Texas Holdem Facts
Texas Hold'Em Poker was introduced to Las Vegas in 1963 by a noted no-limit gambler named Felton "Corky" McCorquodale.
Acknowledged as one of the finest Texas Hold'Em players who ever lived, 2002 Poker Hall of Fame inductee Johnny Chan, winner of the World Series of Poker (WSOP) Championships in 1987 and 1988, carries an orange to every table he plays and is known for his bored expression while playing.
With a recent win in Event # 25 Pot-Limit Hold'Em in the 2005 WSOP, Johnny Chan now holds the record for most number of WSOP bracelets won with 10, moving him one bracelet ahead of Doyle Brunson and Phil Hellmuth. He's also the first poker player in WSOP history to win 10 poker champion bracelets.
Though many Hollywood stars have taken part in the WSOP Poker Championships like Matt Damon, Edward Norton, Ben Affleck, and Tobey Maguire, the only Hollywood star to ever win a WSOP championship so far is actress Jennifer Tilly who recently won in the WSOP 2005 No-Limit Hold 'Em Ladies Championship.
In 2003, the popularity of Texas Hold'Em Poker soared due to several factors including the introduction of lipstick cameras that permitted TV audiences to see the players' hidden cards, the unexpected win of online poker player Chris Moneymaker at the WSOP Championship, and the introduction of two additional Texas Hold'Em tournaments -- the World Poker Tournament and the Celebrity Poker Showdown.
Some of the more unusual nicknames given to a starting hand in Texas Hold'Em (regardless of suit) are Doggie for a King and Nine, Big Lick for a 6 and 9, Dolly Parton for a 9 and 5, Gay Waiter for a Q and 3, and Jackson 5 for a Jack and 5. Pocket Queens has also received a name upgrade. It's now also referred to as "The Hilton Sisters."