A Brief History of Poker: Until 1800ish

“In the beginning, everything was even money.” Those are the words of Mike Caro, well-known poker strategist and author. He meant that when something is new to people, such as gambling, it is very hard to judge in terms of profitability or practicability. When we were just kids, our parents were easily able to make us believe that Santa Claus is real (not that he isn’t) and that he visits us every Christmas (which he does). We had so little information about the world that it was simple to believe that a magical man visited every house around the world in one night. As we age and learn, we start to realize that while it is fun to believe in magic, realistically everything in life comes down to chance and probability.

PLAY ONLINE POKER – TEXAS HOLD’EM POKER

Online Poker Betting Begins

When you cross the street to meet your friend, you already knew to look both ways to make sure it was safe. Right from that early age, it was your parents teaching you to mitigate risk. If you did not see a car it was probably safe. There was always the possibility that you did not see a vehicle, but as long as you were doing what you could to make it safer, you were learning about chance and probability. You could always reduce your chance of getting hit by a car even more by never crossing the road, or further by never leaving your house. Sure the possibilities are reduced, but they are never zero (The dad of a friend of mine once lost control of the car because of an electrical malfunction and drove right through a neighbor’s living room. Thankfully no one was hurt).

Mike Caro’s words describe a gambler’s dilemma; someone who has to make an analysis but only has partial information. It forces the gambler, poker players and casino patrons alike, to treat every situation as if it is 50/50 and make a decision based on the risk versus reward of the gamble.

For Sheep and Goats

The tendencies to gamble have always been a part of human nature. Evidence of gambling can be traced back to the year 3,000 BC, and the earliest record of a bet, a small bet which was for animals, happening around 2,300 BC. Other ancient cultures, the Babylonian, Greeks and others, practiced belomancy, which was a form of divination with marked arrows. There are some who believe that belomancy was responsible for one of the earliest deck of cards, the “htou-tjyen” (traditional playing cards of ancient Korea). It is thought that the arrows evolved into “htou-tjyen”, which comprised of long and narrow paper strips. On one side they had a consistent design, and on the other side a number and something akin to a suit, with the same quantity of ‘cards’ sharing the same suit. The cards often pictured feathers on their backs, lending more credibility to the relationship. The oldest known reference to a deck of cards or a card game comes from 9th century China.

A Wide World Of Community Cards are Dealt

It was from Asia that cards arrived to western Europe and became part of the culture. In Catherine Perry Hargrave’s A History of Playing Cards, from 1930, we can find hundreds of examples of how the various cards originated depending on culture and tradition. Early Chinese cards looked like the banknotes that were used as currency. European cards pictured profiles of kings and gentry. Indian cards often had different incarnations of Vishnu on their backs. Playing cards and the games played with them, while developed elsewhere, were thoroughly influenced by the culture they became part of – the Kings, Queens and Jacks all being representative of various noblemen and women.

Poker Variants and Classic Games

While the exact route taken from the earliest forms of card games and gambling to the now traditional poker game is unknown, it is believed that it evolved from the French and German game named Poque or Poch, respectively – it is also known as Pochen. The earliest reference to this game comes from 1441 in Strasbourg. Poch is a game of chance played with a deck of cards, 32 cards for a 3-4 player game and 52 cards for a 5-6 player game. The decks were split into 4 suits (the 4 suits are believed to be a European addition) with either 8 or 13 cards each, depending on the deck size, of each rank. The game was played over 3 rounds with players betting and bluffing each round depending on their 5 card hand.

Another early game with great similarities to poker is primero, or primiera or la prime, as it was known in Spain, Italy and France respectively. The first appearance of this game in literature is as early as 1526. Early versions of this game had players receive 3 cards and attempt to make pairs, three of a kind or a flush. As time passed the rules evolved to include special card values (akin to wild cards).
By the early 1700’s the betting and bluffing parts of the game became the basis of the English game of Brag, a 3 card game where players bet and won if they had the best hand.

America finds Poker

As the number of settlers from Europe to the Americas increased, they would bring their localized entertainment with them, including card games and gambling. It was around the time of the Louisiana purchase, around 1803, that the new French American territory Anglicized the name and modernized the rules, thus the first modern game of Poker was finally played.

The History of the WSOP 1970-1989

About the Author: Adikk7 is always looking for action. Currently studying at university to upgrade his skills, he is on constant prowl searching bookmakers to casinos, he is constantly searching for his best edge.

Whether you’re a fan of high-stakes cash games or the excitement of multi-table poker tournaments, GGPoker is the premier destination for poker enthusiasts. For those aiming to compete for a prestigious WSOP bracelet, push through the ranks for a WSOP Circuit ring, or simply hone their strategies in classic games or poker formats, GGPoker has something for everyone. The platform offers a seamless online poker experience, with innovative features like Smart HUD, PokerCraft, and integrated staking, designed to elevate your game. Whether you’re grinding your way up in daily cash games or competing for life-changing prizes in major online series, GGPoker provides the best environment to play, improve your poker skills, and succeed in the world of online poker. And if you are not sure where to start, you can always play free poker games and learn at the GGPoker School.