Hey Chip,

I've been grappling with the same issue.  I've wanted a note taking system that was rapid, easy to understand (at least be me) and will force me to be more observant whilst playing. This last point has been the main impetus.  I've been jotting down a few ideas, just over the last week or so, and have started to develop the following system. I was planning on formalising it, but this thread seems to be an appropriate starting point.  The syntax is in its early stages as I'm still getting familiar with it. I'd also like to get some feedback. I appreciate many would see it as a waste of time.

Hopefully this doesn't come across as overly complicated but its all in the explanation.  The actual description of the line should be intuitive.

– The fundamental objective of this short-hand system is to describe the 'line of play' and at this stage only concentrates on the aggressor.

– All notes are firstly prefaced with the DATE and GAME (e.g. 12NOV11: $7/45turbo NLHE)

– the format then follow: (BLINDS/ANTES),(POSITION/STACK),(PRE-FLOP),(FLOP),(TURN),(RIVER) = (RESULT) …no shit you say! but nested within each action is additional detail that requires specific coding.

-(BLINDS/ANTES) = pretty straight forward (BB/SB/Ante) i.e. (1200/600/50)

-(POSTION) of aggressor, once again straight forward (UTG, UTG+1, MP, LJ,  HJ, CO, B, SB, BB)

-(STACK) = can either be xBB, Harrington's M, or simply S (Short), D (Deep) – you choose

-(PF) – the first of the aggressors action ie (PF:R2.5x) = raise 2.5xBB, can also include (L= limp, 2B = reraise, 3B = 3Bet, F= call/flat, J=Jam, CQ= check, CR=check raise, X=fold etc….)

-(FLOP)- the aggressor's action of the flop— the betting is now expressed as a % of the pot and also describes the boards texture i.e. (F:CB50% WET) = cont-bet 50% of the pot, connected flop…(Can also be expressed more specifically as FD = flush draw, SD = straight draw, SC = scare card (Ace,King…), RB = rainbow…. etc…)

-(TURN)- once again expresses as % pot (T:DB60%) = double barrell 60%

-(RIVER) – same as turn

-(RESULT) = ATs W = Ace 10 suited Winning hand

So as an example:

18NOV11: $8/5KGtd, 500 max NLHE

100/50/5, UTG+1:30x, PF:R2.5x, F:CB75%A,T:CR50%,R:J = AKs W top pair

100/50/5, MP45x, PF:L, F:CC50%RB,T:CC50%, R:CR60% = 55 W set (Bigdogs-WOOF!)

so the first hand the UTG+1 raises 2.5x, cont-bets an Ace on the board, check-raises the turn half pot and jams the river to win with top pair top kicker.

the second hand, the villian is in middle position and is pretty deep, limps pre-flop, check calls a half pot bet on a rainbow flop, check-calls the turn and check-raises the river to win with a set of 5s..

As you can see there is heaps of ways to customise it to suit your preference. Clearly its a work in progess and it may end up being too much effort for what its worth.  But I do agree some standardised, streamlined notetaking would be useful, especially if your multitabling. Any advice, improvements, would indeed be appreciated.

Is there any thought to focus your notes to just odd traits players display?  For example when a player limps utg.  Or what is the bottom range of a tags hands like suited connectors or ace x suited and how it is played?  I was also looking at bet sizing – like how they bet size for max value on made hands along with bluff size bets for example overshoves. 

I dont play with a hud – So I'm trying to look at the information the same way I would gather information live.  Any thoughts?  Or ideas on a standard method how to code these new traits?

Cousteer – I started using the buy in and level information at the start of each note thanks.