Poker is a popular card game that is played and enjoyed by players all over the world. As well as playing on online casino websites, there are also many poker games available to play in mobile gaming too. Fans of the game can not only play themselves, but they also can watch live poker tournaments online too where they can see world-famous professionals at work.
The latest streaming technologies mean that sites such as Slot Boss have live casino games available to play like Three Card Poker and Texas Hold’Em. Players and fans of the game from all corners of the world can also check online regularly for the latest poker news to learn about updates on games, players, and operators.
While poker might have gone through some variations over the years, it remains one of the world’s most popular card games and has been played in one form or another for over a millennium. If you’re a fan of the game and would like to discover a bit more about its history, read on for the top interesting facts to know about poker.
Poker was initially played with only 20 cards
- If you are a seasoned poker player, you might have realized that the 52-card deck is used to play poker, but that was not always the case. The number of cards gradually increased so that the game could accommodate more players. Before the 1800s, poker was played with just 20 cards, and with this, only four players with five cards each could play at a time.
The longest game went on for over 8 years
- Medium has some mind blowing facts about poker including some information on the longest game of poker ever played. The longest poker game ever was hosted at the Birdcage Theatre in Tombstone, Arizona in 1881. It is reported that the game started in 1881 and went on continuously for eight years, five months, and three days. This made it the longest poker game in history! The lowest buy-in was $1000, which was a little high for some players then. However, in 1889, the game had to end after groundwater flooded the theater and many other structures in Tombstone.
The kings in each suit may represent real historical figures
- Many poker fans and enthusiasts believe that the four kings in the deck of cards – spades, diamonds, clubs, and hearts – are a representation of ancient royal figures. The king of clubs that holds a ball depicts the king of Macedonia, Alexander The Great. The king of spades holding a large sword is David, the king of Israel. The king of hearts is the king of France, known as Charlemagne. Lastly, the king of Diamonds, with a huge axe doing the Roman salute, is believed to be the Roman Caesar Augustus.
Poker has existed for more than 1000 years
- Though most people think poker originated in the American Old West, the truth is that poker began more than 1000 years ago, and not in the United States. According to History.com, it is believed that poker started in 10th century China from a game known ‘As Nas’ in the 16th century. Regardless of where it actually started, poker became highly popular in France. From there, it got introduced in Canada and then the US, where it gained even wider popularity.
- In modern days, poker is played in an array of ways and is very popular in the United States. A lot of gamblers and even celebrities play card games such as poker and Las Vegas in Nevada has become a world-famous casino hotspot. In April this year, Ben Affleck hosted an online celebrity poker game for charity. His virtual game of poker helped to raise money for one of the biggest domestic hunger-relief organizations, Feeding America and raised over $1 million.
Not everyone used to play for poker chips
- During its primitive stages, poker was mainly played for gold nuggets, gold dust, and even gold coins. Because of this, it was never easy to standardize units accurately. Therefore, there was a need to find a standard unit. This inspired the creation of poker chips by gaming houses and saloons. At that time, ivory, wood, clay, and bones were used to make the chips. These chips used to have sign’s on them to show their value. Coins could be exchanged for actual money in the gaming houses; just the same way it works today.
Antonio Esfandiari has had the most earnings from the World Series of Poker
After the World Series of Poker (WSOP) began in 1970 modern poker tournament play became popular in American casinos. There have been many professional poker players who have experienced WSOP success from all time by bracelets, by earnings, and by cash. Antonio Esfandiari, a United States of America player, has the highest WSOP earnings at around $21,681,882.
