Archive for January, 2008
What is Texas Hold’em: Texas hold ‘em (or simply hold ‘em or holdem) is the most popular of the community card poker games. It is the most popular poker variant played in casinos in the western United States, and its no-limit form is used in the main event of the World Series of Poker (abbreviated WSOP), widely recognized as the world championship of the game.
How Texas Hold’em poker came to be is a popular debate topic among history-mongers and poker players. Some believe that the history of Texas Hold’em poker began in China in 900 A.D.
According to findings in history, Texas Hold’em poker had its earliest roots from the “domino card” game that was a popular pastime of Emperor Mu-tsung. The emperor has been reported to have played the game wit his wife on New Year’s Eve, 969 A.D. The date is believed as some as the birth date of the history of Texas Hold’em poker.
But history was changed when archaeologists found fragments of cards that are reminiscent of the cards used in Texas Hold’em poker. These relics from 12th or 13th century Egypt made a great impact on the history of the game. This important discovery on the history of Texas Hold’em poker led them to believe that modern cards used in Texas Hold’em poker originated from the Indian card game, Ganjifa.
A Persian game called “as nas” is also believed to be a precursor of the modern Texas Hold’em poker game, according to history. As Nas is also a bluffing game of five cards. But the deck used in As Nas is composed of 25 cards of 5 suits each, unlike the deck used in Texas Hold’em poker where there are 52 5-suited cards. Even so, many people believe that Texas Hold’em poker could trace back its history to the ancient game of As Nas.
According to history, Persian sailors were said to have taught the game to the Germans during the 16th or 17th century, who called in “Pochen” and passed it on to the French. At this point in history, the game came to be known as “Poque” and employed the modern Texas Hold’em poker technique of bluffing.
The French brought this earlier version of Texas Hold’em poker to their settlements in New Orleans. From there, the history of Texas Hold’em poker traveled up the Mississippi and Ohio rivers. It was this point in time that the history of Texas Hold’em poker began to show consistency. Word of the game spread over the whole of United States through wagon trails, and later on, through rail tracks.
When the Civil War that changed the annals of American history occurred, Texas Hold’em poker experienced another drastic change. It was here that Texas Hold’em poker began to adopt the traditional English version deck of cards. The Texas Hold’em poker deck is composed of 52 cards with 5 suits – diamonds, hearts, clubs, and spades. The “joker”, the Texas Hold’em poker wild card, was also introduced in 1875.
Know your limit and play within it…
Texas Hold’em is a very trendy game today. Almost every time you turn on the television, it seems that someone is playing poker.
To play Texas Hold’em poker, you either need a group of friends willing to play, a local establishment (such as a bar or tavern) that offers poker tables, or you can play Texas Hold’em online. Playing the game in person differs quite a bit from playing online. If you have never had a chance to play Texas Hold’em poker before, you may want to practice online before you play in a face-to-face game. When you play Texas Hold’em poker online, the system will tell you how much you can bet or if you make an incorrect bet. While a dealer at a casino or your friends may offer you advice, it will help to know what you are doing before you sit down at the table.
If you decide to host a poker night at your house, you will need certain equipment to play Texas Hold’em poker. You will need enough tables and chairs (for anywhere from six to ten people). You will also need chips. As the host, you may want to serve refreshments, but people may want to bring their own beverages.
If you do not have friends that play Texas Hold’em poker and you do not live near a casino, you can always find an online poker game. Sometimes this is easier to do than to organize a game at home because you can play at any time of any day and you do not have to worry about having all the equipment to play.