Poker Guide
Poker History

The game of poker was first established in the early 19th century in the USA. Since then it has made a special place in the hearts of card gamers making it one of the most popular card games ever. The poker game was based on a game called ‘Poque’ played in various French parlours. When the French visited the United States, the game also traveled with them and soon this card game became popular in regions of New Orleans and Louisiana.

The earliest origins of the game can be traced back to China in the 10th century. The members of the royal family and the people from the kingdom were fond of the game. As the game became more popular in the region people started calling it the Leaf game. Another origin of the game can be traced back to the 16th century when a Persian game called "As Nas" was played. As Nas was a five-card game, with betting and bluffing, it is believed that it was the precursor to modern-day poker.

During the mid-1800s, decks of cards were now ranged from 20 to 52 cards and five-card games became the drawing game. In the 1860s straight five sequential cards were also added to the rules books. La prime was a version of three card game called ‘Primero’ and the best hands were three of a kind, a pair, and a flush. The first version of this game debuted in Spain in 1525. In Italy, the same game was called as the ‘Primeria’.

The Italian decks consisted of a total of 40 cards containing coins, cups, spades, and clubs. They also had their own regional games like Briscoal and Scopa. Germans were now enjoying their own bluffing game known as the Pochen. This version was the first where crafting was rewarded and bluffing started to become an integral part of the game. The British then took this game with them when they colonized America and this is how modern-day poker came into existence.

Due to some development and changes in the 1970s, poker became much more famous than before. Poker tournaments were introduced which became famous in American casinos, especially after the famed World Series of Poker began in 1970. Then in 1980 poker was depicted in pop culture, it even featured in the 10th episode of Star Trek: The Next Generation. In 1987, California legalized the game of Holdem and Omaha thus gaining more reach and popularity.

Soon Poker made its way into real money online games. From 2003 onwards there were a number of satellite tournaments where in players competed to win real cash prizes. The International Federation of Poker was founded in Switzerland thus an official body now came into existence. Now with easy access to the internet and ease of the gaming through applications and websites, Poker has become a household phenomenon reaching new corners of the world.