OloBury

Hi,
I've been thinking about taking notes recently and realised how little attention I pay to it. I think it is a common problem among micro players. Although I realise how important and beneficial notes are, I tend to either forget about taking them during the session. This may be also due to the fact that I honestly don't know what is worth noting down and don't have a system that would make them organised and logical.

This is why I decided to create this thread, so we can all together learn how to take notes and on what things we should focus while looking for important information. I also hope that together we develop a system that will keep our notes organised and easily accessible.

The way I want to do this is by making a little game of it. I am going to post some hands that went to showdown from particular player that we can analyse and take some notes on. After this, I'm going to post an open hand and we can together come up with decision based on the notes we've taken. Then we can take turns in posting hands. I think this is the best approach to learn it as we will be note taking as well as using it in practice. Obviously, I'm open to different ideas as well :). General tips and approaches are also welcomed here.

Okay, so let's get started. These are stats and key hands from one of the best regs at NL10:
Attached Image

Hand #1

Hand Conversion Powered by WeakTight Poker Hand History Converter
$0.05/$0.10 No Limit Holdem Prima
6 Players

Blinds $0.05/$0.106
UTG $10
UTG+1Hero $20.73
CO $11.59
D $12.19
SB $36.01
BB $10.30

Preflop
6$0.15Hero is UTG+16Q
1 fold, Hero folds, 1 fold, BTN raises to $0.30, 1 fold, BB calls $0.20

Flop
2$0.55K53
BB checks, BTN bets $0.50, BB calls $0.50

Turn
2$1.55J
BB checks, BTN bets $1.20, BB raises to $5, BTN goes all-in $10.19, BB goes all-in $4.50

River
2$20.55, 2 all-in 8

Final Pot $20.55
BB shows 33
BTN shows KJ
BB wins $19.62 (net +$9.42)
BTN collects $1.89 (net -$10.30)

Comments: Our player is on BB. Villain he's playing against is weak reg.

Hand #2

Hand Conversion Powered by WeakTight Poker Hand History Converter
$0.05/$0.10 No Limit Holdem Prima
6 Players

Blinds $0.05/$0.106
UTG $18.33
UTG+1 $5.40
CO $16.72
D $3.77
SB $12.71
BBHero $10.69

Preflop
6$0.15Hero is BB38
1 fold, UTG+1 calls $0.10, CO calls $0.10, 1 fold, SB raises to $0.50, Hero folds, UTG+1 calls $0.40, CO calls $0.40

Flop
3$1.404AQ
SB bets $1.20, UTG+1 folds, CO raises to $3, SB goes all-in $11.01, CO calls $9.21

Turn
2$22.82, 1 all-in 3

River
2$22.82, 1 all-in 5

Final Pot $22.82
SB shows AQ
CO shows 44
CO wins $24.72 (net +$15.11)
SB lost $12.71
UTG+1 lost $0.40

Comments: The player is CO.

Hand #3

Hand Conversion Powered by WeakTight Poker Hand History Converter
$0.05/$0.10 No Limit Holdem Prima
5 Players

Blinds $0.05/$0.105
UTG $18.13
CO $10
D $10.15
SB $10.07
BB $10

Preflop
5$0
1 fold, CO raises to $0.30, BTN calls $0.30, 1 fold, BB raises to $1.50, CO raises to $3.90, BTN folds, BB goes all-in $8.50, CO goes all-in $6.10

Flop
2$20.35, 2 all-in 3A5

Turn
2$20.35, 2 all-in Q

River
2$20.35, 2 all-in 5

Final Pot $20.35
BB shows A3
CO shows TT
BB wins $19.34 (net +$9.34)
CO lost $10
BTN lost $0.30

Comments: Player is BB.

Hand #4

Hand Conversion Powered by WeakTight Poker Hand History Converter
$0.05/$0.10 No Limit Holdem Prima
6 Players

Blinds $0.05/$0.106
UTG $13.96
UTG+1Hero $10
CO $18.10
D $5.55
SB $10
BB $10.82

Preflop
6$0.15Hero is UTG+195
1 fold, Hero folds, 2 folds, SB raises to $0.30, BB calls $0.20

Flop
2$0.506K5
SB bets $0.45, BB calls $0.45

Turn
2$1.409
SB checks, BB bets $0.75, SB raises to $3, BB calls $2.25

River
2$6.65T
SB bets $3, BB calls $3

Final Pot $12.65
SB shows 78
BB shows 5K
SB wins $12.83 (net +$6.08)
BB lost $5.90

Comments: Player is SB. The player on the blinds is a bit passive.

Hand #5

Hand Conversion Powered by WeakTight Poker Hand History Converter
$0.05/$0.10 No Limit Holdem Prima
5 Players

Blinds $0.05/$0.105
UTG $13.40
CO $10
D $15.25
SBHero $25.25
BB $10

Preflop
5$0.15Hero is SB76
1 fold, CO raises to $0.30, BTN raises to $1, Hero folds, 1 fold, CO raises to $3.10, BTN goes all-in $14.25, CO goes all-in $6.90

Flop
2$20.15, 2 all-in TQ8

Turn
2$20.15, 2 all-in J

River
2$20.15, 2 all-in 2

Final Pot $20.15
CO shows A8
BTN showsKA
CO wins $19.15 (net +$9.15)
BTN collects $5.25 (net -$10)

Comments: Player is CO.

Okay, I think it's enough for now. Below I post my notes on each hand and I encourage everyone to do the same. I will post the hand with the decision to make after we create organised set of notes on that player.

Notes:
Hand #1: check/call low set on Kcxc3d. ch/r x4 on Jd.
Hand #2: limp low PP. raise x2.5 with set on 4dAsQd.
Hand #3: Sq on BB and 5bet w/A3s.
Hand #4: ch/r x4 w/ straight on turn.
Hand #5: 4bet/call on CO w/A8s.

Last Post 8 years ago by

bslay3r

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This is a really good idea. By the looks of things my notes are similar to yours. but with some differences, so here they are anyway.

Hand 1: called BTN 3x from BB with 33, x/c set on Kc5c3d then x/r J turn
Hand 2: Limped with 44 then raised As4dQd flop bet with set
Hand 3: Squeezed CO/BTN with A3s, 5bet all-in when Co 4bet
Hand 4: bet .45 into .50 with OESD, x/r when made straight OTT, bet half pot OTR when scare card hits
Hand 5: 4bet/called w/ A8s in Co v BTN

This guy does some pretty weird things, how can he 4bet call with A8s!! Unless he has a read on Button. He also kind of spades out when he squeezes A3s, again, unless he had a read.

Would be good to see others. I may add an additional note mentioning the - what look like - spaz outs after he 3/4bets

#1 standard, no note
#2 standard; can note a limp behind w/ low pp after utg if want. No note for me probably.
#3 standard, no note
#4 cbet oesd, x/r turned straight BvB
#5 4bet 3x A8s COvBTN, call AI 100bb

Thank you for response guys! Quick question, how would you organise these notes? Do you have them written one after another, how would you divide them?

Okay, 3 more hands from the player and afterwards I'm gonna post a hand that we can discuss based on the notes.

Hand #6

Hand Conversion Powered by WeakTight Poker Hand History Converter
$0.05/$0.10 No Limit Holdem Prima
5 Players

Blinds $0.05/$0.105
UTG $10
CO $12.95
D $10.78
SB $10
BB $12.99

Preflop
5$0
1 fold, CO raises to $0.30, 1 fold, SB calls $0.25, 1 fold

Flop
2$0.6582T
SB bets $0.50, CO raises to $1.35, SB calls $0.85

Turn
2$2.857
SB checks, CO bets $1.90, SB calls $1.90

River
2$6.655
SB checks, CO bets $3.30, SB goes all-in $6.45, CO calls $3.15

Final Pot $16.25
SB shows 99
CO shows TA
CO wins $19.10 (net +$12.40)
SB lost $9.45

Comments: Player is SB. Quite interesting hand, played against another reg.

Hand #7

Hand Conversion Powered by WeakTight Poker Hand History Converter
$0.05/$0.10 No Limit Holdem Prima
5 Players

Blinds $0.05/$0.105
UTG $17.60
CO $14.95
D $10.52
SB $10
BB $10

Preflop
5$0
2 folds, BTN raises to $0.25, 1 fold, BB raises to $1, BTN calls $0.75

Flop
2$1.80J95
BB bets $1.55, BTN raises to $4.10, BB goes all-in $7.45, BTN calls $4.90

Turn
2$15.70, 1 all-in J

River
2$15.70, 1 all-in 3

Final Pot $15.70
BB shows AT
BTN shows 89
BTN wins $19.05 (net +$13.40)
BB lost $10

Comments: Player is BB. It's against other good reg.

Hand #8

Hand Conversion Powered by WeakTight Poker Hand History Converter
$0.05/$0.10 No Limit Holdem Prima
6 Players

Blinds $0.05/$0.106
UTG $10.27
UTG+1 $10.15
CO $10
D $9.57
SB $15.27
BB $10

Preflop
6$0
3 folds, BTN raises to $0.30, SB calls $0.25, BB raises to $1.50, BTN folds, SB calls $1.20

Flop
2$3943
SB checks, BB bets $2.45, SB calls $2.45

Turn
2$7.90A
SB checks, BB goes all-in $6.05, SB calls $6.05

River
2$20, 1 all-in Q

Final Pot $20
SB shows A3
BB shows QK
SB wins $19.29 (net +$9.59)
BTN lost $0.30
BB lost $10

Hand #6: Donk w/ mid PP on flop. Ch/r on river when missed SD.
Hand #7: b/r all in w/ flush draw on flop in 3bet pot.
Hand #8: Here I really struggle how to compose the note, so your help would be appreciated.

Okay, I'm gonna post problem hand next. Start gathering hands from your opponents so we can analyse someone else afterwards

After #6 I'd mark him as not a very good player.

When it comes to notes for me it is always simple. I use PT4 and just use the drop down and tick review. I then carry on with my session. Once finished i go into PT4, select the review icon and then go over the hands. I then just note them on the PT4 software and colour code the HUD also.

I used to take a lot of notes in game but realized i was just wasting time as they would not be efficient enough. This way means i don't get distracted and i can spend more time going over the hand and making more comprehensive notes.

Hand #1: Flats small pairs pre bb v btn (vs weak reg). Check calls K35cc flop with 33 then check 4x it on J bdfd turn.

^ The main thing with this note is the sizing on turn. It is on the large side and is also a round number which you don't see that often. Raise to rounded number could be a tell...who knows tho would need to see more proof of it.

NoteCaddy will note the shit out of villains as well with all the bet sizing etc etc.

Good for you for getting into taking notes. I almost never go more than 4-5 tables, and I am pretty certain I have better notes than most of the regs I am up against. (They may still be better than me, but it helps.) I'm honestly shocked that our players here who are on non-HUD sites don't have tons of notes. Being observant is our advantage.

When it comes to suits, don't bother with KcQd5c, it's too complex. Just go with KQxtt meaning two-tone. r is rainbow, mt or st is monotone or single tone. x is for rags that aren't important. Other small time/space savers from what you've got: c/r instead of ch/r, 3/f or 4/c when discussing 3 and 4 bets.

Try to get a bit more specific, like Hand 7: ATs BB 3 vs btn, Jxx FD b/3ai. After a while you'll be able to read the notes easy enough.

And don't forget once you take the notes, in post-session reviews, to read them!!!

Hand #2: Over limps/calls raise pre with 44. Does not isolate UTG limper. Fast plays on AQ4 dd flop.

"One of the best regs at 10NL". Looks to me likes he's overly aggressive and spews money TBH. Some of these spots look like complete spaz outs.

Hand #1
BB will call any pair OOP without proper odds.
BB will slowplay a set on a rainbow flop or double suited dry flop.
Btn plays pretty standard.

Hand #2
CO is following the implied odds, and will not slow play like player on hand #1
I would have gotten stacked like SB. The only worst ace capable of limp-calling I can think of is A7s or worst. Queen-junk suited might want to limp-call.

Hand #3: CO's 3-bet range could be huge!!
BB will stack himself with any wheel-suited ace or ace + broadway suited gapper.

Hand #4: SB likes to bet the winning side of the straight, and chances are he'll like to bet king/ace-high or better flush draws.
SB: might give you a chance to get a free card for the winning flush, so you better take it or he'll check-raise.
BB: bet sizing is weird. A recreational player or a calling station

hand #5:
CO: simply a maniac. He's probably related to BB from hand #3
BTN: Likes coin-flips with a slight advantage.

Wow! This exercise does improve your skills! Range building 101!!

I think many players overcomplicate taking notes.

I basically note 2 things:

1. something which can help me create a preflop range for the guy, for example fish limps 44 then I note l/c 44 (as limp/call 44) - more interesting when a fish does this with an overpair -, or reg 3bet/5bet push A3s I note 3b/5b push A3s - from this I know he is spewy or he uses GTO - if I see him 3b/5b push with ATo then he is definitely spewy (maybe steaming or drunk :D). Or he calls a 3b with low pps then I note 3b call setmine (IP or OOP)

2. something which is not standard or I expect him to do something else. For example I won't take a note on a guy who check/raises with a set because that's not a big deal. Maybe if the board is dry. But I would note if the guy donks with set/FD/TP/2pairs or anything. Or he raises AQ in a 3bet pot on Axx board. Or if he raises his weak draws (gutshot, weak FD etc).

3. I have a 3rd thing to note but that's rare because not conclusive, this is basically like the 1st point but for postflop hands. If I see a guy doing something with some hand then I know he should do something else with the other part of his range. For example if he check/calls with 2nd pair then he either cbets with TP+ or with air (in theory). If I see him cbetting with 2nd pair then the question is what is he checking with etc.

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