If you want to win in poker, then you need to have a game plan. The best poker strategies are always going to be the ones that are easy to apply. You can read books on GTO, but that’s going to be complicated and for the advanced player. For instance, you probably don’t even know what GTO means. It’s Game Theory Optimum. But don’t feel like you’re missing out on too much because the best players that play the players opposed to the technical side of the game can read the GTO players. A little bit much, huh? Let’s stick to a very simple poker guide and go from there.
Understanding Range
First you need to know the definition of range in poker. This refers to the hands that you will and will not play. For example, if you have a very narrow range, then you’re only playing hands like AA, KK, QQ, JJ, TT, 99, 88, 77, AK, AQ, AJ, and maybe AT. If you have a very wide range then you might play all those hands plus hands like QT, T9, 96s (s = suited), 65s, and T8s.
If you have a narrow range, you will have more winning sessions but you won’t win as much money. If you have a wide range, you won’t win as much but you will win more money when you do. This obviously leads to a dilemma. If you have to choose between the two, you’re better off having a narrow range, which will make you a tight player opposed to a loose player. However, let’s get to that best poker guide for beginners so you can be somewhere in between and apply the perfect range.
The Perfect Range
The Perfect Range is a book written for beginning poker players by Tyler Nals. It’s unique in the sense that it’s written as a story opposed to just a strategy book. As far as the strategy goes, it’s called SPATS. This is an acronym referring to the only hands you can play. It might seem intimidating at first, but it’s actually very simple. Below is an easy way to understand it….
S = Suited-Connectors
P = Pairs
A = Ax-suited
T = Ten Or Higher
S = Suited One-Gappers
A suited-connector is something like 65 of the same suit. Pairs are AA, 88, 55, etc. Ax-suited means an Ace with another card of the same suit. You play these hands only if you’re the pre-flop aggressor in late position or you can see a cheap flop, and you only play them because the potential is high in case you hit a flush. That’s not the only possibility. Your Ace might also be live.
Ten or higher simply means you can play two cards with a value of Ten or higher, such as Ten, Jack, Queen, King, Ace. As is the case with all SPATS hands, this doesn’t mean you need to play those hands. It’s just within the range of hands you’re allowed to play.
Suited One-Gappers are similar to Suited-Connectors but there is a gap between the two cards, such as T8, 97, or 75. Contrary to popular belief, these hands are more dangerous than Suited-Connectors because they’re more difficult for your opponent to detect when you hit a straight (not a flush).
Conclusion
Now you know more about what is sometimes viewed as the best poker guide for beginner poker players. However, there are many other poker strategy books out there. The real first step is buying a book so you’re armed with information that will increase your confidence and give you a game plan. Then you’re on your way to the felt.
