A Brief History of Poker
The origin of poker is unclear, and it has been subject to much debate. One popular theory is that the game descended from As Nas, a 16th century Persian card game which had Poker like characteristics, including pairs and three of a kind.
The objection to this Persian origin for Poker is that there is no mention of As Nas before 1890 and that the word itself was probably derived from the French word for Ace. Other historians believe that the origin of Poker is tied in with pochen, a 15th century German card game. The evidence in its favor, apart from its similarity with Poker, is that the word means "to bluff", or "bet".
The history of Poker in America began in the 1800s, as the game was introduced by the settlers, gaining popularity in New Orleans and Mississippi. Initially the game was played with only 20 cards and a single betting round. However by the mid 1800s innovations, such as the 52 card deck, multiple rounds and drawing of cards were introduced.
While poker proved popular, unscrupulous activities and rampant cheating by professional gamblers would undermine it. The increasing number of people victimized by these charlatans led to ordinances against gambling. The situation forced gamblers to ply their trade in steamboats on the Mississippi river, and owing to its light weight, cards, Poker in particular, became the game of choice.
As gambling laws wren tightened in the American Southwest, professional gamblers moved on to California, where the card game caught on. During and after the American Civil War, the history of Poker underwent numerous changes, becoming the game it is known today. Among those innovations were Draw Poker (heavily influenced by Brag, an English card game), Stud Poker, Community Card Poker, among others.
By the 1970s, Poker had become a mainstay in casinos, and the popularity of the game was confirmed by the success of such tournaments as the World Series of Poker. While the game was firmly entrenched as one of (if not the) most popular card games in America, it would reach new heights as never before in its history with the advent of Internet Poker and Poker on TV.
The increasing popularity of the Internet allowed the game to be played online, which meant players from all over the world could participate simultaneously. Furthermore, computer software handled the distribution of hands, eliminating the possibility of fraud. The other development that changed Poker history was the hole card camera. This device made possible Poker on television, as people could follow the events.
Online Poker and Poker on TV have become a phenomenal success, with the end result being the establishment of several tournaments and contests, with millions of dollars in cash and prizes at stake. In terms of fan following and viewer ship Poker today is right up there with the other major sporting events in the world.