Do I like poker games? Sure. I believe World Series of Poker from the folks at Activision is a decent piece of work, even though the sequel (due next month) will be better. Stacked is just as divine a poker experience, especially with the high AI and the helpful tips from Daniel Negreanu. But I could've done without the showmanship. I think the focus of a poker game shouldn't be on an ego-laden player or their journey through a championship, but rather the matches themselves. Nothing comes close to the intensity of three people going all-in and then watching the flop, the turn, and the river speak their fates. Fortunately, it's this kind of play that Texas Hold 'Em offers on the Xbox Live Arcade service. It ain't perfect, but it's still a good game of poker.

You might have heard about Texas already through the promotional bandwagon, as the game was offered for free during its first 48 hours of release on the service. Now, you'll have to plunk down $10 to enjoy the experience, but I would say it's worth it, most notably to go head-to-head against others without putting any real cash on the line or having to endure a heated session at a bar with a stinky drunk named Dennis. The game supports up to eight players in one match, although some matches are a little more high stakes than others. They might require a buy-in, and if you have to leave mid-match or get logged off in error, the cash is long gone.

You have separate bankrolls for different types of matches, and novice players will want to try two modes right away. The first is called Scenario, and here you'll be given a number of situations in Texas Hold 'Em where you can practice your skills. This takes a little patience to get through, as the cards lay out slowly. However, this is a great mode to teach you some of the basics, alongside some still screens that give you instructions on the general play. (In a nutshell, you hold two cards, and five cards lay out in front of you. You make the best five-card hand possible.)

The main mode, however, is Exhibition, and here you can join in to a number of matches, offline and online, and see how you fare. The computer AI isn't relatively hard to push over, as you can make a whole table fold under the pressure of an all-in on the deal. However, they're not entirely stupid either, and if they have a good hand, they'll bet high, leaving you to decide whether it's worth it. Online is where this really picks up, however, as you can lay your cards down against others and watch your cash build up...or dwindle away.

Tournament mode allows you to jump into a number of matches for high stakes, and you'll want to take advantage of it once you think you're ready. Having high bankrolls is really cool in a game like this, and it paves the way to earning you some nice achievements, including going all-in on a hand or nailing your first ten wins. Sometimes the action gets a little buggy, especially online, but it's never to the point of frustration.

The pace of the game is a little slower than I would've liked. If you fold on a hand, you have to wait for the rest of the table to play it out instead of skipping ahead to the next hand, like you could in other games. There's also some question with the basic presentation. The music is basically the same guitar twang over and over again, with no variety offered in selections. The graphics look OK, and you can change your perspective on the table with the right analog stick (or even choose different-colored tables), but it doesn't really go beyond that. Those looking for striking details will be denied here.

The only question that remains, then, is if it's worth $10. For free, Texas Hold 'Em was an absolute steal, and a vital addition to the Xbox Live Arcade service. With a price tag...eh, it depends how serious you're into poker games. Those curious who want to see if it's worthwhile should download the trial version. Enthusiasts and those who like a good game of card competition, however, should invest. It beats dropping $100 in a Vegas casino any day.