Who would have thought that around about fifty years ago when the popularity Texas holdem poker was beginning its slow and steady spread from the bars and clubs of Dallas, Texas to Las Vegas, that now it would become the premier card game all over Europe also.
The rules, skills and strategies of Texas holdem poker seem only to apply the ribald styles of the United States, and the razzmatazz treatment that has been applied to any sports or games that have made the journey across the Atlantic Ocean from Europe to America. Most of the popular sports and games played in the United States were derivations of more conservative versions of European standards, Baseball and American football being two classic examples.
Anyone that understands the European mentality would know that Texas holdem poker is probably the last game that would catch on there. But this time the experts have been proved wrong, and Texas holdem poker has proved to be as big a hit in Europe as it has the USA.
Another example of how the Internet has taken down international barriers. Players from Europe regularly take part in on and offline Texas holdem poker tournaments and the European Poker Tour is catching on like wildfire, with prize money sufficiently mouth watering to attract some of the cream of the US circuit professionals.
An interesting phenomenon amongst the European players is the predominance of ex professional sportsmen playing the game. Former soccer professionals as well as snooker legends of the past have made a very successful transition to the sport. Obviously the time spent traveling on coaches or in hotel rooms between matches and tournaments were spent to good effect in honing their skills at Texas holdem poker. Some of them have now adopted the game as their second profession and are reaping the benefits. Obviously their fame has drawn many new players to the game and they are also enjoying the challenges and the rewards that playing and winning at Texas holdem poker can bring.
As the popularity of Texas holdem poker spreads, rumor has it that the next big market will be Asia. So all you budding professionals brush up on your Chinese!