Texas Holdem Poker is believed to have originated in Robstown,Texas in the early 1900s’. It was introduced to the Las Vegas casinos in 1967 by a group of Texan gamblers who realised two major differences to normal poker, one was that there were four opportunites to bet during the deal, instead of only two,which meant play became more strategic and the game became more of a thinking game, consequently requiring more skill.

Texas Holdem Poker is played with between 2 and 9 players, a standard pack of 52 cards, and has two cards dealt face down by the dealer and five community cards dealt face up in the centre of the table. The aim is to match your ‘Hole’ cards,(the face down cards) to three of the community cards to create the highest possible ranked hand to win the pot. Players have the option to bet, raise, check or fold after each deal. The third face up card dealt is known as ‘the flop’, the fourth is ‘the turn or fourth and the fifth is ‘the river or fifth street’. Betting can occur before or after the flop is dealt and after the turn and river.

There are three major positions in this game. A ‘button man’ – This position rotates clockwise at the start of every new hand and is the last to receive cards in every deal. To the left of the button is the ‘small blind’ who receives the first dealt card and bets the required amount set out at the table. This could vary from game to game. To the left of the small blind is the ‘big blind’ who antes up double what the small blind plays. After the first round of betting any increases in ante are started by the player left of the big blind. When only two players are left holding cards, one is called and must show his hand to determine which player has the higher hand and win the pot.

In 1970 Benny and Jack Binion launched the World Series of Poker which took off slowly but is now the premier tournament worldwide for poker players and Texas Holdem is the game of choice.