Do you use notes on players or rely on memory?

Luvepoker said:

I always keeps notes on players. I also date them so i know if they maybe no good as players change over time.

Click to expand...

What an interesting strategy - I now see why you chose your username

I use them. Lots of players i see everyday so without notes i just will forget their previous moves

Oxinthewater said:

What an interesting strategy - I now see why you chose your username

Click to expand...

I do really luve this game and do take it too seriously.

Nesehorn156 said:

When playing online, I’ve seen some players take detailed notes on opponents, while others just rely on general memory and tendencies.

I try to take notes, but I don’t always stay consistent with it.

Do you actively use notes, and do you think they give a big advantage over time?

Click to expand...

Yes, I take notes whenever I spot something unusual. A good note can save a lot of guesswork later, and over time those small pieces of information can add up to a significant edge

I'm actually not a big fan of taking detailed notes. The main reason is that most poker players don't stick to one style forever. Good players adjust their strategy depending on the table, stack sizes, tournament stage, and especially their opponents. A note that was accurate a month ago might be completely wrong today. I prefer paying attention to current tendencies and table dynamics rather than relying too much on old notes.

I`m taking notes , but only by a very simplified scheme..guess that doesn`t help much , or i would be a better player. 🤷‍♂️

I have started to make notes of players a lot recently as it's not easy remembering all names

That's right; player notes are very important because you can't memorize every player, so the best option is to take notes with the appropriate tags.

i make notes every time i play on Replay Poker ; it's very important . on all the other online sites i use color codes as well and add sharkscope scores on occasion .

I definitely think notes are worth using, especially online. Memory is useful for general impressions, but after playing hundreds of hands, it’s easy to mix players up or forget the details that actually matter.

The best notes, in my opinion, are not things like “bad player” or “fish.” Those labels are too vague and can make you play with assumptions. Good notes are specific and actionable:

“Calls 3-bets too wide with suited connectors”
“Overbets river only with strong value”
“Folds too much to flop c-bets”
“Shoves draws aggressively in PKOs”
“Slowplays monsters preflop”

I also like adding the situation where it happened, because context matters. A player who makes a strange call in a tournament with 5 big blinds is different from someone doing it 100BB deep.

Memory is still important for things like table dynamics and recent hands, but notes give you a long-term database of information. The key is not writing too many useless notes — after a while you just end up with a wall of text you never read.

The best players usually combine both: memory for the current flow of the table, and notes for patterns that repeat over time. A good note can save you a buy-in months later when you sit at the same table again.

I definitely think adding notes on opponents is very important! Sometimes we're playing at multiple tables and can't keep a close eye on all of them.
Having a note on someone in those moments can help with a decision. It might not be the ultimate game-changer, but it can help! and it certainly has helped me a lot sometimes.. I can't rely on memory alone, and since some screen names look alike, there's a good chance of mixing players.. and having a specific note you can evaluate whether it still makes sense or if it’s outdated

I always try to tag players by analyzing how they play and the hands they open with. Over time, this gives you a slight edge when you know who you're up against at the table.