Bring on the Black Licorice; it's Time to Talk Records!

The new year is almost here and many of you know what that means. It's time for me to get back on the bandwagon and talk about record keeping. So, dust off the turntable and change the cartridge, it's time to get out your new spreadsheet or six-column accounting form book. Now, if you were born in the last few decades, that is all a foreign language to you, but the point is, it is time to start anew and keep perfect records for a week or two before you start to lag behind again! Of course, many of you know what I am saying. How often do you start with that new book in January, and meticulously keep track of your poker wins (and, gulp, losses) for a few weeks? Then, what happens? Well, generally, you start to run (or play) bad, or you forget to write something down, or you don't have the right pen (you know, the one that perfectly matches the one you used for all of the other entries). Then, you omit one entry, and then another, and pretty soon you tell yourself that you will start anew again next year. Guess what? Next year is here now!

What are the important components of poker records? What items matter to your bottom line? The answer is different for each of us. When I keep my records (I use an online program from Card Player, called Card Player Analyst), I record where I played, how long I played, the game, the limit, and the result. I know many players who keep less info, and some who keep more. Many folks also keep notes on players in their records, and some even keep notes on dealers. What I have learned by keeping good records for many years is that my optimal playing time is about four and a half hours. I have found that when I have long playing sessions, my results suffer. Also, I have found that playing late in the afternoon is best for me. When I think about these things, I realize they all make sense when considering my lifestyle. I am a day person, and I don't like to sit for a long time! Makes sense, eh?

I have heard of some players who have found they do best when playing late at night and while drinking. Yes, some players even keep track of what and how much they drink while playing! My records have indicated that I have had very good winning percentages at some casinos and have experienced horrible results at others. One very important thing I have learned is how much better I have done in cardrooms that don't allow smoking. The difference in my bottom line has been huge. So, you know what I did? I stopped playing in smoky poker rooms. That's right, if a cardroom allows smoking, I pass. I have traveled across the country many times, and have found myself in cardrooms that allow smoking. On those trips, I spend a lot of time to myself in my hotel room, where I can catch up on my other work! Learning how these factors affect your life will definitely impact your bottom line if you pay attention.

So, what can you do to make sure you keep better records? Well, you can start by making the commitment to yourself that you will keep records. That is a start. You need to find a way to be totally honest with yourself, not merely on the days you win, but every day you play cards. Have a ritual, if you will, a pattern. When you get home, perhaps you put your car keys down in the same place (unless you are like me and prefer to spend hours a week looking for them), and then you take off your coat, shoes, or whatever … and head for the fridge (well, I do, but I digress). This is when you can easily adopt a good habit. Head for wherever you keep your record book or computer and enter the results of your session in your journal. Do it while it is fresh in your mind, and do it honestly and completely. You will be amazed at what you can learn about yourself. It may be good, or it may be bad, but it will be the truth. I gotta run now – going to look for my car keys. Happy New Year! Class dismissed.

Please contact me with any of your poker questions, comments, or column ideas. I am happy to hear from you.