Good game notes do not need to capture every move. Start with the moment you became uncertain: which ranks were still unknown, what did you expect, and what choice did you make?

After the game, add one thing that surprised you and one question to revisit. Keeping the notes short makes it easier to compare several games and see whether a pattern is real.

Treat the notes as a learning aid, not a scorecard. Curiosity is more useful than blame.