The history of poker, as complex and mysterious as the strategy leading to victory in this “semi-random” game according to law, spans centuries and different cultures. From its distant origins to modern practice, poker has been constantly evolving, including elements of luck and skill. This study traces the fascinating path of poker and shows how it became the fascinating game that we know today. If you are looking for excitement, then it is better to pay attention to slots such as gems and mines 1xbet, but if you want to move your brains a lot, then poker is an ideal option.
The Origins of Poker
Poker is partly rooted in ancient card games played in China and Persia. Back in the 10th century, some experts considered the Chinese game using domino cards to be a possible ancestor of poker.
In sixteenth-century Persia, a game called “As Us” bears a striking resemblance to modern poker. This Persian game used 25 cards with combinations and bets, which are the central elements of poker today. Moreover, in the memory of the historian, this will be the first game in which bluff was allowed, one might even say imposed.
These games influenced the development of modern poker, in particular through cultural and commercial exchange between East and West.
The development of poker in Europe
Others think that the European Primero game, which also appeared in the 16th century, is the ancestor of poker, since the bets were of different denominations and there were such hands as pairs, threes and three cards of the same suit which we called the “stream”. The English term “flush” today corresponds to the hand we call “flush”.
In the 18th century, we found several games in Europe that had these previous characteristics. The same applies to two games whose names are said to have marked the beginning of poker: the German Pochen (meaning “bluff”) and the French Poque.
The arrival of poker in the USA
Interestingly, these are the French who settled in Louisiana since 1682 and brought this game with them and then spread it among cowboys.
In 1803, Napoleon Bonaparte sold Louisiana to the United States for 80 million francs (as compensation for French piracy of American ships in the 1790s). After this sale, poker experienced tremendous expansion and gradually spread across the United States.
The Civil War (1861-1865) allowed the soldiers of the North to discover this game when they penetrated the southern territories. That is why many of them played closed poker (draw) and stud in the trenches.
The appearance of poker options
Initially, poker was played with a set of 20 cards (just like the Ace of Us) and included one card of each type from 10 to Ace. Thus, suits and suits did not take place until 1840, when the 52-card game (French deck) was adopted.
It was only in the 20th century that the most popular poker variant appeared: Texas Hold’em, which is most often played in unlimited mode and which is the flagship event of modern tournaments. Omaha did not appear until the 1980s. Its origin is still unclear, although everyone agrees that its name comes from a city in Nebraska.
In the 1980s, betting limits appeared on the initiative of the US casinos. Indeed, before that, poker was played in unlimited mode, which is still the case in Europe, where we also prefer the English auction: Pot Limit. It was then that the rules of poker as we know them today were defined, and which apply to various options or limits. The growth of competitive poker then has led to the emergence of several prestigious tournaments, each of which has a clear positioning that allows players to stand out in the poker world.
The Arrival of Online Poker
But online poker probably appeared much earlier than you thought, namely in the 1990s, and it ended immediately marked a revolution in the world of poker and online gambling, because with the advent of the Internet, the first online poker sites allowed players to compete virtually, regardless of geographical location.
Conclusion: a new era in the history of poker
The popularity of online poker increased dramatically in the early 2000s, partly due to the ease of participating in cash games and winning real money and it also partly began with Chris Moneymaker’s victory in the Main Event of the World Series of Poker in 2003. An amateur player qualified through an online tournament, and his victory inspired millions, demonstrating that anyone can win major tournaments. Poker has become extremely popular, especially Texas Hold’em. Televised tournaments have also increased interest in the game, making poker more accessible and understandable to the general public. So if you’ve been wanting to try yourself in this game for a long time, then go for it!
