Fun and Interesting Poker Facts

An online casino [3] [3]  – they have a lot to offer to every player, don't they?

There are dozens upon dozens of different casino online games you can play whenever you feel like it – slot games, table games, and various card games, including one of the most popular games in the world – poker.

Poker as we know it has been around for hundreds of years, and it seems as if it will never get old. There is something about this game that people can’t seem to resist: it is challenging, intriguing, and fun.

But most importantly, it requires a perfect combination of luck and knowledge that will allow you to develop a certain skill while playing the game, without losing the unpredictable edge to it.

Before you play poker, online or in real life, learn a bit more about the games itself, so you will be able to enjoy the game even more once you face your opponents!

6 Facts You Must Know

1. Earlier poker versions have been around for more than 1,000 years, and historians argue about where it originated in the first place. Some say that the game was born in China, others believe that it was in Persia, but the closest European version of the game appeared in France back in the 17th century. It was called Poque, and it was introduced in America by French colonists who brought the game with them hundreds of years ago.

2. In the original version of the game, the rules were less complex than the modern version. It consisted of 20 cards only, divided equally between four players, and the participants placed bets on who had the best hand. Nowadays, the game is much more intricate, with a full deck of 52 cards involved.

3. Pro poker players are not the only famous people who frequent the poker tables. There are quite a few A-lister actors who are quite good at the game. One of those players is Ben Affleck, who won the California State Poker Championship in 2004, taking home more than $300,000.

4. The largest online poker tournament took place in Isle of Man in 2015, featuring 253,692 participants that tried to win the big prize. Eventually, after 470 hands, one Austrian player won first place, collecting $10,000. When it comes to Live Poker Tournaments, the biggest tournament in recorded history also occurred in 2015, and it attracted 22,374 entries in total.

5. In poker, there is a specific nickname to a hand consisting of two aces and two eights. It is called a ‘dead man’s hand’ since according to legends, this was the hand that Wild Bill Hickok had when he was shot and killed by Jack McCall. Although there are no recorded sources to this fact, this specific hand was featured in a book about Hickok that was published back in 1926. From that moment on, people referred to this hand by its new nickname.

6. It is no secret that gambling brings out the competitive side of players, and sometimes people tend to go overboard with their gambling habits. That was the case for Andrei Karpov [4] in 2007. When he ran out of money, Karpov decided to add a personal ingredient to the mix, putting his wife as a stake. Not surprisingly, Karpov then lost the game, and his wife left him for the winner.

In Conclusion

Poker is one of the most popular casino games in the world. It has a rich history and a bright future, especially since you can now play this card game at online gambling venues. Now you know all about the game's history, it is time for you to go out there and check the game out for yourself!