Texas hold 'em
A poker variant with community cards and four betting rounds.
Texas hold 'em (also known as Texas holdem, hold 'em, and holdem) is a popular variant of the card game of poker. Two cards, known as hole cards, are dealt face down to each player, and then five community cards are dealt face up in three stages. The game is divided into a series of hands; at the conclusion of each hand, the pot is typically awarded to one player, though a split pot can occur in the case of a tie.
- Game Type
- Poker variant
- Origin
- Robstown, Texas, early 20th century
- Key Early Players
- Crandell Addington, Doyle Brunson, Amarillo Slim
Lore & Background
Although little is known about the invention of Texas hold 'em, the Texas Legislature officially recognizes Robstown, Texas, as the game's birthplace, dating it to the early 20th century. The game became popular and quickly spread to the Golden Nugget, Stardust and Dunes. This is when 'ace high' was changed from the original form in which aces were low. 'They didn't call it Texas hold 'em at the time, they just called it hold 'em.… I thought then that if it were to catch on, it would become the game. Draw poker, you bet only twice; hold 'em, you bet four times. That meant you could play strategically. This was more of a thinking man's game.'
Reader's Guide
Texas hold 'em's significance lies in its transformation from a regional Texas pastime into the dominant form of poker worldwide. The no-limit betting form is used in the widely televised main event of the World Series of Poker and the World Poker Tour. The game's simplicity and strategic depth have inspired a wide variety of strategy books, most recommending playing relatively few hands but betting and raising often with the hands one plays. Texas hold 'em is also the H game featured in HORSE and HOSE.
Did You Know?
- The Texas Legislature officially recognizes Robstown, Texas, as the game's birthplace, dating it to the early 20th century.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Texas hold 'em?
Texas hold 'em is a poker variant in which each player receives two private hole cards and then competes using five shared community cards revealed in three stages across four betting rounds. It is one of the most widely played forms of poker worldwide.
How does a typical hand of Texas hold 'em unfold?
Each player is dealt two face-down hole cards, followed by five community cards dealt face up in three stages (flop, turn, river) with a betting round after each stage. At the end, the best five-card hand wins the pot, though ties result in a split.
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