"Fold, keep your image tight so you can steal more later"

[benfranklin]

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e) image is worth a lot less than people think

(e) is really the crux of the other 4 points.

citanul

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As a general rule, this is correct. In low limit games, this is especially true in the early levels. There's not much you can do here to get noticed except act like a maniac or win a huge pot. Even the latter will be soon forgotten if you do nothing else of note.

I think that the exceptions start kicking in when the table gets down to about 5 players. If you chart your play in 2 dimensions, where you are on the tight-loose spectrum will not be noticed by most players. On the passive-aggressive line, passive play will generally not be noticed. The exception is when you appear to let someone steal your blind 2-3 times in 4-5 hands. This will brand you as someone who can be bullied.

What will get you noticed and build an image is playing more aggressively than the table norm once down to about 5 players. Every table has its own general level of aggressiveness. Playing above that level will be noticed.

Also, at all but the most aggressive tables, most players assume certain "rights", or stake out turf, if you will. If I am in the BB in a 5-handed game and everyone else folds or limps preflop and then the SB raises, the SB has violated my "rights" as the BB to see the flop for free. He gets noticed. He gets an image, particularly if he does it more than once.

If I put in a "normal" raise preflop, I expect everyone to fold or call, and to check to the raiser on the flop. If you come back over the top of me, you are on my turf, and I resent it.

In short, tight or loose or passive play will not be noticed enough by most opponents in a low level game to matter, will not be noticed enough to give you an image that will change the way others play. "Normal" aggressive play will not be noticed, especially at the early levels. "Overly" aggressive play, especially when the table starts to get short, will be noticed, and will build you an image. Whether or not it will affect the play of opponents depends on their playing skills and experience.

Even shorter, you are not going to have an image in the eyes of most low level players unless and until you actively and aggressively build one. In the words of the OP subject, the only thing that seriously affects your ability to steal late is when you start doing a lot of stealing late.