A gambling game such as poker is filled with a rich history and lore behind it since it has spanned for centuries. Poker is among the most popular card games in the world ever invented by Man, and there are over hundreds of millions of concurrent poker players around the globe today. You might look at poker and say you know everything about it, but we’re pretty sure you haven’t seen the full house.
Card games have been the go-to pastime for many people for thousands of years spanning even before AD1000. Even so, you can even say that there are more than 10,000 card games in the world, considering the classification and definition of what constitutes a card game. From the dawn of the 52-card deck, a lot of games have sprung up from it such as Teen Patti, Blackjack, Solitaire, Poker, and Patience.
Of all the games classified under 52-card decks, poker is popular because it is played by amateurs, professionals, traditional on-site casinos, and even in the online space. There’s a lot of fun to be had with poker, and that’s why we’re bringing you 10 fascinating facts about poker you haven’t heard before.
The First Poker Chips
The modern poker chips as we know them were pretty different from the old days because players used to bet with nuggets, gold bars, and gold dust. Apparently, it became pretty impossible to play rounds as value is being assigned, so there was a need for a new type of poker currency. At the time, gaming houses used wood, ivory, bone, and clay chips as symbols for certain valuations.
Like how it is done today, poker players then could exchange gold and money for chips. With that, these 10 interesting facts about poker highlight how rich the history of the card game is due to its long development throughout the ages. There are even rumors to suggest that poker may have started in China, but no one really knows where it really began.
The First Real Money Online Poker Game
Before 1998, online poker games didn’t have the ability to involve real money in the game mechanics, but on the 1st of January 1998, real money poker began to spring up online from a website called “Planet Poker”. This triggered the start of a multi-billion-dollar industry that is lucrative beyond people’s imaginations.
Former President Nixon Poker Funding
Former U.S. President Richard Nixon funded his first political campaign with his poker earnings. There was a rumor that he was an amazing poker player in his own right.
Athletic Poker Sports
In 2010, the International Mind Sports Association (IMSA) considered and dubbed poker as a mind sport. Poker players can officially call themselves “athletes” playing a sports game.
Odds of Winning
According to mathematician Courtney Taylor, Ph.D. at Anderson University, the odds of a royal flush are 649,740 to 1. It is a gamble of long odds, as many would agree.
The Wild Card
The Wild Card was only introduced around 1875 in the world of poker. It was one of the few improvements that enhanced and upgraded the gambling experience for the better.
The Convict Poker
The Angola Prison Rodeo hosts a bi-annual event called “The Convict Poker” where inmates take a seat for a poker game while a bull is released as they play. The ultimate winner has crowned the man who is last seated at the table. The game has been going on since 1964 and takes place twice in April and October annually.
Dead Man’s Hand
Holding 2 aces and 2 eights in poker means that it’s a Dead Man’s Hand. That’s because those were the exact cards that a reputable poker player named Wild Bill Hickok held when he was killed by John McCall.
Poker Alice
Poker Alice Ivers was one of the first women to be recognized as a great poker player. Today, there are more women involved in poker playing such as the actress Jennifer Tilly. It’s not uncommon for women to play at the poker table nowadays.
The Longest Game of Poker
Playing a few games of poker only last a few hours in the evening, but there was one poker game that lasted nearly forever, so they claim. The Bird Cage Theater in Arizona states that they had hosted the longest game of poker ever to have been played. Apparently, the game started in 1881 and lasted 8 years, 5 months, and 3 days, so they say.
A decent $1000 was the minimum buy-in, and the game was played by wild west personalities such as Doc Holliday, Wyatt Earp, Bat Masterson, and Diamond Jim Brady. Based on the legends, over $10 million changed hands throughout the course of 8 years, with 10% going to Bird Cage.
Summary
It’s certain that the game of poker has a rich and diverse history, spanning countless generations before us. It is safe to say that poker is here to stay as generations ahead of us will continue to play poker. Whether you’re a seasoned veteran or someone just starting out playing poker, you can definitely say that poker has enriched human history with its ever-changing yet staple entertainment factor.
