Poker Shorthand
The abbreviated method uses shorthand to record an opponents actions at the table, again to be used in the future when you next play them. An example of abbreviated notes would look like:
Hands:
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AcAh, 7s7d, 6d7d
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Style:
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Loose Aggressive
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Agression:
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3
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|
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20/04/07 @ 10:55am - PF:Raise/F:Call/T:Raise/R:Call
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Board:
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Kc2d3h/7h/2c
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Show:
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AcAh (2 pair aces and twos)
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|
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20/04/07 @ 11:04am - PF:Call/F:Call/T:Check/R:Bet
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Board:
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AsQd7c/3h/9s
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Show:
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7s7d (3 of a kind sevens)
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|
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20/04/07 @ 11:27am - PF:Call/F:Raise/T:Bet/R:Fold
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Board:
| Kd5h8s/2s/Jd
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Show: | 6d7d (busted draw)
|
|
Abbreviations: |
PF Pre Flop
F The Flop
T The Turn
R The River
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This method uses a more structured approach where the information recorded is uniform and consistent. Although it may take a while to develop your note taking and interpreting skills, it is a quick process once you get a feel for the system. A useful tip is to create a plain text file with a template which you can copy, paste in order to save time. This method ensures the notes are based on no emotional factors and only facts. It is only possible to record an opponents folded hands if the online cardroom provides this information in the hand history log, the majority of cardrooms don't.
If you only play one table at a time, you have much more time to spend on writing notes than if you were playing multiple tables, it might be worth developing a system for both situations if you plan on mixing between one and many tables.
The bare minimum you should record is the
playing style used, whether they are aggressive or passive and tight or loose. A player who plays very few hands and only shows premium cards like AA, KK and AK would be classified as very tight, a player who prefers to call and check rather than betting and raising would be classified as passive.
Good notes provide useful information that help you make a future decision more easily and correctly, they will save you money in the long term. There is a considerable amount of information going on at a poker table, the key to making meaningful and profitable notes not only lies in how you document the information but also what you choose to document and how you interpret it.
THINGS TO LOOK FOR:
They bet on a draw
They bet into an uncontested pot in late position
They follow through with bets on the flop/turn/river after raising pre flop (continuation bet)
They bet big when they're strong and small when they're weak
They call with any 2 suited cards
They chase draws at either good pot odds or poor pot odds
The hands they call raises with
They play hands out of position
They play weak aces, invariably overvaluing them
The hands they raise pre flop with
The hands they limp with
The hands they limp / reraise with
The hands they raise / fold with (only possible at sites that provide your opponents folded cards within the hand history log)
One aspect of note taking that is often overlooked is taking notes on your own
styles of poker play; you would do this in order to improve yourself as a player. Two reasons to make notes about your play are to record your results and analyse your playing style; you record your results because it forces you to discover whether you are truly profitable or not, you analyse the way you play to monitor any changes you have made to the way you play and recognise patterns such as playing more passively when tired or more aggressively when drunk. Looking over your results may uncover some very useful information, like which site you profit most from, which betting limit you are most profitable in, what time of day you make the least and most profit during.
It's pointless making good notes if they are'nt utilised; you must be able to apply the information you have collected otherwise you are'nt getting any value from making them.
