It's probably undeniable that poker is one of the most popular card games in the world. It is often played in casinos, in private homes or simply online. Although it is widely believed that most of the winnings are due to luck, the game actually requires experience and skill.
If you think you know everything about poker, we'll try to disprove that by presenting some of the most interesting facts and stories that have happened in the long history of poker.
The origin of poker
One of the most popular poker games is Texas Hold'em. Probably many people associate the name with Texas, USA, but historians the origins of poker interpreted in a completely different way. There are differing opinions as to when the first game of poker was played, but it may have been around 1829, when French settlers in New Orleans started playing the card game.
Longest poker game
The longest poker game is rumoured to have started in 1881 and lasted 8 years, five months and three days. Sound plausible? There is no record of this fact, but the entry fee for this tournament was a thousand dollars, which in those days was an enormous sum of money.
Hand of the Dead
In poker, there is a "dead hand" called a pair. It consists of two aces and two eights. The name of this hand dates back to the Wild West, when the famous shooter and poker player Wild Bill Hickok was shot at a poker table while holding this hand of cards.
The first online poker game
On 1 January 1998, the first real-money online poker game was played. Until this date, all games were played using virtual money. This date is considered to be the beginning of online poker. During this period, the online poker industry has made great strides and games of this nature have become easily accessible to everyone. Many poker news and review sites such as CasinoKing Poker who review poker rooms and games, and share strategy tips.
The first poker chip
In the early days, poker was played without the use of chips. They were replaced by gold nuggets, coins or currency. This type of betting was not always fair due to the complexity of determining the value, so as more and more gambling houses appeared, the first poker chips were put into circulation. They were usually made of wood, clay or even bone. The official poker chip was introduced in the 19th century.
The Four Kings
The four kings in a deck of cards are not just simple silhouettes of men drawn by artists. Each of them has a deep meaning. The King of Spades represents David, the Israelite king of the Old Testament. The King of Hearts represents Charlemagne, King of France. The King of Crosses represents Alexander the Great, King of Macedonia, and the King of Diamonds represents Caesar Augustus of Rome.
Smaller deck of cards
Did you know that in the early days, poker was played with only 20 cards? In modern poker, it is common to play with a 52-card deck, but in the past, poker was played with only 20 cards and a maximum of 4 people could play.
Body language says it all
People are driven by instinct, and some of it happens completely out of our control. Some body languages Experts say that when a poker player leans back in their chair or leans over the table, it can mean they have a good hand. Speed is also something to look out for. A player with weak cards will usually bet faster than one with good cards.
Poker and superstition
There are many superstitions in the game of poker. Every poker player has their own biases and prejudices that bring them success. So don't be too surprised if you see a barefoot, unshaven or unwashed poker player at the poker table.
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