Why has Texas Hold’em become such a popular poker game?:

Texas Hold’em has become one of the most popular poker games in the world, based upon the number of casinos and game web sites that offer it. Casinos in Las Vegas first began offering the game in the 1960s, but its popularity has increased dramatically since 2000. The game’s position as the centerpiece of the World Series of Poker and the rise in the number of TV shows that cover poker events have contributed to this increase. But TV shows and internet availability alone do not explain the game’s popularity. There are aspects of the game itself that entice people to play. To understand these it is necessary to review some of the basic rules of the game. In Texas Hold’em each hand starts with every player getting two cards face down from a standard 52 card deck. The objective is for each player to make their highest poker hand out of the player’s two hold cards and the five community or “flop” cards dealt next. Suits are irrelevant in Texas Hold’em, except for flushes. Ignoring suits, there are only a limited number of combinations possible in each players two hold cards. This makes the game relatively easily to analyze, and strategies can be developed as a result.

After the two hole cards are dealt to each player, and before any of the flop cards are dealt, there is a round of betting. After three flop cards are dealt there is another round of betting, and another round after the fourth flop card is dealt. There is a final round of betting after the fifth flop card. Because Texas Hold’em has four rounds of betting, while other poker games have only one or two, players have more opportunity to use their game strategies. Betting in Texas Hold’em can be either Limit or No-limit, and this is always determined before the game begins. Limit betting is usually found in casino games, while No-limit betting is used for tournaments. Theses two types of betting require very different strategies, and it is rare for a player to be good at both strategies. Instead, players can choose the game they want to play based upon the strategy they are best at.

The ability to choose their style makes the game accessible to more players. Texas Hold’em has enjoyed a surge in popularity that goes beyond media exposure. It helps that there are aspects of the game that allow players to use strategy to win. The limited number of hole card combinations, the multiple rounds of betting, and the ability to choose between limit and no-limit games all encourage the use of strategy. It is because players can choose and use a strategy that they have been attracted to the game.