James McManus: Why is Texas hold 'em so popular?

Why is Texas hold 'em so popular?

From its earliest incarnations, poker has always been a contest of guile, guts, and gambling. The game first emerged around 1800 in the melting pot of New Orleans, and soon spread up the Mississippi, Ohio, and Missouri rivers. So, how did this simple game of the American South skyrocket in popularity? James McManus shares how the card game became an international affair. [Directed by Chintis Lundgren, narrated by Addison Anderson, music by Salil Bhayani, cAMP Studio].

Poker began as a game of nerve and deception in 1800s New Orleans saloons, where cowboys risked fortunes and even their homes on a single hand. Its appeal skyrocketed with steamboats and dramatic tales, like winning plantations in one round. New variants, daring bluffs, and even cheating fueled its spread, while the invention of Texas Hold’em solved practical problems and became an international favorite. Today, millions stake their futures on the turn of a card, making poker a lasting symbol of risk and strategy.