| | |  | | | | Poker History
The exact origins of poker and its history are hazy. There seem to be many different and conflicting stories about the history of poker. One thing is sure though, it’s an old game and it seems to have been played on almost ever culture. Below are just some of the theories behind the history of poker and where exactly the game originated. We are not saying any of these are correct or incorrect, but it may be of interest to you to find out just how many different versions there are about the history of poker.
According to one account, poker is America's best known and most popular card game, played both at home and in the casino. While its origins are unknown, it is likely that poker is a direct descendant from the Persian game of as nas. The first direct reference to the game of poker shows its origins in New Orleans around 1830. Poker then became very popular in casino around the country.
Another theory is that the word poker comes from an eighteenth-century French game, poque. However, there are other references to pochspiel, which is a German game. In pochspiel, there is an element of bluffing, where players would indicate whether they wanted to pass or open by rapping on the table and saying, "Ich Poche!" Some say it may even have derived from the Hindu word, pukka. Another explanation for the word poker, is that it came from a version of an underworld slang word, "poke," a term used by pickpockets. Card sharps who used the 20-card cheating game to relieve a sucker from his poke (money) may have used that word among themselves, adding an r to make it "poker." There are those who also believe that "poke" probably came from "hocus-pocus", a term widely used by magicians.
Yet another theory traces poker back to the old Italian game of Primero, which became Brelan during the reign of Charles IX (1550-74). Brelan evolved into Bouillotte, which flourished during the French Revolution. Jonathan H. Green makes one of the earliest written references to poker in 1834. In his writing, Green mentions rules to what he called the "cheating game," which was then being played on Mississippi riverboats.
In 1968, a book called Advanced Concepts of Poker was published. By 1972, the publication had become the largest-selling poker book in the world. The Advanced Concepts of Poker fully identified for the first time the potentially ruthless, manipulative, but highly profitable nature of poker. In addition, the characteristics of consistent winners, and chronic losers were identified. Also identified for the first time were three different kinds of odds, the effects of the betting pace versus the betting stakes, the advantages of aggressive betting, and the advantages gained by the good player when complex and fast-paced games were played.
The true origins and history of the game of poker may never be know but one thing that is for sure is that it has become the most recognized casino game in the history of casino games. It is played all over the world, at tournaments, private games, amateur games, at online casinos and of course at land based casinos. |
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