'Loose' Play in Poker

A player is said to be 'loose' when they don't show much restraint as to which pots they get involved in. Playing loose is a style of play and although it's not always the case, it is usually associated with weak play.

A player who is less selective with the hands he plays is more of a gambler by trait, and are usually comfortable entering pots with marginal hands in spots they are considered the underdog. These players will tend to chase cards a little more than the passive player and are more reluctant to fold.

An extremely loose player is often called a calling station as they continually call bets where really, they should fold. The benefit to playing loose is that players recognize this and you will often get paid off by players who don't give you credit for representing a big hand. These players are typically a lot less predictable than ABC players who play it by the book.

The opposite style of play is passive, where a player doesn't enter many pots at all, being more inclined to wait for premium starting hands.