Most online poker players take notes.
Very few take useful notes.
That’s the problem.
If your notes look like this:
“bad player”
“fish”
“aggro”
“loose”
“donk”
You’re not gaining an edge. You’re labeling emotions.
Good notes don’t describe who someone is.
They describe what someone does in specific situations.
Poker is a game of patterns. Notes are how you capture those patterns—and exploit them later when money is on the line.
This guide will show you:
What notes actually matter
What notes are a waste of time
How pros structure notes
How to turn notes into immediate EV
How to build a note system that compounds over time
Why Notes Matter More in Online Poker Than Live Poker
In live poker, you get:
Physical tells
Table talk
Facial expressions
Body language
History built over hours
Online, you get none of that.
Your only weapons are:
Bet sizing
Timing
Frequencies
Showdowns
Repeated behavior
Notes are how you replace missing physical tells with behavioral data.
In private app games like ClubGG, this is even more important because:
Player pools repeat
You see the same opponents often
Population tendencies vary by club
Small edges compound quickly
A single good note can be worth multiple buy-ins over time.
The Biggest Mistake Players Make When Taking Notes
The most common mistake is this:
Writing notes that don’t change your decisions.
If a note doesn’t help you:
fold more correctly
value bet thinner
bluff more accurately
avoid bad spots
…it’s a bad note.
Notes should answer questions like:
“Will this player fold here more than average?”
“Will this player bluff this line?”
“Will this player overplay top pair?”
“Does this player protect their checking range?”
If your note can’t influence an action, it’s noise.
The Golden Rule of Poker Notes
Notes should be:
Specific
Situational
Actionable
Bad note:
“Aggressive”
Good note:
“Overbets river as bluff when draws miss”
Bad note:
“Fish”
Good note:
“Calls 3-bets OOP with weak suited aces”
Bad note:
“Nit”
Good note:
“Over-folds to turn barrels after calling flop”
How to take notes in ClubGG
When sitting or viewing a table, you can click on any player to view, edit, or add notes. On this screen, you can also color-code the player and see your most recent best/worst hands with that player. You can click each hand to view the details. This is very helpful to reference when you are up against similar situations in the future.
Once you leave a note on a player, you will see a notepad edge on their profile when you see them on any table, in any club! This way, if they change their name or you run into them in a new club, you will have access to those notes.
The 5 Categories of Notes That Actually Matter
If you structure your notes around these categories, you’ll instantly improve your edge.
1. Preflop Tendencies (Where Most Edge Is Hidden)
Preflop mistakes are quiet—but devastating over time.
Best preflop notes to take:
Cold-calls too wide
“Cold calls CO open with KJo, QTo”
Overcalls in multiway pots
“Overcalls raises w/ weak suited connectors”
3-bet sizing tells
“3-bets small only with premiums”
Flat-calls strong hands
“Flatted QQ in SB vs BTN open”
Overfolds blinds
“Folds BB to min-raises too often”
Why these notes matter
Preflop notes tell you:
who you can steal from relentlessly
who you can isolate
who you can 4-bet bluff
who you should avoid bloating pots against
Edge gained: cheaper steals, better isolation, fewer dominated spots.
2. Flop Behavior (C-Bets, Check-Raises, Donk Bets)
Most players leak heavily on the flop.
High-value flop notes:
Auto c-bets
“C-bets 100% flops regardless of texture”
Only check-raises strong hands
“Check-raises flop only with sets/2p”
Donk bets weak made hands
“Donk bets top pair no kicker”
Over-folds to flop raises
“C-bet/folds to small raises”
Under-defends vs c-bets
“Calls flop too tight”
Why these notes matter
They allow you to:
float more profitably
raise flops as bluffs
barrel less when they won’t continue
value bet aggressively
Edge gained: cheaper bluffs, more fold equity, cleaner decisions.
3. Turn Tendencies (Where Most Players Break)
The turn is where discipline disappears.
This is where notes are pure gold.
Best turn notes:
Gives up after flop call
“Call flop → fold turn to 2nd barrel”
Barrels too honestly
“Turn bet = strong hand”
Overvalues marginal hands
“Barrels turn with weak top pair”
Slow-plays monsters
“Checks turn w/ strong hands after raising flop”
Scared of big bets
“Folds to large turn bets”
Why these notes matter
Turn notes tell you:
who you can double barrel
who you should stop bluffing
who will stack off light
who plays face-up
Edge gained: fewer spews, higher success rates on barrels.
4. River Behavior (The Most Profitable Notes)
River notes are the most valuable—and the rarest.
Most players don’t take enough of them.
Elite river notes:
Never bluffs river
“River bets = value only”
Overbluffs missed draws
“Missed FD → overbets river”
Thin value bettor
“Value bets 2nd pair”
Hero calls too wide
“Calls river w/ bluff catchers”
Overfolds big bets
“Folds to pot-sized river bets”
Why these notes matter
These notes:
save entire stacks
create easy folds
unlock high-EV bluffs
allow ultra-thin value bets
One accurate river note can be worth hundreds of big blinds.
5. Psychological & Timing Tells (Advanced Edge)
These are situational but powerful.
Timing-based notes:
Snap calls = weak
“Snap calls w/ marginal hands”
Tank bets = bluffs
“Long tank then bets missed draws”
Instant checks strong hands
“Instachecks when trapping”
Uses time bank only when bluffing
Emotional notes:
Tilt prone
“Spews after losing big pot”
Revenge plays
“3-bets light after being bluffed”
Scared money
“Avoids big pots”
Why these notes matter
They help you exploit:
emotional decision-making
impatience
fear
ego
Edge gained: better bluff timing, more controlled aggression.
Notes to Avoid (Common Time Wasters)
Avoid these completely:
❌ “Fish”
❌ “Bad”
❌ “LAG”
❌ “Maniac”
❌ “Donk”
❌ “Idiot”
These don’t:
define ranges
predict behavior
help decisions
They just vent frustration.
How Pros Write Notes (Structure Matters)
Pros use short, structured formats.
Examples:
“Call flop → fold turn vs barrel”
“XR flop = nuts”
“Overbets river missed draws”
“Flats premiums pre”
“Folds BB too much”
Notice:
No emotions
No paragraphs
Clear action → reaction
If you can’t read your note mid-hand in one second, it’s too long.
Color Coding: Optional but Powerful
If your platform allows it, use colors.
Example system:
Red: Aggressive / bluffs often
Blue: Passive / calling station
Green: Weak-tight / overfolds
Yellow: Unknown / developing
Purple: Tricky / deceptive
Color gives instant context, notes give precision.
When to Add Notes (Timing Matters)
Best moments to write notes:
After showdowns
After weird lines
After emotional plays
After repeating patterns
Worst time:
In the middle of a tough decision
Poker first. Notes second.
Extra Tip: You are looking for consistent behavior patterns. Add notes to all players but know that your notes will be more accurate for regulars you play often with. Someone can do something once… this doesn’t mean they will always act like that. So be ready to update notes often until you have a large sample size of hands with that player.
How Notes Create Compounding Edge
Notes aren’t just about the next hand.
They:
stack over weeks
sharpen reads
reduce variance
increase confidence
simplify tough spots
You stop guessing.
You start knowing.
That’s how recreational players turn into consistent winners.
Final Thought: Notes Are a Skill, Not a Feature
Everyone has the ability to take notes.
Few do it well.
If you commit to:
specific notes
situation-based observations
consistent structure
You’ll outperform players who rely purely on instinct.
Poker rewards preparation—and notes are preparation made visible.
The examples given above are just simple ideas to open your mind to better note-taking. The more notes you take on players with actionable takeaways, the better.
Want Help Turning Reads Into Profit?
At Burn & Turn Poker Academy, we teach:
how to take high-EV notes
how to convert notes into exploits
how to adjust in real time
how to beat private app games sustainably
If you want coaching, hand reviews, and structured improvement:
Message us on Telegram
