As with most games that are played for sport, we find that the origin of Poker has multiple roots. In Europe, the earliest forms of the game can be traced to bet-and-bluff games like brag in England, pochen (bluff) in Germany, and poque in France.
Interestingly, variations of the games can be found in ancient Africa and Asia too, pointing to other possible birthplaces of the game. In China, Emperor Mu-tsung is said to have played card dominos (a close variant of Poker) with his wife, as early as 969 AD. Other possible sources are the Persian game of nas and the Indian game of ganjifa. And the discovery of 12th or 13th century Egyptian cards leads to speculation on still another influence that possibly lent a hand to the shaping of the game.
The origin of the word Poker is also traced to different sources. Could it be the French game, poque? Or is it the German game, pochspiel? Or possibly the Hindu, word pukka? Or is it drawn the hocus pocus as used the vocabulary of magicians?
The roots of the game notwithstanding, the earliest written reference to poker was made by Jonathan H. Green, in 1834. Green wrote of a 'cheating game' that was gaining popularity on the Mississippi riverboats. The 20-card game that he described, was only played with Aces, Kings, Queens, Jacks and Tens, and different from Poker as it is played today. But, it was fast replacing Three-Card Monte as the most frequently played cheating game on the Mississippi boats.
In fact, by 1870, Poker has been redeveloped in America and re-exported to Europe. Since then, it has come to occupy a central place in the American contemporary culture of the day.
Today, Poker is played with a deck of 52, not counting the two Jokers. There are many variations, but basically five or seven cards are dealt out, and each player tries to create a winning combination. It is a contest of nerves and skills, where each player bets and bluffs on his or her combination against the unknown combinations of the other players.
The favorite card game of the Mississippi riverboats is among the top three card games in the world today. The rough floors of barges and the banter of saloons have given way to elegant casinos and card rooms, where Poker is governed by gambling laws.
Poker tournaments have emerged as important sporting events where the best in the world compete. Every week, a Poker tournament takes place somewhere in the world, with The World Series of Poker accepted as the highlight of the Poker sporting year.
As its fan following grows in large numbers across the world, it becomes clear that the game of unknown origins, adopted by the seafaring adventurers of the Mississippi riverboats, has carved a niche for itself in the contemporary imagination. Poker is definitely here to stay!
|
