by sbauer9
My experience in the wargameroom leagues is yes, to play this at the highest level you are tracking many cards (can you call it counting when you only count to 1). I have never used a checklist, just memory, but I could see such a checklist being helpful.You have to play to which scoring regions are in the deck and which are in the discard. There are a several countries you want to avoid until a certain event happens and others you want to get locked down as quick as possible. US has to hold a 3 op card till blockade is played. USSR needs to consider Defector during the headline phase unless it is it their hand or the discard pile.
Edit: I think most people would object to note taking, it is against the geek culture or something.