Dear Heads Up Community,
I have written this detailed account of the methodology for note taking for a few reasons. First, I think it is a sometimes overlooked part of the game that when applied can be very useful. Second, I think that when you play a game taking notes your analyzing skills improve. Finally, I think this can benefit everyone. It can cause the learning low-mid stakes players to think more about what's going on and it can also help mid-high stakes players in any fashion. I am hoping that those of you who take notes already will share certain things that I miss.

#1. Statistics
If you are a player who uses sharkscope to search opponents before games. I have found it useful to copy and paste your opponents stats into the note. Mainly, it will save time if you face the opponent again. But also, as you are playing it will be a little reminder of whether you are playing a big fish or a shark. If I don't find it necessary to post the stats. I will just post a short description like "break even $22 player".

#2.General Player Category (TP, TAG, LP, LAG)
This is something I am usually able to gather within the first 15-20 hands of play. It is not a note I always put in. But if the player is a very distinct style, say very LAG, then I feel it's worth taking a note of.

#3.3 bets
Again if a player doesn't seem to be 3 betting at all. I make a note of it. For the most part, just as a reminder for when they do 3 bet, to proceed with caution. Conversely, if a player 3 bets with some consistency then this note increases profitability by reminding me to 4 bet more.

#4.Positional Awareness
An opponents awareness to his position in hands may be the most important thing to notice. If the player is consistently calling raises out of position(from here forward OOP) then note it. Same with if they are rarely calling raises OOP. Also if they are raising from the button a lot it would probably be an ok idea to start 3 betting. This note can be a great indicator of spots that you can extract value from.

#5.Fold Flop OOP
If your opponent is calling a lot of raises from the big blind and then giving up on flops. Pretty self-explanatory. But the players who do this are a gold mine. Your C-bets value increase incredibly.

#6.Draw tendency
Are you sitting with an opponent who will call 30% of their stack on the flop with an OESD? If so it's probably worth remembering. If your opponent will check/shove with a flush draw you could also benefit. C/C, C/C, shove when draw hits. All valuable information.

#7.Pick a Level
This is purely subjective and not always clear. But I like to choose what level my opponent is thinking on. Always try to play 1 level above what you think they are playing on. But don't make the mistake of letting them get you to think they think you think their on level 2 when they are really on 5.

#8.Key hands, etc.
I like to post weird hands that they play. Not the entire hand history but a brief description. For example, "Called 3x raise OOP and led 3 streets with 4 high no pair, no draw." Some players I see take weird unorthodox, high unprofitable lines like this and I just note NPND (no pair, no draw). To me this translates into, "Does stupid things for no apparent reason".

#9. Exploitability
Here I list places I think I can exploit the player. Like if for instance I know he is check/calling with 2 over all the time. Or things of that nature. I make this note the least often but it shouldn't be ignored.

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That is pretty much everything I put in notes. I don't necessarily include all of them. Just whatever sticks out in my head when playing. I find this the most helpful for me when I am playing someone I expect to face again. Like a $33 regular or something like that. While maybe it seems like overkill it's important to remember, "Everyone is exploitable, your goal is to find out where, and for how much".

If you have a piece of information you want but can't find out. Just ask your opponent. You never know what they might say.

Jordan

Nice post

Nice post. Just wanted to add that a good HUD should take care of a lot of the above categories.

It's important to document what type of hands villain shows down and on what type of board. For example, earlier today I had 52dd OTB, I bet the flop of Jd8d5c, villain raises and I call in position. Turn is Td. Villain bets for 4/5ths pot and I shove, he snaps with AsJs. Situations like this are pretty powerful and there's tons of information available. I know not to bluff this guy in the future, and I know he stacks off incredibly light (I can't think of a worse turn for his hand).

So I'd tag that guy DNB and "can't fold TP" (CFTP). I also like to know if people believe the 4 flush or not, what range of hands they flat or 3bet with etc etc. But again, main point of this post is to have your HUD do as much work for you as possible when it comes to note taking, allowing you to only have to take notes on the more important stuff.

On the HuD. I have tried using PT3. I really disliked it for HUSNG. Mainly because the chips not fitting in where the cash goes logically killed my OCD.

But also because I feel like when I am having it told to me by a HuD I care a lot less about it than I would if I was learning it myself through observation. This goes deeper and such if you think about it (not much deeper). But like you see where I am going.

Edit: Also I only play SNGs and am pretty sure you play HU cash. So there may be some differences.

whats the standard line in that spot if you're the one with aj? do you b/f?

I'd fold and make a note....

as in c/f or b/f, and what note would you make since we didn't get to Sd?

nice post sir!!! Thank you its pretty helpful because i was only doing 1/2 this stuff on a regular basis and some ideas will be super helpful!!!!

Lol I was jk. Derailing the strat derail. Etc.

i find it's also helpful to take notes of what a large bet on the river means... i've noticed the really bad players generally have Q-high or worse about 98% of the time a pot sized or larger all-in bet is made on the river. and the good players will have some kind of polarized range where 90% of the time they have a monster and 10% they have nothing. at least at the $11 games...

it's an easy spot for some big value.

Very good post.

You can expand it river by river. And dont forget to put the time/game you noted it down. Dont want to confuse PLO and NLHE games, as well as taking data a year old(your opponent could have very well changed his style dramatically).

Solid post for many people imo. I'll definitely read this from time to time just to refresh the mind.

I doubt a single poker player will think only on a single level ever.

"Leveling" Is wat we do with our spare "brain capacity" so when I get in completely standard spots I can level very high, however in new and complex situations I may be thinking one or two levels lower than what I would in a standard spot.

very good, TYVM.

Thanks for very good post.