Shawn Bradley 
Perhaps you always enjoyed a game of poker with your mates when you were younger and are planning a reunion with your old college friends for a poker night?
Alternatively, maybe you have been invited to a casino or other late-night event and are looking for tips on how to hold your own.
Regardless of your motivations, continue reading for a brief history of Texas Hold ‘Em poker and some game hints and tips.
The Origins of the Game
Although it can be tricky to pin down where, when, and who played any card game for the first time, most researchers and experts agree that Texas Hold ‘Em poker began in Robstown, Texas, at some point in the 1910s.
The game was almost exclusively played in one state only for decades afterward, with Texas Hold ‘Em only rising to prominence when it was included in a tournament at the Dune Casino, Las Vegas, further down the line in the late 1960s.
Texas Hold ‘Em Poker: Your Odds
Poker is a game of odds (or probabilities) and, as such, learning the following list of each outcome in Texas Hold ‘Em against their odds will help improve your gameplay (based on a table of ten players):
- 1 in 100 – The chance that nobody has a king or an ace
- 1 in 100 – The chance that two suited cards will be a flush
- 1 in 20 – The chance that five community cards will become a flush
- 1 in 20 – The chance you will be handed a pocket pair
- 1 in 12 – The chance of a trip flop with a pocket pair
- 1 in 8 – The chance of two cards in a suited pocket pair
- 1 in 3 – The chance of a full house or better
- 1 in 3 – The chance of a flush (or a river)
Should you be interested in learning more about poker and the different styles of gameplay, consider playing real money online pokies and video poker games on the official website of a reputable online casino.
Why Is Hold ‘Em So Popular?
If you are invited around to a friend’s house for a game of poker, the ‘odds’ are high that the game you will be playing will be Texas Hold ‘Em, and most casinos report that this style of poker is by far the most popular amongst their players.
Like many other popular culture activities, Hold‘Em is the most publicized form of poker play, featuring everything from the James Bond movie ‘Casino Royale’ to being used as the official set of rules for the World Poker Championship and World Series of Poker events.
Furthermore, even though all styles form under the umbrella category of ‘poker,’ Texas Hold ‘Em is certainly one of the simpler games to learn and understand, and it is, therefore no surprise that the game is often referred to as the ‘king of poker’ and the ‘most popular card game’ in the world.
