If you tend to be a loose player, you may play and win frequently at the loose end of the poker world spectrum, of course, by developing an even wilder and looser image to your opponents. It does not take too many hands to make people believe that you’re a maniac on loose playing style. After you do, a tense player tend to respect you and stay out of your way (even with stronger hands), and other players tend to call you frequently, often with really weak hands. If you are able to create a loose table image and then shift gears to a more solid playing style than your current image suggests, you may get more cash out of your better hands because your opponents (incorrectly) assume you are a lunatic.
So, how do you look like a madman at the online poker game? It boils down to calling and betting when you really shouldn’t and followed by letting other players know about your lunacy, which typically means exposing your cards. The really best scenario is to recklessly make the bet with absolutely weak cards and then luckily catch miracle cards to win the pot, but it also works if you miss. When other players see your hand, they will think you’re a weirdo (and perhaps take a step closer to insanity themselves).
An obvious side effect of showing people a loose poker image is that you may take bad beats frequently (especially in a potlimit or no-limit tournament setting, because one bad hand can cost you your entire chips). The crazier tablemates think you are, the more players you have to face with every hand.
Loose Playing Style Example
You are the small blind in the fixed-limit Hold ’Em poker game. You receive 5s 6h as the hole cards. Eight players stay in the hand, then you make the half-bet required to call pre-flop.
The flop is Kd 9s 8s. You have the inside straight draw and decide it is better for you to check.
All players behind you also check.
4c is the turn and each player checks.
Ad is the river. You check. An opponent makes a bet, and other players fold to you. Calling right at this moment is insanity. All your opponent needs is one card bigger than an 8 or a simple pair of any size and you’ll lose. However, for just one big bet, you may call and freely show your hand. You should not raise to make a play at the pot or performing some other strategic moves other players could easily understand. After the other players see your hand, they will instinctively think “fool” (and perhaps will have permanent belief on your behavior if they make a note on players). You can get that bet back easily many times over in other sessions. Other players continue saying something like, “Ah that moron is in. No problem.”