History Of Poker
The name "Poker" is derived from the French game "Poque" which was called "Pochen" in the German game; this was during the 17th and 18th century. In English, the term "Pochen" means "to knock", and in Dutch it means "to brag".
The game of poker is a match with the Persian game of "Nas", and it was introduced to French people in New Orleans by Persian sailors. Both "Poque" (French) and "Pochen" (German)was developed from Spain's "Primero" in the 16th century. The game "Primero" uses three cards for each player.
Since the English meaning of the word "Pochen" is "to brag" in Dutch, poker has been associated with bluffing; this became the idea of the game. All games mentioned above probably influenced "Poker" today.
By 1829, according to an English actor, Joseph Crowell, poker became a game in New Orleans that people enjoyed playing. The game consists of four players and uses a 20-piece deck of cards. From the book of Jonathan H. Green's, "An Exposure of the Arts and Miseries of Gambling", poker has been the favorite past-time of the locals on Mississippi riverboats.
Poker eventually evolved into the game we know now, that uses a 52-deck of cards. At the poker table terminologies sprang from conversations of the players. Words that are commonly heard and used are: "ace in the hole", "beats me", "ace up one's sleeve", "blue chip", "cash in", "call one's bluff", "high roller", "poker face", "pass the buck", "stack up", "when the chips are down", "up the ante", and "wild card".
"The World Series of Poker" began, and became popular, in the year 1970, American casinos offer modern poker tournaments from then until today. People who became famous at the World Series of Poker are the following: Johnny Moss, Doyle Brunson and Amarillo Slim. In that same year a book came out about poker's strategy and guidelines by Doyle Brunson entitled "Super/System". A second book came out by Mike Caro, "The Book of Tells", later followed by another book from David Sklansky, "The Theory of Poker".
Aside from poker in the casinos, online poker has now become popular with the public as an entertainment/pasttime. The innovation of the hole-card camera has allowed it to become a spectator sport. Since not all people are able to keep track in a poker tournament, the management decided to bring the poker tournament to every doorstep. "World Series of Poker" and "World Poker Tour" has been distributed by cable and TV networks, and is available nationwide.
The coverage of poker tournaments make the players famous and feel like celebrities. Poker fans emerge from all parts of the world; more and more people are encouraged to play poker and bet high amounts of money on the game. Poker's popularity increases each year; its become the talk of every casino. Poker players became famous, often seen live on television.
At present, poker is riding high in popularity. Tournaments are ongoing - every year a new champion is announced. As for the year 2003, the champion of the World Series of Poker was Chris Moneymaker, then followed by Greg Raymer, champion of 2004 World Series of Poker.