Where Did Poker Come From?

Written by Nigel

Poker may be a big thing now and is accepted by a very wide range of people but it was not always the case.  Let’s take a step back into the past and take a look at poker’s humble roots.  Though we all know that poker has its roots a long way back, no one knows exactly how it came about.

One of the earliest mentions of poker was way back in the 1800s.  It was in fact, called the “cheating game” by J.H. Green who was referring to the card game played in Mississippi riverboats.  Though the moniker had a very negative connotation, there were a considerable number of people who were attracted to the game.

Who coined the term poker?  God knows who, really.  Some historians say that it may have originated from the French word “poque.”  Others say it is from the German word “pochspiel” while still others say it’s from the Hindu word “pukka.”  This issue has not been quite resolved as of yet.  However, no matter what language poker emerged from, the fact remains that it is one of the most popular games today.

It used to be that poker was considered to be a “bad” game.  Images of hard men, running from the law, were usually associated with this gambling endeavor.  Yet today, though there may still be a vestige of negativity associated with poker, it is generally accepted to be a legitimate activity.  With TV shows and tournaments marketed by huge institutions, poker has indeed gained wide acceptance – to the delight of its proponents.

[tags]poker, history of poker, origins of poker[/tags]

Related Link: Poker strategy for Texas Hold’em, Omaha and Seven Card Stud is available at PokerInformation.com.