Taking Notes

Redington

I have been reading alot of trip reports from WSOP and major tournaments and alot seem to mention takiing notes.

I have a horrible memory for anything other then SIGNIFIGANT hands, so note taking would make alot of sense and help me learn.

Can you take notes at a table? Or do you just walk away and take a quick note in the pisser?

Thanks

ScottyZ

Normally it's okay to take notes at the table. Last time I was at Brantford, use of a writing implement (and electronic devices) was banned, which hinders note-taking ability.

Just ask the floor or organizer if you're not sure if it would be allowed.

Or do you just walk away and take a quick note in the pisser?

For the benefit of those around you, I'd suggest you stick to the task at hand rather than taking notes. Under no circumstances record any kind of notes when occupying the urinal immediately beside a guy who seems to have more than his fair share of muscles and/or tattoos.

ScottyZ

Unknown

In terms of taking live-action notes, I don't. I have a pretty good poker memory though--like most players who play on a regular basis--so I can remember specific details of hands long enough to write them down at the end of the night. When I wrote my WSOP reports, and when I wrote my first Regina report, I made brief notes at the end of every night before I went to bed.

This was for two reasons: first and foremost, it allows me to analyze my play from a fairly objective standpoint. And second, I like to write trip reports, and they wouldn't be very interesting if I came home and was only able to write: "Ummm.... so then I raised with KQ I THINK, but it might have been AK. I forget how much I raised, but someone with a big stack or a small stack called, I'm not sure which..."

Dave Scharf uses a very small voice recorder--I've seen him use it in Regina. He's very subtle about it... at the end of every hand of note, he walks a few feet away from the table, murmurs into it for a few seconds, and then re-takes his seat without slowing the action at all. This seems to me to be the best way to keep track of your hands, but with the increasing regulations against electronic devices it may not be allowed in the future. Certainly, it is a good way to go over your play after a tournament, in order to figure out what you did right and what you did wrong without having to guess at some of the key details.

chosen one

remember fossilman taking notes @ the 2004 WSOP right after a hand with mike the mouth? although rather than writing "bluffs alot", it was probably "put a hit on this guy".

C-1