Thanks for the replies. Very interesting. Keep them coming! I find it really interesting talking about overall poker style/strategy than "what should i do with KQ when the flop is xxx" micro-strategy.

Anyway I think really my play depends a bit on being the "Big Fish" at the table. Words were chosen carefully..

"Big", as in i'm expected to raise pre-flop if i have pretty good cards, to which a bunch of people will fold as they don't want to get mixed up with me.

"Fish" because in a way I want people to think i'm a fish. Sometimes it works well for me to play badly and lose a chunk of your stack, because when you mentally stop playing like that and start playing the cards, people think you're still calling with rubbish or drawing hands... leading to lovely situations like sitting on a full house, with them betting into you, taking ages to deliberate over each call as if you're still on a mad draw which you really shouldnt be doing.

When this happens a couple of times, players start thinking you're dangerous - could be sitting on a monster, could be just betting to scare people... and i think they become much more inclined to just fold to you. the "cant be arsed messing with him" situation.

Of course you have to be careful you don't spadge your entire stack away on some stupid play.