The History of Texas Hold'em Poker

Originally from Texas, Texas Hold'em Poker is only one of hundreds of variations of poker, yet it has become one of the best-known casino games today. Some say Poker came from Persia, where it resembles a game from the 1500's called As Nas. From Persia it migrated west to France, and from there to New Orleans in the New World. However, Poker as we know it today is undoubtedly a Texas game, and Texas Hold'em could have originated nowhere else.

Texas Hold'em Poker Tournaments

More recently, Texas Hold'em Poker was popularised by televised poker tournaments (the World Series of Poker), and featured recently in the movie Casino Royale, where it replaced Baccarat as the game played by James Bond. Texas Hold'em is arguably the most popular casino Poker game played today.

Although Texas Hold'em Poker has been played in Texas for over a century, it was only recently introduced into casinos. In 1967 it became one of the many casino games offered at the famous Golden Nugget Casino, and was considered unique primarily for the fact that there is no betting limit in the traditional game. In 1970 the first Texas Hold'em Poker Tournament was held in the Horseshoe Hotel Casino. In 1983, The Biggest Game in Town by Al Alvarez, popularised The World Series of Poker and brought Texas Hold'em Poker to the masses.

The Internet and Texas Hold'em Poker

In a world where stud and draw games have dominated Poker tables, the popularity of Texas Hold'em Poker is primarily due to the televised tournament games and the advent of online casinos. Online games, like internet Three Card Poker, are played by millions of people world-wide. Texas Hold'em Poker is easy to learn and fun to play, and can be played with a small or large group of people. Even a small winning pot in Texas Hold'em is worth something, since the game is played with an ante, a small blind bet, and a big blind bet (the latter two are bets made by the players left to the dealer, before they see their cards). Because No-Limit Hold'em has no raise limit, the pots often reach into the hundreds of thousands in real money and property.

Internet Texas Hold'em Poker can also be played as a tournament game, and is most recently available on cellular phones as part of the new mobile casino craze.

Playing Texas Hold'em Poker

In addition to the Big Blind and Small Blind bets, Texas Hold'em is different from Stud and Draw Poker in that it is a community card game. Each player gets two cards of his own, but has to make his hand using the cards face-up in the middle of the table, which everyone else can use as well. There are many betting rounds in Texas Hold'em - before the "flop" (three face-up cards which no-one uses), after the flop, and after each of the five community cards is dealt. The idea is to make the best 5-card hand of the two you are dealt face-down and the five community cards.

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