I personally wouldn't do it at a home game. If it's a friendly game, you'd look kinda dweeby. I mean you could make light of it but.....

If at a casino, like Stu said, no idea how anyone would take it. Never seen it before. It might intimidate, might anger or they might think you're a total fish or just senile. Unless I was planning to keep coming back to the casino on a regular basis, I'd skip it.

There are two guys at my local card club that take notes in the 200nlhe game. They are both losing players. It seems that they spend more time taking solid notes than actually playing solid poker.
The best way to beat either of these of guys is to either wait for them to take a bad beat or just get aggressive and give them one. They go on tilt for what seems like eternity and then you are in their little notepad as a 'BAD PLAYER'.

Stuey said it best, try to blend in.

The more I read responses and the more I think about it, the more silly I feel about even thinking of taking notes in a live game. Home games would be ridiculous anyway. there can always be one dweeb who does something SO wired, either to look important or just cause he/she IS a dweeb, and I think taking notes of people at a home game is defo a dweeb move. And I will be playing casinos for the first time, so it is obvious, with afterthought anyway, that taking notes would be silly for many reasons, not only just cause I may not be going that often, and since I am a casino virgin, I need my full attention on myself (reads I am giving etc.) and on my table. I So dont bother to reply to this thread anymore, and I stand humbly embarrassed for even starting it....
Dweebly yours,
FD

While there's nothing that says you can't take along a notebook and write stuff down, you'll definitely get some funny looks and as people have pointed out above the number of hands per hour you'll see are so low compared to online that they won't be reliable unless the same players stay at the same table as you for several hours.

Personally, I'd concentrate on learning and reading physical tells. Live poker doesn't have notes or a HUD but it does have tells and if you get good at reading them they can be just as valuable as stats or notes.

Please man dont feel bad. This place is to post any questions we have about a complex game. Keep playing and keep posting FD!

Perhaps just use phone/pda people will just think your texting. I tend to remember home games peeps pretty well, but my husband takes notes on everyone, never at the table though. If you play with same people at casino often, then I think you should take notes - but I would do it at break, or after. I wouldn't bother taking notes on players you think you have a quick easy read on - trust your gut.

This is really good advice, but they key point is which hand? I tend to use my left because I"m right handed. That means it's both easier to write (marker in the right hand, writing on the left) and other players are less likely to be able to read my notes as I try to keep my left hand out of sight as much as possible.

You'll, uh, have to excuse me as I'm sick as a dog and only about 20% conscious right now.

RF

i dont like when ppl have a notepad or anything and take notes, it just kinda annoys me.

just keep mental notes in your head about players, its not that difficult

I play twice a week at my local casino and i generally make metal notes of the regulars play styles. Do they raise low pairs, bet draws cbet, bluff etc? I also like to personally evalutae my play for the session, good or bad.

Being your first time you will likly be distracted by all the things going on. Waitresses, rules, dealers, players chatting and people randomly yelling about their bad beats. Just focus on good solid poker and you should do fine.

notes of players in a live game or casino-style tournament to be done mentally, maybe it would be an embarrassment or intimidation you a note about the play in front of the player played a kind of bluff.
we might be aware of reactions of hands or eyes of players and compare when they come out with good cards and when they come out with bad cards and a table of 9 or 10 players and easily stored.

I like to keep my mind on the game and try to pick up tells. I won't be caught reading a book during a poker game, no matter the stakes or opponents.

you'll kick yourself when you realise why this is funny

Although ya know, one you pick up War and Peace, it's tough to put down. If you just gotta, I'd recommend something a little lighter, maybe Dave Barry or Erma Bombeck.

Dave Barry is in our Bathroon bookshelf, maybe only recommended when your starting hand is shit............