For almost 200 years, Poker has been a firm favorite for casino fans – both nettikasino and in person. Created by French settlers in New Orleans in 1829, the game is played by a staggering 100 million people today.
The long and the short of it
The average game of Poker takes between two and six hours – however, not every game is average! In 1881, a game of Poker began in the Birdcage Theatre in Arizona and was played by several Old West legends. The match would turn out to be the longest in history, lasting an unbelievable eight years, five months and three days.
When the chips are down
These days, the universally used Poker chip is easily recognized, however, until the late 1800s, standardized chips were not a ‘thing’. Instead, players would use gold nuggets, gold dust and coins as currency when playing Poker.
Go pro or go home
As you may expect, there are more Poker rooms in Las Vegas than in any other place on Earth – but not all Poker rooms are created equal. If you fancy your chances at a game in Vegas, make sure that you carefully research Poker rooms are some are strictly for pros – and these serious players don’t take kindly to amateurs muscling in on their games.
What’s in a name?
Today, the name Poker is an extremely familiar one, however, the game started life as Poque which is loosely translated as bragging or bluffing.
Power play
Disgraced US President, Richard Nixon, is known for many things – including his conviction for abuse of power and attempting to impede the investigation of the Watergate break-in. What you may not know is that it is rumored that the former President was a brilliant Poker player – and actually funded his first ever political campaigns with winnings from his games.
A right royal game
We all know that there are four Kings in a Poker deck but, you may be surprised to learn that these represent real life kings – Roman Caesar Augustus, Alexander the Great, King David of Israel and King Charlemagne of France.
First flush
A Royal Flush is a highly desired hand in Poker and is represented by a straight from a ten to an ace, and all five cards from the same suit. While many people may dream of finding a Royal Flush, they may need to be patient as the odds of this are 649,740 to 1.
The luck of the draw
Every year, the South Florida Diving Headquarters holds the Lady Luck Underwater Poker Tournament – yep, you read that right; underwater. Players are supplied with special chips and cards and are required to play their final rounds in the water.
Conclusion
If you’re a casino lover, there are plenty of games to choose from but, Poker is most certainly one of the most enduring. Whether you’re playing for money or fun, Poker is a great way to pass the time and to learn new skills.
