Poker

TN - 12/10/2011

There seems to be a number of differences of opinion on the origin of the Poker. Furthermore, there is really no clear or direct early ancestor of the game. It is thought that the "Poker" game of today was derived from many different variations of the game throughout the years.

Jonathan H. Green (gambler) made one of the earliest written references to Poker in 1834. In his writing, JHG references rules to what he called the "cheating game",, played on Mississippi riverboats at that time. JHG soon realized that his was the first such reference to the game, and since it was not mentioned in the current American Hoyle, he chose to call the game Poker.

The game he described was played with 20 cards, using only the aces, kings, queens, jacks and tens. Two to four people were able to play, each was dealt five cards. By the time JHG wrote about it, poker had become the number one cheating game on the Mississippi boats....receiving even more action than Three-Card Monte. Most gamblers that lost at Three-Card Monte thought the 20-card poker game seemed more a legitimate game and they came back time and time again hoping for a win. Perhaps the game of poker was created by the cardsharps.

The origin of the word Poker is also well debated by the scholars. Most of the dictionaries and game historians say that it comes from an eighteenth-century French game, poque. However, there are other references to pochspiel, a German game....or the Hindu word, pukka....or the slang word used in the underworld "poke".....a term used by pickpockets. Cardsharps who used the 20-card cheating game to relieve a sucker from his poke may have used that word among themselves, adding an r to make it "poker." The thought was that if the sharps used the word "poker" in front of their victims, those wise to the underworld slang would not surmise the change. And there are those who believe that "poke" probably came from "hocus-pocus", a term widely used by magicians.

Whatever the case , he game of Poker later evolved to include 32 cards, and eventually the modern day deck of 52, not counting the two Jokers.

The game of Poker has evolved through the years, from the backroom games to the present day poker games at most casinos around the world. Its history is rich with famous places and characters, from the Wild Wild West period to the modern day casino poker player

Today, Poker is carefully regulated by gambling laws in every state but Poker is still played more than any other card game in the world. It has grown into a major televised event, with competitions and tournaments all around the world almost every week of the year.

Poker attracts players from all over the world to compete for money and titles as the world's top Poker players.

Poker will always be around and will continue to grow and flourish, there will always be a game to play, money to be won, and crowns to be worn.