Notes. This has probably been talked about before.

[Pondy]

Who here makes written notes on players during tournaments, or is it just mental notes?

[creamfillin]

My notes are usually something like "idiot" "real moron" "minraising weakling", but those are just the limits I play at

[Fiksdal]

I make notes all the time. In an average tournament I probably make some notes on 10-20 villains. This is a very good thing to do while you're not in a hand and and observing the table.

For instance, if someone will limp QQ+, this is an important thing to note.

Or if someone limps and folds to a raise in endgame situation, this can also be important.

[Cleverbeans]

I make notes, not because I ever use them but because if I'm making notes I'm observing the table and gathering information. It's a simple way for me to stay focused on the game and improve my results.

[Fiksdal]

[ QUOTE ]
I make notes, not because I ever use them but because if I'm making notes I'm observing the table and gathering information. It's a simple way for me to stay focused on the game and improve my results.

[/ QUOTE ]

this is good

[RonFezBuddy]

Killer Poker Online 2 has some useful note taking tips. The author came up with a shorthand for player types and common tendencies. For example he'll type RWC (Raises with Cheese) if he sees someone back down to a reraise or showing a mediocre hand at showdown after raising. Or he'll type AO (Attacks Orphans) if someone shows the tendencies to go after flops that it looks like hit noone hit.

There's a whole list of them in there, that's just two. I found them useful.

[5x5]

Absolutely. Very helpfull. Also great to prevent dozing off to other activities, like TV, e-mail, web,etc.
I note things such as:

1. Range of hands played (shown) OOP.
2. Limps utg with QQ-AA
3. Folds to re-raise in late position high % of the time (helpfull to locate re-steal targets)
4. TAG/LAG/DONK
5. Capable of laydowns, eg.Top pair/ difficult to bluff

[vandalay]

I also keep track of
LC - Limps, then calls to a raise
LC-F - Limp, calls a raise, and then checks to the raiser and folds post flop.
AI - How often someone goes all in
Bet sizes (1/3 pot or 2X, 1/2 pot or 3X, 2/3+pot or 5x)
RR- how often he reraises someone ( to re-reraise them )
WL - Weak Leads at the pot
WLF - Weak Lead then fold
CC/RR standards
AI - How often they are all in....

I will also write other notes as listed above.