NLHTP#15 Swapping Mistakes & Adjusting to Loose Games and Players

[GiantBuddha]

There's different types of loose games, and there's different ways of loosening up.

In a game where lots of players like to limp in and then play reasonably well on the flop, loosening up might not get you too far. However, if your opponents like to limp and then play too loose with their drawing and one pair hands after the flop, you've found a very profitable game. In a game like this you should probably play many hands cheap and then punish your opponents who make mistakes for big bets down the line.

In a game where lots of players like to call raises of 8-10BB cold to see a flop, then play reasonably well from there, you should probably tighten up and make most of your money from the big preflop mistakes your opponents are making. A lot of live $1-2 games play this way.

In general, if postflop play isn't one of your strengths, then loosening up can get very dangerous. I find myself usually playing against the grain, where online I play much looser than live, while the games are much tighter than live. Trying to steal blinds in the live games I play isn't really an option, though. It's also critical to be very aware of the "mistakes" which you're trading and to make sure you don't give up so much that your opponents aren't giving it back and then some.