Historical Origins of Poker
The historical origin of the card game poker is as much a matter of debate as it is a matter of opinion. It seems that there is no clearly identifiable predecessor of the game we play today. General consensus is that poker, in its present form, has its roots in a variety of older games, from which it has drawn different elements. As poker is in its essence a very simple game, there is little disagreement that the game has ancient ancestors, and that it has gradually evolved into its present form.
Amongst the card games considered as possible historic origins are 'Poque', a card game from France and 'Pochen', another game from Germany. 'Ganjifa' from India (actually a the traditional deck of cards in India - not a game), is another cited candidate along with 'As Nas', from Persia. Some of these games share similar gameplay elements to our modern-day poker game, Some are simply thought of as possible sources of the name 'poker' itself.
Poker probably shares ancestry with the card games Primero (Renaissance), and with Brelan (France). The English game Brag (formerly Bragg) originated from Brelan and incorporates bluffing. It seems quite possible that each of these games has influenced the development of poker.
As Nas
The 16th/17th Century Persian game "As Nas", is a 5-player game makes use of a deck consisting of 25 cards spread across 5 suits. It has distinct similarities to poker (in particular 5 card stud) in its overall gameplay and the rankings it employs to score a hand at the end of the game (such as three-of-a-kind). It is speculated that the game of As Nas might have been taught to the French settlers in New Orleans by Persian sailors.
(see http://www2.kumc.edu/itc/staff/rknight/Game5.htm for rules)
Ganjifa
These 12th or 13th century cards were once widespread across India, but are now in huge decline. The packs have eight, ten or twelve suits of twelve cards. Each suit contains two picture cards, and pip cards numbered one to ten.
The two best documented games using Ganjifa cards are Ekrang and Hamrang. Both of these games involve taking tricks without the use of trumps. Because of the large numbers of cards in these Ganjifa packs it is important to have a good memory of which are the highest cards in each suit.
For both aforementioned games the suits are split into two groups. The kings and ministers (picture cards) always rank highest in each group, however the pip cards in one group rank one to ten, and in the other group they rank ten to one. This ranking bears similarities to Hombre, Tarot and Ma Diamo all trick taking games.
Pochspiel/Pochen/Poque
Pochspiel is a card game of German origins dating back in time at least five hundred years. Throughout history the game has changed little, but has gone by many names. It is still played in Germany today as Pochspiel or Pochen. Pochen in German means 'to knock'. Like the game of poker, Pochspiel contains an element of bluff. In this game, the players indicate their decision to open betting or pass saying "Ich Poche!" and rapping on the table. The game has also been called Bock(en). In France is has been known as Poque and is still played in Iceland as Púkk. North Americans are probably familiar with Tripoli and Three-in-One. The game is also the origin of the board game Rummoli.
The card game Poque was played by the French settlers who had established themselves around New Orleans in the late 1400s. This betting card game also involved bluffing. It is not certain that any of these games are the predecessors of modern poker, as they share more similarity in name than in gameplay, but it seems quite likely that the name 'poker' descended from their names. Poque is said to be the origins of the modern suits (Diamonds, Clubs, Spades And Hearts) used in today’s card decks.
Origins of the modern game
[1829]
In 1829 Joseph Crowell an English actor described a game played in New Orleans. The game was played by four players using a 20 card deck. The players bet on whose hand of cards had most value.
[1830s]
The 52-card deck was in general use by the 1830s, and the flush was introduced.
[1840s]
Modern poker as we know it today began in the Mississippi. It spread from New Orleans along the Mississippi and Ohio steamboat routes, and worked its way through the interior by land via locomotive routes and wagon trails.
[1843]
In one of the earliest written accounts of poker Jonathan H. Green's book An Exposure of the Arts and Miseries of Gambling (1943) describes the nationwide spread of the game from New Orleans by Mississippi riverboats where gambling was a popular pastime. He mentions the rules to what he calls the "cheating game". Upon discovering that his was the first written reference to the game, and after finding that the game was not mentioned in the current American Hoyle, Jonathan Green chose to call the game Poker.
He describes a game played using just aces, kings, queens, jacks and tens (totalling 20 cards). The number of players ranged from two to four, each of whom was dealt five cards. At the time of writing the game had already surpassed Three-card Monte in popularity on the riverboats, taking the position of number one cheating game.
It seems that Poker was considered a more legitimate game than Three-Card Monte, the tool of a cardsharp in earning income from the unsuspecting. As such it has to be considered that poker might have been deliberately created by cardsharps. Punters would come back time and time again to ditch their money into the pockets of professional gamblers on what they perceived to be a fair game.
[1850s]
The migration during the gold rush took the game west into California. Poker was getting close to its modern form by the late 1850s, becoming a more popular saloon game than 'Faro'.
[1861-1865]
The game was popular with the soldiers of the North and South during the The American Civil War. At this time in the game's evolution, stud poker found its beginnings. Draw poker, the variation in which all the cards are dealt face-down, has its origins and the straight was introduced.
[1872]
Schenck's Rules, the first printed rules of poker appeared in England in 1872. With the publication of rulebooks, poker was becoming a more standardized game across the nation.
[1875]
The wild card (Joker)was introduced around 1875
[1900]
The early 1900s saw the introduction of lowball and split-pot poker game variations.
[1910]
Nevada made hosting a betting game a crime. The Attorney General of California declared that draw poker was based upon skill. As such, the anti-gambling laws could not stop the playing of this poker variety. However, he stated that stud poker was based on mere chance, making the game an illegal activity. Draw poker games flourished as a result and more variations of the draw poker game emerged.
[1931]
In 1931, Nevada reversed its 1910 decision becoming the only place in the U.S.A to host legal stud poker gambling in casinos
[1925]
Introduction of community card poker games
[1970]
Modern tournament poker games became popular in the American casinos after the World Series of Poker began in 1970. During the 1970s that the first serious strategy books appeared. The most notable of these was David Sklansky's book: The Theory of Poker. Doyle Brunson's Super System and The Book of Tells by Mike Caro were other popular titles. The game enjoyed further growth in popularity with the cable and satellite TV broadcasting of poker tournaments, amongst them World Poker Tour.
[1978]
Stud Poker is once again legal in Atlantic City.
[1900s]
Spread of the game to other countries, particularly in Asia, is often attributed to the U.S. military.
- Home
- Poker Rules
- Poker Game Types
- Poker Books
- Poker History
- Poker Terms Glossary
- Poker Resources
- Sitemap
