Online poker is new because of the technology that allows millions to play on the Internet. The game of poker, however, is anything but new. What we see now in dozens of poker sites is the latest version of a traditional parlor card game.
A close look at online poker shows that the game of poker has changed drastically in the centuries since it was first played as a home game and a neighborhood pastime. Several people have worked on histories of card games in general and poker specifically, with many of these showing that the game we know as poker began 1000 years, in China! Similar cards were used for entertainment and wagering in Egypt and Persia hundreds of years ago.
But the modern game might be based in the French game of poque, Germany’s pochen, or primero from Spain. Given the mixed-bag nature of the world’s population today the modern game of poker probably has roots in all of these. It follows that poker on the Web owes its existence to these classic games.
Poker has long been a staple in such cities as Las Vegas and Reno, as well as in the riverboats of the Mississippi. Hundreds of people played and gambled with cards, in backrooms and poker rooms, but today millions play the game on home computers. This has given birth to a billion-dollar industry that spans the globe.
Many Opportunities
A quick search for online poker reveals thousands of sites specifically for such poker versions as Texas Holdem Poker and Omaha. (It’s difficult to find a place to play 7-card stud or 5-card draw). There are plenty of excellent Poker Sites which offer these games online. Everyone who wants to enjoy online poker can do so by opening a minimum account with one of these reliable poker sites. From that point, you just have to play!
“Stroll†into the lobby of an online poker site and you will find cash games and tournaments at levels ranging from penny-ante stakes to games that have a buy-in of several hundred dollars. If you are at one of the poker sites you will even have the chance to play one of the casino variations of poker such as Three-Card and Pai Gow.
Tip: These are a completely different game than traditional poker.
Here are a few key things to look for when you enter your favorite poker site:
• Promotions and bonuses – New players can get additional money to play with through poker bonus offered by the sites. But you have to play a certain number of “hands†before you can access this bonus account.
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