Where Did Texas Hold Em Originate
Texas Holdem, No Limit Holdem, Hold em, Pot Limit Holdem, its been around for ages right? WRONG! Though truly an awesome game of skill, Texas Holdem Poker is relatively new on the poker scene. Its exact date and origin is still being debated, but it almost assuredly did start in Texas, so the name Texas Holdem is an apt one.
Eventually around 1982, the game was found in casinos in Las Vegas and it became a hit and one of the most popular poker games in recent history. Even today, Omaha is one of the top games besides Texas Holdem and it is still growing in popularity, especially pot-limit Omaha. Its exact date and origin is still being debated, but it almost assuredly did start in Texas, so the name Texas Holdem is an apt one. The Texas State Legislature officially recognizes Robstown, Texas as the birthplace of Holdem. Doyle Brunson has said that its original name was Texas holdem seven-card stud, and can be dated to at least 1920.
The Texas State Legislature officially recognizes Robstown, Texas as the birthplace of Holdem. Doyle Brunson has said that its original name was Texas holdem seven-card stud, and can be dated to at least 1920. Texas Holdem mostly remained a Texas phenomenon for many years. In the late 60’s a group of Texas gamblers brought holdem to Las Vegas, but few casinos offered it as a table game. Continued under Texas Hold’ em poker site listings…
Holdem got its big break when Binions casino started up what would come to be known as the World Series of Poker, and in 1971 made the main event a game of no-limit Texas holdem. Interest in the game grew steadily, but slowly over the years. In the 80’s card rooms in California and Europe began offering the game.
Most of the innovations that make holdem popular today came about in the late 90’s to early this century. The use of the “lipstick camera” may be the single most important addition to the game. Started on the UK television show Late Night Poker in 1999, the lipstick camera made Texas holdem compelling as a television spectator sport. Just in time for Chris Moneymaker to qualify for the World Series of Poker online, and draw huge attention to the game, and to online poker in general. Soon everyone was logging on and trying to become the next Internet sensation, and tuning in to the TV to learn how the masters played the game.
Television greatly expanded Texas Holdem’s appeal around the world, and many new series and events were devised for their mass broadcast appeal. How to play books have been around since Doyle Brunson self-published his landmark book Doyle Brunson’s Super System, but now books to teach the game were everywhere. Forums were sprouting up on the internet to discuss poker and dissect play and players. Every online wagering group had to have a poker room or they seemed to be behind the times. Truly a Golden Age of Texas Holdem.
Online poker continues to grow and the game that is played is predominantly Texas Holdem. The top pro players are celebrities, and poker sites continue to sprout up. Of course, there is really only one Poker Forum players should log onto to learn the game, hear poker news, and try their skill against their peers.
How did Texas Hold'em Poker start?
If you play a lot of online poker atPokerStars or at another poker room with good action, or if you are interested in getting started, you may wonder about the origin of the popular game of Texas Holdem.
The origin of poker
Texas Hold'em Poker is the most popular version of poker, but it was not so in the past. Poker is a constantly evolvingcard game with hundreds of variations. Originally draw poker was how poker was played in America and remained the favorite poker variation for a long time.
But many years later as of today, draw poker is becoming obsolete as Texas Holdem has exploded online and in live settings,not in small part due to the influence of televised poker tournaments.
The true origin of poker is unknown, especially as one goes back far in time. The general assumption is thatthe Persian game named 'As Nas' is the ancestor of the game of poker, brought back to Europe by the Crusaders.
Later at the end of the XVth century, a few card games played in Europe have similarities with poker such as Brelan played in France and Brag played in England, which both include the notion of bluffing.
Another similar card game played in Germany is credited as the source of the name poker itself: this game was called Pochen or Pochspiel. The English meaning of the word pochen would be to poke, literally to knock or to brag as in a bluff.
These distant ancestors led the way, but it is not until the early 19th Century in America that the game of pokeras we know it can be traced. The first known record of a game of poker actually played dates from 1829 in New Orleans. This game was played between four players who used only twenty cards and made bets to represent thestrength of their hands.
Card games were played on the Mississippi steamboats and it is not surprising to see the first account foundin Louisiana. From there the game spread west, all the way to the Far West where it became the favorite past timeof cowboys and gold diggers seeking entertainment after a hard day of work. The popular variations were draw poker and stud poker which appeared around 1860.
The rise of Texas Holdem
What distinguishes Texas Holdem from other poker variations and also from many games is that there arecommunity cards shared by all players. They were introduced in Texas in 1925, not surprisingly leading to the designation Texas Hold'em.
Texas Holdem remained in the Lone Star State for a long time and was not played in Las Vegas until 1967.Before then draw poker and stud poker were the norm in Nevada and California. It is the legendary TexanDoyle Brunson himself who introduced holdem in Vegas and the game rapidly caught on fire there.
Texas Holdem quickly became the favorite poker variation in Nevada. At the 1971 WSOP which was the first WSOP with a tournament contest (as the 1970 WSOP was decided by a vote), there were five tournament events. The fourpreliminary tournaments were Stud and Draw games, but the Main Event was from the beginning and remains to thisday a No-Limit Texas Hold'em event.
In the 'The Cincinnati Kid' filmed in 1965, Steve McQueen plays five-card-stud poker but this is the endof an era. Indeed 5-card stud is almost never played nowadays, as 7-card stud has replaced it.Anyway 33 years later, in 'Rounders' Matt Damon plays No-Limit Texas Hold'em, illustrating the change of the dominant form of poker between these two generations.
It took more time to reach the East Cast, as California resisted the Texas Holdem hegemony until1987 as its required to make a change to the law there.
Why did texas holdem overcome the other poker variations so easily?
There is more action in Holdem and more bluffing opportunities. It is all due to the community cards.Because each player can use any combination of the five board cards plus his two hole cards, this allowsnumerous permutations and creates higher chances to hit one or more big hands than at more standard draw or stud games.
Bad beats, drawing hands, bluffs on scary boards, forfeited hands, donk calls, and all the excitementthat comes with it,..., all this is due to the amazing effect of the community cards.
Where Did Texas Hold Em Originate
More recently the explosion of Texas Hold'em to mainstream entertainment is due to televised poker showsusing hole cameras to reveal the players' hole cards as they play live. Here again no other poker variation allowssuch a sneak peak at the players' cards instantaneously clarifying the situation as it unravels.
Texas Holdem and poker's popularity is also due to the Internet revolution which makes playing holdem from the comfort of your house a walk in the park. No need to drive your car to a distant casino.
Where Did Texas Hold'em Originate
The newest popular poker variation is Omaha holdem, which is a modified form of texas holdem with even more action.If you are interested in any of these poker variations, PokerStars is the online poker roomoffering the largest choice of poker games in all formats. Visit is now.