How do you establish a loose image?

[vexvelour]

Thanks for clarifying, 4_2. I think when I read the OP I was thinking cash games, which I have a problem being loose at, whereas tourneys are another story for me.

[4_2_it]

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Thanks for clarifying, 4_2. I think when I read the OP I was thinking cash games, which I have a problem being loose at, whereas tourneys are another story for me.

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Usually if I am in a cash game and have to play looser than I am accustomed to, then I just leave the table.

If you pardon my curiosity, when you say you have a problem player looser than you are accustomed to in cash were you saying you normally play too loose in cash games or that you play too tight and have trouble loosening up?

How to establish a loose image? Start playing loosely. Raise every pot. Always try to steal the blinds. Get vicious with position and reraise raisers and isolate with junk. No better feeling like reraising a raiser with Q5 and seing the flop come down Q5x or 55x, then showing it down and having the original raiser and others at the table talk about how much you suck. You'll get all the action you'll ever want, I promise you. It actually may get annoying for you, since you can never steal the blinds and cannot bluff as much when they catch on, but you'll make more with your middle pairs when they call you down than you ever will with your top pairs and a tight image.

[me454555]

I guess what I meant by my original post is that I seem to be very readable postlfop when there are low cards on the board. While they still call me down when I have KK on a T high flop, they also call me down when I have AJo and the flop is T high. I think I'm just running badly right now

[vexvelour]

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If you pardon my curiosity, when you say you have a problem player looser than you are accustomed to in cash were you saying you normally play too loose in cash games or that you play too tight and have trouble loosening up?

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I play too tight, and have trouble loosening up in cash games. I cannot raise air. In tournaments, it's like I understand the need for plays better, and they make more sense, and it's easier to execute them. In cash games, it just doesn't make sense to try and put moves on people unless I have the cards for it. (At least, in online cash...I never get to play live games anymore).

[onegymrat]

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I guess what I meant by my original post is that I seem to be very readable postlfop when there are low cards on the board. While they still call me down when I have KK on a T high flop, they also call me down when I have AJo and the flop is T high. I think I'm just running badly right now

[/ QUOTE ]In the games that we play (mostly lower limit), unique plays and tricks are not so necessary. Save that thinking for a lone casino in the middle of the desert where you see the same eight players weekly. The only way to give off a loose image, as many have responded already, is to play loose. Of course, that decreases your -EV since part of our edge is our stronger starting hands.

You play very well already and I think your recent beats have you flustered. Don't get steered into offbeat approaches. Of course, many of these hands are still player dependent, but stick to your solid game. Based on your description above, try this. Bet when you have it, and check when you don't. Too predictable? Sure. But as you say, they're gonna call you anyway.

This too shall end.

[me454555]

I'm not trying to change my game too much, just tweak my image. I suppose you're right. It just sucks when you raise 2 limpers w/AJ and the flop comes 8 high and htey both call your flop bet. Then you make the same play w/88 w/the same flop and they just fold to that same flop bet. Maybe I'm just playing w/marked cards [img]/images/graemlins/tongue.gif[/img]

[4_2_it]

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I play too tight, and have trouble loosening up in cash games. I cannot raise air. In tournaments, it's like I understand the need for plays better, and they make more sense, and it's easier to execute them. In cash games, it just doesn't make sense to try and put moves on people unless I have the cards for it. (At least, in online cash...I never get to play live games anymore).

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You right that 90% of the time ABC poker will be the most profitable approach at the cash tables. I believe this is certainly the case in limit. In NL, you have to adapt to the mood of the table. My advice is predicated on playing NL.

Do you think your 'tightness' is being noticed by your opponents? For me, this didn't occur until I started playing NL 100 (not sure of the limit equivalent, maybe 1/2). I am dabbling in NL $200 and have noticed that super tight players only get paid by maniacs. If you don't LAG occasionally, raise continuation bets or bluff missed draws (when you suspect your opponent missed as well) you are missing some value.

If you want to practice loosing up your game, drop down a level or two and play a few hands without regard to the cards you have. Play your normal tight way for a couple of orbits and then start raising on the button with air. Then bet any flop with a picture card. Everyone will fold or the guy who hit his monster will raise. This will give you a feel and won't cost you a fortune.

Or try my trick by raising any two suited connectors. You can represent any face card on the flop and should get paid handsomely when you hit a monster.

I am not advocating a loose style, per se, but everyone should be able to play as a LAG when the table situation dictates (short handed, table of rocks, etc.). Versatility is needed as you progress to the higher levels (I am finding this out the hard way right now)

[vexvelour]

Wonderful advice, 4_2... Thank you for indulging me and the OP!

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What do the rest of you guys do to portray a loose fun image w/out giving up EV?

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First off, realize that this is not possible. When you are trying to deceive your opponents, you will have to give up some EV to do so, because you will be playing a hand less than optimally. BoxTree had good advice for you: take advantage of your image! The tighter you appear, the easier it is to bluff... so bluff! You will earn value by doing this, and when you finally get called, you will earn future calls (so tighten up again).

If you have a tight image, bluff.
If you have a loose image, value bet.

The cycle continues indefinately, and the process is called changing gears.

EDIT: Oh, and it would be helpful if you posted the game in which you play. My assumption was low-limit fixed-limit online holdem. In live games, talk a lot more, joke around, give hollers during hands. Something else I've started doing is cheering players on when they give action. "Yeah baby, that's what I'm talking about!" "Come on, let's see that family pot i've been waiting for!"
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As for the tournament comments, it is typically a waste of time to advertise (by this I mean playing -EV in the current hand to give a specific image) in an SNG, as by the time players pick up on it, they may be busted or desperate.