History

The precise origins of poker are still an actual matter of debate. It is generally agreed today that poker descended from poque, the famous French game, which derived from the German game known as pochen, meaning to knock. Poker also has many affinities with as nas, the famous Persian game that the Persian sailors taught the French and with primero and brelan, other two popular games during renaissance. All these games have influenced the poker games in general and Texas Hold’em, in particular, as bluffing and betting was invented with these games.

The earliest signs of poker date from 900 AD, in China. Soon after paper was invented, the Chinese thought of designing the first deck of cards. From here, playing cards have traveled through the Middle East and soon arrived to Europe. Since all this happened a really long time ago, there is very little evidence to sustain these theories. What we can be more certain about is the more recent information according to which poker was first played in New Orleans around 1829. It was played from a deck of 20 cards by four players who would bet on whose hand would be the highest at the end of the game. From the 19th century up to the present the evolution of poker is much easier to follow as many poker-related books have been published in this period. During the gold rush, the game spread all over the world and gambling became a common hobby.

Today we all accept the theory which states that poker came from the middle ages, when in Germany, people refered to it as pochspiel (the betting game). It included betting money and it closely resembled the poker we are familiar with today. Each player was dealt five cards, of the same value and suits as today. Players used to bet until they got to an argument because of bluffing, so it was quite an aggressive game.