Poker History
Poker is one of numerous card games that were invented during long history of playing cards. It is important to say that poker is not a single game, but a line of games loved and played around the world. Nowadays gambling in general and poker as a part of gambling is most popular in Northern America. Europe, Asia, Africa and Australia pay lesser attention to gambling, but however there is hardly a country where you can’t find a poker room.
It is known that first games from poker line were invented in medieval Europe. First poker games are even mentioned in some chronicles – the earliest is dated to year 1526. Nowadays poker is played with five cards, but that early poker was played with three cards only and was known as “primero” in Spain and Italy, “la prime” in France. This game included betting and winning combinations were the cards of same value, pairs and a hand of cards of same suit – this combination still has its ancient name – flush.
In year 1700 game gained many features of modern poker. Many records of that times started mentioning bluffing and three card hands changed to five card hands. Firstly known as “la prime” this game gained various names in different countries – “brag” in United Kingdom, “pochen” in Germany and “poque” in France. In these ancestors of modern poker, bluffing, or betting a lot of money, when you have weak hand to force your opponents to drop, was a very important feature. It is supposed that French word “poque” comes from German “pochen”, but modern word “poker” is definitely has French roots.
French colonists brought this game to America. That is why earliest poker rooms were founded in Louisiana and then spread up along Mississippi and around the country. First record about poker in America is made by Joe Cowl, a British actor that traveled around America in 1829. In 1834 poker deck started consisting of 52 cards. Some records of 1858 say that poker became an official game in some casinos, but it is also called “old game”, so we can conclude that it was already extremely popular among people and it was nearly single game played during the civil war.
In Brag, Pochen and Poque games there was only one betting round. The showdown – when all players open their cards to see the strongest hand took place right after this first betting round. Rank of hands was defined as follows (starting from the strongest): four of a kind (high), full house (three of a kind and a pair), three of a kind, two pairs, one pair and hand that forms no combinations at all (in this case high card is not considered). Ranking of cards of the same suit was as follows (starting from the highest): Ace (senior or high card), King, Queen, Jack, 10 and down to 2. All suits were equal just as they are equal nowadays.
Later on a new combinations of cards was added to poker rules. It was straight – a sequence of 5 cards in a row, in some games regardless of suit and in some games of same suit, flush – same suit of all cards irrespectively of sequence. At the same time additional betting rounds were added – that’s how two most popular poker types were founded. They were:
Closed poker – this game has two variants which are Straight and Draw where all cards are dealt face down.
Open poker or Stud poker, where initial cards are dealt face-down and others face up and dealt one per round.
Modern poker returned from USA to Europe, when Jacob Shank, the ambassador of USA in United Kingdom presented this game at Her Majesty Victoria’s court in 1870. In fact Shank has written rules of this game for Her Majesty, who was interested in this game. It was first written book completely dedicated to poker. However poker didn’t left the palace and was unpopular until the First World War. During the war it was spread by soldiers of American mariners that came to Britain to deliver news from front lines to Washington.
For many years poker was a “male” game only, but in the middle of 20th century women also started playing this game. It is important to admit that some kinds of poker are still played in closed clubs for men only.
In year 1963 first huge sum was won by Jason Camuall in Grand Royal casino in Las Vegas. Having played an outstanding hard this man was lucky enough to get a joker and win $1,000,000 during one evening! That is why it is said “you can play roulette, baccarat or whatever else, but you can win a million just with a Royal Flush”.
On this site you will find all important information about poker including rules and basic concepts of poker (for beginners only) and lots of useful articles containing valuable strategy tips, reviews of poker rooms, news about poker events and much more. We have tried to gather only important information, only comprehensive and efficient guides and tips to save your time and help you learning and winning!
And remember – a good player is not one that much winning, but one that not loosing. And let luck always stay with you!