Tricks how to write notes

Hey m8,

I used to write down at tracking software, but after losing my database (I can recover all data from PokerStars, but, not notes that I've made), I decided to keep both, mainly, because when hand reviewing I can remember why I made such a move or not.

In my opinion is just relevant to make a note about exploitative lines. Eg.: "called ev1 street 2nd/pair vs lag oop".

Despite it's very important and accelerated learning curve hand reviews are boring, but, when I do this I observe how do they play and make additional notes.

Keep both? So every note you type in PS and in tracking software too? much time, isnt it?

I don't bear! I made all notes at Pokerstars and after just copy to tracking software.

How do you do that? I think, it is not possible

What notes tracking software you use?

For notetaking, I always have quick access to my notepad on my HUD. Notetracker in PT4 keeps pretty good notes itself, I only add to them to specify different exploitative lines I may be able to take against the villain. Another important thing I do is color code my player based on player type from Nit to Maniac. I used to stress about taking notes, but I've found that the easier I make them, the more successful I am at applying what I've learned. There is no point in writing an essay in a Villain's note are as it'll likely be hard to decipher.

And the notes and colors you put guys into client (PS) or into HUD (HM2 / PT4)?

I use hud mainly to profile players (calling station, nit, reg, maniac) and when they do something that doesn't fit their profile, I make a note out of it. Or if they do something that I can instantly start to exploit.

Originally posted by Kyyberi
I use hud mainly to profile players (calling station, nit, reg, maniac) and when they do something that doesn't fit their profile, I make a note out of it. Or if they do something that I can instantly start to exploit.

Exactly this
Using color code categories and adding a note if weird plays happen

So you dont put into PS?

I Color Code Opponents in the Poker Stars Client ans in my hud
That allows me to identify players on the table and in the review

Notes i just make in HM2

As most others I use color codes from the Poker platform I'm using. In my case it is 888 Poker. What I further do that helped me a lot is that everytime I mark a player as a specific profile (let's say Fish) I make a note why I decided that this player fits that profile.

Example:
If I see a player playing really loose pre flop and after 50+ hands his VPIP is above 40/50% I mark him as Fish and I make a note "high VPIP >50%". If I later on play a hand against this opponent I can check if his stats are still the same. Also it helps while table selecting.

If a player makes a strange move let's say calling down 3 streets with JJ even if there are 2 overcards on the board I make a note "holds on to pocket pairs and calls down".

And so on. I just try to make sure that I have an explanation why I decided to give a specific player a certain label.

I also try to make "weak" notes. What i mean by weak notes is that they should be applicable to many situations if possible. I try to generalize. The example above demonstrates this very well. I do not write down "call 10 BB bet on flop with JJ when AK on board" but I write "holds on to pocket pairs and calls down". This might be risky but it helps me more to generalize when I write them down as when I have to decide if I want to take advantage of the note in a next hand.

I do not use the note taking feature from PokerTracker. I write everything on 888 Poker.