{"id":4750,"date":"2022-03-04T11:09:23","date_gmt":"2022-03-04T11:09:23","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.top10pokersites.net\/?p=4750"},"modified":"2022-03-04T11:11:24","modified_gmt":"2022-03-04T11:11:24","slug":"rise-of-texas-holdem","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.top10pokersites.net\/blog\/rise-of-texas-holdem","title":{"rendered":"Rise of Texas Hold\u2019em"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"TexasThe movies and media make us think of Texas Hold\u2019em<\/strong> as being played in a smoke-filled back room with dimmed lights and a sketchy backstory. <\/p>\n

The reality is much different. Texas Hold\u2019em is the most popular poker variant<\/a> played by millions of people worldwide \u2014 amateurs and professionals participating in the biggest tournaments.<\/p>\n

How did this poker game become more popular than other variants that have been there much longer? To find the correct answer, we need to go back in time, all the way to the game\u2019s humble beginnings. Let\u2019s get started.<\/p>\n

Story Behind the Name<\/h2>\n

Even if you\u2019ve never played Texas Hold\u2019em, you can guess where the name comes from as it\u2019s pretty self-explanatory. Although it\u2019s still unclear where the game emerged, all roads lead back to Texas<\/a> and a small town called Robstown.<\/p>\n

If you read the Texas Legislature<\/a>, you\u2019ll notice that the state officially recognizes Robstown as Texas Hold\u2019em birthplace, dating back to the early 1900s.<\/p>\n

Now that we\u2019ve cleared up the \u201cTexas<\/em>\u201d part, we should explain what \u201cHold\u2019em<\/em>\u201d refers to. Unlike in other game variants, like Five Card Draw<\/em>, in Texas Hold\u2019em, you can\u2019t throw away any cards or draw new ones throughout the hand. You must hold the cards you\u2019re initially dealt until the showdown or fold.<\/p>\n

Texas Hold\u2019em History and Origins<\/h2>\n

T. \"Blondie\" ForbesTexas Hold\u2019em origin story is a bit murky, as little is known about the game\u2019s invention. Although there is still a lot of dispute about who created Texas Hold\u2019em, a Texas road gambler called T. \u201cBlondie<\/em>\u201d Forbes<\/strong> (pictured<\/em>) is now widely believed to have invented the game in its current form during the 1920s. Eventually, Forbes was inducted into the Poker Hall of Fame in 1980.<\/p>\n

In 1963, Texas Hold\u2019em came to Las Vegas, thanks to Corky McCorquodale<\/strong>, who brought it to California Club. Afterward, the Golden Nugget Casino mainly hosted the game.<\/p>\n

In 1967, a group of Texas Road gamblers, Amarillo Slim, Doyle Brunson<\/a> and Crandell Addington<\/strong>, went to Las Vegas and played Texas Hold\u2019em for the first time. Addington was the one that described Hold\u2019em as \u201cthe thinking man\u2019s game<\/em>\u201d, mainly because it allowed players to use different strategies to increase the odds of winning.<\/p>\n

The game remained relatively unknown until 1969, when The Dune Casino organized the first Texas Hold\u2019em tournament. Thanks to the casino\u2019s prominent location on the Strip, the event drew much attention and proved financially rewarding, especially for high rollers. After this event, Texas Hold\u2019em\u2019s popularity and recognition grew exponentially.<\/p>\n

In 1970, Benny and Jack Binion<\/strong>, father and son, bought the Gambling Fraternity Convention rights, changed the name to World Series of Poker<\/strong>, and decided to host it at the casino they operated, Binion\u2019s Horseshoe.<\/p>\n

Since 1971, No-Limit Texas Hold\u2019em has been the game played at the WSOP Main Event. Despite the humble beginnings and a small number of entrants, the game steadily grew in popularity, turning WSOP into the biggest poker tournament in the world<\/a>.<\/p>\n