Texas Holdem – A History of the Game

When you hear the name Texas Holdem, you probably think of the big televised tournaments, like the World Series of Poker.  You aren’t alone.  Many people have gotten to know poker through their TV’s in recent years.  Where did poker actually come from, though?

The Origin of Poker:

Poker itself isn’t just Texas Holdem.  It’s a huge family of games.  It’s hard to say when it all started exactly.  It’s believed that the first US games of poker were played in 1830, though.  They took place in New Orleans amongst French settlers.

Where did the French settlers learn it?  Well, it’s believed that they could have learned it from Persian traders, since a similar game started in Persia back in the 16th century.  That game was called As Nas.

The Evolution of Holdem:

Regardless of where the French settlers learned it, versions of poker soon began to spread around the USA.  The most popular poker game presently is Texas Holdem, which came about in Texas in the early 1900’s.  It’s believed to have started in Robstown and then quickly spread to Dallas and other areas of the state by 1925 or so.

Holdem Hysteria:

Of course, Texas Holdem didn’t stop in Texas.  By 1970, it had spread as far as Las Vegas.  In fact, casino owner Benny Binion bought the rights to a small poker tournament in 1970 and turned it into the World Series of Poker.

Of course, these days, almost everyone has heard of the WSOP.  It started back in 1970 at Binion’s Horseshoe Casino, but it’s still held yearly today.  The differences are that now it’s comprised of several events, including Texas Holdem, Stud and Draw games, among others.  Also, it’s now shown on TV each year.  So, Holdem hysteria has really taken hold.  In fact, the original WSOP only had a few players.  Now there are hundreds of people who play the WSOP tournaments each year.

Binion’s Brainchild:

One of the many contributions that Binion made to the game was an idea he had for tournament structure.  He implemented a system of blinds and antes (forced bets) and increasing levels.  That makes it possible to play a large tournament within a fairly reasonable amount of time, since players will eventually be all in.  It was Binion’s way of ensuring that the game was exciting and fast paced.

The Online Movement:

Modern technology has done a lot for the advancement of poker, and I don’t just mean television coverage.  The Internet has caused a huge increase in the number of poker players.  Why?  Well, playing online makes it easy to learn various poker games, for one thing.

The bigger thing drawing people to online poker, though, is the convenience.  You can find any game you want any time you want at any stakes level you want.  You don’t have to drive to a casino and hope they’re running a game you like.  With that convenience, on top of everything else, it’s no wonder that Texas Holdem is so popular.

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