Texas Holdem: a Little History

The popularity of Texas Holdem today in unrivalled in the Poker world, with even the most casual of players know how it is played. Yet few of the newcomers to the game are aware of its genesis.

The history of Texas Holdem cannot be dated with precision, but suffice to say that it had its origins around the late 1800s and early 1900s. It was during this period that several of the innovations in Poker came about, bringing the standard forms of the game (Draw, Stud and shared) as we know it today. What is certain is that the most basic concepts of the game took root in Robstown, Texas in 1900.

Although it became a hit in Texas, it would be well over sixty years before it was played in Las Vegas. The history of Texas Holdem in Las Vegas began in 1967 when it was introduced to casinos by, among others Doyle Brunson and Amarillo Slim. At first the game was played in very few venues and attracted little attention.

Two events in the 1970s, however, changed the course of Texas Holdem history. The first was when the World Series of Poker was held at the Horseshoe Casino in Vegas. The game for the final table, it was decided, would be No Limit Holdem, and it would contribute greatly to its popularity and spread.

In 1978 Brunson published SuperSytem, which would go down in history as one of the most influential books on Texas Holdem ever published. It raised public awareness of the game as never before and resulted in the game becoming popular in other states as well.

Besides Brunson, another influential author was Al Alvarez, whose 1983 book (the Biggest Game in Town) described what the World Series of Poker was like, and also an insight into the players themselves. These books brought the game down to the level of the masses and led to even more widespread play.

Film and television also played roles in the shaping of Texas Holdem history. Two movies in particular, Rounders and Casino Royale, provided viewers with a glimpse of how the high stakes version of the game was played. On TV, coverage of such events as the WSOP and World Poker Tour expanded its audience.

Online gaming of course, has grown exponentially as well. With bigger cash prizes at stake, and the seemingly unstoppable growth of Internet Poker in general, more will be written and said about the history of Texas Holdem in the years to come.