Poker's Sordid Source and Ancestry

Poker is not just one game in the grand scheme of the casino, but is composed of hundreds if not thousands of variants developed around the world. There are some common traits that are shared between poker variants that allow them to continue to be part of the house. Generally, poker betting structures can transcend games from Texas Hold'em to Boure Stud. Hand ranking are also among the shared traits, along with the general idea of deception and betting itself. The world over knows poker and most people know at least one variant of the beloved card game. The origins are a subject of debate for many people.

Card games from the Middle East and Europe are commonly considered by historians to be poker's ancestors. Pochspiel, a German game that involved rankings when it came to hands, deception or bluffing and of course, the all important bet, was one of the earliest discovered games. Pochspiel harkens back to ancient years, as far back as the fifteenth century. Persians would also make a move. The game As Nas also has immense similarities to the modern poker game, though the game does not have any records before 1980. A book even professed it. Released in 1937, Foster's Complete Hoyle would even proclaim it as such, though As Nas itself would use a twenty card deck. Later historians such as David Parlette would contest the idea and hold up Poque, a French game, as the better choice as ancestor. The name poker could have even come from the word Poque, making it a stronger contender for some people. In fact, the name itself, poker, is a source of contention.

Historians generally agree that the terms in poker and the name itself came from many sources and not just one. The Irish have the word Poka, meaning pocket and some historians consider this the source of the term. The aforementioned Poque is another strong contender, alongside the fact that it may in fact be the true ancestor. The etymology of the game leans towards this as where, as the word poque essentially means to bluff. Even the Renaissance got into the act through the game called primero, coming from Italy. While records suggest that it made its way across the land of Europe, there are no real details on its actual rules and thus does not have as strong a claim to the title.

Whatever the true source of this beloved card game, it remains a game that anyone can enjoy and love.