The World Series of Poker, the World Poker Tour, and Texas Hold'em

Texas Hold'em is a poker variant where players are dealt two cards each, and then are required to complete their five-card hands using five "community cards" that have been dealt to the center of the table. Generally, a hand of Texas Hold'em has four betting rounds, aside from the forced bet that opens the pot. This particular poker game variant was believed to have been first played in Robstown, Texas during the earliest part of the twentieth century. It was brought to Las Vegas during the sixties, where it quickly became a favorite among the gambling professional players there.

Texas Hold'em is the most popular poker game variant being played today. This is thanks in large part to the fact that one of the biggest and most important poker events in the world, the World Series of Poker, features a no-limit Texas Hold'em tournament as its Main Event. The winner of the Main Event is usually named the World Series of Poker champion, which is a considered a huge mark of distinction among poker players.

In addition to that, in recent years, most of the poker events featured in the World Series of Poker were Texas Hold'em games and variants of Texas Hold'em poker. While there were other poker variants being played, such as Omaha Hold'em and Seven Card Stud, many watched the televised episodes of the World Series of Poker for its Texas Hold'em Main Event.

Another popular and highly publicized poker event is the World Poker Tour, which is a set of international poker tournaments held mostly in the United States. The World Poker Tour was founded in 2002, by attorney and television producer, Steven Lipscomb. The Tour televises all of its poker events as a show, features professional poker players, and has thus far aired six seasons.

Much like the World Series of Poker, the World Poker Tour is best known for its Texas Hold'em Tournaments. In fact, the World Poker Tour exclusively features Texas Hold'em poker.

Famous poker personages have participated in the World Poker Tour. Some of the most skilled and important members of the poker community have taken part in the World Poker Tour. The author of "Super/System," a book that is arguably considered to be the most authoritative work on poker strategy and poker theory today, Doyle Brunson, for example, has taken part in the World Poker Tour's maiden Championship match in Las Vegas' Bellagio Casino in April of 2003.