Needless to say, Poker is the most loved card game in the world today. This can be witnessed with the rise of Online Poker companies and Live Poker Rooms (Casinos) which have attracted the attention of both Poker and Non-Poker players. With the growing large number of Poker enthusiasts and a long history of card games, Poker tournaments have evolved over the years.
Card games are played in almost every country of this world. Poker is the most popular of them all, and which is played in different formats and is known by different names. In the past Poker was played in certain events or parties but this trend has changed over the years. Now people have acknowledged Poker as a skill game and it is seen more from of a career perspective than personal entertainment. You can even watch tournaments on TV or online to observe and learn how professionals play and know their Poker stories.
Origin of Poker-
Some historians believe that this game must have started before 969 AD during the reign of Emperor Mu-Tsung. Some facts revealed that he spent New Year’s Eve playing Domino Cards with his wife. It is also believed that Egyptians played card games in the 12th and 13th centuries, and Persians used to play many bluffing games with a set of 96 intricately-decorated Garijfa or Treasure Cards in the 16th century. As specified in Wikipedia – In 1937 edition of Foster’s Complete Hoyle, R. F. Foster wrote, “The game of Poker, as first played in the United States, five cards to each player from a twenty-card pack, is undoubtedly the Persian game of As-Nas.”
The real evolution started around 1990s in France. French people used to play a game similar to Poker known as Poque. Later, America and Canada started playing and Poker got evolved as a popular card game. During that time, its most played variants were 3-Card Monte and Stud Poker. In the 1920’s Texas Hold’em was invented and today stand as the most popular variant of Online and Live Poker along with Omaha.
Offline Tournaments-
There are plenty of Online and Offline Poker tournaments that take place in different parts of the world. These tournaments are sponsored by large Online Poker companies and big Poker Casinos and Clubs, for example APPT, WPT, WSOP, etc. There are other tournaments like UK & Ireland Poker Tour, the European Poker Tour, the North American Tour and the Latin American Tour.
These Poker tournaments involve real cash in the form of Poker chips. As the different stages of the tournament are played the players who have been knocked out remain standing until one winner takes the final pot. Betting in these Poker tournament games is hugely lucrative, and for those who finish in cash, it’s like a fortuitous reward. According to Forbes Magazine, “WSP (World Series Poker) is the 9th-richest Poker event in the world, and on this listing is classified as a sport rather than a game.”
Online Tournaments-
Online tournaments work in the same way as live Poker tournaments. Though there are few differences in playing style but the rules of the game are same. It’s possible for Online tournaments to get more players in a game than the offline version. Moreover, Online Poker provides benefit of playing the game from the comfort of home. So, it’s easy for players to logon on their computers and mobiles and play at home rather than going to live Poker rooms.
Poker tournaments have grown at a rapid rate, and thanks to the Internet these card games have become easily accessible to the people. Game is getting world’s attention, in the coming times this Poker game is going to be more and more popular.