History of Poker : The Origins
The history of poker is a matter of some debate. Poker history has many versions that are written as to true poker history. The history of the game, and more appropriately the name descended from the French poque, which in turn descended from the German pochen (= 'to knock'), but it is not entirely clear whether the games named by those terms were the real origins of poker. The origins tells us that it closely resembles the Persian game of nas, and was taught to French settlers in New Orleans by Persian sailors. It was also commonly regarded as sharing ancestry with the Renaissance game of primero and the French brelan. The English game brag descended from brelan and incorporated bluffing (though the concept was not uncommon in other games by that time).
The Progress through time
Pokers History records english actor Joseph Crowell describing the game of poker as played in New Orleans in 1829: played with a deck of 20 cards, four players bet on which players cards were the most valuable.
Jonathan H. Green's book "An Exposure of the Arts and Miseries of Gambling" (G. B. Zieber, Philadelphia, 1843) described the spread of the game from there to the rest of the country by Mississippi riverboats, on which gambling was a common pastime.
Soon after, this spread and history tells us that the full 52-card English deck was used at which time poker saw the introduction of the flush to the game. Poker history dates back to the American Civil War where many additions were made to the game, including draw poker, stud poker (the five-card variant), and the introduction of the straight.
Further American developments followed, such as the wild card, the split-pot poker and in 1925 the first community card poker games. The spread of the game to other countries, particularly in Asian history tells us that poker was often attributed to the U.S. military.
Visit our poker rules section for all the different rules of each and every poker game.
Poker History and every day life
It is not always obvious quite how much poker
impacts us in every day life. The game of poker and its jargon have become important parts of
American and English culture. Such phrases as ace in the hole, beats me, blue chip, call the bluff,
cash in, pass the buck, poker face, stack up, up the ante, when the chips are down, wild card are
used in everyday conversation even by those unaware of their origins at the poker table.
Poker History & Tournament Play
Modern poker tournaments became popular in American casinos and of course online Poker has been increasing in popularity after the World Series of Poker began in 1970. Most top online poker sites today offer qualifiers to the World Series of Poker. Visit our World Series of Poker information page if you are interesting in qualifying.
It was also during that decade that the first serious poker strategy books and poker development books appeared, notably The Theory of Poker by David Sklansky), Super System by Doyle Brunson and The Book of Tells by Mike Caro. Broadcast of poker tournaments for cable and satellite TV distribution has added additional popularity to the game with the World Poker Tour and World Series of Poker now televised (amongst others) every year.
The origins of poker seem to be a little unclear at times with many different versions quoted from site to site. One thing that is clear is that attention has been turned away from gambling that involves playing against the house as the house always wins in the long run. The game of poker puts players skills up against other poker players and looks set to gain even more popularity in coming years.
Famous Poker Quotes
Poker is a microcosm of all we admire and disdain about capitalism and democracy. It can be rough-hewn or polished, warm or cold, charitable and caring or hard and impersonal. It is fickle and elusive, but ultimately it is fair, and right, and just. - Lou Krieger
Whether he likes it or not, a man's character is stripped bare at the poker table; if the other players read him better than he does, he has only himself to blame. Unless he is both able and prepared to see himself as others do, flaws and all, he will be a loser in cards, as in life. - Anthony Holden
If you can't spot the sucker within the first half hour at the table, then you are the sucker. - Matt Damon (Rounders)
References : Get these Top Titles
Brunson, Doyle (1979). Doyle Brunson's Super System
.
Sklansky, David (1989). David Sklansky- The Theory of Poker (3rd ed).
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