Win at Texas Hold 'em

Explaining the rules of a sport or game to the uninitiated is a complicated process. Trying to convey the laws of the offside rule to a 'non-believer' over a pint and a packet of peanuts is an unenviable task, but it pales in comparison to Win at Hold 'em's challenge: explaining the rules, hands and protocols of poker offshoot Texas Hold 'em via a mobile phone.

By and large, the team at I-play has managed to pull this one out of the bag. With the express intention of appealing to both the masterful and the meek, Win at Texas Hold 'em is a poker school and league all wrapped up in one neat little package. It's a clear, concise and unfussy take on Hold 'em that enables play to be taught without a hint of condescension, neatly sidestepping the trap of overloading the skilled with needless advice.

It all comes down to the game's pointed title, which is as much an aim as it is a description. For all intents and purposes, the game's schooling merely takes the form of a series of short tutorials that brings the player to the table as a spectator. Canadian poker champion Daniel Negreanu then takes you through the fundamentals of the game, from learning which hands hold the power to the psychology of the opponents around the table.

The lessons are handily split into proficiency levels, meaning those with an adept knowledge of the game are able to pick and choose the areas they need to brush-up on without trawling through Negreanu's entire repertoire. It's an interesting compendium that's as much about the mentality of the game as it is the actual rules, spending considerable time detailing how to clarify your players and work against them.

The game is equally unfussy when it comes to its visuals. Able to ground out a startling amount of clarity – no doubt helped by the game's fairly hefty file size – Win at Hold 'em feels neither constrained nor overtly tailored to its chosen format. It simply does what it says on the tin, with clear signposting throughout, enabling I-play to spread the controls out rather than overloading one or two buttons.

The game is just as balanced and clear-cut when play actually reaches the table, with I-play taking a no-nonsense approach to proceedings. With five AI opponents in each match, the game's line-up changes as play progresses (even if, amusingly, their avatars don't), but the developer hasn't attempted to sully its otherwise clinical approach by chucking in trash-talking or needless narrative – it's just you, your money, your cards and your rivals.

And that's where the line is drawn: I-play has essentially refined what has gone before, creating the quintessential poker package, coming with both Quick Play and Tournament modes. There's no multiplayer or activity over the net of any kind, but as a standard mobile offering, it's lacking only betting banter and a lingering smell of tobacco to really seal the deal.

Win at Texas Hold 'em certainly isn't going to change your life – or even the way you play cards – but it's no easy task to design a poker title that successfully appeals to both the good and the green at the same time. I-play has put together an effort that, while in no way short of rivals, can stand up to the best of them.