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Memorizing hole cards

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Posted: #1
I'm sure I'm not the only one who has made the switch from online to live poker, that has trouble remembering their hole cards. 
 
Maybe I am, so be it.  This might not be the greatest thing for a poker player, but I'll admit it - I have a terrible short term memory (don't ask why, you probably know already).  It's not a good thing, even in life in general, as I routinely forget someone's name immediately, after I just finished shaking their hands after being introduced.
 
So, in poker, often times I'll glance at my hole cards, place my marker on them, and immediately have no idea what I just saw.  In order to not give away any kind of tell, I just continue to keep looking at my cards every few minutes, even when I do know what I have, something like pockets aces.
 
Any advice?  This is kind of embarrassing to admit, but what the hell.
 
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Posted: #2
When the play is on you - that is when you should look at your cards. You should have some type of strategy like counting to ten before playing or folding your cards after looking at them. That way you don't give up the strength of your hand (tell) if you decide to play your cards. (playing your hand too fast is an obvious tell)
 
Before looking at your cards you should be concentrating on the players at the table and maybe you can pick up a tell or two for later in the game against certain players.
That way if a player is taking his time to react to a bet you don't have to constantly keep looking at your cards because you forgot them and miss a tell.
 
I played last night (live) in 3 $100 sit-and-go's. I came in first twice and second once - bad beat that cripled my chip stack. It was the first time I played live in about 5 months and the players were giving me their chips. I played the exact way as I stated above, remained patient, and cleaned out the table in less than an hour. EASY MONEY.
 
GL
 
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Posted: #3
Your best bet is too look at your kids right before you act.  Short term memory problems are a huge problem in poker.  It won't take long before all your moves are telegraphed. 
 
My advice is to read a few books on short term memory.  This will help your game.
 
that is all
 
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Posted: #4
Quote Originally Posted by chilitokid:

When the play is on you - that is when you should look at your cards. You should have some type of strategy like counting to ten before playing or folding your cards after looking at them. That way you don't give up the strength of your hand (tell) if you decide to play your cards. (playing your hand too fast is an obvious tell)
 
Before looking at your cards you should be concentrating on the players at the table and maybe you can pick up a tell or two for later in the game against certain players.
That way if a player is taking his time to react to a bet you don't have to constantly keep looking at your cards because you forgot them and miss a tell.
 
GL

Thank you.    This seems like very good advice.  It's just that I keep trying to do the one quick glance thing, and that's it.  Never looking at my cards again, but it hasn't worked.  I will try this strategy tonight. 

And yes, I've thought about getting some books on improving my memory as well.  It's always been a problem for me (even before college!).

Thanks guys.

 
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Posted: #5
GL tonight MWC....I hope you crush 'em.
 
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Posted: #6
Update;  That advice worked great.  I had a good night, considering I only played 2.5 hours after work.  As a matter of fact, I noticed that only one other player was playing this way (only looking at his hole cards when play was to him).  As a matter of fact, this guy bluffed me out when I first sat down. This is an old trick in live sit and gos. I knew what he was doing, but I folded anyway because, yes, I didn't want to risk more than half my stack on the first hand I was in - the fucker.  Good player though.  But I still did alright.  Thanks again.
 
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Posted: #7
I understand what you mean. Sometimes that happens to me when im in the BB or something. I peek at my cards...check my option then i forget what i have.
 
I only look at my cards when the person two seats next to me is getting action or folding going. I dont look at them early ever.
 
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Posted: #8
I've been experimenting.  Some say that looking at your hole cards only when action is to you, leads to everyone looking at you at once - which, if you think about it, can be very true. 
 
I've been trying something in between.  I'll give a quick glance when the action is to my right, coming towards me.  But I alway put my card protector (just a chip, I think unless your a pro, personal card protectors are gay) down on them regardless of my play.  Another trick I've been doing, which helps tremendously, is to just get the numerical or card value in my head at the first glance before the flop, not worrying about suit.  For example, I get dealt ATo.  I know it's off suit, but don't bother to worry about the suit til after the flop when the action comes to my right again.  That way I don't spend a terrible amount of time looking at my hole cards (which is my personal goal). 
 
 
 
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Posted: #9
I've been experimenting.  Some say that looking at your hole cards only when action is to you, leads to everyone looking at you at once - which, if you think about it, can be very true. 
 
This is true but it can be used as a major advantage in your favor. When I play in a sit-and-go I will lose the first hand I play on purpose for a small amt of money. I'll throw in my chips and say "I'll just call" or something and everyone at my table knows I'm weak. Later in the game when you have a strong hand put your chips in and again say "I'll just call". Again, they will think you are weak and when they raise you go over the top of them. I think its called a reverse tell or trap. It is very effective as everyone thinks they are a pro nowadays. Now, I don't play at a casino that often. Most players are your weekly game players with a group of friends but EASY MONEY.
 
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Posted: #10
Quote Originally Posted by chilitokid:

This is true but it can be used as a major advantage in your favor. When I play in a sit-and-go I will lose the first hand I play on purpose for a small amt of money. I'll throw in my chips and say "I'll just call" or something and everyone at my table knows I'm weak. Later in the game when you have a strong hand put your chips in and again say "I'll just call". Again, they will think you are weak and when they raise you go over the top of them. I think its called a reverse tell or trap. It is very effective as everyone thinks they are a pro nowadays. Now, I don't play at a casino that often. Most players are your weekly game players with a group of friends but EASY MONEY.

 

this is actually good advice. i will keep it this in mind next time i play and i'm holding a monster.

 
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Posted: #11
i look at my cards once, when i get em ,  i tell myself what they are and i put a chip on them...then i dont look at them again in the hand
 
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Posted: #12
Quote Originally Posted by NJDevils:

i look at my cards once, when i get em ,  i tell myself what they are and i put a chip on them...then i dont look at them again in the hand

I'm pretty much there now as well.  It was just a big change from online to live, as online you're staring at them the whole time as the action goes around the table.  You can assess your hand and your opponents in real time.  Now, it takes memory.  It didn't take long, I've got it down to one glance.  I will glance again if the action in on me after the flop to the river.  However, I do this every time, regardless of whatever, if I'm going to fold, call or raise.

GL

 
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Posted: #13
I start mouthing out my hand to myself and keep on repeating it till the flop comes. 
 
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Posted: #14
I started off live than went to on-line.  I find that either way I don't look at the player for tells as most will give off false tells anyways.   I like to look at betting patterns call me bets and protect bets.  Playing online has helped me read betting patterns which I also use live.  A persons bet size is an easier read in my opinion.
 
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Posted: #15
I don't have this problem anymore.  It's one quick flip on the very top corner of the cards, and I'm good.  It just took me a while to get used to playing live.
 
 
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Posted: #16
I started live as well, so memorizing my hole cards is no longer an issue, but the more you do it, the easier it is.  Actually, the more live you play, you'll learn not to focus on your cards as much, but to see what the other players are doing.  I'll mix up when I look at my cards.  If the cards are running poor, I'll change it from looking at my turn to looking as I get each card real quick.  It seems to help the poker mojo when I mix it up...
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