When the action is over, review what happened to learn about your opponents and develop your skills. This final article contains and discusses checklists to use while waiting for the next hand and reviewing the entire session.
Waiting for the Next Hand
Most players don’t use that time well. If they won, they stack and count their chips. They may also congratulate themselves for playing well or think about their good luck. If they lost, they may wonder about their bad luck. Or they may just tune out.
While the memory of the last hand is clearest, review what happened, decide what it means, and plan to use the new information.
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Checklist: Waiting for the Next hand
- What happened last hand?
- What happened in previous hands?
- Is anyone playing unusually? Why?
- Any new players? How do they play?
- Number of players changed?
- Game’s style changed?
- How well am I playing? Why?
- Should I change games, seats or strategy? Why?
- Should I quit? Why?
What Happened Last Hand?
Unfortunately, most people forget important details. They may remember players’ cards, but get confused about the exact size and sequence of bets and raises, the most important information. They make even more mistakes about body language. They either don’t notice facial expressions, hand movements, etc., don’t understand them, or forget them. Using the checklist for observing the action after folding will improve your understanding.
What Happened in Previous Hands?
Don’t just think about the last hand. Consider the ones before it and look for patterns. Someone may be playing more aggressively than usual, or the entire table may have tightened up. Any changes suggest adjustments.
Is Anyone Playing Unusually? Why?
If someone is playing differently from the way he usually plays, he will be harder to read. Make learning why a high priority. The two most probable explanations are:
- You didn’t really understand how he plays. Perhaps he is more or less skilled, or trickier, looser, tighter, or more/less aggressive.
- Something has made him change his play. What is it? Is he winning or losing a lot? Drinking? Steaming? Distracted by a sports bet? Does he see something important about the game?
Make mental or written notes for future reference. If necessary, probe for more information. Probing may develop understanding about how he thinks or sees other players. And he may be right about them.
Any New Players? How Do They Play?
It’s an extremely simple question, but not asking it can cause some nasty surprises. Prevent that problem by looking for new players.
If possible, review your mental or written notes immediately. Don’t wait until you’re contesting a pot before trying to remember how they play.
If you’ve never played with them, study them immediately.Get ready before becoming involved in a pot with them.
Number of Players Changed?
Keep track of that number, and explicitly consider it every hand. The number of players affects the cards to play and the way to play them.
Game’s Style Changed?
Styles often switch abruptly. Constantly ask whether a game has changed and, if so, explicitly decide how to adjust.
How Well Am I Playing? Why?
Honestly answering these questions can save lots of money. You may be too tired, distracted or emotional to play well. If so, go home. Other times you’re playing well because of unexpected conditions, such as playing at an unusual place or time. That information can improve future decisions about where and when to play.
Should I Change Games, Seats, or Strategy? Why?
You may be in the wrong game or seat or using a strategy that doesn’t fit the current situation. Obviously, understanding why something should be changed is essential. Changing seats to see a televised game is a mistake, while changing to get position on a Maniac is smart.
Should I Quit? Why?
We have all berated ourselves for not quitting sooner, and the reasons for quitting were often obvious. The game was too tough, or we were playing badly, or we had something important to do. Frequently asking this question will prevent some painful mistakes.
If your reasons don’t make sense, perhaps the decision should be changed. If the game is soft and you’re playing well, but want to quit just to lock up a win, perhaps staying is better. “Hitting and running” is often (but not always) a mistake. Conversely, if you want to stay for stupid reasons such as aching to get even, go home before going on tilt.
Reviewing the Entire Session
Most people don’t seriously review their play. Some don’t even record their results. Others record them, but don’t seriously try to determine why they did well or poorly.
If they think about the causes for their results, they probably overemphasize luck, especially bad beats. “If that SOB hadn’t drawn out, I would have...” “I don't know why I can’t make flushes.” “Why don’t my hands stand up?”
That sort of review just reinforces the natural desire to blame bad luck. Since luck ultimately evens out and can’t be controlled, focus on your own decisions.
The sooner this checklist is used, the better. Memories fade quickly. Consider buying a micro-dictating machine and dictating notes immediately. Then transcribe the notes and look for patterns between this session and previous ones.
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CHECKLIST: REVIEWING YOUR PLAY
- What were my results?
- How well did I play?
- What was done well and poorly?
- What caused these good and bad decisions?
- What was learned about specific opponents?
- What is good and bad about this cardroom?
- What was learned about myself?
- What should I do differently?
What Were My Results?
Without accurate records in Statking or a similar program, you will probably believe your results are better than they really are.
How Well Did I Play?
Rate your play from 1 to 9, terrible to great. If there is a large discrepancy between results and the rating, explain it.
Warning: It’s natural to think that you deserve better results than actually occur. Of course, you can play well and lose heavily, but if it happens frequently, you're kidding yourself.
What Was Done Well And Poorly?
The rating is just an overall impression. To improve, provide specific information about good and bad decisions. Give as many details as possible.
What Caused These Good and Bad Decisions?
Write a brief explanation of each one. For example:
- I called because I didn’t realize how tight he was.
- I thought he wouldn’t raise without the nuts and was right.
- I didn’t bet for value because his hand moved toward his stack and looked like he would check-raise. But he wanted a free showdown.
What Was Learned About Specific Opponents?
Look at those examples. Every one provides information about how to play against that opponent. Inferences that could be drawn from the examples above include:
- Give more respect to his bets and raises.
- Become a littlemore confident about your reads.
- His “threat” seems to mean that he’s weak.
Note the use of words like “seems” and “a little.” Keep checking to confirm how accurately you can read this opponent.
What Is Good and Bad about This Cardroom?
Since the choice of rooms affects so many other decisions, write down the positives and negatives to improve future choices.
What Was Learned about Myself?
Asking this question and reviewing the answers to the other questions, will slowly improve your understanding of your own strengths and weaknesses.
The answers to the “Why?” questions in this and earlier checklists are the best source of self-understanding. Look for patterns, not just for tonight, but for all the sessions.
For example, perhaps poor concentration causes many mistakes. Or you aren’t aggressive enough. Or you like to gamble too much.
What Should I Do Differently?
Decide to work on improving your concentration, becoming more aggressive, tightening up, or whatever else seems necessary.
Final Remarks
This series of articles had two objectives: (1) To encourage the use of checklists; (2) To provide checklists for various situations. The first objective is much more important. After deciding to use checklists, you can easily make new ones or modify the ones provided in this series.
Most poker players won’t use checklists. They regard them as unnecessary or too formulaic. They won’t admit that they forget to take steps they knowthey should take, but checklists are mandatory for many professions. Commercial pilots always use them; so do operating room teams. They are immeasurably better trained than most poker players, but accept the obvious fact that everybody’s memory is fallible.
Your memory is far from perfect. Using checklists will reduce the number of mistakes. Not using them means that you’re letting the desire to looksmart prevent you from being smart and making more money.
