Live Note Taking

[hayduke]

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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.



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Yes, but today many of us (kids wearing hoodies) have cars with navigation systems (books we think we understand) that tell us how to find not only our destination (avoiding getting a real job), but also the nearest gas station (credit card with a high cash advance limit). [img]/images/graemlins/wink.gif[/img]

Many years ago, a good friend offered to show me his notes about me. He had page after page of notes analyzing my play, including specific weaknesses, suggestions for methods of exploiting those weaknesses, as well as results of how successful he was at implementing those exploits. It scared the daylights out of me to realize he had this database of specific information concerning how I played poker, while all I had on him was the general sense that “he’s tough.”

I don’t think I’ve played a session since where I failed to at least keep notes on my own play. I’ve never gotten in the habit of taking notes while seated, so I do it at breaks away from the table. I find it’s a great way of forcing myself to take the regular short breaks my aging mind needs to stay focused. But, I don’t really think taking brief notes at the table is an issue as long as you don’t make a big deal about it. (For instance, don’t look up while jotting down a note and ask, “Did he raise UTG with that JT suited?”)

I suppose there’s a theoretical downside to taking notes at the table, in that the occasional weak player may adjust their play after seeing you taking notes. However, I think that, for the typical opponent who is capable of making tactically sound adjustments to your actions, whether or not you take notes is probably the least factor influencing those adjustments.