Introduction
Poker is the most popular card game across the globe. It has a massive player base, both online and live, where players enjoy playing poker with poker bonuses, and fans love watching them as well. Due to its massive popularity, countless websites are popping up every day to talk about poker rules, game strategy, facts and much more.
While you might think that you know a lot about real money games like poker or Teen Patti game (तीन पत्ती), there will always be certain aspects that may slip under your radar once in a while. Hence, in this comprehensive guide, we'll discuss the most interesting facts about poker that you didn't know about. So, just sit back, relax and enjoy the read.
10 Interesting Facts about Poker
Explore ten fascinating facts about poker that will surprise you.
- Poker is more than 1000 years old.
- Poker evolved from dominos.
- Poker used to be played with just 20 cards
- Poker has more than 100 different variations.
- The first World Series of Poker games only had seven players.
- A popular saying in poker is, ‘A Chip & A Chair’.
- In the 1990s, poker chips were introduced.
- The first $1 million game of poker took place in 2012.
- The largest Poker Tournament in the world was held In 2015.
- The longest game of poker ran for over eight years.
The Game Of Poker Is Over A Thousand Years Old
The game of poker we play today has its roots dating back to the early 19th century in the United States. Some believe that poker originated in Persia and was known as ‘As-Nas’. Initially, the card deck only contained 20 cards until the 52-card deck was introduced during the 1800s.
Poker used to be played with just 20 cards
Poker began as a simple game, played only with a 20-card deck, consisting of cards from 10 to Ace in each of the four suits, which was played by a lesser number of players, usually between two to four. Hence, all early versions of poker were played using 20 cards. The use of fewer cards meant that the strategies were far less complex compared to the modern variants, focusing more on basic betting techniques and hand rankings. Over time, as the game became popular and spread across different geographies, players began to use the full 52-card deck during the 1800s and thereby became the norm. This led to more players playing on the table and more hand variety, leading to the different forms of poker evolving that we see around today.
Poker Evolved From Dominos
Poker is a popular card game that has roots that can be traced back to games like dominos. The history of poker is influenced by various traditional games, bringing elements from each one of its predecessors. In Dominos, the focus used to be on matching the tiles, and this strategic play could have contributed to the development of betting elements that are now integral to the gameplay of poker. As poker spread over time across different cultures and geographies, it adapted traits from various regional games, including the betting actions and bluffing techniques inherited from dominos. This evolution shows how games often adapt their gameplay from one another, eventually leading to a richer and more varied landscape of card games we enjoy today, with poker standing out as a modern classic card game.
Poker Has More Than A Hundred Different Variations
If you are wondering how to play poker, then you must know that apart from some popular variants, poker has more than a hundred different variants. The popular ones are Pot Limit Omaha, Texas Hold’em and Seven Card Stud. However, the rest of them are quite unpopular and, therefore, need to be researched before you can start playing each one of them. Hence, choose the poker variation that suits your play style the most.
The First World Series Of Poker Game Only Had Seven Players
If you are unaware, you must learn that the first World Series of Poker game occurred in 1970. The location was Las Vegas, Texas, USA, and the venue was Binion's Horseshoe. The game only featured seven players since poker wasn't that popular among the mainstream crowd back in the day.
Since then, the number of poker players has increased multi-fold globally, and nowadays, a large number of players take part in the World Series of Poker (WSOP) game. Johnny Moss was the winner of the first World Series of Poker.
There's A Popular Saying In Poker, ‘A Chip & A Chair’
If you are accustomed to watching poker tournaments, then you most probably have heard about the phrase – a chip & a chair that is needed to win. Well, such a phrase is a result of a popular poker history back in the day.
The story says that a popular poker player named Jack Strauss was once eliminated from a tournament that he was playing in and lost all of his chips. However, just as he was getting up to leave the table, he found a single chip hidden in his handkerchief. Jack immediately sat back in his chair and started playing with that single chip he had. As a result, he eventually won the tournament with a grand prize of over $500,000.
In The 1990s, Poker Chips Were Introduced
In the current day and age, it’s quite difficult to imagine a poker game without poker chips (especially in the live format). However, it should be known that poker chips were only introduced during the 1990s as a perfect way to stop cheaters from cheating in the game. Before poker chips were introduced, players had used various types of small objects such as cash, golden nuggets and so on.
The first $1 million game of poker took place in 2012
During the World Series of Poker in 2012, in a high-stake event named “Big One for One Drop”, the first $1 million poker game took place. This marked a significant milestone in the history of poker. Organized by poker professional Guy Laliberté, founder of Cirque du Soleil, the tournament took place in Las Vegas and aimed at raising funds for the One Drop Foundation. One Drop works towards providing clean water to communities in need. The high stake buy-in of $1 million attracted elite poker players from around the world. This event transformed poker into an exquisite sport. The event focussed on strategies and skills and highlighted its ability to serve a noble cause.
The Largest Poker Tournament In The World Was Held In 2015
In 2015, the largest poker tournament (based on the number of entrants) was held. The tournament had gathered more than 250,000 entries, which is at least five times more than the number of audiences a regular football stadium can hold.
The Longest Game Of Poker Ran For Over Eight Years
Long games are quite common in poker, but eight years long was simply too much over the top. The game was held in Tombstone, Arizona, USA, and the venue was the Bird Cage Theatre. The venue was popular for being a gentleman's club, and the 24×7 poker game was held in the basement of that venue.
According to various reports, the game ran for 8 years, 5 months, and 3 days in total. Players who were interested in playing had to pay around $1,000. The venue was indeed very colourful, but it was closed down in the year 1889 because underground waters flooded a major part of the city (including the basement).
Conclusion
When it comes to playing online poker, the more knowledge you have about the rules of the game, the better your gameplay will be. But it becomes more fun if you know the interesting facts and stories around the game. Poker is a very engaging and entertaining game, and due to this, it has evolved with time and spread across boundaries. When you know and can talk about such interesting details of Poker, you become the centre of conversations around the table.
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