The History of Poker
By Claire Bowes

It is also in poker that the term “bluffing” is used. Because there are cards that other players cannot see, some players who are expert in “bluffing” can make it appear that they have an unbeatable card and force other players to fold even if their cards are actually not so high. Poker has been associated with this kind of trick play that it has often been called “bluff.”

Through the years, poker has given birth to so many variations but still only one rule remains, only five cards can be played and the others discarded. These cards are then used to make different hand combinations. These are the straight flush, which consists of five cards in suit and sequence, including the Ace. The royal flush will have the Ace, the king, Queen, Jack and 10 of the same suit. Four of a kind, on the other hand, consists of four cards with same rank and one odd card.

The next in line is the full house, has three cards of the same rank with another two of the same rank. The flush consists of five cards in the same suit regardless of the rank while three of a kind must have three of the same rank and two who are odd cards. Two pair has two pairs with the same rank and one odd card while the one pair has two cards of the same rank with three odd cards. When there are no combinations formed, the one with the highest card will win the game.

Origins of the game
Poker, like all modern games, seem to have evolved from different games played around the world. One noted origin of poker is from the Chinese game, which makes use of domino cards. Egyptians have also been known to play a similar form of game during the 12th and 13th century. In the 16th century, there is also a game called Treasure cards, which is quite similar. A treasure card deck has 96 cards. As Nas, another game played by the Persians also have similar rounds of betting and hierarchical combination rankings.

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