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ORIGINS OF POKER

Based on our generation, it’s safe to say that majority of us have seen movies about the Wild West with the likes of James Dean gracing the silver screen with that macho persona.  We’ve saloon scenes where the men are either playing poker at the table or drinking or both.  We can all very well believe those scenario where in the old west towns in Virginia City show gamblers playing with their backs against the wall to make sure that no one sees the cards over their shoulders with a gun tucked at their sides.

Claims on Poker History

Probably it depends on what you are willing to believe and accept.  There would be those who would say that poker came from Persia during the 16^th century with a card game known then to locals as As Nas.  The deck consisted of 25 cards with five suits.  Many are apt to believe this one because the rules then were the same ones being followed in this generation’s five card stud.

Some Asians would argue though that poker started in ancient China as early as 900 AD.  But you have to admit, the poker as we know it right now most probably came from a host of other countries where cards were played.  This is one of the reasons that if you’ve observed enough about worldwide poker, there may be variations in the rules on how it is played in other regions.

Poker in the US

In the home front, poker flourished in New Orleans mainly played by the French settlers who played a game that includes bluffing and a lot of betting too called Poque during the early 1800’s.  The rules for this poker game are strikingly similar to what is known now as draw poker.  Of course, with New Orleans becoming a bastion for poker players, men started favoring this game as it involves money and a good amount of betting.  Consequently, the first gambling casino was put up in, where else but New Orleans by John Davis around 1822.  This forerunner of casinos was opened night and day for the public.  There was gourmet food to entice the patrons to keep coming back plus ladies to make playing more enjoyable were made available too.

Poker has certainly come a long way and it would be difficult to just brush off as a very useless hobby.  I’m sure you’d agree that its stature has remained controversial but you cannot easily put it off with the flick of a finger.