Projecting the Right Image at a Poker Table

One of the keys to winning at a game of Poker is to not let your opponents know what you have. And the key to this is to make them think that you are a different kind of player than you are. If you are a tight player, than you want the other people at the table thinking you are a maniac, that way they will give you action when you get you actually play a hand.  If you are a loose player who bluffs frequently, you want the other people to think you are the rockiest person since Balboa.  You want them folding to your steal attempts and not prone to looking you up with ace high.

So how can you accomplish this deception?  Clearly there is only so much you can do. If you play every hand, people are not going to think that you are tight no matter how much you wish it. However there are actions you can take to influence the image you project to the poker table. Below is a list of several characteristics of tight players and of loose players.  Simply act out the image you wish to project, but be careful not to let the projection actually influence your game

Stacking Chips
Tight Image  -  Tight players generally have their stacks neatly piled in front of them.  They generally know how much they have, and can cut an even stack whenever they bet.
Loose Image - Loose Players are often sloppy with their chip stacks.  They may have many stacks of different sizes, or one or two huge stacks in front of them.  They will rarely have neat, even stacks

Talking
Tight Image  - Many tight players are relatively silent at the table.  They are there to play cards and not to get distracted. If you want to appear more tight, be quiet at the table and don't engage in banter with other players
Loose Image - Many loose players are often boisterous. They will razz the other players, the dealer, waitress, and themselves.  They will often be drinking, and loud, and fairly easy to spot. To look like a looser player, start commenting on other people's play.  Say things like you can't believe they folded that hand.  It will make you look like a jerk, but it will change your table image in a hurry.

Showing Cards
Tight Image  - If you want to look tight, you generally never want to show your cards.  If you show your cards even occasionally, like when you have the nuts, people will wonder why you don't show your cards the other times.... you must not have the nuts then.
Loose Image - This is easy.  Bluff someone out of a pot, show them and rub it in. They will be looking to get back at you. Next time just make sure you have a solid hand when you get involved with them.

Appearance
Tight Image - Looks sharp, like you just came from the office. Wide awake and paying close attention to the game.
Loose Image - Sloppily dressed.  Looks like something you just threw together.  You don't care how you look, just like you don't care what cards you are playing.

Mucking Cards
Tight Image - When you throw your cards away, gently place them in the pot, or flick them into the center.
Loose Image - Throw your cards into the center of the table.  Act you like are angry that you got a hand that is bad enough that even you won't play.