Since time immemorial, card games have always been a source of entertainment for their players. Among them, Poker has attained worldwide popularity and recognition. It is a card game based on the art of betting. It has attracted players from every nook and corner of the globe.
From the time of its inception, the game has undergone multiple transformations keeping certain elements that are key to its existence, constant and unaltered. It has ceased to be merely a localized game of interest and has evolved as an international game, played especially in parties and casinos.
Emergence:
The origin of the game is shrouded in obscurity. According to some historians, its roots lie in some form of a card game played by Chinese emperors of the 10th century, while another group proposes that the 16th-century Persian card game ‘As Nas’ might have been its authentic predecessor.
While there have been diverse opinions, 17th century France has unanimously been considered as the birthplace of Poker in its oldest form where it was known as ‘Poque’. The game had crossed the Atlantic waters and reached the newly found city of New Orleans.
During the 19th century, the game developed more and various forms of it became popular, such as; Stud Poker, 5 Card Stud, 7 Card Stud, Texas Hold’em, Omaha, and Omaha Hi-Low.
Popular variations:
Stud Poker:
This game involves playing with a blend of face-up and face-down cards dealt in multiple rounds of betting.
5 Card Stud: This is a variant that is less played today. In this game, each player possesses 5 cards, out of which the very first card is known only by the owner and dealt face down while the remaining four are dealt face-up.
7 Card Stud:
This game includes players having a pack of 7 cards but their win is dependent on the poke hand which consists of 5 cards.
Texas Hold’em:
It is the most popular form that is played in the United States today where two hole cards are dealt among the players and the 5 community cards are revealed in the course of the game.
Omaha:
Here, each player is given 4 hole cards and the 5 community cards are displayed. To win, a player has to make a good card combining 2 of his cards and 3 from the community ones.
More than just a game:
At the very outset, Poker might seem to be nothing but a game of chance or sheer gambling. However, as one delves deeper, he can observe and identify the skills it requires and the various lessons it teaches subtly. It is a microcosm of life.
Just like the game, an individual’s life is also dependent on the choice that he or she makes. Poker teaches one the much-valued skill of decision-making since the game is as unpredictable as life. A player takes his decisions based on his or her intuition and carves his destiny in the game as well as in life.
Current state:
Presently, the game has amassed great attention from the card-players as well as from the general public. Professional players are employing their skills of betting and earning much repute and recognition at both national and international levels.
The advent of online poker games on various websites across the internet has not only popularised the game to a large extent but also given the opportunity of enjoying a real-time, high gaming experience.
Numerous mobile apps have also been created to charm the users by offering amazing graphics and a simple user interface. With the kind of progress that the game has made over the decades, it is safe to conclude that it has quite a bright future to look forward to.
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