Poker game history is shrouded in mystery as its origins are still under debate. The game is believed to be a combination of various card games from different parts of the world that evolved through time.
One popular myth regarding the birth of the poker game is found in the East. It was said that in China, around 969 A.D., a similar game was played by the Mu-Tsung emperor during the New Year. The said game was known as Domino Cards.
Around the 12th to 13th century, Egyptians were believed to favor a game that was similar to card games, while the Persians used so-called Treasure Cards for betting during the 1600s. These cards had a deck of 96 cards that were made of either ivory or wood, thinly sliced with elaborate designs. The Persians used the cards to play As Nas, with similar poker rules in betting and hand hierarchy.
The term poker most likely came from 'poque,' a French word derived from the word 'pochen,' which means 'to knock' in German. However, it is still uncertain if poker first came from either France or Germany. Around the 16th century, the Spanish game Primero soon became a vogue for Europeans. Primero is played by dealing three cards for every player and these players would bet high stakes and bluff on each opponent's hand. Among the rumored predecessors of poker, Primero is first to be acknowledged as a direct relation of today's famous card game.
It is believed that poker was spread to the continent of North America when the French bought it with them to Canada. Soon, the favorite card game became a staple in North America, as the French-Canadian people ventured south to New Orleans. From there, poque spread to Louisiana, along the river of Mississippi, and eventually, was played throughout the area.
Poker gained widespread following as riverboats along the said river offered this game to passing tourists and travelers. The game soon took a reputation as a challenging and more honest gambling game. With its growing popularity, poker sparked interest from different people until it became custom for people to play poker often for bets. The earliest reference to poker in written text was made in 1834, after it was documented and formally given its name by a writer named Jonathan H. Green, in the book entitled "An Exposure of the Arts and Miseries of Gambling."
During the era of the rowdy Wild West in the United States, poker has reached stardom, as every saloon in the area offered this game. Several novels and movies captured the period of the wild card games with the stories of gunfights arising whenever any player cheated. With all these publicity and references, most people still associate poker playing with saloons and sheriffs.
During the course of the long Civil War, soldiers from both sides of the lines played poker as pastime. The game became ever more popular afterward, when World War I and II saw the spread of the poker game to different parts of the world.
Today, more than hundreds of people play poker. From America to Europe, down to Australia and until Asia, poker is among the most famous gambling games ever played. Poker has sprouted variations in both game and betting, from low buy-ins to high stakes. Casinos and gambling houses are never empty as the fascination for this fast-paced and exciting game never wanes
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