Bare with me, I'm new here:
I play in a local game that gets 6-8 players every night, usually the same people. Everyone in this game is so damned loose and passive. They constantly call the blind with weak hands hoping to "hit." I generally take the approach of tightening up my range and come in for a monster raise pre-flop when I get a premium hand. I usually get at a minimum 3 callers. My question is, do you think that this is the optimal way of playing games like this? I always fear that if I pick something up like AA or KK that they lose to someone with a garbage hand that hit a good flop. Or do you think that it is just my inexperience to have these irrational fears?

Sorry for my noobie ramble

Welcome!

Checks the rules of the forum.

This is fine.

Just because you have AA/KK doesn't mean your guaranteed to win a pot. With that in mind just bet this guys to death and understand you will lose occasionally.

The important thing to remember is that you are a favorite and are getting your money in profitably.

GL!

Thanks bud!

I'll add the key is passive. There's an old saying on Wall Street that applies to poker. Bulls make money, bears make money, pigs get slaughtered. Once you get over the idea that TP or an OP is going to win stacks against random players, AA and KK get easy to play. My rule of thumb is that I'm at best going to get 2 streets of action with a TP or an OP. There's an art to it, but you need to find a street to check in order to get paid two streets. In addition, when a passive player takes the lead while you haven't check yet and you are the pre-flop raiser, your TP isn't likely to be good.

We should actually be more aggressive in a "loose and passive" environment.

Especially if the loose passive players will call light pre and fold a lot if they miss the flop.

Makes the C-bet more valuable.

If we think they will call light post-flop it makes the value bet more valuable.

Even loose passive players will notice if we play two hands an hour.

But if we mix up our aggressive play in position, we will be harder to read.

IMO.