History of Poker
There are differences of opinion on the origin of Poker and no clear or direct early ancestor of the game. Therefore it is more likely that Poker derived its present day form from various elements of many different games. Generally it is thought that it's basic principal form has been evolving for a very long time.
Generally, the most popular view is that the Chinese invented the game around 900 A.D., in the form of the Chinese dominoes. Others find that Poker originated from the Persian game "as nas,” a 5-player game played with a special deck of 25 cards of 5 suits. Fragments of cards have been identified as dating back to the 12th or 13th century in Egypt. Some propose that modern cards originated from the Indian card game of Ganjifa. It seems that there are as many versions of the possible birthplace of Poker as there are varieties of the game itself.
A game that is most like todays poker Poque, which hails from 17th century France. Poque was brought by a group of French settlers who founded the city of New Orleans. From there, it spread along the Mississippi River during the 18th century and flourished in the United States during the 19th century. For this reason, the history of poker is commonly associated with America's "Wild West"
Jonathan H. Green refers to Poker in 1834, in his description of what he called “the cheating game," which was being played on Mississippi riverboats.
A possible explanation for the name Poker is that it came from a the underworld slang word, "poke," a term used by pickpockets. Cardsharps who played the 20-card cheating game cheat a player from his poke may have devised the term.
Throughout history, the game has varied considerably, however the basic concepts of psychological strategy and card ranking have always featured along the course of its development.
As one of the most adaptable card games, there are many variations of the game of poker played in homes across the world, but the 'big five' - Texas Hold'em, Omaha, Omaha Hi/Lo, 7 Card Stud and 7 Card Stud Hi/Lo - are the most popular games played in casinos, card rooms and cyberspace, with Texas Hold'em being by far the most popular.
Today, Poker is carefully regulated by gambling laws, but Poker is played more than any other card game in the world. It has grown to become almost a sporting event, with competitions and tournaments all around the world. The star of the poker world, The World Series of Poker, attracts players from all over the world every year to compete for money and titles as the world's top No Limit Texas Hold’em Poker players.
The World Series of Poker and the World Poker Tour have been a rating success with American television audiences and programming now includes TV events such as the National Heads Up Poker Championship and the World Series of Poker Tournament of Champions which are produced especially for TV and shown in prime viewing time slots.
Poker looks like it is here to stay - the popularity has never been as widespread nor growing as quickly as it is right now. With the amount of poker information available online, and the relative ease of logging on and playing a game with other poker players from around the world, there is no time like the present to joinin the poker boom.
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