Tips for Beginner to Review Past Hands

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TheHelplessHero

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Hey, I've only just started out playing Hold'em (only live cash games 1/2). After my third day and still on the up-swing (for now), I want to know how to improve because even though I'm up, it's a small amount so I don't feel like I'm cutting it. My first thought was to think about past hands and see what would have worked or not, but I hardly ever remember what all was on the board or the bets of the other players.

Like I'll remember a certain moment from turn to river, or even from flop to river, but won't remember how it started, or vice-versa. I'd love to have a much more clear recollection of some hands to best review. With the videos out there, I've seen lots of people go over past hands where they remember the position of the other player as well as have the whole board posted as it goes along, not to mention some even remembering the starting stack estimates of the players.

Is there any tips on improving memory on past hands that you guys could offer?
 
Serjo600

Serjo600

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First post on the forum usually looks like a representation of who you are. And you write how to play postflop
 
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TheHelplessHero

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I'm not asking on how I should play postflop (not yet anyways). Just on how you remember certain hands, thus the title. Just wanting help so I can review and reflect better to improve. And also hoping it helps anyone else looking to improve as well.
 
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CallmeFloppy

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HUDS are a good way to track your hands and be able to review your hand histories.

You can also make a video recording of your sessions with the proper software and make notes as you play. Then you can go back and watch how you played a hand and assess what you did.
 
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Nefertitie

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Like the others my point is more based around online play...

I'm still learning as well, and while I may HUD in the future it is a lot of investment for a beginner at the lowest levels.

The way I am playing currently is on large slow tables, play tight and fold lots preflop, use the downtime to review past hands, doing this I can spend 50% (or more) of my time reviewing previous hands while in-game. Use the downtime to learn.
 
thatguy6793

thatguy6793

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Most sites have a built in hand history I'm sure, or at least BOL and ACR do that I'm familiar with. Just go back over some of the sessions you just finished and look at how you played them and how you would have played them with taking more time to think about the situation and not based on what happened (for example on BOL and I think most HUDs you can play one betting round at a time and pause it in between the action to analyze the stuff that happened and work from there. It's also a good idea to look at hands you don't remember as much and play them as "fresh hands" where you can really look at how you would play them before you see what you did, and it's kinda nice to see yourself grow when you say "why did I even think that was a good play??". Hope that helps, and remember the key to replaying hands is not to look at it as a outcome based approached but instead as a how did I do approach in each situation/would I play it differently now that I think about it.
 
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TheHelplessHero

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I appreciate the help with HUDs and looking at software. I was more wondering about what y'all do for 'live' games.
 
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Supmargy

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I appreciate the help with HUDs and looking at software. I was more wondering about what y'all do for 'live' games.

Is it possible to take some notes when you play?
If you can write some stuff down and post them for hand reviewing later, you'll improve quickly.

You can also just train online and post them like that. Playing for 30 minutes and posting tough spots will make you improve really fast as well. Then you can take what you learned back to your live table.
 
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AlexTheOwl

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Some live players seem to have very good recall. I do not. I take notes.

I agree with Supmargy about online play.
The online game is different, but it is good training.
It is so much easier to review hands online with a HUD, most of which have free trials.
And you can deposit on many sites for $25 or less, and play .01 / .02 blinds full ring.
The easiest money is at live tables, but the best training is online.

Analysing the hands of others is good practice too. Check out the Hand Analysis section of this forum. Google terms that you don't know, and ask questions.
 
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