The History Of Poker
The History Of Poker
While poker has maintained mainstream popularity for nearly 15 years now, most of the poker players are not aware of its origins. For over a period of almost 1,000 years, poker has been evolving into the game of poker that we currently know. However, the precise origin of poker itself is rather clouded because of the many, and at times, wild differences of card games practiced across the globe. While some attribute its origins to the 10th century China’s Sung Dynasty, others mark its initial stages with “As Nas”, a Persian game that dates all the way to the 16th century. The game has, in its entire history, varied significantly, but with the fundamental concepts of psychological strategy as well as card ranking always featuring along in the path of its evolution.
The poker game’s version which is most closely related to its modern form is known as Poque and has its origins in 17th century France. Poque proceeded to cross the Atlantic Ocean with a bunch of French settlers who at last founded the New Orleans city. Later, during the 18th century, the game spread from here along the whole span of the Mississippi River, and thriving in the U.S in the 19th century, at the time the country started to expand westward. This is why poker’s history is usually related to America’s “Wild West”.
Poker had a notorious status in the early 1800s, which was perhaps appropriately so. This is because there were neither officiating bodies nor standardized regulations back then hence cheating was much more common than it is currently. However, today, things have changed significantly with the existence of rules governing online and land-based casinos.
Poker Variations
Numerous poker variations have existed throughout history. Stud Poker was initially the most famous version of the game, although other variations were later developed, also becoming popular. These include Texas Hold’em, Five-Card Stud as well as Seven-Card Stud, Omaha & Omaha Hi-Low. Benny Binion perfected the poker tournament by the early 970s and proceeded to launch the World Series of Poker. It is during the 1970s that Texas Hold’em started to increase in popularity to cult status after appearing in World Series of Poker as the featured game. Texas Hold’em is undoubtedly the most preferred of all poker games today, and it is usually played in both the top online poker rooms and brick and mortar casinos worldwide.
World Series of Poker
The World Series of Poker, which significantly changed the history of poker, is the most famous annual competitive tournament of the poker game that attracts professional poker players from across the globe. Johnny Moss became the first person to win the Poker World Champion title in 1970. The tournament was then held at Binion’s Horseshoe. Harrah’s Casino acquired the rights of becoming the tournament’s executive host, and the tournament is today held every year at the Rio Hotel & Casino.
Having expanded farther than Las Vegas to other venues throughout the US, the World Series of Poker Europe, for the very first time was held towards the end of 2007. The World Series of Poker boasts more than $100 million in prize money as well as 55 gold-bracelet events hence it has attained to grand proportions and continues to make poker history.
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