Hand histories

Meh just write it down in a notes app in a shorthand that makes sense to you. You can even make it a text to yourself, and if anyone asks what you're writing, tell them the great American novel (or maybe a text)

I don't think you're allowed to take photos of the board, and also that makes it obvious what you're doing, which is not great. The nice thing about writing down hands is that it looks indistinguishable from you surfing the internet.

Voice messaging also seems impractical (when would you do that?)

Unless you are physically unable to type, you can write down hands on your phone. You just have to get into the habit of doing it. Might feel clunky at first but you'll get faster with practice.

Sigh, tapping the phone they won’t know what I’m doing, but I won’t know what they’re doing.

Writing down hands is the way and I can’t do it. Thought maybe I could talk low into voice messaging or I could sneak a board photo and be done with it until I get home & piece it together. But you’re right, maybe not practical.

Been having a lot of success playing, so not ready to stray far just to post a hand history on a forum. Still, some hands are certainly worth posting to study and I like the way y’all do it.

I still don't get it -- why can't you do it? You have a break after playing a poker hand, you just write it down while you fold your next three hands.

Honestly became a much better player when I began to intently watch each player act in turn.

Don’t look at my cards until it’s my turn and when I fold, I continue to watch each player do what they do throughout the entire hand. Though I can’t exactly pinpoint why it helps, my instincts and decisions are better. I can’t stray from this.

Was hoping to find a quick solution, but as I said I’m a one finger iPhone typer with big hands. I don’t understand just write it down why I fold, I’m busy studying my opponents.

I do write down players that I will see again and usually do a good job of notating their weaknesses when I get home. At dealer changes & when they wash, I think I will try to jot down a recent hand. Hadn’t thought of that before.

I don’t know much about online anymore, but I know in live NL Hold’em it’s the people!

Are you sure this is the actual reason and not a rationalization? You only have a few important hands each session; I write down maybe one per hour. If you need 2 minutes to write it down, you miss out on studying your opponents for 1-2 hands. That does not seem like a big deal even if you think you're top percentile in live reads. (Also kinda difficult to believe that you continuously study because I can't do that, and Zack Elwood (who is known as the poker tells guy) also says that you can only pay attention some amount of the time. Though it's possible that you just have unusual energy.)

Well, I do have smaller hands :3 But like, just get a different phone? Writing down hands is pretty important; I've paid maybe 250€ for my phone, this doesn't seem like a big investment. (I actually bought my phone just for poker as well because the previous one didn't work with the Fortuna app.)

I have the biggest iPhone. I’m curious, why do you think writing down hands is so important?

I learn from other people’s hand histories, just like I learn population data. It would be a breeze if playing online, but there are plenty of distractions without me distracting myself. The play is over and I’m on to the next….

Yes, it’s difficult at times, but I fold a little 2pair and villain shows a bigger 2pair. I get an open to $15, a raise to $30 and I know my AQo is no good in the cutoff & fold. Normal action, I used to get involved, but after I drop out those two proceed to get a lot of money in & I don’t know what they had because a deep stack shove goes unanswered, but I was beat like a drum & somehow knew it.

I suggest you try it one session & see if your reads become sharper. Thanks for this discussion. Help me understand your gain from writing down hands. I’m open to everything, and will try anything to improve. I’m finding what works and welcome anything that works better.

The way I look at it is something like, there's the entire theory package, like studying, watching vidoes, reading books, and that's about half of what you should do, as far as non-playing time is concerned. But if you do all that you'll still make mistakes all the time, and you won't find out unless you have a record, so the other half is to review your hands, preferably with a coach. So I view it as roughly as important as the rest combined.

But don't really want to try to convince you, if you think you can get by without, that's fine.

If you can’t remember most/all of the details of a specific hand it’s probably not worth posting or studying. There’s always a few hands per session I remember every detail of. The rest just seem to blend together. Same goes for other players at the table.

OMG, you're that guy?

ETA: if everyone did this, we'd get 10 hands/hour at LLSNL. Seriously, absolutely do not be that guy.

Gpleasedon'tbethatguy@LLSNL,imoG

There's nothing wrong with waiting to look, assuming you act quickly.

I wait to look, but that's just my style.

In my experience there are four types of players who don't look at their cards until it's their turn:

1. Busy watching TV on their phone. Slows the game down a lot.

2. Mediocre players new to live that have heard "don't give away tells by looking before it's your turn", and often obviously stares at everyone preflop. Slows the game down almost as much as #1.

3. Good or better regs. who I assume think something like "There's no upside to looking early", but they are paying attention without obviously staring at everyone else. Minimal slowdown.

4. Bad regs. who see #3 do it and so also do it as cargo cult behaviour. Will often not be paying enough attention though, so slows the game down (not as much as #2 types, but still enough).

IMNSHO #3 should stop doing it as much as they do, esp. in games without a lot of good regs. because any loss they get from looking early is significantly offset by #4 types slowing the game down, and just encourages #2 and #1 types.
Also while #3 pay attention they often aren't thinking about their ranges as action happens (that's a lot of thought), so if somewhat unusual action happens they'll still be significantly slower.

As full disclosure type #2 people can tilt me so much it's good for everyone (I'll change tables).

Lol, +1 to this, not sure if there is anything more tilting than idiots intentionally massively reducing the hands dealt per hour.

About the only time I don't look at my hand ASAP is when I'm attempting to confirm whether a player playing blind actually is, although even then I can usually sneak in a quick peak while doing so.

GcluelessLLSNLnoobG

I don’t slow down the game. UTG I’ve folded before the dealer finishes. In the later positions, I’m watching the action and know what my range will do most of the time before I look. Obviously, mucking trash quickly.

I think you picture someone from your past that took a long time to fold, or the old guy falling asleep. I’m quite sure you would not even realize I waited to look. You’re thinking of the guy not paying attention, having to be told it’s his turn. I’m not that guy.

The point of this post was seeking a way to record hand histories quickly, so I stay involved with the action. Some of you simply missed the entire point of the post. Sigh

Look, don't take this the wrong way, but you're the one completely missing the point.

You are actually considering taking a fricken photo of the board or doing a fricken voice memo in your phone while at the table, and meanwhile being the only guy who waits until it's his action to look at his cards so that he can "intently watch each player in turn".

Do you even hear yourself?

I mean, if I wasn't giving you the benefit of the doubt I'd chalk this up to a troll account.

Gyou'rethatguyandyoudon'tevenrealizeit,imoG

Thanks geek
For giving me the benefit of the doubt.
I’m tired of explaining it. Everyone has fun when I play, most of the people like me, so I’m pretty sure I’m not annoying anyone but you.

I don't take notes on hands. I have a pretty decent memory, and my understanding is that the heightened emotions which tend to accompany winning or losing a big pot enhance memory. I think the explanation is you're more likely to remember almost dying in a car crash than finding a quarter in the washing machine.

If I had a hard time remembering hands, and wanted to take notes without distracting myself while sitting at the table, and obviously we don't want to hold up the game, I think a good solution would be to take breaks away from the table, to make some notes in my phone or notepad, then return to the game.

It probably benefits our game to take occasional breaks to stand up and stretch or walk around. Too easy to get mentally lazy while physically stationary.

This is it doc
So simple
I can write a lot faster than typing on the phone or I could use the voice recorder. Better use of time going back & forth to the restroom, or as you say, a quick break can be helpful.
Thanks for the idea