Chip Leak

[Insomnia]

I play in a regular weekly home game, and we have a range from 5-8 players playing. The buyin is usually very low, and this is a very freindly game. Recently ive hit a slump, but its nothing new, ive gone through many slumps before. Although the odd thing is in many of the games during my slump, in the first orbit i will usually pick up a good hand and get decent action wiht it and win a nice pot. Usually about 1/5 to 1/3 of the starting chips in one hand. After this, i usually find that i will continually lose chips in small pots, or i will run into a monster when i make a strong hand(trips, top 2 pair etc). I know you cant avoid monsters, but What range of hands should i be playing when i have chip lead. should i go tighter or looser.
The quality of the players is roughly equal to me, although i have a stronger background of basic poker strategy(through reading!). the top 2 get payed, 2nd taking his buy in back, and first getting the rest.