9 Interesting facts about Poker you probably didn’t know

The game of Poker has been a part of many people’s lives since the 16^th century when it was played under the name “As Nas”. It is thought to have derived from the French game of poque, which was brought to the US by immigrants from that country. Poker quickly became a popular pastime in the United States, particularly in the West, where it was often played in gambling halls.

The first recorded poker tournament took place in New Orleans in 1829, and the game began to spread throughout the country. By the mid-19th century, poker was being played in every state in the Union. The game underwent a major transformation in the early 20th century when the first “draw” poker game was introduced. This new version of the game, which allowed players to replace cards in their hands with new ones, quickly became the most popular form of poker. Today, poker is played all over the world and is one of the most popular card games. It is a game of skill and chances and more players are joining the poker world every day.

The world of poker holds many fascinating facts that will intrigue your senses to join the game now. Here are some of them—

1.    First mentioned in a book called "The Gambler's Primer"

      The origins of poker are unclear, but the game is thought to have originated in China or Persia. Poker is first mentioned in a book called "The Gambler's Primer" in 1745. The book contains instructions for a game called "brag," which is thought to be the forerunner of poker.

2.    A game of poker was hosted in Arizona where it lasted for 8 years

      The Bird Cage Theatre in Arizona was a popular gambling destination in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. The theatre was originally built in 1881 as a vaudeville venue and the theatre's basement was home to a poker room that operated for eight years, from 1882 to 1890. The room was said to be frequented by some of the most famous gamblers of the time, including Doc Holliday and Wyatt Earp. The Bird Cage Theatre is now a museum, and the poker room has been preserved as a historical site.

3.    Poker chips were initially made from clay and ivory

      Poker chips were made from bone, ivory and clay in the early days of poker playing. The first poker chips were made of clay and ivory in 1829 but in 1849 the first poker chips made of clay were introduced. The first poker chips made of plastic were introduced in the early 1900s. Poker chips made of metal were introduced in the early 1920s. Poker chips are now made of different materials including plastic, clay, ceramic and metal.

4.    First televised game of poker was aired in America      

      The first televised poker game in America was aired on October 19, 1970, on the CBS network. The game was between two of the most famous poker players of that era, Johnny Moss and Doyle Brunson.

5.    Anne Bonny was the first woman to play the game of poker 

      As poker is thought to have originated in China or Persia, there is no record of when the game was first played by women. However, some sources suggest that the first woman to play poker may have been Anne Bonny, an 18th-century pirate who was known to have been a skilled gambler.

6.    Poker was originally played with just 20 cards 

      The original game of poker was played with a deck of 20 cards. The early settlers in the United States made their own decks with a variety of different suits including Hearts, Spades, Diamonds, and Clubs. In the early 1800s, a new type of poker emerged that used a standard deck of 52 cards. The game quickly became popular and soon spread to the rest of the world.

7.    There is a hand called dead man’s hand in Poker

      The dead man's hand is a poker hand consisting of two black aces and two black eights, which has been claimed to have been held by the gunfighter Wild Bill Hickok when he was assassinated while playing poker.

8.    The kings on poker cards are named after actual kings

     The kings on poker cards are named after actual kings. The king of hearts is named after King Charles IX of France, the king of diamonds is named after King Louis XIV of France, the king of clubs is named after King David of Israel, and the king of spades is named after King Solomon of Israel.

9.    Naming of poker cards is done after things with a lot of money- 

      Card games like poker are often associated with high-stakes gambling, so it makes sense that the cards themselves would be named after things with a lot of money. For example, the Ace of Spades is sometimes called the "Death Card" because of its association with death and taxes. The Ace of Hearts is known as the "Love Card" because it traditionally symbolizes love and romance. And the Ace of Diamonds is referred to as the "Luck Card" because diamonds are considered to be lucky symbols.

Final thoughts!

Fascinating, isn’t it? While poker still continues to be one of the most popular card games worldwide there are a lot of myths, superstitions and taboos around it. These facts have started to fade with the course of time and more and more people are joining the poker world each day. Since it originated in the 16^th century the game of poker comes with the baggage of superstitions such as Chinese players believe that wearing red while playing poker brings good luck and sheer fortune whereas some players avoid sitting in the same seat for too long, not talking about lucky hands, not counting money at the table, and not talking about bad luck. Surely, the game has evolved a lot over time and it has turned from a game of luck into a game of skill. If you have a calling for poker and if these facts intrigue you, then try to brush up your poker skills and learn and study the game as much as possible.