Choosing between loose and tight play
Basically, the style of play in Texas Holdem poker is divided in two groups: tight and loose play. Loose players are usually playing more hands tending to act even with weak starting hands and tight players usually play few hands tending to act just with good starting hands. The following is a list of statements referring to loose games, while their inverses are true for tight games.
• Bluffing has lesser effectiveness in loose games, because loose players tend to continue playing even with poor starting hands, not to fold.
• Requirements to continue playing with drawing hands are lower, because the majority of loose players may also be playing with poor hands.
• Drawing to incomplete hands, like straights and flushes, is more valuable, because draws are often getting more favorable pot odds and a better hand is frequently required in order to win in multi-way pots.