Community Card Poker: Texas Hold ‘Em
Question: What is the most popular community card poker game that is being played today?
Answer… well, it’s obvious. If you didn’t answer “Texas Hold 'Em”, then you really haven’t been playing poker very long (or where have you been?) And even if you did answer correctly, stick around and learn a few things about this extremely popular and well-known game.
While Texas Hold 'Em has been popular throughout the 20th century in both North America and Europe, the game’s popularity really surged in the 2000’s due to its prominent exposure on television, internet play, and in fictional works. In fact, Texas Hold 'Em has been so popular that it has almost completely succeeded in replacing Seven-card stud as the most common poker casino game in the United States. Its popularity is so high that the “no limit” variant of the game has made its way into both the World Series of Poker, and onto the World Poker Tour.
Texas Hold 'Em is a prime game for strategic and mathematical analysis, yet remains deceptively simple in learning how to play (thus explaining it’s rabid following). In Texas Hold 'Em, blinds are posted (usually both big and small), and each player starts with two down cards (called “hole cards”). Betting commences, and then three community cards are turned over (this is called “the flop”.) Another round of betting commences, and another community card is turned over (called “the turn”.) Another round of betting, then a last community card is turned over (called “the river”.) Then comes the final showdown – players make their best five card hand from their hole cards and five community cards. Pretty simple game, right?
Texas Hold 'Em is not about winning every individual hand. It’s about making the best decisions based on mathematical probability to know the best times to bet, raise, call, and fold.
But we don’t want to reduce this to a math problem (come back, everybody!) The beauty of this game is it’s very simple to learn, and very simple to play. Yet it’s extremely intricate in how the better hands are built – you’ll see the best players folding early and often when they feel a hand isn’t worth pursuing.
If you are not familiar with the game, we urge you to give it a try. It’s popular for a reason – it’s fast, fun, and will have you hooked in no time. May Lady Luck be by your side as you pray for that Jack to come to you on the River!
