When a read is not a read.

[Entity]

For a while now, I've been seeing posts for a while that say things like this:

Button is 22.5/8.7/.4.
CO is X/Y/Z.
SB is 1/2/3.

...and then the hand comes, and people ask how we should play if Button raises, and if CO coldcalls, and if SB checkraises. And everyone is happy. And the townspeople rejoice.

But I'm realizing something. I especially realized it today during a 4-tabling experiment. While clearing PokerNow's bonus today, I decided to honor the terms of their new T&C and not use any Playerview/GT+/PT software while playing. I 4-tabled $2/4, mostly 4 and 5-handed, and made a conscious effort to pay attention to everything that was going on around me. So I watched hands that I was involved in, and hands that I wasn't involved in, and I took a lot of notes. And I got a lot of stuff like this:

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limped AJo, called down when bet into repeatedly w/no pair

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limped A6s, called flop w/no pair no draw, checkraised when hit runner-runner trips. seems generally passive. calls with any pair to the river, has called river bets w/K-high (KTo) after flop action

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limps with KK, QQ, etc. has limped then folded to a raise several times preflop

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Later, when I was reviewing my session, I realized how many more value bets I was making. Then I looked at the amount of flop/turn bluffs I was making. And the amount of folds that went from being confusing to easy.

And people were happy. And the townspeople rejoiced.

I'm just mentioning this because I'm starting to wonder how many of you are playing more tables that you can handle, or are developing some bad habits -- and it'd be best if you broke those habits now, while it's easy.

So I've got a challenge for you. However many tables you're playing -- cut out GT+/PV/PT for 5k hands. Go ahead and import the hands into PT, but don't export people's stats: export their plays. Do they bet gutshots? Do they check with TPNK, or do they play it aggressively? What kind of hands do they peel with on the flop? What sort of hands do they limp with? Do they give up easily when they limp preflop?

Stop treating your fellow poker players like numbers. Realizing that the 20/8/.5 guy limped with AJo in EP, then called down when the BB (me) bet out on a 62K flop, called when a 7 falled on the turn, and called when a 6 falled on the river (I had 76o).

The difference you'll see in your game will be significant. Give it a try. I know some of you take great notes already, but the rest of you would benefit greatly from paying attention to your surroundings.

Then, when you return to your PT/GT/HUD/XYZ world of realtime stats later on, you'll know that not only is your opponent an 18/7/2 guy, but that he folds ridiculously easy to flop checkraise/turn bet combos.

And people will be happy. And the townspeople will rejoice.

Rob

[DMBFan23]

I didnt use it by accident one day and it turned out I kind of liked it. I only play 3 tables though.

I love notes like "cappped TPNK on flop against PFR". it says so much more than "Flop: 2.1"

I use GT+ when I'm not sure, or to supplement, normal reads. I also use it to help out isolating maniacs (if I see unknown tight players behind me, for example).

I like this post so much that I'm going to take the challenge.

[Aaron W.]

Another excellent post that has been long overdue. Thanks.

[Bodhi]

Your post implies that someone doesn't already take notes in conjunction with PT, and I don't understand how the posting of stats (to give reads) gives that impression.

[FUJItheFISH]

for myself i prefer exporting certain numbers like aggression factor and folding %s per street. it lets me know who lingers lightly and who usually calls down pairs. but i do agree that when i just chill out and play a couple tables that i feel in the 'zone' much more often.

[Shillx]

Good post Rob, and I totally agree (my MT Ratio is 1.15). A must read for all people looking to get better. It also helps if you aspire to be a good live player. Now all I gotta do is work on not playing shitfaced. [img]/images/graemlins/shocked.gif[/img]

[the_rookie]

Nice post. I've grown accustomed to using gametime as well. More so for the VPIP numbers and PFR. I 4 table as well and take what I think are fairly good notes but not as detailed as yours.

[Entity]

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Your post implies that someone doesn't already take notes in conjunction with PT, and I don't understand how the posting of stats (to give reads) gives that impression.

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The posting of stats is not the posting of a read. If a player here has a read on someone, they should be posting their read on that player. Posting it in conjunction with stats (that have converged) is fine, but just posting 22/8/3 isn't all that helpful, as far as having an accurate decision-making process goes.

That's all I'm saying.

Too many players here are too reliant on stats and aren't paying enough attention. It's costing them money.

Rob

[Bodhi]

Ok, point well taken. If I could access my notes on a player when I'm not at a table, that would be very helpful.

Just today I noticed a guy who would habitually check-raise as a bluff, but his stats showed him as passive. It made for a profitable note.

[Entity]

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Ok, point well taken. If I could access my notes on a player when I'm not at a table, that would be very helpful.


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Pokertracker -> Import Notes.