The quality of your hand review depends on the questions you ask. Right questions lead to insights; wrong questions lead to confusion.
Good questions = Good learning
| Question |
What It Reveals |
| What is my range here? |
Your overall strategy |
| What is villain's range? |
Opponent modeling |
| How do ranges interact on this board? |
Advantage assessment |
| What hands take this line? |
Range narrowing |
| Question |
What It Reveals |
| What was I trying to achieve? |
Intent clarity |
| What options did I have? |
Alternative actions |
| Which option had highest EV? |
Optimal decision |
| Did I have a plan? |
Strategic thinking |
| Question |
What It Reveals |
| What information did I have? |
Available data |
| What information was I missing? |
Gaps in thinking |
| Was my logic sound? |
Reasoning quality |
| Would I make this play again? |
Decision quality |
| Question |
What It Reveals |
| What's the lesson here? |
Takeaway |
| Does this apply to other spots? |
Pattern extraction |
| What would a solver say? |
GTO check |
| What would an exploitative player do? |
Adjustment check |
| Bad Question |
Why It's Bad |
Better Question |
| "Should I have folded?" |
Results-oriented |
"Was my call +EV?" |
| "Was he bluffing?" |
Can't know for sure |
"What bluffs are in his range?" |
| "Why does this always happen?" |
Emotional |
"Is this a pattern in my play?" |
| "Did I play it right?" |
Too vague |
"What was the EV of each option?" |
| Question |
| Is my hand in my opening/calling range? |
| Am I adjusting correctly for position? |
| What range am I putting villain on? |
| Question |
| Who has range advantage? |
| What am I trying to accomplish with my action? |
| How does villain's range connect with this board? |
| Question |
| How does this card change things? |
| What hands call/fold my bet? |
| Should I continue or give up? |
| Question |
| What value hands does villain have? |
| What bluffs could villain have? |
| Am I getting the right price? |
"Given all the information I had at the time, did I make the highest EV decision?"
This question focuses on:
- Process (not results)
- Available information (not hindsight)
- EV (not emotional satisfaction)
The right questions focus on ranges, EV, and process—not results. Ask about what hands take certain lines, what you were trying to achieve, and what the EV of each option was. Avoid hindsight-based and emotional questions that lead nowhere.