Best Way To Take Notes

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Black Panther

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What is the best way to take notes on players, when trying to determine their playing method?

Do you document every single hand the get dealt, even if they fold pre flop, or do you only document when you get to see their cards?

Any advice or techniques would be appreciated, as it is one thing to take notes, but another to be able to make sense of them when you are looking over them during play.

Also, is there a program that notes on players live, that give you an indication of how many hands they play etc?
 
OzExorcist

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Mostly I keep my notes general: "plays few hands", "plays many hands", "risk averse", "nit", "loose-passive", "TAG", etc.

I don't think there's really a lot of value in taking notes on every single hand a player does or doesn't have because like you suggest there's really no way of making sense of it at the end.

There are some programs that will keep track of statistics on every person you play against, every hand. They don't take "notes" as such, but the statistics they provide can be just as useful (if not more so) once you have a reasonable number of hands on a player and know how to interpret the stats properly.
 
Falloooooon

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My notes are a mix of general thoughts about a player combined with specific hands. Particularly if I'm multitabling, I am more likely to make a note of a player that I see is raising a lot of hands preflop. I enjoy the FT Matrix SNGs, so this is especially helpful there since the note can help you on every table potentially.

But most of my notes are more specific. "Checked flop after 3X raise with 2 callers" for example. So that when I call one of his raises and he bets into me postflop, I have a pretty good feeling he's got it.
 
SydTheCat

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My notes consist mostly of the players style. LAG, TAG, Donk, etc.
I might also add if he/she likes to trap alot, or plays pretty much straight forward player. Do they disguise their hand much?, or are they an open book, easy read. Do they bluff a lot, are they pot stealers?
Anything that describes their style of play, that way when I see them again, I'll know how to approach them.
 
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nightmoves44

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not

The best way is not to tag everyone at the table,altho some do.I just tag some that do obvious things like,chase,bluff alot,re-raise,diss me off,or some other note worthy action.It does help the next time you play them.
 
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I play Heads Up SNG, so I am trying to work out the best way to document and assess my opponents play.

With there just being one opponent, I feel that I can probably document more detail about my opponent compared to if I was playing at a table of 8.
 
Roller

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I would suggest:

Short abbreviations representing tendencies and betting habits.
Over all play rather then specific hand by hand play.

Will they Fold.
Will they bet down to the river with a blank.
What hole cards will they call a short stack All in with.

Quick and to the point.


Good Luck
 
aesopdurasic

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When i take notes. I make notes on what is there play style. LAG/NIT/TAG..etc... Also i make notes as to whether they are positionally aware. Also what they raise with or possible limp in with. I notes those so i can understand better whether they are a tricky player or a straight forward play. Also note whether they chase against the pot odds. i note anything i think is helpful.
 
c9h13no3

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My notes are mostly history notes on regs. If I've recently done something they should take note of (usually huge bluffs, or 4-bet/fold type stuff) then I'll note it for later.
 
SydTheCat

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I play Heads Up SNG, so I am trying to work out the best way to document and assess my opponents play.

With there just being one opponent, I feel that I can probably document more detail about my opponent compared to if I was playing at a table of 8.

The only problem I have with taking notes HU is people play differently from HU, and a full table. When I take notes of players when I play HU, I make sure I first label 'HU' in front of any notes.
 
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With sooo many players I have to keep track of, I generally just put them in two categories, varied. Bad player, from 1-10, and in parenthesis why I think so. Solid player from 1-10, with in parenthesis his play style, whether tight, aggresive, loose, etc. Makes it easier really. And once I read that part, I generally remember who it is anyway.
 
StormRaven

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I do abbreviations: 3x bb pf with J10 su, c-bet A high flop, ai on turn =
3x big blind preflop bet with J 10 suited, continuation bet the A high flop with no pairs and tried to steal by shoving all in on the turn.

Also: LAG/TAG/DONK/CALLING Station, etc;

In rebuys I will note quite a few of the all in's preflop to get a feel for what type of hands they like to all in with. Non rebuys I will always note what hands they push all in preflop with: AI PF with: AA / AK os etc;

Yes there are programs.
 
luckytvguy

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if you play poker only online,then i suggest you use softwares like holdem indicator.they can take the role of taking notes precisely.and the these softwares develop a system that classify players into several kinds quitely scientifically.
i used holdem indicator for a period of time.but i dont use it for a time.i just want to excerise reading my opponents with heart.still i am looking for a good system of taking notes including classification,abbreviation. etc.
 
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Taking notes in MTT's is something I find rather pointless, as a good player will be able to switch up their playstyles and the stale players stand out quite well, so I try to keep all my notes to STT's. Normally my notes are min raise - legit, min raise - steal, LAG, TAG, (insert profanity here). I also colour people with a different colour if I should avoid them. Normally I tag the multitablers so I can avoid them, or in some cases, I'll want to play with them.
 
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CardConnoisseur

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On another note, do you guys find putting notes on your opponent to be THAT useful in the long run?
 
StormRaven

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On another note, do you guys find putting notes on your opponent to be THAT useful in the long run?

I do. I like to play the same mtts and same sng's and still stuck at same ring levels. There usually isn't a table that I sit at where there isn't at least 1 player there that I already have a note on. It didn't start out that way but it is that way now. I find it very useful to read my notes to get ahead start or jump on reading my table. Of course players change over time and so do their styles so I also like to date the note. I will also note if the player appears to be on tilt.
 
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CardConnoisseur

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I guess you're right. I can see it happening if you're constantly at the same level. Thanks for the response.
 
Exit141RTe1

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In Multi table tournys i just stopped doing it. I couldn't see the value in a large field. The smaller regular stuff I think there is value. I rarely use it though.
 
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not only stayin at same level but if ur playin forum games ur against same people week after week so notes can be very usefulone word notes i use like loose,tight ,real tight,bluff,no bluff.stuff like that.
 
Chronical23

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never taken notes on a player before lol. just once when a guy hit a royal flush I made a note about him so that i'd remember if i saw him again that he's very lucky! haha But ya I think note-taking would probably help my game.
 
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