Exclusive Poker

How Poker Started in the US and the Rest of the World

When you go to almost any casino anywhere in the world, surely, you wouldn't miss seeing a table where poker is played. Poker is now considered as one of the most popular casino card games in the world. Because of this, with the emergence of online casinos, even these gaming venues also offer playing poker online.

With poker's popularity, one would wonder, how did this game start. Some experts say that poker originated in China. It was said that a Chinese emperor on the New Year's Eve of 969 AD played the early version of poker with his wife. Domino cards were used.

In the 12th century, the Egyptian were recorded to use a deck of paying card during their games. On the other hand, in the 16th century, the Persian were recorded to use Ganjifa during their betting games, which are likely to be one of the precursors of poker. The Ganjifa, also known as the treasure cards are composed of 96 differently designed cards. These cards are made from thin slices of ivory. Wood may also be used in making the Ganjifa.

During those years, the game was not yet referred to as poker. The term poker, most likely originated from the French game "poque" and the German game "pochen." These are card games that were being played in these countries in the 17th and 18th centuries.

It was said that both poque and pochen originated from the Spanish card game Primero. Primero involves bluffing, including betting large amounts of money even if the player has a weak set, very similar to the way poker is played. Because of this, Primero was tagged as the mother of the modern casino game poker.

Poker reached Canada from France through the colonial settlers. Poker spread to the United Stated through the French-Canadian settlers. First, poker started in New Orleans, then in Louisiana and Mississippi before the other parts of the United States.

From the time it was brought to the United States, different variations of poker were developed. Some other these poker variations are the stud poker, the draw poker, the 5-card draw poker, the 7-card stud poker and the Texas hold'em.

Poker is so popular in the United States that during the Civil War, it was recorded that soldiers from both camps play poker when not on the fields. Up to this time, poker has never waned in popularity. It could be because of the challenge in playing the game particularly in bluffing in order to win.