Who invented poker and when did it appear?

Poker is now one of the most popular card games. It annually hosts major tournaments with solid prize money. Poker is already considered more of a sports discipline that has its own champions and legendary players. But how, in general, this game appeared? There are several theories on this.

The origins of poker in Europe

For the first time about poker became known in Europe in the 16th century. The game was popular with the inhabitants of Spain and Italy. However, then it was called “primero” and differed in slightly different rules:

1. Players received three cards at once.
2. The combinations did not have names, but they already existed then.
3. The game was played in one round.

In England, a similar game appeared only in the 18th century. Even then, its rules began to resemble modern ones. It is believed that it was in England that he came up with the idea of using a bluff to win.

Stories from Asia

Most historians prefer the version that poker appeared in China in the 10th century. Some ancient sources mention that it was the favorite game of the emperor and many famous commanders of that time.

The main features of the game of the 10th century include the following:

1. No more than five people could take part in the party.
2. At that time, the deck consisted of only 25 cards.
3. There were five suits in total.

The theory that poker originated in Asia is the most common one.

Poker in America

According to some sources, French navigators brought the game to America. Louisiana was the first state to introduce poker. It was here that a version appeared that was as similar as possible to the modern one. Already at the beginning of the 19th century, a deck of 52 cards was used to play in America. Poker was popular among sailors, so it gradually spread to all cities in the United States. In the days of the Wild West, the game became truly cult and almost everyone knew its rules.

Some point to Jonathan Green as the inventor of the game. However, for the most part, his records contain information about the game of other people. Even in the text it is clear that he was just watching how the sailors played. There are no other arguments in favor of the fact that Green was the creator of poker, no.

Where did the name “poker” come from?

As there are many versions about where poker first appeared, so there are enough theories about the origin of the term itself. Historians cannot give an exact answer, but they have several options:

1. The name comes from the German poshspiel ¬– “smart game”. Variant without exact evidence.
2. The appearance of the name is associated with the French word poque. It is believed that in the Middle Ages in the country there was a card game with this name and its rules remotely resembled poker.
3. The name comes from the English pocket – a pocket. This version implies that the name of the game was given by robbers and cheaters.

Even now, neither experienced players, nor experts, nor historians have a clear answer to the question of the appearance of poker. Most of the real facts about the game are lost and unknown. But it is clear that now poker is at the peak of its popularity and it will definitely not decrease in the coming years.