When you start out playing Texas Hold?em, you?ll probably begin playing at a low limit. Even if you have a large bankroll, it?s a good idea to start out playing at a limit fairly low relative to the amount you have, as it will give you a chance to get a feel for the game without mistakes becoming too costly.

What you may be surprised to find if you are new to Texas Hold?em and have been studying principles for correct play, is that the games are often shockingly loose. A loose poker game is one where many opponents are seeing the flop, and opponents seem almost careless with their money. In fact, since the stakes are so low, this may often be the case.

What Does a Loose Texas Hold?em Game Mean to You?

Many players lament that if the game is too loose, it is unbeatable. While at first glance it would seem that players who are willing to put chips in the pot with less than premium hands is favorable, the more of these players there are in each hand, the greater the likelihood that your premium hand will be beaten by the river by a hand that improves. Since the amount you can bet is fixed, it is very difficult to force players out, and unlike in no limit hold?em, frequently a number of players are seeing the river card, rather than just two or three. However, these games can be beaten.

Things to Do to Win in Loose Limit Hold?em

Open Up Your Calling Standards

This would seem to go against the general maxim that you should ?play tight against loose players and loose against tight players.? It is true that you will have an advantage if you play better starting cards than your opponents. However, you will get paid off more often when you hit your hand, meaning as long as you know when to fold, it can be profitable to play a wider range of hands. For example, in a tight game, with only three or four players seeing the flop, a pair of eights is a hand you might not even play in early position, and you would be very reluctant to call a raise with. However, in a loose game, with most of the table seeing the flop and a good number going to the river, your eights will get paid off quite handsomely in most cases if you flop a set or make a straight. In a tight game, you may not get action on these big hands, so seeing many flops with them will be a negative expected value play.

Remember That Positive Play Wins in the Long Run

It is true that you will probably get run down more often by weak hands in loose low limit poker games. However, you must remember that you are making plays that offer a positive expectation in the long run. If you are playing correctly, the most money will be in the pot during the times where you have the best hand. If your bankroll is large enough to withstand the swings of short term luck, you will eventually come out on top with sensible, tight aggressive play based on probabilities.

Things Not To Do

Get Frustrated

When your pocket aces loses to 4 2 on a board of 8 T 4 6 2, you are likely going to want to tear up the cards and run screaming from the room. This would actually not be too bad. Much worse would be to try to get into a lot of pots with the player who won the hand, in the hopes of taking advantage of his bad play. When you start to play poker as loose as your weak opponents, you are giving away your advantage. The reason you will be a long term winner is that you don?t rely on ?getting lucky.? Stick with your game plan no matter how many players appear to be getting rich playing wildly. You can be sure that they are all long term losers.

Give Lessons

When an opponent beats you with a bad play, the last thing you want to do is explain to them what they did wrong. While it may make you feel better for a moment, the only thing that can change is that you will embarrass the opponent into playing better. They will have won your money playing badly and make it hard to win back by playing well.

Although they can be extremely challenging and frustrating at times, loose low limit hold?em games can be beat. If you have the patience and discipline required and use them well, there is no reason you cannot be successful in this kind of poker game over the long term.