For centuries, humans have enjoyed games of chance that (quite literally) force you to roll the dice and risk big to win big. The thrill of games like Poker have lived on across cultures and time, originating far before the 19th century. Before anything else, let’s get to the basics – where did Poker come from?

The History of Poker: Multicultural Influence 

The actual origins of Poker cannot be traced back to one place or time, rather, its thought that the modern-day Poker was heavily influenced by multiple cultures and games throughout history. Historians believe that Poker may have originated from a Persian game called As Nas in the 16th century, and that even Chinese Dominos, which was created sometime before 969 CE, was in the mix. Humans have been playing games with cards as far back as 12th century Egypt, and over time, betting was introduced to card games in Persia and Spain. A brief history and timeline of the games that have been thought to give rise to modern Poker is as follows:

• 12th & 13th Century Egyptians began playing games with cards. 
• 16th Century Persia invented Ganjifa; a large deck of 96 cards used in a variety of games – such as As Nas – which became very popular.
• 16th Century Spanish game Primero introduced betting and bluffing. This gave birth to a French game called Poque and a German game called Pochen, which became extremely popular. 
• French colonization of Canada brought Poque to North America and down through the later known United States – giving rise to the modern Poker we see today. 

The Poker we love and play today beat out 3 Card Monte which was the most popular card game in the U.S. at the time of Poker’s arrival. Poker was thought to be (funnily enough) a more “honest” game that was less prone to rigging than 3 Card Monte. After this, it was common for almost every American city in the south and west to boast poker tables at local saloons for cowboys, soldiers, and those from almost any background, as it was a perfect way to pass time when entertainment was scarce.

A (Short) Guide to Poker’s Winning Hands  

Modern day Poker is generally played with a standard 52 card deck, but in casinos, or Saloons like Stones, you may see it played with 2 decks to speed up the game. Most Poker games consist of 5 cards (a few versions use 3) in a hand and players are meant to independently craft the most valuable hand they can manage based on cards given from the dealer. From highest to lowest, winning hands in Poker are:

1. Five of a Kind 
2. Straight flush: 5 cards of the same suit in sequence. 
3. Four of a Kind 
4. Full House: 2 cards of one rank and 3 cards of another rank (i.e. three 8’s & two 2s)
5. Flush: five cards of the same suit.
6. Straight: five cards in sequence, not of the same suit. 
7. Three of a kind 
8. Two Pair: two cards of the same rank and two of another
9. One Pair: one pair of the same rank.

This is where betting and bluffing comes in. You want to bet higher on the hands you think will beat your opponents, and fold or bet lower on those that are weak. However, with bluffing, it throws an interesting play in the mix. Often, players will bet very high when they have a weak hand to scare their opponents into folding their hands, thereby winning the hand by forfeit, so the best hand does not always claim the money pot!. You’ve got to have a great poker face to do this, and sometimes, it may not work. Such is the risk, and thrill, of modern day poker. Other intricacies in betting rules exist, and there is a lot of negotiation and back and forth with your opponents, making Poker a wonderfully social game.

Poker Variants 

While modern day Poker resulted as a branch-off of many other games, Poker itself has branched off into many different versions of itself with its own set of unique rules. In the later 19th century as Poker continued to surge in popularity, different variants began to emerge, some specific to region, culture, and other factors. While it is difficult to say just how many there are, there are about 13 Poker variants that are fairly popular around the world. Some variants include Texas Hold ‘Em, Omaha, and 3-Card Poker. Other variants include Razz, 7-Card Stud, and Chinese Poker. But, if you are looking to play at an establishment, by far the most common variant you will see is Texas Hold ‘Em. Anyone can learn and play any variant of Poker they’d like, but many of them fall into the same category of gameplay, so learning a few can put you on a path to being able to quickly pick up different forms of Poker. 

Now that we’ve gone over the origins and basics of Poker, there is no reason you cant get to the table and try your hand. As one of the premier casinos in Sacramento, at Stones Gambling Hall, we offer multiple options for competitive Poker play with daily promotions to keep you riding high and winning all night. Table play with Texas Hold ‘Em, Omaha, and more right at your fingertips. So, dust your boots, take your hat off, and stay a while, Cowboy! We’ve got hands to play.