Live Note Taking
 

As my game and bankroll grows, I really want to start taking notes. PT provides everything I could ask for in terms of online but what's the best way to go about keeping notes in B and M? I'm considering just bringing one of those little mole skin notepads and using that to chart my progress. Any suggestions? What kind of stats do you guys keep when playing live?

Re: Live Note Taking
 

I'd laugh if you took notes at my live table. What live notes would you really need to be taking? All I keep track of is my time played, and my profit/loss, then punch it into a spreadsheet when I get home.

Re: Live Note Taking
 

You should make sure to jot down which players are jerks.

Re: Live Note Taking
 

Enjoy getting relentlessly needled for the rest of your "live career" if you take notes. Who does that?

Re: Live Note Taking
 

Fossilman had a notepad handy, wonder if he had been taking notes in it before Matusow started on him.

Re: Live Note Taking
 

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You should make sure to jot down which players are jerks.

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A++++

Re: Live Note Taking
 

If you're just talking about keeping stats, then I don't think keeping physical notes is necessary. There's free utilities online where you can keep your stats up to date. I think CardPlayer has one, for example. In my case, I just wrote a program myself to keep track of everything I needed.

If you're talking about taking notes on the play of opponents you see regularly, then I definitely think there's a place for that. Being aware of the weaknesses and leaks of bad regulars is very valuable knowledge.

Re: Live Note Taking
 

I have a little notebook, too. I keep track of my session stats and write down notable hands, but I wait until my next bathroom break before I do it.

Re: Live Note Taking
 

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Fossilman had a notepad handy, wonder if he had been taking notes in it before Matusow started on him.

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He answered this already, it wasn't for taking notes on players, he tracks his chip stack before they go on a break.

This thread needs more Mike Gallow.... paging Mike Gallow....

Re: Live Note Taking
 

Just write out certian hands and info on the session after you finish playing.

Re: Live Note Taking
 

sure go ahead, and in the proccess, announce aloud about who and what you are writing.

Re: Live Note Taking
 

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sure go ahead, and in the proccess, announce aloud about who and what you are writing.

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LOL SEAT 3 IS SUCH A DONKEY, PEELS FOR GUTSHOTS WITH ONLY 5:1 AND NO IMPLIED ODDS. LOLOLOL

scribble, scribble, scribble.

Re: Live Note Taking
 

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This thread needs more Mike Gallow.... paging Mike Gallow....

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Seriously. Mike? Are you there?

Re: Live Note Taking
 

[ QUOTE ]


This thread needs more Mike Gallow.... paging Mike Gallow....

[/ QUOTE ]

Yes. We need more of his humor.

Re: Live Note Taking
 

My Mp3 player has a mic and you could just walk out and talk into the unit. I will try this while in Vegas on my next trip.

Re: Live Note Taking
 

plus the fact that you look like a complete nit at the table by ruining the gambling atmosphere. youll never get any action

Re: Live Note Taking
 

make sure your notepad is official FULLTILTPOKER.NET notepad; not only stylish but it will also match nicely with your FULLTILTPOKER.NET hoodie and headphones.

Re: Live Note Taking
 

Sat with Dr. Al a few times. During sessions he often jots down little notes about his play and his opponents. Takes a notecard out of his shirt pocket, scribbles a bit, puts it back. Nobody ever reacts and few seem to notice.

Re: Live Note Taking
 

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make sure your notepad is official FULLTILTPOKER.NET notepad; not only stylish but it will also match nicely with your FULLTILTPOKER.NET hoodie and headphones.

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You guys are all making fun of the OP's idea, but did you know that I take notes at the table? And as time goes on I notice that most of the best players I encounter take notes as well? Sure it doesnt matter if your going on vacation, but if you live in Vegas, AC, LA, the Bay Area, Phoenix, or Tunica - its the smart thing to do.

Re: Live Note Taking
 

Alright, so I lol'd a bit, then thought, "who knows what's next at the tables?" hats, sunglasses, crazy good luck charms, sunglasses w/ goofy eyes on them, errrr.....

I'm donkin' around w/ my cell and you can attach notes to each pic (even has changeable pre-set ones, quite a few) presumably to remember the unforgetable event, "Halloween 2006"... and it is a basic model.

you could potentially snap a mug, select multiple messages, type some stats w/o players realizing it...maybe get one with a sytlus or that looks more like a PDA... or a PDA w/ camera - "genius"...

Re: Live Note Taking
 

There was a nice little discussion about this topic in this thread:
Linky

Re: Live Note Taking
 

I have been pleasantly surprised at the small amount of attention my note-taking has gotten. I take a small notepad and simply make a one-line entry for each pot I enter telling me what I played, what position it was in, and how many small bets I won or lost. It only takes a second to write down 89o/SB/-2 or whatever. I still rely on memory to remember things about players, I just write down what I want to put in my database when I get home.

I do take a little bit of kidding about it but it is good natured and no big deal. Occassionally other players ask what I am writing, I tell them, and that's the end of it. I was originally concerned it would give me an over-serious table image for small stakes play ($3/$6 to $6/$12 limit) but it does not seem to have been a problem that way either.

Indeed, I think many players respect it, realizing at some level that they should be doing the same thing.

Re: Live Note Taking
 

Place just makes people warm and fuzzy all over, welcome!

Re: Live Note Taking
 

[ QUOTE ]
Sat with Dr. Al a few times. During sessions he often jots down little notes about his play and his opponents. Takes a notecard out of his shirt pocket, scribbles a bit, puts it back. Nobody ever reacts and few seem to notice.

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Who knows what he could be writing? You have to know Dr. Al to know how funny this is. Yeah, he makes notes. Often of the wrong thing. [img]/images/graemlins/grin.gif[/img]

Seriously, it's not a big deal.

Re: Live Note Taking
 

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Fossilman had a notepad handy, wonder if he had been taking notes in it before Matusow started on him.

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Yes I think I did see a tourney where the fossil was writing notes but do not recall the details [img]/images/graemlins/cool.gif[/img]

Re: Live Note Taking
 

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
make sure your notepad is official FULLTILTPOKER.NET notepad; not only stylish but it will also match nicely with your FULLTILTPOKER.NET hoodie and headphones.

[/ QUOTE ]
You guys are all making fun of the OP's idea, but did you know that I take notes at the table? And as time goes on I notice that most of the best players I encounter take notes as well? Sure it doesnt matter if your going on vacation, but if you live in Vegas, AC, LA, the Bay Area, Phoenix, or Tunica - its the smart thing to do.

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Yes Jim Brier is another player who takes notes at the table and he`s far from intermediate in playing Stature.
Also very few realize he started playing in the smallest NL games available to build his basic skills and took notes.Whereas most players egos would get in the way and move to the higher( I`m a player) blinds quickly.
I think Barry Tannenbaum as well takes notes to some degree.

Re: Live Note Taking
 

Gus Hansen speaks Danish into a little voice recorder, I saw him do it on TV.

I don't speak Danish and don't own a small recording device. My plan is to bring a large reel to reel recorder, microphone and 400 foot extension cord and speak Pig Latin for my note taking.

"Eat-Yay Un-yay isa Onkey-ay"

I figure I should dominate the Big Game in Vegas with this plan and win millions in no time. Anyone want to stake me?

Re: Live Note Taking
 

I have a palm pilot and a cell phone that I use as well. I can't type quickly enough in either one of them, however. Sometimes I walk away from the table to record things (usually). I record a person's tells or how they played a certain hand if it was noteworthy.

A few people take notes w/ pen and paper at the table. I think that might reduce the amount of action you get, but who knows? Especially in a game where people are playing and having fun, who wants to give any action to someone w/ a pen and paper keeping a record of every hand? I play w/ 40-50 of the same people day in and day out, however I also play a lot out west. It especially helps to be able to review everybody's tells when I get back home. Otherwise I may forget some things. Sure I can recognize the tell, but I may forget what it means for that particular person. At one time I took voice notes w/ my cell phone, but never listened to them (in replaying them I found 'em to be way, way too loud!). I'd like to have a cell phone that I can take pictures with and record notes like that.

As far as taking notes of your own play I'm not sure what to record. After the session I have 3 columns for, overall play, hand selection and reads then rate each from A-F. I actually have a very good memory so I remember most of the hands I played for the session and don't find it necessary to keep track of how much I won or lost with any particular hand. Does anyone else find that to be note worthy?

Re: Live Note Taking
 

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...speak Pig Latin for my note taking.

"Eat-Yay Un-yay isa Onkey-ay"

... Anyone want to stake me?

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Not until you actually learn Pig Latin.

Re: Live Note Taking
 

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
...speak Pig Latin for my note taking.

"Eat-Yay Un-yay isa Onkey-ay"

... Anyone want to stake me?

[/ QUOTE ]
Not until you actually learn Pig Latin.

[/ QUOTE ]

I hear Pepperdine offers a 2 semester course.

Re: Live Note Taking
 

[ QUOTE ]
I have been pleasantly surprised at the small amount of attention my note-taking has gotten. I take a small notepad and simply make a one-line entry for each pot I enter telling me what I played, what position it was in, and how many small bets I won or lost. It only takes a second to write down 89o/SB/-2 or whatever. I still rely on memory to remember things about players, I just write down what I want to put in my database when I get home.

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I dont know how else to say it so I'm be blunt - your notes and your database has no redeeming value. You should be making notes of your session profit/loss, limit, and time - not notes of the size of each pot you enter, it doesnt matter how much you win/lose in a hand - thats just nitty. Additionally you should be making notes about the hand itself if you want to think about it in the future.

I recently advised someone who happened to post in this thread in private to take notes when a hand he is in includes a concept that I noted he was having problems with. So for the next few sessions he will record the action of every time he slowplays, check/raises, check/calls, or folds because "he doesn't have the right odds". With each notes he must describe his profile of the opponent. His goal will be to send each hand to me via PM, and we will discuss the ones where I can find a better course of action, and some we will repost in the strat forums for additional comments.

Re: Live Note Taking
 

I'm considering just bringing one of those little mole skin notepads and using that to chart my progress

I used a Mead Five Star 5 1/2 x 3 1/1 200/400 sheet notebook.

Any suggestions? What kind of stats do you guys keep when playing live?

Excellent idea.

I keep the following stats, game I am playing in, date, time, amount of money I bought in for.

I then will write hands I played that I considered interesting or hands that I had what I thought at the time was a difficult decision.

I write the texture of the table as well, loose, tight, passive, aggressive, volatile meaning the table can go from tight passive to loose aggressive from one hand to the next.

I keep a notebook to evaluate my play, this forces me to play better and stay sharp.

::Edited after I read other posters responses::

Sad that we have so many closed minded posters who bashed op for taking notes. Those of you that made fun of the idea should reevaluate your stance.

Success is a journey not a destination, for every journey a person needs the following, a vehicle, a map, and fuel. The vehicle in this instance is poker, the fuel is a bankroll, and the map, is the knowledge.

In order to to journey towards success, one must map out or look at past journeys.

Keeping notes allows me to do this. I keep a journal for my career as well.

Re: Live Note Taking
 

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[ QUOTE ]
I have been pleasantly surprised at the small amount of attention my note-taking has gotten. I take a small notepad and simply make a one-line entry for each pot I enter telling me what I played, what position it was in, and how many small bets I won or lost. It only takes a second to write down 89o/SB/-2 or whatever. I still rely on memory to remember things about players, I just write down what I want to put in my database when I get home.

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I dont know how else to say it so I'm be blunt - your notes and your database has no redeeming value. You should be making notes of your session profit/loss, limit, and time - not notes of each pot you enter. Additionally you should be making notes about the hand itself if you want to think about it in the future.

I recently advised someone who happened to post in this thread in private to take notes when a hand he is in includes a concept that I noted he was having problems with. So for the next few sessions he will record the action of every time he slowplays, check/raises, check/calls, or folds because "he doesn't have the right odds". With each notes he must describe his profile of the opponent. His goal will be to send each hand to me via PM, and we will discuss the ones where I can find a better course of action, and some we will repost in the strat forums for additional comments.

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It has to have some "redeeming value" for him or he wouldn't do it. In respect to his personal note taking, he could incorporate what you have mentioned. My personal notes are only of bad or unnecessary beats which I try to keep as simplistic as possible. And they have helped in similar situations that have come up. "Correct odds" play is an ongoing learning curve for me, and typically when I've misplayed a hand, the "odds" and math prove it's point.

P [img]/images/graemlins/laugh.gif[/img]

Re: Live Note Taking
 

First time I played NL live I took notes, and a guy offered me $5, $10 and then $20 for the notes! I sold it to him as I was in Detroit and wouldn't be back for a long time.

I also took notes during a Caesar's Nooner about a year ago without anyone caring.

I think looking and acting like a nit has its benefits so long as you don't PLAY like a nit. Note taking qualifies.

Re: Live Note Taking
 

this is counterproductive to winning i think

the money in poker comes from the weak players

they'll be turned off by note taking, and you'll get action by inspiring them to play better against you

don't do this

Re: Live Note Taking
 

I have an IPAQ with enough memory on an SD card to record a 12 hour session. Ocassionally I'll just turn it on and record everything that is said at the table and if I feel the need to review it later I do. Having found in the past that my incessant chatter at the table can be "too informative" I use the recordings both for interesting hands, session data and to reinforce my need to not give away too much info during key hands.

Jimbo

Re: Live Note Taking
 

I played recently with an elderly gentleman who appeared to be counting how many flops came paired, suited, two-suited, etc. I'm not sure why. Maybe he was trying to predict the flop.

Re: Live Note Taking
 

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I played recently with an elderly gentleman who appeared to be counting how many flops came paired, suited, two-suited, etc. I'm not sure why. Maybe he was trying to predict the flop.

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former baccarat player I'm sure. Most guys who record each and every pot involvement like the poster earlier in this thread also tend to be the superstitious and overly tight type, which may be a similar trait to your flop predicting opponent.

Re: Live Note Taking
 

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former baccarat player I'm sure. Most guys who record each and every pot involvement like the poster earlier in this thread also tend to be the superstitious and overly tight type, which may be a similar trait to your flop predicting opponent.

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I once asked an old guy who was taking copious notes on every hand (not just those he was in) why. He was looking for patterns. He explained, you see, that sometimes patterns are tougher to spot than just 6's hitting a lot, or clubs coming out a lot, so you really need to write down the board cards and your own cards to pick out the more subtle stuff.

Re: Live Note Taking
 

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He was looking for patterns.

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How would know the "pattern" was coming, even with his notes?

P [img]/images/graemlins/laugh.gif[/img]