Filed under: iPod Family, iPhone, App Store
First Look: Texas Hold 'Em
I've been having such a good time getting my virtual wallet cleaned out by my Texas Hold 'Em opponents that it's taken me three days to write this post!Texas Hold 'Em is an iPhone port of the popular Apple iPod game that came out a few years ago. If you're a fan of poker tournaments or just intrigued by Texas Hold 'Em, this $4.99 game is a heck of a lot cheaper and less stress on your home life than going to Vegas and playing the real thing.
The play action, as you can see in the gallery below, is amazingly realistic. Each of the players even has a "tell" (distinctive physical cue that they're either bluffing or have a really good hand) that you can pick up after a while. There's music that plays in the background, a Wi-Fi multiplayer mode, a number of poker rooms (including a garage that has a shelf full of old computers on one wall), and a good assortment of well-rendered virtual opponents. Frankly, I think it's one of the unsung bargains of the App Store.
Gallery: Apple Texas Hold 'Em
![TUAW [Cafepress]](http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.tuaw.com/media/tuaw-cafepress-promo.png)
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Steve-o said 9:45AM on 7-17-2008
One thing, though - on the traditional iPod, you can play Texas Hold 'Em and still listen to the music in your iPod's library.
This doesn't seem to be possible on the iPhone/iPod Touch version. Very frustrating.
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Jamma said 10:33AM on 7-17-2008
you can play your music - just press the home screen twice during the game to bring up the now playing pop up, and play your music!
Steve-o said 10:40AM on 7-17-2008
Jamma - I assume you mean the home button, not screen, right? (not sure how someone could press the home screen while in the Texas Hold 'Em app).
Even so, I must be a bit thick, though, because if I press the home button twice while in the Texas Hold 'Em game, it brings up my "favorites" contact list, not my "now playing" dialog.
Steve-o said 11:11AM on 7-17-2008
Oh, and to be clear, if I change my "Home Button" preference in settings to iPod, I still have the same problem (just that the iPod comes up, not the Favorites list). I do have the option set to bring up iPod Controls when music is playing, but that's the rub: it only works when music is already playing.
scratchyvinyl said 2:35PM on 7-17-2008
You can listen to your own tunes while playing the game, but you'd need either the stock iPhone buds (with the clicker/mic) or a headphone adapter that can control the iPhone's iPod.
1) Start listening to a song in one of your playlists.
2) Launch Texas Hold 'Em (your tunes will stop).
3) In Settings, turn off the Game Music.
4) Press your earbuds' (or adapter's) clicker to resume playing your tunes. You can even double-press the Home button to bring up the iPod's controls while playing the game (if it's set up that way in your Home button settings).
The only downside: you won't be able to hear the well done in-game sound effects. Hopefully Apple will allow us to listen to our tunes with the sound effects and without needing to use the iPhone (or compatible) earbuds in a future update.
Hope this helps.
Steve-o said 2:51PM on 7-17-2008
Beautiful - works like a charm (same with other games that are similarly problematic, like Super Monkey Ball). Great tip, thanks!
Pete said 9:55AM on 7-17-2008
I like to hold the phone horizontal to get a good look at the game. And I especially like that you can tap the screen throughout the game to get it sped up. (For instance, during the dealing and betting, any tap speeds it back around to you again.)
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Michael said 10:08AM on 7-17-2008
I really like this game!! I agree with Pete, the landscape mode is a little easier and quicker to play [no pics of it in the gallery :( ]. I thought I was pretty good at poker, man was I wrong. I hope they come out with an update to let you play against others on the internet, that would make this game just awesome!
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Felgerkarb said 11:51AM on 7-17-2008
You don't need an update to do that! One of the great features of this game is multiplayer mode. If users are on the same WiFi network, they can play against each other. Didn't know about the tells, since I always play in landscape. Thanks for the hint!
see3pio said 10:18AM on 7-17-2008
I love all the little easter eggs in this. The old apple posters in the garage. John Hodgman (PC) in the gray hoodie playing cards, etc.
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Eric said 10:36AM on 7-17-2008
Agreed. This game is great at $4.99. Also, I'm pretty sure that one of the characters, Jason from Glasgow, is Roger Clemens. Striking resemblance anyway.
Killer game, excellent play, wi-fi tips it!
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Alex said 10:52AM on 7-17-2008
The problem with this game is the portrait mode. Yeah it looks good but it makes the file size H U G E . Every time I sync my iPod it takes so long.
I only ever play in Landscape mode any way.
Michael, you find it hard? Fancy a game of poker?
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Bob S. said 10:59AM on 7-17-2008
How does it compare to Scenario Software's very strong Scenario Poker Web app? (Scenario Poker is limit, which requires better play, and there's less emphasis, from the sound of the above review, on silly "tells," which in poker software are usually an excuse for subpar AI.)
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Louis24x7 said 11:30AM on 7-17-2008
I love this game. Had it been me that needed to write this review, it would probably be next week.
For the past couple of days I use this game to run out the battery of my iPhone 3G, and as of this morning after about 4 hours of my normal morning phone usage (browsing, google maps, phone conversations) I can say I see battery improvement.
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Tizod said 11:46AM on 7-17-2008
I love this game. Challenging and quite entertaining. My only "complaint" is that I have had several occasions where I launched the game and it caused my IPhone to reboot.
Not a big deal...I guess these things are to be expected.
Definately worth the $5
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BigB said 2:36PM on 7-17-2008
I dig this game, its worth the 5 bucks.
but its kind of annoying to have to tap to get the check/bet dialog up, took me forever to figure that out when the dealer was just sitting there staring.
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dtpollitt said 3:41PM on 7-17-2008
This is my favorite game on the iPhone. Quick question: Can you see the "tells" during landscape mode? I've only been playing in that way, and haven't noticed any...
Dan
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Pete said 7:32PM on 7-17-2008
I'm glad that Apple took the time to release a nice polished game like this. It sets a good example for people on how to program well.
Just because the platform screen is smaller doesn't mean end-users don't appreciate the polish and features.
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Anonymous said 6:59PM on 7-18-2008
love this game. definately worth the buy. horizontal mode is the best.
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Ramone said 12:09AM on 7-26-2008
I've read several places about the "tells". Is this an urban legend or can someone verify one?
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