Taking notes?

I've found it very valuable to be able to take notes on opponents on Paradise. So next time I go to the casino I plan try it live. My question: do you think it will be too much of a red flag to other players if I pull out a small book and make notes at the table? It would be most convenient to do it this way. But I could just get up and go outside. My concern is 1) making others aware I'm giving the game a lot of thought, and consequently causing them to do the same. 2) annoying other players and creating a bad atmosphere at the table.

[Andy B]

Those are both good reasons not to take notes at the table. You might step away and take notes, or maybe wait until you get home, but I wouldn't ever take notes at the table, unless I remembered something I needed from the grocery store.

Andy, taking notes home won't help me much as I only play in the casino once a month at most. My goal is to have a "book" for that day on my opponents. I'm leaning towards making my notes during walking/bathroom breaks.

[amp]

Buy a crossword puzzle book. If anyone asks, tell them you get bored between hands.

O)))

[Jimbo]

The poor players you will be taking notes on will have no clue as to thier value. The superior players you are taking notes on will not care one way or another. No harm, no foul! Too much is made of how observant other players are at the table IMO. As far as this subject goes I believe you will gain more by simply observing the players and all their action before, during and after every hand without writing down table notes. The observations you miss while writing will be the ones you most need to observe.

As an aside to the main subject, I hope you are not a stud player. If so taking notes will not help you if you can't remember the information long enough to transcribe the information once you get home. I will let others elaborate.
Jimbo

Jimbo, as this is the stud forum, it is likely I am a stud player,now isn't it? I've found your responses to both my posts smug and not useful. Why post if you've got nothing to say?

[Jimbo]

Smug or simply in disagrement? If you want people to agree with you, post something that is not controversial. Both your posts were interesting and thought provoking otherwise I would not waste any time responding. Be sure I will be pleased to leave you in your own little world from henceforth.

In addition if you found nothing from my above post at all useful then your mind was made up before you asked the question. Pretty smug in your own right if you ask me.

Best Regards,


Jimbo

PS: If it it helps any I am an idiot because in my first post I failed to realize I had clicked to the stud forum, therefore my seemingly insulting remark about you being a stud player. For that I apologize, but for the information I provided it does apply. If you cannot remember how someone plays for a few minutes afterwards I find it difficult to believe you remember all the exposed cards in stud which is essential to playing stud well.

[CJC]

MRB,

I always have my little notebook with me. ( mostly to keep track of my hours/earnings ) But I do keep players notes too.

Just write them down when you step out for a break.

CJ

[SittingBull]

Yeah, that's what I'll do. The thing I've found with notes is they force you to be really be specific. So instead of thinking "this player is really weak tight" you write something like "limped with probable small pair, folded to a bet on fourth". Or "will fold for one more bet on river". Or "will raise with a three flush". Or "will raise a split big pair, slowplay when it's in pocket". Or "will call river with one big pair". Or "will bluff missed draw on river". Or "bets the small bet when makes trips on fourth". Many players tend to play their cards pretty much the same way every time. I attribute a lot of my success on Paradise to the ability to keep notes on these kinds of very specific tactics and adjust/read hands accordingly.