The Roots And People Behind Poker

The origins of poker, it seems, has been a subject of debate for many historians. It is believed to have evolved from many different forms of gambling games from many different countries. All involving the use of card ranking or domino combinations and deceiving your opponents through "bluffing". It is agreed though, that since it uses this very basic principle its genesis is a very old one.

The Emperor Mu-Tsung of China has been recorded to have played a game of "domino cards" with his wife on New Year's Eve in 969 AD, a game similar to poker that it was believed that the Chinese invented the game.

In the 16th century the Persians, who played a variety of betting games with "Ganjifa" or treasure cards, used 25 of these cards for the game "As Nas". This game involved round after round of betting and hierarchical hand rankings.

Even the origin of the name Poker has never been established to one ancestry. Game historians said that it is likely descended from the Irish "Poca" or "Pocket" and even from the 18th century French game "Poque". There are also allusions to the German game "Pochspiel" which employs the element of bluffing. Others would say that it came from the Hindu word "Pukka".

It is widely believed that Poker's ancestry is shared between the French "Brelan" and the Spanish game "Primero" which dates back to 1526. This is often regarded as "poker's mother" as it was the first established version of the modern day Poker.

The French colonials then imported the game into Canada and later on when a group of French-Canadian settlers founded New Orleans the game spread throughout the state and the rest of the country by Mississippi Riverboats. As it became popular in the Mississippi and the West during the gold rush it has entrenched itself in the history of the Wild West when a saloon with a Poker table could be found just about everywhere.

Jonathan H. Green made the earliest written reference to the game in 1839. He wrote that a form of "cheating game" was being played on the Mississippi riverboats and even mentioned the rules of the game. It quickly became popular on the gambling circuits as gamblers found the new game more challenging and straightforward than the 3-card game which was notorious for its rigged play.

Today, as with any other gambling game, Poker is carefully regulated by laws. Saloons have been replaced by casinos and Poker has grown into a world-wide sporting event. Tournaments and competitions take place every week in any part of the world.