S06E08 - Poker Basic Strategy - Low Stakes Poker

Much like the early steps to doing better at blackjack than everyone else using basic strategy, poker also has a basic strategy that will instantly improve nearly everyone’s game. From absolute beginner to even long time players.

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Let’s break down the concept of **basic strategy** in poker and why it’s the foundation of becoming a winning player.

What’s Basic Strategy?

In games like blackjack, there’s a “basic strategy” that players memorize to minimize losses. For example, in blackjack, just by memorizing and following basic strategy can reduce your expected loss from 3-6% (if you’re just winging it) to 1% or less. Card counters take it even further by adjusting their play based on the cards left in the deck, allowing them to make smarter decisions and bet bigger when the odds are in their favor.

By keeping count of the cards and knowing the composition of the remainder of the deck, this allows them to do things like modify the basic strategy when the count says you should stand on hands you would normally hit. Or split tens which you would normally never do. Or bet 3x or 5x or 9x your base bet.

And if you happened to be at a table that accidentally flashed their down card 20% of the time you could massively deviate from basic strategy to crush even more.

Poker has its own version of basic strategy, and it starts with preflop charts. These charts tell you which hands to play (and how to play them) based on your position at the table. Unlike blackjack, where basic strategy still leaves you at a slight disadvantage, mastering poker’s basic strategy can turn a losing player into a break-even or even slightly winning player—fast.

Why Preflop Charts Matter
Preflop charts are like your poker GPS. They guide you on:
- Which hands to open (e.g., raising from under the gun vs. the cutoff).
- When to fold, call, or raise based on your position and the action before you.

By sticking to these charts, you avoid making costly mistakes early in the hand. For example, you’ll know not to play a weak hand from early position or to raise aggressively with strong hands in late position. This alone can transform your game from losing to break-even or better.

Now let’s put all of this into perspective and build a plan around it. I’ll use another analogy, cooking, to help us develop this plan.

Poker Basics: Build Your Game Like a Pro (Even If You’re Just Starting Out)

Alright, let’s simplify poker strategy so you can *actually* remember it and use it. Imagine you’re learning to cook: you need to master the recipe first before you start improvising. Poker’s the same way. Here’s your step-by-step guide:

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Step 1: Learn the “Recipe” (Preflop Charts)**
In poker, **preflop charts** are your recipe book. They tell you:
- What hands to play (e.g., “Should I raise Ace-King from early position?”).
- How to play them (fold, call, raise).

Why this works:
Most losing players hemorrhage money by playing too many weak hands. Preflop charts fix that. Memorize them, and you’ll instantly:
✅ Stop bleeding chips with junk hands.
✅ Make fewer “What was I thinking?!” mistakes.

Start with **tight ranges** (play fewer hands) until you’re comfortable. Think of it like training wheels—they keep you safe while you learn. What range you should play f