Poker is played by millions of people around the world, with online poker now more popular than ever. As far as card games are concerned, few are as popular as poker, and whether it’s played for real cash or just for fun, it’s a lot of fun. While its popularity is hard to deny, there is a lot of debate over where poker came from and who first created the game.
The Origins of Poker
The history of the card game known as poker is thought to span multiple countries and cultures starting more than one thousand years ago. Some historians argue that the origins of poker can be linked to a domino-card game played by a Chinese emperor in the 10th century, while others assert that poker is a descendent of the 16th-century Persian card game As Nas. These early games were a long way off from the that people play today, but they changed over the years.
In Europe, a game known as Primero was developed in 16th century Spain. In this game, players were each dealt three cards. In addition, it contained the concept of bluffing, where players would bet big on weak hands to trick their opponents. Eventually, this game would inspire others, such as Poque in France and Pochen in Germany during the 17thcentury.
Poker in North America
While poker has its roots in European card games, it developed the most in North America. French colonial settlers brought Poque with them when they arrived in North America, with the game quickly becoming popular in major French settlements such as New Orleans. Eventually, the US acquired these settlements through the , bringing Poque to a wider audience.
As Poque began to be played by English speakers, it was anglicized to poker. New elements of the game were also created, such as the introduction of community cards. From here, poker quickly spread to new areas of the country, including the Mississippi, where it was played for real money on riverboat casinos. It spread further during the American Civil War, as it was a popular way to pass the time among soldiers.
Throughout this time, many different versions of poker were created, each with its unique rules and ways to play. These were usually associated with specific towns and areas, with some towns having unique rules for each saloon. The rules would change how many cards each player was dealt, the format of betting rounds, and the use of community cards.
It’s unclear when Texas Hold ’em was created into today’s most popular poker variant. However, most historians agree that it was some time in the early 1900s. The game is believed to have been played in Robstown, Texas, and it would later spread around the country and become the standard game’s rules.
Poker’s Continued Spread
As legend would have it, poker spread to Europe in 1871 thanks to and the American ambassador to Great Britain. The ambassador had been explaining the game to the Queen’s court members, leading her to ask him about the rules. Several decades later, poker gained more widespread appeal in Europe, partly as a result of the impact of American soldiers fighting in World War I.
However, it wasn’t until the 1970s that poker really started to take off and become a mainstream game. During this time, Las Vegas casinos began holding poker tournaments, offering big money prizes to winners. It soon became popular among gamblers due to the highly skilled nature of the game and would eventually lead to the creation of events such as the World Series of Poker. When these events were televised, they brought poker to a new audience of fascinated viewers. Televised poker helped to create mass appeal, making it seem exciting and creating professional poker stars.
In the 90s, the game grew once more thanks to the introduction of online poker sites. These websites allowed people to play poker from their own homes, making it more accessible than ever. Although many sites were banned in the US, they continued to be popular, and the number of people playing poker has grown ever since.