Live Poker Player Internet Guide

History of the Word Poker

As the exact roots of poker proved to be difficult to trace, so is the origin of the name of poker. Some game historians and dictionaries indicate that the game poker probably evolved from France. The popularity of French casinos has paved the way for many card games to spread not only in Europe, but also around the world. It was in the 18th century when a game called "poque" was introduced and became popular in France. Due to the similarity in the sound pattern and the game itself, many believe that poque is the origin of the word poker.

Aside from this, there are also similar references to the origin of the name poker to a German card game called "pochspiel". This game is similar to a bluffing game. Here, players make rapping noise at the table and say "Ich Poche!" everytime they want to pass or open. Other beliefs trace the word poker to Hindu word, "pukka".

On the other hand, there are traces to origin of the word poker to "poke", which is a slang common to pickpockets. Cardsharps, who uses the 20-card cheating game that is similar to poker, in order to "relieve the sucker from his poke", may have used this term among them and added an -r. It is believed that this change would not cause much confusion among those knowledgeable to the underworld terms

Meanwhile, some believed that the word "poke" came from a term used to describe the tricks magicians do. The term is "hocus pocus" was believed to be the origin of the name poker. Also, it is believed that this association with magic tricks eventually paved the way to the use of the 52-card poker game.

For several years that have passed, there have been so many other theories that attempted to trace the origin of poker. Card game historians and scholars continue to seek answers to this long-standing question of poker origin. But no matter where poker came from, it will never cease to give the fun and excitement people from the past, the present and the future will enjoy.