The TV is the table
Everyone sees the same board, pot and clock. Faces move up the felt as people bet, so you can follow every hand from the sofa.
The party card game for the whole room
One TV. Everyone's phone. Nobody's ever out.
Carolina Hold 'em is a party game for a room full of people, played with the rules of Texas hold 'em. The TV is the table, and your cards stay private on your phone. Everyone bets at the same time, everyone gets fresh chips (points, not money) every hand, and twelve hands later the whole room has a story to tell.
Free for everyone until December 31, 2026, for up to 50 players. No app to install, no accounts.
Why it works
Built for the whole room
In most card games, whoever runs out first spends the night on the sidelines. Carolina Hold 'em keeps everyone in their seat, on the same screen, for all twelve hands.
Your cards stay on your phone
Scan the code, type a first name and shuffle up an avatar. Big buttons that never move under your thumb, and no app to install.
Nobody is ever out
Everyone starts with 20 chips, which are just points, and gets 10 more every hand, and the bottom of the table gets a little extra. Sit a hand out whenever you like.
Always positive
Nothing on screen names who was beaten, the commentary sticks to the cards, and everyone plays every hand to the end.
How it works
Deal in three steps
About two minutes from the sofa to the first hand. A game is twelve hands and takes about twenty minutes.
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Put the table on the TV
Start a table on your phone, then open carolinaholdem.com/tv on the TV's web browser or a laptop plugged in with HDMI. Type the code the TV shows into your phone and the table appears. (Don't mirror your phone: that would show your cards.)
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Everyone scans the code
Phones join from the QR code on the TV. Type a first name and shuffle up a cartoon avatar. No app and no account.
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Ante 2 and play
Look at your cards, then ante 2 or sit the hand out. Everyone bets at once on a 15-second clock by tapping a fixed amount. Twelve hands, then the final standings.
Who it's for
Two kinds of table
The beach house, the cabin, the holidays
One TV in the rental and a phone in every pocket is all it takes. Teach the in-laws with a practice hand, and nobody spends the evening watching from the kitchen, because nobody is ever knocked out.
- Up to 20 players at one table
- A practice hand before the first deal
- Free until December 31, 2026; a Family plan ($9 a month) is coming
Offsites, socials and remote Fridays
An icebreaker that works in the office and over Zoom or Teams, and that HR can say yes to. No accounts, first names only, and every table is deleted 24 hours after it was last used.
- Up to 50 players per event
- Any meeting-room TV browser, or a laptop over HDMI
- Remote players join over screen share
- Free until December 31, 2026; a Corporate plan ($200 a year) is coming
On the table
Something to do on every hand
Pick the winner
Folded, or sitting this one out? Pick who takes the pot. Early picks score more chips.
Show my cards
Proud of a fold? You can always show your own cards to the table.
The booth
Two commentators, Beau and Dottie, call the action in captions on the TV, so it works with the sound down. Voices are coming soon.
Run it out
When everyone's all in, the TV shows what each player needs from the next card.
A practice hand
One hand on the house before the real game, so first-timers learn the buttons before anything counts.
Big groups
Up to 50 in one room. One table seats up to 20; above that, tables of about 10 share one board, one clock and one TV, so the whole event plays as one game.
Not gambling. No real money. Just for fun.
Chips are points that reset every game. You can't buy them, win anything with them or cash them out, and our terms don't allow anything of value to ride on a game. A paid plan is a licence to host the software. The only thing on the line is bragging rights until next time.
Deal the first hand tonight
Free for everyone until December 31, 2026, for up to 50 players. Bring a TV and a few phones.