Sarang Ahuja knows poker.

Texas Hold ‘em is the most popular form of poker in the world.  While no one is exactly sure where Texas Hold ‘em originated it is said that it began in Robstown, Texas in the early 1900s.  With its unique style it took on a popularity right away and the game came to Dallas in 1925.  Sometime in the next few decades Texas Hold ‘em gained a following and it was introduced to Las Vegas through pioneers and Texans like Doyle Brunson, Crandell Addington, and Amarillo Slim.

Texas Hold ‘em really took flight when Benny Binion, the owner of the Horseshoe Hotel and Casino, used it as the main event in a tournament.  Binion wanted the game to be exciting yet short and he instituted rapid increases of antes and blinds to do so.  In 1972 the first World Series of Poker (WSOP) took place with 8 players.  Now there are over 800 players participating in the WSOP every year and broadcasting the event on television has helped Texas Hold ‘em get global recognition.

Texas Hold ‘em is a game that you can learn quickly but it takes a lot of time and practice to master.

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So how do you play Texas Hold ‘em?

  1. The game starts with ever changing blinds and antes.  The purpose is to get things moving and this action is called posting.
  2. The dealer then shuffles up the 52 card deck and each player is given two cards face down known as pocket cards.
  3. The betting now begins with the player to the left of the blinds.  This is known as preflop betting and it allows players to raise the bet, call the bet, or fold their cards and bow out from play for that round.
  4. After all of the preflop betting is finished the dealer then burns a card from the deck (to keep players from cheating) and then flips the next three cards face up on the table in an action known as the flop.  These cards start the process and are communal for all players to complete a five card hand with.
  5. Another round of betting commences.
  6. Once the betting is finished the dealer than burns another card and turns the following card face up in an action called the turn.
  7. Players can now make a five card hand from their two pocket cards and the four communal cards.  Another round of betting commences.
  8. The dealer then burns one more card and flips the following card face up to complete the communal cards. This is called the river.
  9. The players now can complete a five card hand with the best combination from the communal cards and their pocket cards and the final round of betting commences.
  10. Once all betting is complete the remaining players enter what is known as the showdown and they reveal their pocket cards.
  11. The player who makes the best combination has the best hand and wins.  In some cases players will have the same hand and in this instance they split the pot.

Texas Hold ‘em is easy to learn, tough to master, and fun to play.

The history of Texas Hold ‘em and instructions can be found at The World Casino Directory.