Many people are curious about how poker started. Although poker’s history isn’t clear-cut, it seems that it evolved from a Persian game called Nus. Some others attribute poker’s origins to the French game brelan or the English game brag. This means ‘braggart.
According to poker historians, the original game was played in New Orleans. It featured a 20-card deck and four players betting on the best hand. Later, the game was changed to an English 52-card deck and added variations with wild cards and drawing. Professional gamblers made these modifications to increase betting and keep players interested.
Poker spread throughout the country thanks to the Mississippi riverboats and gamblers. It then moved to the coasts. In the 1800s, chips were used instead of money and tangible assets such as gold or silver. This allowed players to be free from the financial value of their wagers and standardized the exchange of profits.
Although poker history is filled with questionable ethics and seedy characters, the game has become a global phenomenon. Poker players have become millionaires through the huge tournament payouts.
Online poker is a new phenomenon, especially for younger players who are already tech-savvy. The popularity of online poker exploded after Chris Moneymaker won the World Series of Poker and 8 million dollars. He had previously qualified through an online tournament to play in the live game. Nearly every player has started playing online since that time.
The first online poker site, Planet Poker, was launched in 1998. Paradise Poker, the most popular place on the internet, opened its doors shortly after. You can now see players wearing hats and shirts of PokerStars.Net (Full Tilt Poker), Party Poker, and other sites. Online poker allows players to practice their strategies and improve their skills while playing for free or for small amounts of money.
Online play is not the same as live play. However, you can see your opponent, but it simulates all aspects of the game. There are two types: multi-table or sit and go. The first type is more similar to a tournament’s initial stage, where there are many tables, and players go bust, and the tables become consolidated. While they sit and play is more like a final-table environment, the second is more casual. Online poker has one downside: players can collide by sitting together in the same room and working with each other. Online poker is popular, so the casinos are trying to control this by checking IP addresses and playing history.
Poker is now an international game. I’m sure the riverboat gamblers didn’t know this. These gamblers used to be considered semi-crooks. Now they are respected for their concentration and skills. This is the new millennium’s gold rush.