really, playing well short hand isn't anything that 1 good coach can teach you over a chat session... there is too much to learn. search these forums.
i do believe that good starting hands as you mentioned go a long way at the lower levels. not just what hands... but when to play them vs. blind steals, what table conditions prefer callilng to raising, and many many other things.
i'm using the chart below, which takes a flexible approach to preflop play:
http://www.mrfixitonline.com/readPos...tingId=1680161