Playing against a very loose table -- with many people seeing the flop, even when there is a raise -- is a common situation in online play. It is one that can reward you handsomely, or be fraught with danger. Even if played correctly, your bankroll may experience large swings, although when you win against a loose table, you will win big.
The following is our general strategy for playing at loose tables. Remember that loose games are played on the flop rather than before the flop. Thus, if you can see the flop cheaply, with the hands suggested below, then you can usually clean up when your hand hits big on the flop.
The conventional wisdom when playing at a loose table (that is also either aggressive or passive) is to tighten up. This approach is usually wrong. That doesn't mean you should loosen up your starting hand requirements too much, though. You have to value hands that can flop extremely well and be wary of hands that tend to just flop okay. Remember, the key is picking starting hole cards that have potential to flop very big hands, and seeing the flop as cheaply as possible. With loose tables, so many people will be putting money in the pot, especially pre-flop, that you can frequently call with hands that can improve to monsters.
Big Pairs. Obviously, big pairs are excellent starting hands. AA is already flopping pretty well because it will always be an overpair. It might flop another Ace and you will have a monster. Big pairs in general are fine but they can only go to the river unimproved on well-chosen occasions.
High and Middle Suited Connectors. High suited connectors have great starting hand potential as they are likely to flop monsters, TPTK (top pair top kicker) or huge draws. Middle suited connectors are likely to flop nothing or to flop extremely well. Both middle and high suited connectors are not only worthy of calling in any position in a game like this, they are worthy of a late-position raise in some situations. That is true even though they often must be discarded after seeing the flop.
Suited Aces. Suited Ace-trash really only has one common way to flop well (a flush or flush draw) but that one way is quite powerful. This hand is usually worth playing in loose games, especially when you can see the flop cheaply.
Medium Pairs. Medium pairs are good starting hands, if played properly. Most often they flop unplayable flops with many overcards, or at best marginally playable flops with an overcard (e.g., where the flop gives you a straight draw or similar). But occasionally, medium pairs flop sets, often top set (although in a loose game, even middle set or bottom set is usually flopping really well).
Small Pairs. Playing small pairs is somewhat controversial. Small pairs flop unplayable flops and they flop sets. Play these hands from late position and play them cautiously.
Unsuited Connectors. Unsuited connectors are tougher to play. For example, KQo can, and often will, flop top pair, good kicker. That is about the best it usually does. That is not flopping extremely well in a very loose game with lots of callers. Thus, KQo and the like is
not a really good hand in a loose game. Playing it in late position for one bet may not be an error but folding it even then probably isn't a big mistake, even if the flop hits. Big unpaired cards are not the monsters that they are in a tighter game, simply because so many loose callers will have you beat. Big unpaired suited cards are much more robust, especially big suited Aces and suited connectors, as discussed above.
Careful play and good starting hand selection can result in big profits at loose tables online. Just keep in mind that with such reward comes additional risk -- large swings in your bankroll, playing more hands preflop but folding more on the flop, and the increased chance of bad beats. Play consistently, be wary of tilt and bet when you have a hand.
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