Loose or Tight?

[TheTexan]

A couple of recent discussion on here got me thinking, which is best, Tight Play, Loose Play or mixed?

This obviously depends on real money versus play money (or does it) and the players at the table.

Having a reputation one way or another can be good, but if you are always playing new opponents, how do you set your reputation quickly in the minds of the players? As for the star system, I have seen 5 start players who just stunk, and no star players who hit everything, so that does not seem to be as relevant.

When I was being tutored I was told, play loose and never show your cards. As I have played, real and play money, I have gotten so that I always play one way, tight, and if I hit a monster hand I show it early on. After a few hands, if I even bet, unless they have huge hole cards they fold up like wet paper.

While it takes longer to play, the results have been good for me.

Or am I way off base and just having a good streak?

[CaptainSandy]

Sounds like you've got it about right Tex.

From what I've seen on the cash side (small stakes) over the last year, playing loose will mainly result in losing chips in the long run. Players are reluctant to fold if they've hit ANYTHING.

I completely ignore the star system, but have noticed the lower starred players tend to call with less in there hand.

[sexynomore]

Your talking about poker right? lol

For money, tight is my choice and for play chips like the free side here, loose as a goose. I play to have fun without causing to much pain of the other players if that makes sense.

You have to play the odds using money in any poker game that gives odds out such as BJ and Craps. These games are the only way you have against the house is to play all your odds and don't waiver from them.

[symbolon]

only chips I got lately is in newspaper and accompanied by fish ah well !!!

Need to tighten up my play on the cash side, but once they have pockets in Omaha the stakes go up..... grrrrrrr.

Tex known you to play anything but a fine hand and long may it continue!

xxsymxx

[Auggie555]

Hummmm, disagree! I've been playing for a long time. I've played in money tournaments at casinos poker clubs. The one thing that i have learned and now play is: Never, never, play one way! You will be an easy target and very easy to read. Reading your opponent is 50% of the game. Mix your game and keep them guessing.hope this helps.
Dave

[roo27]

i find it so much depends on where you are in a torny for exarple as a raul i like to play lose at the start of a torny then start to tighten up as the blinds go up then losen back up as we get tawords the bubble but then there are times that i will change for outher resons like if i have had a bit of a good run and bilt a fair stack compaired to the rest on the table i will tighten up and buy my time or if i belive i am on a table that seems to be playing extra lose i will tighten up and let them do the betting but i think a lot of it is down to the stial of play that you play as some pepol seem to only play the cards thay are delt but i find i tend to play the outher players more than i play the cards in my hand as i think my strongest point is my abilaty to read the game

[TheTexan]

So the bottom line is no matter what your style, be prepared to fold?

[theguvnor]

not so much of what cards you have got, more about KNOWING when to fold, working out your odds are a good indicator, good mathmeticians make good poker players !!

[maddarcy]

thats me guv im a maths genius 2 plus 2 equals 5 . GREAT THREAD TEX ANYBIT OF KNOWLEDGE HELPS

[SweeneyTodd6]

I play a mix game and as far as showing I do show monster hands and depending on who is at table I show bluffs every now then keep them guessing.

[symbolon]

I've now also started listening to my instinct on whether to fold or not......it's taken a while lol


xxsymxx

[outlaw1966]

On a free chips site i don't think there is a safe way to play....i have just watch a game where a player went all in twice with K9 not suited and beat AJ and AK both suited.
Now you tell me how you play against that , i play poker a lot for money but not on poker sites and i'm sorry but thats not how i was taught to play....
I agree that a lot of poker is reading your opponent but how do you read someone who just watches poker on tv and thinks you have to get your chips in as fast as you can.

[TheTexan]

Originally Posted by outlaw1966

On a free chips site i don't think there is a safe way to play....i have just watch a game where a player went all in twice with K9 not suited and beat AJ and AK both suited.
Now you tell me how you play against that , i play poker a lot for money but not on poker sites and i'm sorry but thats not how i was taught to play....
I agree that a lot of poker is reading your opponent but how do you read someone who just watches poker on tv and thinks you have to get your chips in as fast as you can.

Well that is where the challenge starts. On the free chip side, you are not risking anything so there have always been a large number of bingo players, and those who go all in with any single paint card. And since there is no real way to read the player when on-line, you have to play the cards you are dealt, and sometimes you lose.

I think one of the best pieces of advice I ever got was playing on the KOTH table with Bazultra, Roo27, Worzel and Dean when I was told, play the two cards you are dealt like that is all you get and bet accordingly.