Poker
Poker: From the ‘cheating game’ to respectability
There is a dispute among card historians as to the exact origins of the card game
known as ‘Poker’. Some claim that it is a derivation of a centuries old Persian game called ‘Ậs Nas’, while others
insist that it is Chinese in origin started Emperor Mu-tsung. The French imported a Spanish card game called
‘Pochen’ (which they renamed ‘Poque’) into New Orleans which most people agree was the beginning of the game we now
know as Poker.
The game of Poker quickly spread up the Mississippi via the Riverboat gamblers of the
1800’s. The earliest written accounts of the card game of Poker was made by Jonathan H. Green where he referred to
Poker in his writings as ‘The Cheating Game’, a name that probably refers to both the idea of ‘bluffing’ (a major part of the game and until Poker seldom found in
card games) and the amount of money lost to those who were unfortunate enough to lose their money to the riverboat
gamblers of the period.
Poker soon became a part of Americana during this country’s Wild West era. There was
hardly a saloon or hotel that didn’t have a Poker game in progress either in a backroom or at a table.
Until recently Poker was relegated to a card game that was played at a ‘boy’s night
out’ gathering or by professionals at gaming casinos or illegal gambling houses. With the growth of the internet
and the sudden rise of Poker variants such as “Texas Hold’ Em” Poker has now found its way into the social
mainstream. Now everyone from housewives to professional gamblers are playing the game.
Poker Explodes
The game of poker has taken off like wildfire in both the United States and abroad.
Poker sets are ‘flying’ out of the game stores and many stores have poker tables on back order because of the
recent demand. There are now cable channels that are dedicated to the card game, and high stakes games are now
televised nationally. Poker has become a true cultural phenomenon; one that the internet has taken full advantage
of.
Before the advent of internet gaming sites, a poker player had to sit down at a table
with other players in order to wager on a poker game. Since a major part of poker gambling involves ‘bluffing’
(pretending that you have a better hand than you actually have) the visual signals that one player could glean from
another (often called ‘tells’) were critical for true gambling success. Now card players can play, wager, and bluff
without ever seeing their opponent, shifting the emphasis from physiological clues to psychological pressure.
Currently there are literally hundreds of poker websites which cater to the beginner
player all the way up to gambling poker professionals where hundreds of thousands of dollars can be won or lost on
a single hand. Most of the online poker sites attempt to create a relaxed and ‘player-friendly’ environment in an
attempt to allay the fears of first time players. Most allow new players a large amount of freedom to ‘roam’ the
various ‘rooms’ and even observe actual games in progress so that they can get a ‘feel’ for the differences of
online play verses the more traditional ‘live’ poker game.
The card game of poker has had an image overhaul. No longer is it a game played by
card sharks and men in smoke filled rooms hidden away from the general public. It is now played by housewives,
businessmen, and even little old ladies in Pasadena.
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