History Of Poker
There are plenty of varying opinions on how Poker came about into existence. In addition to this, there is no exact evidence regarding the direct and early ancestors of this popular game. Many have come to the conclusion that the Poker which we play today has its roots from a variety of games. The general opinion is that it must have been born a long time ago.
Playing cards in the 19th Century
One of the first references to Poker can been see in 1834. This was written by Jonathan H. Green who makes a mention of rules to what he called the “cheating game.” At this point of time Poker was a famous game on Mississippi riverboats. Eventually he realized that his writing was the first close reference to the game. Also because it never made an appearance in the current American Hoyle, he decided to call the game “Poker.”
Jonathan H. Green
Jonathan H. Green goes on to describe the game as one which was played with 20 cards. These cards comprised of only aces, kings, queens, jacks and tens. Anywhere between two to four people could play the game and each player was dealt five cards. By this time, Poker had become the best cheating game on the Mississippi boats. It had actually received more attention than Three-Card Monte too! Most Three-Card Monte players thought that the 20-card poker was a more honest game and they always came back to play. This shows that Poker was born from card sharps.
German influence
Another debated topic is regarding how the word “Poker” came into use. Most dictionaries and game historians attribute the origins of the word to the eighteenth-century French game, “poque.” On the other hand, there are other references which lead to “pochspiel” too. This is a German game which consists of an element of bluffing. There are even some who say it may have originated from the Hindu word, pukka!
German influence
Another debated topic is regarding how the word “Poker” came into use. Most dictionaries and game historians attribute the origins of the word to the eighteenth-century French game, “poque.” On the other hand, there are other references which lead to “pochspiel” too. This is a German game which consists of an element of bluffing. There are even some who say it may have originated from the Hindu word, pukka!
Not a dice game!
A possible explanation for the word poker is that it has been derived from the slag word “poke.” This term was known to be frequently used by pickpockets! Many say that card sharps who used this 20-card game to relieve a sucker from his poke may have used this word amongst them with an additional “r.” A more magical perspective is that the word “poke” came from the famous magical phrase “hocus-pocus”!
Vague Card Game Descriptions
Eventually Poker evolved from a 20-card game to a game which included thirty two cards and in the course of time adopted the entire deck of fifty two cards leaving out the Jokers.
Vague Card Game Descriptions
Poker has moved itself from a backroom game and into casinos all over the world. Its history is filled with famous places and characters including periods such as the “Wild West” where every saloon had a Poker Table.
Gambling laws
Poker is currently played under the regulation of a variety of gambling laws. It is also a popular card game which has now grown into a sporting event with worldwide competitions and tournaments too. These tournaments are so popular that there is one going on every week somewhere in the world!