Poker, The Game and the Origins
From the legends of the old American West to the glitzy, fast-paced televised showdowns of today, Poker has long been one of the most popular card games in the world.
Although it is played across the globe in many varieties and with all manner of betting limits, the overall origins of Poker are not completely known (although we do know that hands were ranked and bet on in some 15th century games). However, the form that we are familiar with today has been dated back to the early 19th century, appearing in the French territory of New Orleans, Louisiana.
In basic terms, poker is a competitive card game, meaning the players play against each other, and not against the “house” (casino, etc… although recently some casinos have created poker-themed games where the players play against the house, but they are not considered true poker). And while poker is a game of chance in the short term (for example, anyone can win any given hand due to the luck of the cards dealt), over the long-run it becomes a deep game of pure skill, making it popular with those that fancy themselves as “card players”.
Regardless of style, a few common themes prevail: The game is played with standard deck of 52 playing cards, with definitive hand rankings. Bets are placed/combined to make one central “winner takes all” pot. Players take turns betting as to who holds the best combination of cards, all the while raising the stakes until a final showdown, where the hand with the most value wins the pot (or, conversely, the last person to drop out is able to win the pot without a showdown.) Amongst poker’s many game features are the ability to bet, rank hands, and bluff.
Poker has enjoyed an enduring popularity over the years, and is the subject of many high-stakes tournaments for large amounts of money. One of the most popular tournaments is the World Series of Poker, where players compete for the coveted World Series of Poker bracelet. The World Series of Poker began in 1968, and has been a long-running competition that continues today. It is also a very popular television event.
There are several variations of poker: Straight, Stud, Draw, and Community, which includes two popular variants: Texas hold-em and Omaha. Video poker, a computerized form of poker that functions similar to an electronic slot machine, is also a highly popular form of the game, as well as poker played online at home, which includes a chance to win real earnings with successful play. Both electronic versions have helped to increase popularity of the game with the general public.
For televised competitions, the “hole card camera” has been another invention that has turned the game into more of a spectator sport. The specialized camera allows television viewers to view player’s face down cards before they are played.
Poker has even integrated itself into everyday conversation, with such phrases as: “ace in the hole”, “ace up one’s sleeve”, “beats me”, “blue chip”, “call one's bluff”, “cash in”, “pass the buck”, “poker face”, “stack up”, “ante up”, “when the chips are down”, and “wild card” becoming part of popular American English slang, thus ensuring that the game’s reach transcends well beyond those that actually play it.
Truly, poker is a card game without peer, and with its explosive growth online, has become one of the top forms of gaming in the world.
