I'm not sure what you mean by "foundation". If you mean that you need to understand how to play a wide range of situations, based on how you get to them in the first place preflop, then yes I would agree. But I didnt comment on this.
Where I am absolutely sure I am right, and I dont use that phrase lightly, is that any grouping or ranking or value based system would have only beginners value as opposed to limit holdem where some players clearly make money just by playing better preflop - at least online.
Let me give an example. Most good players in the 15-30 ring limit games on Party have a VIP of between 17-22. There is almost no deviation from this. A guy playing 40% of his hands, by definition, MUST be a losing player.
Yet I have seen comparable examples in PLO the live long day. And both were winners.
gl
Dave
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