Who invented Poker Texas Hold’em?

Most sports fans have no idea how their favorite sports started. But if you love history and appreciate the people who came up with some of the most popular games today, you’ll appreciate this article. Below we delve into the history of Hold’em, the most popular variation of Poker.

Invented in the 1900s

Back then, the game was simply referred to as hold ‘em. It was mostly played in Texas, which is how it came to get its name. According to the government of Texas, the city of Robstown is thought to be the game’s origin. There is no proof of this but Robstown was the first major town in Texas where hold ‘em was widely recognized. For more than five decades, hold ‘em was only popular in Texas. The presence of other popular poker games and the lack of legal gambling platforms in Texas meant that fans only played Hold ‘em for leisure.

1963: Introduction to Las Vegas

Hold ‘em was first introduced to Las Vegas by Corky McCorquodale at the California Club in 1963. As you would expect, it didn’t take long for the game to spread throughout the then small city. Several major clubs adopted Hold ‘em, allowing thousands of people to learn about it.

In 1967, something game-changing happened to Hold ‘em. The Ace of spades, which held a low value until then changed to be a high-value card. Golden Nugget casino, located in downtown Vegas, was the most popular club that offered the game consistently. But since its floors were covered with oiled sawdust, it wasn’t favored by professionals and high roller clients.

In 1969, Dunes casino invited a group of professional poker players to popularize Hold ‘em. Following the event, professionals plus club owners decided to form a fraternity convention. In 1970, the convention was renamed to “the World Series of Poker,” a name that has remained the same to date.

The Growth of World Series of Poker

In the 1972 tournament of the World Series of Poker, only a handful of people attended. Ten years later, one hundred players convened. This figure would later double by 1991. By 2000, over 500 people were willing to participate in the event.

These days, the World Series of Poker is attended by up to 10,000 people. Of course, Hold 'em is no longer the only game served. At the 2018 WSOP, for example, there were 76 poker events. The Colossus, which only required a buy-in amount of $565, was attended by 13,070 people. The winner, Robert Felicio, walked away with one million dollars. Hold ‘em high roller required a buy-in amount of $100,000 and was attended by 105 people. The winner earned $2.9 million. Apart from Las Vegas, there are also other major poker events held worldwide. Hold ‘em is always amongst the most popular poker variants played, but it’s not the only one.

1983: Hold ‘em Immortalized in a book

While the game was already popular in Vegas the world was yet to learn about it. Al Alvarez, a book author, and avid poker fan published a book to educate the country about the game. Titled "The Biggest Game in Town," the book went into detail about the 1981 World Series of Poker event. It introduced the game's rules, popular players and clubs that offered it.

Before Alvarez, Herbert Yardley, a former government coder, had published a book about the game in 1957. His book wasn’t popular though, which is why The Biggest Game in Town is credited for helping popularize hold ‘em in literature.

Hold ‘em spread to California in the late 1980s but received some objection before it was legalized. Apparently, officially thought Hold ‘em was too similar to another poker variation called “Stud-horse.” After further analyses of the two games, Hold ‘em was legalized.

The 80s was also the decade when Hold ‘em was introduced in Europe. Liam Flood, Europe’s 1997 poker champion and his friend Terry Rodgers are credited for exporting the game to Europe.

TV and Online Popularity

The late 90s and the 2000s were significant years in the rise of Hold ‘em as a distinct game. Broadcasting the game live during the World Series of Poker helped spread its popularity significantly. It also helped that Hollywood films and celebrities fell in love with it.

The 1998 movie, Rounders, starring Matt Damon and Edward Norton showcased the fun side of Hold ‘em. It ended receiving great ratings from critics and was popular with fans. In the 2006 sequel of James Bond: Casino Royale, the film replaced Bond’s favorite game, Baccarat, with Hold ‘em.

With the help of online casinos, Hold ‘em truly became a legitimate Las Vegas game. Speaking of online poker, the 2003 World Series was one by a guy who qualified to attend the event at an online casino. As the news spread, more and more people gained interest and began to play the game at the comfort of their homes.

Find all new 2019 casinos at newcasinos.com to enjoy Hold ‘em, slots, and almost every other gambling game. The best casinos also have live dealers that allow you to compete with fellow poker fans online. Live dealers are, in fact, most poker players’ favorite way to gamble online.

Hold ‘em: A Game of Skill

When California Okayed Hold ‘em after objecting to it, they ruled in favor of the game because it involved a high level of skills. This sentiment has been shared numerous times and even proven at WSOP events. The 2005 WSOP event, for example, was one by a semi-professional.

Most Hold ‘em books, films and TV documentaries also tend to agree that skills are an important part Hold ‘em. Online, there are thousands of e-books, journals, and articles that claim to teach you how to better at the game. And while many of them are bogus, some have solid information that can hone your hold ‘em playing skills.

To Conclude

The beautiful game called Hold em’ has a long and interesting history. No single person can be credited for inventing it. The state of Texas, however, recognizes the city of Robstown as the game’s origin. Despite being launched in the 1900s, it took more than 60 years for Hold ‘em to arrive in Vegas. But since then, its popularity has kept rising.