The Origins of Poker
It is believed that the game of poker originated more than ten centuries ago. It developed as an offshoot of other various games. These games included such principles as ranked cards, domino combinations as well as utilizing bluffing as a technique to trick your opponents. Although no one is for sure its exact origins many believe it was first played in China as artifacts indicate a game using domino cards was played the by Emperor and his wife.
Other civilizations in later years seem to have played games that could possibly be the predecessor of poker. During the 12th and 13th centuries, the Egyptians had their own form of playing cards. In Persia during the 16th century a variety of betting games were played that used “Ganjifa” or “Treasure Cards”. A deck of Ganjifa was comprised of 96 ornate cards. There were usually constructed of ivory or precious woods. These were sliced thin like paper to make the cards. Using these cards, the Persians played a game calls “As Nas”. The game required 25 of the Ganjifa cards. It featured betting rounds as well as hand rankings.
During the 1500’s a game known as “Primero” became popular in Spain. This game began with three cards being dealt to the players. Bluffing was used in this game where you could mislead opponents regarding the merits of your hand. Also, wagering high stakes was another element of Primero. Many refer to this game as poker’s mother as it’s the first version that closely mirrored most aspects of present day poker. This game later spread to other parts of Europe. During the 1600 and 1700’s games were played in both France and Germany that were similar to poker. These games were known as “Pogue” in France and “Pochen” in Germany. Both games were offshoots of the Spanish Primero. The game later came to North American during colonial times. The French arrived in Canada where it quickly spread. The game soon founds its way south along the Mississippi River bringing the game to America. The rest they say is history as poker has become an international hit. If you’re looking for a great site to play poker, check out www.onlinecasinoking.com to find the best site for your needs.
Uncategorized | admin | 23 July 2011 |
