Texas Holdem Poker, commonly translated as Texas Hold'em, is one of the most popular variations of poker worldwide. It features strategic and psychological gameplay as its core characteristics, making it suitable for both leisure and entertainment, as well as developing numerous professional competitive events. The following is a detailed introduction:
Basic gameplay and rules
Opening preparation: The game uses a deck of 52 poker cards without any trump cards, and the table is suitable for 2-10 players to participate (theoretical maximum of 22 players). After the start of the game, each player will receive two face down cards, and the dealer will then display five common cards in three stages - first three "flip cards", then one "turn card" and one "river card" in sequence.
Match process: There are four rounds of betting throughout the game, namely before the flip, after the flip, after the transfer, and after the river card. In each round, players can choose to discard their cards, place follow-up bets, raise and other operations. If they feel that their hand is not good, they can directly discard their cards and give up the competition in this round. If they want to compete for the prize pool, they need to show their strength or confuse their opponents by placing bets. After all betting sessions are completed, the remaining players enter the showdown stage, display their trump cards, and combine them with five common cards to form the best five card combination. The player with the best card type wins the prize pool; If there is a situation where the card types are equal, the prize pool will be divided equally.
Card type level: The game has 9 fixed card type levels, from high to low, including Royal Tonghuashun, Tonghuashun, Sijo, Hulu, Tonghua, Shunzi, Sanjiao, Two Pair, and One Pair. If there are no above card types, the winner will be determined by the size of the single card points, and the points will decrease in order from A, K, Q, J, etc.
Core Features
Easy to learn but difficult to master: The basic rules are simple and easy to understand, and beginners can quickly get started, but it is extremely difficult to win in the long run. The game not only requires players to calculate the probability of their hand and public cards forming a high-quality card type, but also to judge the strength of their hand by observing their opponent's betting rhythm, demeanor, etc., and using techniques such as deception to interfere with their opponent's judgment in a timely manner. It is a dual competition of mathematical calculation and psychological game.
Outstanding competitiveness: This game breaks the limitations of pure luck card games, and long-term winning rates rely more on players' strategy adjustments and decision-making abilities. This characteristic makes it a core project in professional competitive events, and also allows ordinary players to continue to enjoy the fun of mental games in casual matches.
Famous Events and Development History
Development context: Its gameplay can be traced back to the ancient Persian card game, and modern rules were established by gambler Brandy Forbes in Texas, USA in the 1920s. Texas Hold'em was introduced to Las Vegas in 1967 and became a core event at the 1970 World Series of Poker (WSOP), driving its popularity. After the birth of the first online poker platform in 1998, Texas Hold'em further broke through geographical limitations, with over 50 million online players in the United States alone at its peak.
Top tier tournaments: In addition to WSOP, there are also well-known tournaments worldwide such as the World Poker Tour and the Asia Pacific Poker Tour. The WSOP championship gold bracelet is the highest honor in the poker world. In 2003, ordinary accountant Chris Moniemaker won the championship with a $39 satellite tournament ticket and won a huge prize, which greatly stimulated the public's enthusiasm for Texas Hold'em.
