'Poker' - Made in China - A History Lesson

Poker has been molded and shaped over many centuries into the current game that we know today. Who would have realised that poker would be played across nations on TV, in online poker tournaments or that high profile players would be watched competing by thousands over the globe?

Poker is the most popular card game of the 21st century. With the advent of Texas Hold'em featured as the title game in the World Series of Poker in the 1970's the game spread over the dining room tables of the world like wild fire. This version of Poker is now the most frequently played and one of the most, if not the most popular game.

Some people believe that the first etchings of early poker were scratched out amongst the nobility of ancient China when the Emperor at the time played a game known as "domino cards" with his wife on Chinese New Years Eve. This would have been some time around 969 AD.

In the 12th and 13th centuries Egyptians are recorded as using an ancient form of playing cards and in the 14th century Persians invented a detailed set of 96 cards that were fashioned from delicate slices of ivory or expensive wood. It was here that the game of "As Nas" was invented, involving betting and hierarchical hand rankings using 25 of the 96 cards.

However it was in the 17th and 18th centuries in France and Germany where the game most similar to the poker we know today was played. This version of the game was known as "Poque" in France and "Pochen" in Germany and a derivative of a 16th century Spanish game known as "Primero". This new game involved dealing three cards to each individual player and bluffing when holding poor cards in order to fool opponents.

It was the French who eventually brought poker to America when French colonialists started to arrive in Canada. At this time poque was the national card game of France, by the 18th century after the founding of New Orleans the game spread up the whole country via the Mississippi river where it became known on the Riverboats as "The Cheating Game."

It is thought that the cheating game became so popular because the other fashionable cardsharp game of the time, 3-card monte, was notoriously rigged and untrustworthy. Poker was a more challenging and honest gamble and so it quickly became the favourite.

Both women and men played poker on the river boats yet when the game spread to the Wild West of America it was predominantly seen as a man's game. Every saloon housed a poker table and during the civil war both sides of soldiers enjoyed playing the game.

In 1875 the card known as the Joker was finally introduced as a wild card resulting in the Americanised game we know and love today.

There are now many different variations of poker, all influenced by the game originally created in simple form on the Mississippi banks and riverboats.

Sarah Maple writes about free online poker and online poker tournaments. Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Sarah_Maple

What Beats What in Poker - A Quick Guide

What Beats What In Poker

Do you want a quick guide as to what beats what in poker? I hope this guide can help.

Poker is such a fun game. There are so many elements that make up the game of poker. Bluffing, betting, heavy strategy...these are the reasons that poker has exploded in popularity recently. But I often find new players asking the rank of hands when we sit down to play. So that's why I wrote this article. , ranking hands in order from best to worst.

Royal Flush

This hand is a straight from a ten up to an ace with all five cards consisting of the same suit.

Straight Flush

Any straight, even below ten, and all five cards must be of the same suit.

Four of a Kind

This hand contains any four cards of the same rank. When two players have the same Four of a Kind, the fifth card in their hand will decide who wins, with the bigger card being the better.

Full House

Any three cards consisting of the same rank together with any two cards of the same rank together.

Flush

This hand has any five cards of the same suit which are not consecutive. The highest card in the hand of the five makes out the rank of the flush.

Straight

Any five consecutive cards of different suits, meaning the suits don't matter. The ace can count as either a high or a low card in this hand.

Three of a Kind

This is any three cards that are of the same rank.

Two Pair

This consists of two cards of the same rank together along with another two cards of the same rank.

One Pair

Any two cards of the same rank.

High Card

If none of the previous hands exists, then the player holding the highest card wins.

If you want to know the best way to play poker, then check out Hot Poker Tips now!

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World Poker Tournament-Learn How to Win a Free Entry!

World Poker Tournament features the best poker players in the world playing a series of international poker tournaments. It is the tournament every poker player wants to play in.

The most prestigious and biggest world poker tournament is the World Series of Poker. It assembles every year all the great poker players worldwide and play against each other. Afterwards, the best among the rest will stand out and will gain the prestige of being a champion and will have the chance to take home millions of dollars.

The World Series of Poker is being held in Las Vegas annually. It was originally started by Tom Moore at the Holiday Hotel and Casino in 1968. What makes this world poker tournament very popular are the prizes involved as well as the players who attend it. Some of the high profile poker players who engage in WSOP are Phil Hellmuth and Johnny Chan. Its main event is the Texas Hold'em tournament which has a buy-in no limit of $10 000. The winners of the main event receive the largest cash prize in world poker tournament and a diamond and platinum bracelet which certify that the players are truly the best poker players worldwide.

There some tips to consider in winning a world poker tournament. First is to lay odds on the pre-flop raises. In world poker tournament, antes are being introduced along with the blinds after the fourth level. It is advisable also to get away with higher raise when making a hand to raise. Lower raise means lower risks.

Second, the player should take good care of his or her stack of chips before anything else. Protecting the chips is the very first thing to put into mind when the player is involved in a pot. In this way, the player can have the chance to protect the hands while not losing the pot. Remember being cautious is very important in playing poker games. Also put into mind that if the opponent bets for a river card, the player should call and just hope that the third king isn't in hand.

Third, get away with situations like coin flip. Avoid playing large pots in a situation wherein the chance of winning is only 50-50. One example for this is acquiring a middle pair versus two higher cards. If the player is in this situation, the best thing to do is to avoid raising again before the flops.

Lastly, be aware of the stacks of chips and never ever give up. This is because players tend to play aggressively and desperately with short stacks. This playing move is very premature. It is more important to put the player's attention to the stacks of chips rather than to the antes and blinds. And when the player decided to play a hand, the player should push it all in already. It is always alright to waste only one full round before taking the pot a great shot.

The aforementioned tips are some of the techniques of the best poker players playing in a world poker tournament. Keeping these techniques in mind will lead to success in any poker tournament.

Sean Moranse is a pro online poker player. He has won numerous online tournaments with over 1000 players. He teaches his techniques and strategies to playing using World Poker Tournament strategies mixed in with the best poker strategy. Learn more at http://www.SitNGoGenius.com

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The Rules in Texas Holdem Tournaments

The rules in Texas Holdem tournaments are easy to follow. The first rule is that the dealer will rotate with each hand dealt. This is because the player to the left of the dealer gets to make the blinds. The blinds are a large and a small blind. The first person to make the bet will put in the small blind. This is the minimum bet. The next person puts in the large blind, this is the maximum bet. As the dealer continues to change, rotating clockwise, the blinds continue to change as well.

The dealer will, starting with the player on his left, deal each player two cards face down, one at a time. These are called the pocket cards. Five cards are then put face down in the center of the table. These are called the community cards.

The rules in a Texas Holdem tournament require the betting to commence when the first card in the center, called one of the flop cards, is turned over. With each of the flop cards, the betting continues. The first three cards in the center that are overturned are considered the flop.

The third round of betting commences when the turn card is overturned. This is the fourth card in the community cards. By this time, in most tournaments, some of the players in the game have folded. In Texas Holdem poker, when you fold, this means that you are out for that hand, not out of the tournament. Many players will fold after the flop.

After the turn, the river, which is the fifth card in the community cards, is overturned. Betting commences again. It always goes clockwise starting with the player to the left of the dealer. One of the main rules of Texas Holdem tournaments is that you bet in turn. Even if you are going to fold, you have to wait until it is your turn to do so. To fold prematurely would give other players an advantage.

You never turn your cards over and allow others to see what is in your hand when you fold. Again, this gives other players an edge and can be considered a form of cheating. This type of behavior can end up getting you tossed out of the poker tournament.

The Texas Holdem poker tournament rules state that the game continues until there is one player left. The final player is considered the winner of the tournament. Each tournament has a different cash prize so how much the player wins depends upon the tournament. When playing in a Texas Holdem tournament, you have to follow the rules or you risk being asked to leave the tournament. The objective is to stay in the tournament until you at least win money. In some tournaments, the final five players all win some cash.

D.R. Tupniak
http://www.lovetexasholdem.com
For more information, articles, and resources on texas holdem, visit Love Texas Holdem

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The Worst Hand in Texas Hold-Em Poker - It Isn't What You Think

If you want to win at Texas Holdem Poker, you should know what the worst hand and the most dangerous hand in poker is, and they aren't necessarily the same hand. Ask any Texas Holdem Poker player what the worst hand is, the worst two hole cards, and he or she will invariably say, the 2-7 unsuited (U). There is no denying that the 2-7 (U) is the hardest hand to build a winner with, but that doesn't necessarily make it the worse or better still, the most dangerous hand, in fact, the 2-7 (U) is one of the best hands you can draw.

Puzzled about that statement? Here is why those two hole cards aren't so bad. When was the last time you lost on a 2-7 unsuited? Starting to understand now? The worst hand in Texas Holdem Poker is the hand you seriously underestimate. Opening with a weak hand and playing it wrong is bad enough, but sticking with it when you should have folded is even worse.

More players have gone bust with a pair of pocket rockets (AA) more times than with a 2-7 U. How well do you know the expectations for each pair based on the players at the table or in the pot? For instance, you're sitting on a big slick, suited (S), before the flop, there are six players at the table, what are the odds that there is one other player with an ace in the hole?

Believe it or not, many players can't answer that very quickly, but almost everyone knows what the worst hand is. I won't deny that poker is a betting and bluffing game, but you still need to know the odds and expectations, the probabilities, otherwise you are playing in the dark. Not knowing how to play any hand makes it the most dangerous hand you can draw. For more on poker odds and percentages, go to Poker Odds and Percentages.

Bill Peterson has been a professional horse player and card player for years. His innovative techniques were developed by thinking outside the box. In his own words, the result of "A life well wasted." Bill has been teaching the basics of gambling for years and you can read about Bill's Power Point Poker at http://www.powerpointpoker.com To see all of Bill's horseracing handicapping methods at http://williewins.homestead.com , The Handicapping Store.

"No one can make you a winner but learning the basics and a few little known secrets and techniques can advance you closer to your dream of making a profit at your favorite game. Use my methods and customize them to suit your own style and you will be ahead of 99% of the crowd."

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Texas Holdem Poker Tournament Strategy - Starting Hands

Welcome to the fifth in my Texas Holdem Poker Strategy Series, focusing on no limit Texas Holdem poker tournament play and associated strategies. In this article, we’ll examine starting hand decisions.

It may seem obvious, but deciding which starting hands to play, and which ones to skip playing, is one of the most important Texas Holdem poker decisions you'll make. Deciding which starting hands to play begins by accounting for several factors:

* Starting Hand "groups" (Sklansky made some good suggestions in his classic "Theory of Poker" book by David Sklansky)

* Your table position

* Number of players at the table

* Chip position

Sklansky originally proposed some Texas Holdem poker starting hand groups, which turned out to be very useful as general guidelines. Below you'll find a "modified" (enhanced) version of the Sklansky starting hands table. I adapted the original Sklansky tables, which were "too tight" and rigid for my liking, into a more playable approach that are used in the Poker Sidekick poker odds calculator. Here's the key to these starting hands:

Groups 1 to 8: These are essentially the same scale as Sklansky originally proposed, although some hands have been shifted around to improve playability and there is no group 9.

Group 30: These are now "questionable" hands, hands that should be played rarely, but can be reasonably played occasionally in order to mix things up and keep your opponents off balance. Loose players will play these a bit more often, tight players will rarely play them, experienced players will open with them only occasionally and randomly.

The table below is the exact set of starting hands that Poker Sidekick uses when it calculates starting poker hands. If you use Poker Sidekick, it will tell you which group each starting hand is in (if you can't remember them), along with estimating the "relative strength" of each starting hand. You can just print this article and use it as a starting hand reference.

Group 1: AA, KK, AKs

Group 2: QQ, JJ, AK, AQs, AJs, KQs

Group 3: TT, AQ, ATs, KJs, QJs, JTs

Group 4: 99, 88, AJ, AT, KQ, KTs, QTs, J9s, T9s, 98s

Group 5: 77, 66, A9s, A5s-A2s, K9s, KJ, KT, QJ, QT, Q9s, JT, QJ, T8s, 97s, 87s, 76s, 65s

Group 6: 55, 44, 33, 22, K9, J9, 86s

Group 7: T9, 98, 85s

Group 8: Q9, J8, T8, 87, 76, 65

Group 30: A9s-A6s, A8-A2, K8-K2, K8-K2s, J8s, J7s, T7, 96s, 75s, 74s, 64s, 54s, 53s, 43s, 42s, 32s, 32

All other hands not shown (virtually unplayable).

So, those are the enhanced Sklasky Texas Holdem poker starting hand tables.

The later your position at the table (dealer is latest position, small blind is earliest), the more starting hands you should play. If you're on the dealer button, with a full table, play groups 1 thru 6. If you're in middle position, reduce play to groups 1 thru 3 (tight) and 4 (loose). In early position, reduce play to groups 1 (tight) or 1 thru 2 (loose). Of course, in the big blind, you get what you get.

As the number of players drops into the 5 to 7 range, I recommend tightening up overall and playing far fewer, premium hands from the better positions (groups 1 - 2). This is a great time to forget about chasing flush and straight draws, which puts you at risk and wastes chips.

As the number of players drops to 4, it's time to open up and play far more hands (groups 1 - 5), but carefully. At this stage, you're close to being in the money in a Texas Holdem poker tournament, so be extra careful. I'll often just protect my blinds, steal occasionally, and try to let the smaller stacks get blinded or knocked out (putting me into the money). If I'm one of the small stacks, well, then I'm forced to pick the best hand I can get and go all-in and hope to double-up.

When the play is down to 3, it's time to avoid engaging with big stacks and hang on to see if we can land 2nd place, heads-up. I tend to tighten up a bit here, playing very similar to when there's just 3 players (avoiding confrontation unless I'm holding a pair or an Ace or a King, if possible).

Once you're heads-up, well, that's a topic for a completely different article, but in general, it's time to become extraordinarily aggressive, raise a lot, and become "pushy".

In tournaments, it's always important to keep track of your chips stack size relative to the blinds and everyone else's stacks. If you're short on chips, then play far fewer hands (tigher), and when you do get a good hand, extract as many chips as you can with it. If you're the big stack, well, you should avoid unnecessary confrontation, but use your big stack position to push everyone around and steal blinds occasionally as well - without risking too many chips in the process (the other players will be trying to use you to double-up, so be careful).

Well, that's a quick overview of an improved set of starting hands and some general rules for adjusting starting hand play based upon game conditions throughout the tournament.

Until next time, best of luck to you at the Texas Holdem poker tables!

Rick

Rick Braddy is an avid writer, Texas Holdem player and professional software developer and marketer for over 25 years. His websites and Texas Holdem poker software helps people become better Texas Holdem players. If you're a poker player, be sure to visit his Texas Holdem poker poker today and learn how you can play better Texas Holdem poker, too.

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No Limit Texas Holdem Starting Hands

Today's most popular form of poker which has taken over online communities as well as off line is called Texas holdem poker, so if you want in on the poker scene then it's important to know how to play this popular variation of the game "holdem". Fortunately, part of the reason that this poker variation is so popular is because it is very easy to learn to play. But don't let this last premise fool you, though, you will still need to practice constantly in order to acquire the skill and experience to get really good at this fun game.

When it comes to Texas holdem, its "strategy" is often thought of as hard to learn. But when you have experienced poker players to learn tips and tricks from it becomes a lot easier. If you do not know any good texas holdem poker players then you can hit the web and get to a poker focused community start discussing! Many of the more advanced tips and lessons you see online today for Texas holdem have been written by semi professional or even professional poker players from around the globe. It is important for a player to remember that this poker variation and in fact all variations of poker are a very calculated through mathematical theories. So through out the time you are participating in any poker related game you will need to know basic strategies that are going to help you make the most money by improving your odds without thinking too much about it.

Limit hold 'em vs No limit holdem

There are two big variations on Texas poker, limit and no limit holdem. In limit hold 'em, there are set amounts that a player can raise at any one time when it comes to betting, the rules which regulate the betting rounds change as well which can take place during each round of play.

On the other hand, no limit holdem has no rules which caps or regulates the amount of bets. Wagers increase by any amount up to the point when all players have either called the hand or folded. This is the variation of the game in which all-ins are frequent, and where skill comes to the forefront, this particular variation of the game is very popular and it's often seen in TV shows such as the "World Poker Tour" It's also very important to be patient in this type of Poker game; it is often seen that a lot of "newbies" are very fond of going all-in all the time, and if you're playing online with fun money this can be a real pain in the neck. It is recommend that while playing no limit holdem you approach and enter tables where once the table has been set, no one else is allowed in.

OnlinePokerCult.com offers more information and great Texas holdem starting hands examples which can help you improve your winning odds. Visit us at http://onlinepokercult.com

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Understanding Texas Holdem Poker

Texas Holdem is actually quite easy to learn. This is perhaps why the game is becoming quite the rage in card rooms all over the world whether online or offline. In the Texas Holdem poker, the dealer gives two faced-down cards, which is called the hole cards or the pocket cards in poker lingo. After which, the players are dealt with 5 faced-up cards, which is called community cards. At the final round of betting, players must make the best hand out of the seven cards that they are dealt with, the two cards given faced down and the five cards given faced-up.

The process

For the first round of betting, two faced-down cards are given. Three are then supplied facing up at the middle of the table. These cards can be used by other players to make their hands strong. This is known as the flop. A round of betting is done after this. The fourth card is dealt with faced down and betting is again opened. This is called the fourth street or the turn card. The fifth and final card is dealt again at the center of the table and the last round of betting will then occur. This final card is called the river card. Players have the option to bet, to check, to raise or to fold.

Players that are in immediate left of the dealer are called the small blind (referring to the nearest) and the big blind (referring to the farthest positions). Players that want to enter the hand should call the big blind so that they can stay in the game. Otherwise they will have to fold.
As mentioned before, players who have the best hand will win the pot. The best hand combinations will of course depend on the standard poker hands. In case of ties, which often happens with this variant of poker, players will split the pot money.

Types of Betting

There are three types of betting in Texas Holdem Poker. In the Limit Holdem betting structure, the amount that a player will bet or raise will be limited to amounts that are already specified at the start of the game. Small blind and big blinds will have specific amounts that they can bet on the first two rounds of betting. On the third and succeeding betting rounds, the bets will be raised in specified increments, for instance, two-dollar increments. After turn and river betting will of course be more expensive.

Spread limit Holdem Poker, on the other hand, is much the same as Limit Holdem except for one thing, the raising of bets will not be according to a specified amount but instead according to a certain range or “spread,” the term used in poker games.

Another kind of betting structure is the Pot Limit Holdem, which limits the player’s maximum bet. In this structure, a player’s bet cannot exceed the total amount accumulated in the pot.

In the no limit holdem betting structure, there is no limit on the amounts that players can bet or raise. This can be difficult for players who also depend on the size of the betting to guess the strength of the hand of their opponents. Because there are no limits and no ranges, they have no way of knowing if the player is confident with his hand or just a plain big casino spender.

Claire Bowes is a successful Webmaster and publisher of My Poker Tips. Claire provides more information on her site about Texas Holdem Poker that you can research at home.

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Texas Hold Em Poker is Nothing But Luck

Did the title make you mad? If you have been playing
texas holdem for awhile, I'm sure it did. If you're
new to the game, you might have read the title and
think I'm about to tell you why texas holdem is all
luck, all the time. Sorry, no way.

Texas Holdem is a game of skill. This may be hard to believe
from the games you might play with your friends, but that
doesn't make it any less true. Sure, luck plays a role but
doesn't luck play a role in almost anything, not just texas
holdem?

Let's look at some of the decisions that need to be made
when playing a hand of texas holdem.

You have to determine which hands you are going to play,
and in what situations, including the size of your stack
and whether you're in early or late position, what the
bets were before you, etc. There's a lot to think about
in Texas Holdem before you even decide to get into a hand.
I didn't even mention that the style of the players at the
table (and the number of players for that matter) will play
a role in whether or not you play a hand.

Then, once you're in a hand, there's bluffing. Can you make
the other players at the poker table believe you have the
best hand, even when all you have is a 34 off suit with
a rainbow flop 6 10 K 8 A? Some players can do this more
often and more effectively than others, raking in pots they
just don't have the cards to win. Why? Because bluffing at
Texas Holdem is a skill.

While bluffing is a skill, so is reading, which is basically
the opposite of bluffing. Can you tell, by what your opponent's
actions are at the table, whether or not they really have a solid
texas holdem hand that can take the pot? Can you spot their "tell"
that lets you know whether they have those pocket ace's or nothing
at all?

I could go on and on. The variables in texas holdem that will affect
how you play each hand are just about endless. With a game like
roulette, you pick your number and color and hope for the best.
You can't affect the outcome in any way, unless you cheat. As you
can see from just the few examples above, this just isn't true in
texas holdem. So if you love the game and want to get better and
start winning some games, it is possible. You can become a better
texas holdem poker player.

Learn the secret underground money making tips on How to Play Texas Holdem Poker so you can quickly and easily ramp up your poker playing skills for more profits. Check out Freddie's poker site at http://www.winningtexasholdempokertips.com right now for lots of free info and a special report.

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Texas Holdem Pre-flop Tips – A 7 Step Guide to Winning The Big Pots!

You need to play carefully in Texas holdem pre-flop if you want to win get your pre-flop right and you can drop out when you have no chance of winning and stay in when you do.

Here are some Texas holdem pre-flop tips to help you win and win big!

Texas Holdem Pre-flop Tip 1 - Number of Players

Firstly, you need to consider the number of players at the table.

For example, with 10 players for example, there is a better chance of someone having a good hand, than in games with fewer players.

Players need to be more conservative and less aggressive larger games as more players mean the odds of you having the best hand decrease.

Texas Holdem pre-flop Tip 2 – Players Playing Style

Look at all the other players and how they are playing their hands. Adapt your strategy accordingly to take them on and beat them.

If you see a player is raising every hand pre-flop, you need to be playing tighter.

You can then remove them from the table when you have a good enough hand in the pocket pre-flop.

Texas Holdem pre-flop Tip 3 – Your Chips

If you only have a small number of chips play carefully and select one hand to bet on, hoping to get as many players involved as possible for a good size pot.

In reverse if you have a large amount of chips, you can afford to take the higher-risk higher payout bets and play in amore aggressive style as you have the bankroll to back you up.

Texas Holdem pre flop Tip 4 - Table Position

It’s a basic fact that players in late positions can influence

the size of the pot more than players in early position and you need to always keep this in mind.

This is critical in the pre-flop period.

If you are in early position you simply have limited idea of what other players have and this should dictate your play.

Players must be cautious when playing hands from early position.

Players in late position can play weaker hands with less fear of loss.

Texas Holdem pre flop Tip 5 – Know the Hands to play

Which hands are most likely to yield a win in pre-flop?

There is a lot of free material that will help you determine the odds, until they become second nature to you, so make use of them playing and calculating the odds in this period is critical.

Tip 6 – Waiting for the right play

Perhaps the most important pre-flop skill to learn is to be patient unemotional and play with discipline waiting for the right hand to play.

This means only playing when the odds are in your favor

You have to beat all the other players and on a table of 10 for example, the statistics will be that your hand is simply not good enough most of the time.

Everyone wants to play for big pots, but if you play too often you will end up a loser.

An advantage of being out of the pot, will mean you can study other players style from a detached point of view to give you valuable information on their playing style, to use against them later!

Texas Holdem pre-flop Tip 7 – Practice

As we all know Texas Holdem is a game of psychology and this starts in pre-flop.

It takes a good deal of practice to master the tips above. They are all easy on paper, but different when you are playing with real money on the line.

Don’t expect overnight results – Practice makes perfect, so play on lower stakes tables and work your way up to harder games as you gain experience.

In time you will be able to implement all the tips above and start to win big in Texas holdem.

For more FREE info on Texas pre flop tips and other tips and strategies to win in all major casino games visit:

http://www.net-planet.org

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The History of Texas Holdem

Texas Holdem is a variety of Poker, a card game which originated in the 19th century. The origins of Poker are still disputed to this day, with a number of conflicting accounts about where it came from, and who first played it; similar games exist back to the Renaissance period. The word ‘Poker’ actually comes from the German word ‘pochen’, which means “to knock”.

However, most accounts generally agree that it was French settlers who first played Poker in New Orleans around 1830. It may have been introduced to them by Persian traders, as it bears strong similarities with the 16th century Persian card game As Nas. The popularity of Poker meant that it quickly spread throughout the USA, along the transport routes of rivers and railroads. It became especially popular when played amongst cowboys in the Old West.

Texas Holdem, or Hold’em as it is also known, is today one of the most popular versions of Poker in the world. Although nobody is really sure where this version was first played, it seems clear that Texas was the state of origin! Some reports say that the first ever game was played in Robstown in the 1900s and it spread to Dallas in 1925. Texas Holdem has enjoyed widespread recognition ever since.

The popularity of Texas Holdem was widely increased in 1970. In this year, the Horseshoe Hotel and Casino was opened in Las Vegas by Benny Binion. Binion decided to take over a small invitational Poker tournament from Riverside Casino’s Tom Morehead. What as the name of the tournament? The World Series of Poker and the game of choice was Texas Holdem.

Binion focused on the gambling element of the game by devising the idea of rapidly increasing antes and blinds, so that a winner could be produced within a relatively short space of time. In 1972, 8 players took part in the World Series of Poker tournament; thirty years later, the 8 had increased to 800! This annual tournament is now recognised as the most important in the world. In the last five years, the increasing popularity of televised tournaments means that Texas Holdem has become a part of mainstream television.

Additionally, through modern innovations in technology, Texas Holdem Poker has branched off in new directions. Games can now be played directly through the internet, or even on a cell phone! The game’s simplicity and huge entertainment value have contributed to its popularity, which shows no sign of decrease. Texas Holdem is clearly the most famous Poker game in the world.

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Texas Holdem Poker - The Rise in Popularity

Texas Holdem is now the most popular poker game in the world. What makes it so well-liked? Much of the credit, of course, must be given to the fact that it is now seen on TV on a regular basis. That alone can't explain the passion that has exploded for the game, though. If habitual watching of a game on TV made us all want to play it, we'd all be wearing helmets and heading to football fields. So what is it about Texas Holdem that has bewitched millions of people around the world?

Seeing the game on television introduced the world to Texas Holdem. The sheer challenge and enjoyment of it took over from there. Because the community cards are visible to everyone, spectators feel more involved than they do in other games. They can join in the strategizing and mentally play along. In just a few, quick flips of a card, they will know if they made the right decision.

The excitement level of a good Texas Holdem game is always high, especially when playing with no limit stakes. The tables can turn completely with the deal of a single card. Action is quick and nonstop for spectators and players alike.

Another appealing aspect is that almost anyone can join in a game. You don't have to have any athletic abilities or physical skills. Young and old can play together for hours. Texas Holdem eliminates both the generation gap and gender differences.

Many people are hooked on the psychological side of the game. Almost anyone who appreciates strategy in a competition enjoys playing Texas Holdem. Yes, the luck of the draw is important, but in what other game can you be holding the losing hand and, by using only your wits, convince everyone that you are undefeatable and end up winning?

Texas Holdem has a number of different appeals. Perhaps the best one is that it brings family and friends together just for fun. In these hectic, frustrating times, that in itself is enough to win the approval of the world.

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Slowplaying in Poker - Texas Hold'em

Basically, here's a list of hands that a person might slow-play:

- They've flopped their set.
- They've nailed their flush.
- They've nailed their straight.
- They've flopped two pair.
- They've booked up.

When slow playing, you must note what is actually on the board! I've seen far too many players bust their hand by slow playing their set, or their two pair, when there's a flush draw on the board. Observe. Check to see if there are hands that have a reasonable chance of beating you:

- Is there a flush draw out there?
- A straight draw?
- If you've flopped a flush holding two low cards, you've got to keep in mind that other people are still drawing to a higher flush.

You must not overvalue your hand; it's great you've flopped your set with your pocket pair, but you cannot slow play it if there's a potential flush out there. It's just not safe betting. You're letting people draw cheaply - is your hand strong enough?

A great time to slow-play:

- You've flopped the nuts (or a very strong hand.. i.e. 7d, 7s or Kd, Kh)
- There are minimal draws on the board. (3d, 7h, Ks)
- The pot is small.
- You want your opponents to catch up a bit. You're so far ahead that it is very unlikely they will catch up completely.

Hopefully another player has caught a pair of kings and will call you down, but you want to check this one out and let others improve their hands so that they bet and they think they're ahead.

A bad time to slow-play:

- You've flopped your set. (Hole cards: 2s, 2d)
- The flop holds 2 suited cards, and they're also connected. (7d, 8d, 2h)
- The pot is large, and there are still 4 other players in it.

What will happen in the latter example is that people have great odds to call with their drawing hands, so you must be careful even when betting aggressively. Just don't slow play!

Don't overvalue your hand!

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Poker - Texas Holdem Starting Hands

There are, quite literally, millions of starting hands in a game of poker, but only 169 different two-card starting combinations - assuming 7s,8c is the same as 7c, 8d. We assume this only because both hands have identical hand strength pre-flop. We can then categorize these starting hands into the following groups:

• Pair: 7,7; 2,2.
• Connected Cards: 3,4; 5,6.
• Suited Connectors: 3d,4d; 5h,6h
• Gapped Cards: 3,7; 5,10.
• Suited Gapped: 2d,8d; 6c,10c

A couple of observations to note:
Connected cards make more straights. The closer the two cards are to one and other, the more likely they are to make a straight. i.e. With 7,8, you are more likely to make a straight than with 7,10.
Gapped cards are the worst types of cards to play. Unsuited gapped cards are the least valuable, followed by suited gapped cards.

Starting Hands in an Early Position.
Pairs: 7's through to Aces.
Suited:
AK, AQ, AJ, A10
KQ, KJ, K10
QJ, Q10
J10, J9
10,9.
Unsuited:
AK, AQ, AJ, A10
KQ, KJ, K10

Starting Hands in a Middle Position
Pairs:5's through to Aces.
Suited:
AK, AQ, AJ, A10, A9, A8, A7, A6.
KQ, KJ, K10, K9.
QJ, Q10, Q9, Q8.
J10, J9, J8.
10,9 - 10,8.
9,8.
Unsuited:
AK, AQ, AJ, A10
KQ, KJ, K10
QJ, Q10
J10

Starting Hands in Late Position
Pairs:2's through to Aces.
Suited:
Any suited Ace.
KQ, KJ, K10, K9.
QJ, Q10, Q9, Q8.
J10, J9, J8, J7
10,9 - 10,8.
9,8.
8,7.
Unsuited:
AK, AQ, AJ, A10
KQ, KJ, K10, K9
QJ, Q10, Q9
J10, J9.
10,9 - 10,8
9,8.

This is slightly tighter than Krieger's starting hands, because I feel that his selection is far too loose especially towards the later positions. This is still quite a liberal calling rate pre-flop, and you can tighten up a little bit beyond this to improve your overall EV (expected value). This chart is meant only as a guide, and players should only call the BB (big blind). For raises, you should probably only be playing the first line of each category per position.

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