The Cheating Game. . . by
name, that is
19 August 2005
By Mark Pilarski
Dear Mark, Thanks for including the occasional
poker question to your column. They are always
quite informative. My question though isn't
about poker per se, but about its origins. Do
you happen to know where the game of poker
originates? Lester K.
There is no clear or direct origin of the game
of poker, given in the most respected
encyclopedias, and it is probably likely,
Lester, that the game of poker evolved from
elements of many different games. Why, even the
derivation of the word Poker is a topic of
debate.
Game historians and most lexicographers believe
the word comes from an eighteenth-century French
game, Poque; however there are other references
to a German game named Pochspiel. Others believe
it came from the Hindu word, pukka. Another
account I found suggests that it came from a
version of an underworld slang word, "poke," a
term for wallet used by pickpockets, and there
are those who believe that "poke" probably came
from "hocus-pocus", a sort of mumbo-jumbo chanty
widely used by magicians in tricks where
something disappears.
One thing game historians can agree on is that
the game's naissance is a very old one, the
earliest reference being dated 1550, and that in
connection with the Italian game of Primero.
Primero involved betting, and had valued hands
like three-of-a-kind, pairs, and the flush. By
the 18th century the betting and bluffing
aspects of the game had been introduced in such
five-card games as Brag (England), Pochen
(Germany), and Poque (France).
In America, the earliest written reference to
poker is in 1834 among the writings of Jonathan
H. Green. Green mentions the rules to what he
called the "cheating game," then being played on
Mississippi riverboats. Green, who couldn't find
reference to it in Hoyle, decided to name the
game Poker. The game Green described was played
with 20 cards, and used only aces, kings,
queens, jacks and tens. Up to four people could
play; each was dealt five cards.
When Green put pen to paper, the game had
already become the number one cheating game on
the Mississippi riverboats, surpassing the
ever-popular game of Three-Card Monte. Poker's
popularity eventually moved from New Orleans by
steamboat up the Mississippi and Ohio rivers;
and from the river towns, the game spread both
east and west by covered wagons and the new
railroad. When the now-standard 52-card deck
ultimately replaced the 20-card deck, the flush
was re-introduced (remember Primero?). During
the Civil War, modifications such as open cards
(stud poker), the straight and the draw were
established.
There's a whole lot more history, Lester, more
than space allows, but suffice it to say that
the game of poker today is as popular as ever,
thanks in large part to the Cinderella story of
Chris Moneymaker, who had never played in a
"live" tournament, before winning the main event
in the 34th annual World Series of Poker
Championship at Binion's casino in Las Vegas in
2003.
I believe his win is the genesis of poker's
resurgence and high popularity level today.
Dear Mark, I had a big argument with a friend of
mine regarding his theory regarding blackjack.
My friend thinks that if you are dealt a twelve
or over, no matter what the dealer has showing
you should not take a hit. He thinks your chance
of busting is greater than the dealer=s. I think
he is nuts. Am I wrong? Nate H.
Not this time, Nate, as perfect basic strategy
in blackjack advises hitting plenty of those
stiff hands. When your friend uses a never-bust
strategy, he is giving the casino a 5%
advantage, whereas when you use strict basic
strategy, your are only giving the casino a half
of one percent edge on the six or eight-deck
games.
Losing players employ this never-bust strategy,
at the minor cost, that is, of the greenish
colored contents of their wallets.
Gambling Wisdom of the Week: "No presidential
candidate should visit Las Vegas without
condemning organized gambling." --Ralph Nader
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