Why Notes Matter More Online Than Live
Online poker has two big problems:
- players move fast
- your memory lies
After a session you might “feel” like:
- “that guy always bluffs”
- “no one folds”
- “I always lose with top pair”
But feelings are unreliable.
Notes give you evidence:
- what lines were value-heavy
- who bluffs rivers
- who check-raises draws
- who calls too wide preflop
Over time, notes become your personal “pool database.”
If you want the full foundation first, start with Online Poker Guide: Rules, Strategy & Tips.
The Goal Of Notes (One Sentence)
Write the smallest note that changes a future decision.
That’s it.
If a note won’t change how you play against them next time, don’t write it.
What To Write Notes About (High-ROI Categories)
These categories produce the most profitable adjustments:
1) Preflop Tendencies
- “Limp-calls wide”
- “3-bets only premiums”
- “Overfolds blinds”
- “Cold calls too much”
2) Postflop Calling Patterns
- “Calls flop wide, folds turn”
- “Sticky with any pair”
- “Folds to turn barrel”
- “Station vs small bets”
3) Bluffing And Value Patterns
- “Big river bet = value”
- “Triple barrels draws”
- “Never bluffs river”
- “Overbets bluff on missed flush”
4) Sizing Tells
- “Small bet = weak/probe”
- “Pot bet = nuts”
- “Min-raise = draw”
(These can be player-specific, so confirm with more than one hand.)
5) Emotional Or Timing Patterns (Use Carefully)
- “Spews after losing big pot”
- “Fast snap = weak”
- “Tank then value”
Timing tells can be misleading online, so treat them as “soft notes,” not facts.
The Best Note Format (So You Can Use It Mid-Hand)
You need notes you can read in one second.
Use short tags like:
- PF: Limp-call wide
- 3B: Value only
- F/T/R: Calls flop, folds turn
- Riv: Underbluffs big bets
- XR: Draw heavy
That’s it.
No paragraphs.
How To Capture Notes Without Slowing Down
Here’s the simplest method:
- Only write notes on showdowns or clear evidence hands
- Keep it to one line
- Update the note if you see the same pattern again
If you want a structured process for extracting evidence, revisit How To Analyze Showdown Hands Post-Game.
Notes You Should Avoid (They’re Useless)
Don’t write:
- “fish”
- “bad”
- “donk”
- “idiot”
- “lucky”
These notes don’t tell you what to do.
Instead, translate the insult into a pattern:
- “calls too wide”
- “overfolds”
- “never bluffs”
- “bluffs too much”
How Notes Turn Into Money (Real Examples)
Example 1: “Big River Bet = Value”
If you’ve seen someone show up with strong hands after big river bets:
- you can fold more confidently in close spots
- you stop paying off “because maybe”
This one note can save buy-ins.
Example 2: “Calls Flop Wide, Folds Turn”
This tells you:
- c-bet flop normally
- barrel more turns
- bluff less on river (because they don’t reach river wide)
Example 3: “3-Bets Premiums Only”
If a player’s 3-bets are value-heavy:
- fold more to 3-bets
- stop 4-bet bluffing them
- don’t stack off lightly postflop
If you need range framing, revisit Using Ranges Instead Of Hands In Poker Analysis.
A Simple Note-Taking Routine (That Actually Sticks)
During Play
- write notes only when you have clear evidence
- keep notes to one sentence
After The Session (5 Minutes)
- review 3–5 key showdowns
- update notes for opponents you’ll likely face again
Weekly (15–30 Minutes)
- scan your notes for repeating pool patterns
- choose one exploit to focus on next week
Example focus:
- “Fold more vs big river bets until proven otherwise.”
Notes For Anonymous Tables (Still Useful)
If your site uses anonymous tables, notes won’t follow the same player.
But you can still take notes on:
- pool tendencies
- format tendencies (fast-fold vs regular tables)
- which lines are usually value-heavy at your stake
This still improves your decisions even without names.
Common Note-Taking Mistakes
- writing long notes you never read
- writing emotional notes instead of patterns
- trusting timing tells too much
- making huge adjustments off one hand
- not updating notes when new evidence appears
- note-taking so much that it distracts you from decisions
Notes should help focus, not steal it.
Quick Takeaways
- Notes replace live tells in online poker
- Write the smallest note that changes a future decision
- Focus on preflop tendencies, calling patterns, bluff/value lines, and sizing tells
- Keep notes short and evidence-based (prefer showdowns)
- Avoid emotional labels; translate into actionable patterns
- Use a simple routine: during play + 5-minute post-session update
Mini FAQ
How Many Notes Should I Take Per Session?
As many as you have clear evidence for, but usually only a few. Quality beats quantity.
Should I Trust Timing Tells Online?
Treat them as weak signals. Only trust them if you see repeated evidence.
What If I Play Multiple Tables?
Keep notes short. If note-taking distracts you, reduce tables until you can do both.
Where To Go Next
You now know how to take effective poker notes: short, evidence-based patterns that change real decisions—especially around river bluffs, calling thresholds, and value lines.
If you want to reinforce this, the best next move is to learn how to spot collusion or cheating. Notes and pattern recognition can help you detect suspicious coordination and avoid unhealthy games.
Continue with How To Spot Collusion Or Cheating In Online Poker.
