Poker is one of the most popular gambling games in the world. When you think of gambling, chances are that you’re thinking of a poker game. Also, keep in mind that whenever we’re talking about an online casino or a gambling video game, chances are that the icon/thumbnail will be poker-related.
Seeing as how it’s one of the most skill-dependent games out there, it’s held in much higher esteem than its counterparts. Recently, it’s been recognized as a mind sport. With all of this in mind and without further ado, here are the top 7 facts about poker that every gambler should know about.
1. Chips Revolutionized the Game
In the past, people were betting on gold bars, nuggets, and even gold dust. The reason why this was so problematic is that it was nearly impossible to assign value to the round being played. This is when chips were introduced. In terms of instant evaluation, they are even more accurate than currency. They’re color-coded and a pile is easier to estimate in value.
First chips were made out of ivory, wood, clay, and bone. This depended on the budget and reputation of the casino. Nowadays, the majority of them are created from a composite that includes clay. If we had to name the material in layman’s terms, it would be safe to say that it’s a much more durable version of clay.
2. Online Poker Is Another Huge Milestone
Just like with chips, poker was completely revolutionized with the invention of the internet. Sure, some sorts of poker simulations were available on computers since their early days but the first actual online poker game (real money game) was played on January 1, 1998. Since then, online poker has picked up at an incredible pace.
At the moment, about 80 million Americans love playing poker and the majority of them are playing poker predominantly online. A lot of people are making a living playing online poker but the biggest problem is that it’s not legal across all states. Ironically enough, Texas Hold’em is Illegal in Texas. In other words, you might want to start with brief research on which states/countries online poker is legal in.
3. Poker Has Evolved So Much
Another thing you need to understand is that it’s not just the chips and the medium that has evolved. The rules of poker have changed so much over the last 200 years. For instance, before the 1830s, poker was played with only 20 cards. Minor rules have changed since the beginning of poker but this was a major turn for the game.
The rules were quite different, as was the very nature of the game. There were four players with 5 cards each. There was no discarding, folding, or calling. Each player could bed on whose cards they believed were the best. In a way, this was a game of reading your opponent, a psychological competition far more than it was a mere card game.
4. Poker Is a Sport
Officially, poker has been a sport since 2010. This means that poker players can officially consider themselves to be athletes. Also, since we’ve mentioned that 1 in 4 Americans occasionally partake in Poker, this would make it one of the most popular games on the continent.
Now, to be completely fair, it still doesn’t have the same status as traditional sports. It’s considered a mind sport (similar to chess). This is a title that was awarded by the IMSA (International Mind Sports Association). Unlike chess, however, it is not recognized by the International Olympic Committee.
5. Royal Flush
The strongest hand that you can get in poker is the royal flush. This is one of the first gambling slang terms you need to learn as a poker player, even though the chances of getting one are 649,740 to 1. Now, the royal flush entails an ace, king, queen, jack, and a ten, all in the same suit.
Speaking of powerful combinations and odd, the chances of you getting four of a kind are 4,164 to 1. After that, the rarest (and the strongest) combinations are:
- Full house
- Flush
- Straight
- Three of a kind
Just keep in mind that this is poker that we’re talking about and that, unless you have a Royal Flush, your victory depends on the hands that your opponents have been dealt, as well.
6. Poker Is Incredibly Lucrative
While no form of gambling guarantees you profit, this is, by far, one of the most profitable forms of gambling (statistically speaking). You see, there are so many people playing poker online, which means that it’s harder to get to the top than ever before.
Still, with so many players online, the average skill level drops consistently. This means that if you’re a fairly competent player, you’ll have an easy job of getting higher than before. Just keep in mind that this is not the pinnacle of poker’s popularity (historically speaking). Poker was the most popular between 2003 and 2011.
7. Deeply Rooted in History and Culture
Have you ever heard the term “Dead Man’s Hand”? This is the exact combination that Wild Bill Hickok, had in his hand when he was shot dead by John McCall. It’s 2 aces and 2 eights. Now, while this is just a piece of trivia, it just goes to show you just how impactful poker was on the history and culture of the old west.
After all, Doc. Holliday was a notorious poker player, a non-licensed practitioner, an alcoholic, and a gunman (in that particular order). Also, poker (as a game) is at the centerpiece of so many great scenes from popular culture, including some of the most iconic James Bond moments. In other words, it’s more than just a gambling game.
Wrap Up
In the end, the history and lore of poker are so incredibly deep that one could make a career of being a poker historian. Still, this is more of a trivia than a requirement of any kind. There’s no gatekeeping in poker whatsoever and you don’t need to know what the chips are made of to crush it in poker. Nonetheless, a bit of help never hurt anyone.
