Quote Originally Posted by SecretSquirrel
A real amateur here, but I agree that's a great question. I would hazard to guess that the loose image is considerably better (Caro thinks so, but he does suggest tight works also in Hold'em). Big hands get far more calls and are far more profitable. There is nothing more frustrating than everyone folding to your nuts. I used to be tight, but I found so many times AA's would make me 75c. One great thing with the aggressor image... is people start thinking you never have a hand.

But can someone steal enough pots with a tight image to make up the difference? So to have a tight image you would have to fold and show some real nice hands at the beginning then play looser later. Hmmm I suppose an objective test could be in order...

Definitely tight image and tight play doesn't work... I think that is the first step up from newbie. Don't flame me, but that's what I have found (I'd be interesting if you agree). Enough dribble from me.
I'm not great in ring games, but I've had a bit of success in tournaments. I think the key is to be able to mix up your play a little. Starting out tight in tourneys gives credibility to the bluffs you will have to make later to get into the money. I don't like a loose image in tourneys because I don't want to face too many showdowns early on. Too easy to get rivered on someone's JTo all-in.

In ring games I've always had the most success when I was aggressive, but I invariably run into a situation with a big PP out of position with a smooth caller behind me. I usually lose big in that situation, but I'm learning to balance caution with the nagging feeling of missing bets.