PokerTH is a free and open source Texas Hold'em poker game that lets players compete against computer opponents or other players online. Available for Windows, macOS, Linux, and Android, it has been an active community project since 2006 and remains one of the longest-running open source poker games. Built with C++ and Qt, PokerTH focuses on providing an authentic Texas Hold'em experience without advertisements, microtransactions, or real-money gambling.
PokerTH is designed for players who want to enjoy Texas Hold'em in a relaxed environment. You can practice against AI opponents, host private games with friends, or join public multiplayer tables through the official online servers.
Unlike many poker applications that emphasize in-app purchases or real-money betting, PokerTH is entirely community driven and focuses purely on gameplay. The project continues to receive updates, including recent releases that modernize the interface and improve compatibility with current operating systems.
Key Features of PokerTH
Single-Player Poker
PokerTH allows players to compete against up to nine computer-controlled opponents. This makes it an excellent choice for beginners learning Texas Hold'em or experienced players looking to practice strategies without financial risk.
Online Multiplayer
Players can join public online tables or create private games with friends. The built-in lobby makes it easy to browse available games and connect with the active PokerTH community.
Cross-Platform Support
PokerTH runs on Windows, macOS, Linux, and Android, allowing users on different platforms to play together using the same online servers.
Customizable Gameplay
Users can adjust game settings such as blind structures, starting chips, player names, card decks, table themes, and other gameplay preferences to create a personalized poker experience.
Beginner-Friendly Interface
The interface is clean and easy to understand, making it suitable for newcomers while still providing enough information for experienced poker players.
Open Source
Released under the GNU Affero General Public License (AGPL), PokerTH is fully open source. Anyone can inspect the code, contribute improvements, or build the game from source.
Download PokerTH v2.1.8 - Software Mirrors |
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PokerTH v2.1.8 for WindowsPokerTH-Combined-2.1.8-Setup.exe | 158 MB |
PokerTH v2.1.8 for macOSPokerTH-2.1.8-Combined.dmg | 379.34 MB |
PokerTH v2.1.8 for Linuxpokerth_2.1.8_amd64.deb | 146.77 MB PokerTH-2.1.8-Widget-glibc2.43-x86_64.AppImage | 191.9 MB PokerTH-2.1.8-QML-glibc2.43-x86_64.AppImage | 214.06 MB pokerth-2.1.8-linux-x86_64.zip | 278.19 MB |
PokerTH v2.1.8 for AndroidPokerTH-2.1.8-QML-universal.apk | 460.97 MB PokerTH-2.1.8-QML-arm64-v8a.apk | 120.23 MB |
PokerTH v2.1.8 Source Code
PokerTH v2.1.8 Source code (zip)
PokerTH v2.1.8 Source code (tar.gz)
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PokerTH v2.1.8 Release Notes: 2026-09-01 version 2.1.8:
- new: private messages have their own inbox now - one readable thread per player instead of single lines in the chat, opened from the mail icon in the header or in the player list, with the translation globe on incoming messages; the history is stored per account in its own database and survives a restart (QML)
- new: private messages are easier to notice and to send in the widget client - an incoming one always plays a sound so it does not go under in the running lobby chat, the nick list context menu has an entry for sending one, and a sent message is echoed in the own chat history with its full wording instead of a bare confirmation line (widget)
- new: the emoji reactions were reworked - 90 reactions on three themed pages, each with its own animation and particle effect, ported from the web client (QML & widget)
- new: seat style - the bet of a player can be shown in a socket inside the player box or, as before, next to it; switchable in the style settings and applied to an open table right away (QML)
- new: disco table theme with matching card backside, and the blacklight 4c card deck - four coloured suits (QML)
- new: ivoire & chene table theme - a light oak table with ivory felt (by narmod) (QML)
- new: in portrait mode the collapsed lobby row shows at which table a player is currently playing - the counterpart to the hover info on the desktop (QML)
- improvement: the BBC and WEC suggest is available to every admin of the respective community at the table now, not only to the table admin - a WEC table is recognised by its settings just like a BBC step - and the invite templates may span several lines (QML & widget)
- improvement: chat translation falls back more gracefully when a translation service does not answer or replies with an error (QML & widget)
- improvement: private messages are not offered for guest accounts (QML & widget)
- improvement: portrait mode fine-tuned - tab bar, local and network game settings, in-game action bar and the forum news page (QML)
- improvement: icon alignment in the lobby player list (QML)
- improvement: leading and trailing spaces in the user name are trimmed before login, so the same account cannot be addressed under several spellings (client & server)
- improvement: a crash of the client is recognisable in the debug log now - it ends with a marker and a backtrace instead of simply breaking off, a cleanly closed session is marked as such, and the previous log is kept as one generation, so the restart right after a crash no longer overwrites the log that holds it (QML)
- bugfix: filtered-out entries in the player search still occupied a row, and the search field in the lobby sidebar had no effect at all (QML)
- bugfix: the idle filter in the lobby player list did not follow the tables - a player sitting down or leaving a game was only taken into or back into the list after the filter had been switched (QML)
- bugfix: a game created right after a community template had been picked was sent with the template's fallback name ("Monthly Cup Final") instead of the current month's title (QML)
- bugfix: password-protected and registered-only games could not be joined from the game list - the password prompt was there, but the entry stayed disabled (QML)
- bugfix: sounds stayed silent after the app had been in the background - the audio sink stopped pulling after a buffer underrun and never resumed (android)
- bugfix: a click on the translation globe was handed to the desktop as a URL ("Failed to open URL") and real links opened twice, in AppImage, tarball and deb builds (widget)
- bugfix: build against OpenSSL 4.0.x (by Hains van den Bosch)
- bugfix: log and avatar uploads accepted any HTTPS peer - uploads use the platform trust store now, the same roots the downloads already verify against (client, issue #523)
- server: the official server writes lobby activity to the database now - one row per server run and one per session, so who was connected and for how long is queryable instead of only existing as text in the log
- server: log analysis tool that renders the game-server log as an SVG (tools/analyze_server_log.py)
- server: the browser client has its own client type now, so web sessions are distinguishable in the log and in the activity data
- server: database connection hardening - the pending query queue is bounded and logged when it grows, slow queries are reported with their duration, and reconnects use a bounded backoff
- server: the ServerRestrictGuestLogin check was dead code and is effective again (issue #528)
- server: rejoin requests for games that have not started are rejected
- server: actions from spectator sessions are ignored, and vote-kicks are restricted to seated players
- server: broadcast chat is rate limited per connection, so a client can no longer flood lobby and game sessions at protocol speed
- android: the mobile application id is net.pokerth.PokerTH_QML now, and the Android, iOS and F-Droid build scripts were fine-tuned accordingly
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Performance and User Experience
PokerTH is lightweight and performs well even on older hardware. Games load quickly, online matchmaking is straightforward, and the interface remains responsive during play.
Recent releases have introduced a refreshed Qt-based user interface, improved compatibility with modern operating systems, and continued maintenance by the volunteer development team. The online community remains active, with regular releases and community events helping keep the project alive.
The AI opponents provide a reasonable challenge for casual practice, although they are not intended to compete with advanced poker training software.
Pros
Free and open source.
No advertisements or microtransactions.
Online multiplayer support.
Single-player mode with AI opponents.
Cross-platform compatibility.
Lightweight and fast.
Active community with ongoing updates.
Easy for beginners to learn.
Cons
Only supports Texas Hold'em.
AI opponents are relatively basic compared to modern poker simulators.
Graphics prioritize functionality over realism.
No real-money gameplay, which may not appeal to players seeking competitive online poker.
Who Should Use PokerTH?
PokerTH is an excellent choice for poker enthusiasts, beginners learning Texas Hold'em, students studying poker strategy, and anyone looking for a free multiplayer poker game.
It is particularly well suited for players who want to enjoy poker without gambling, subscriptions, or intrusive monetization.
Final Verdict
PokerTH has earned its reputation as one of the best open source poker games available. Its combination of reliable online multiplayer, competent AI opponents, cross-platform support, and active community makes it an outstanding choice for casual Texas Hold'em players.
While it does not attempt to replicate commercial online poker platforms or advanced poker training software, it delivers a polished and enjoyable poker experience that has stood the test of time.
