With poker being played in virtually all corners of the earth, there are now professional poker tournaments and circuits (such as the World Series of poker) wherein professional poker players pit their wits and chips against each other for prize money and bragging rights as the world's best. If you're looking to be one of those players, or are just looking for a way to have an enjoyable time, then you'd do well to learn poker, one of the most enjoyable card games around. It is relatively easy to learn, and once you get the hang of it, you'll be playing like a pro in no time.
There are many arguments and theories as to where and when poker originated. A number of authorities, including gaming historian David Parlett, believe that poker originated from different games such as the French games poque and brelan, the German pochen, and the Spanish (or Italian) primero. On the other hand, according to the book "A World of Chance: Betting on Religion, Games, Wall Street" by G. Brenner and A. Brown, the uniqueness of poker lies in its betting structure, which is absent from any of its supposed ancestors, thus making poker a unique game in itself.
No matter the origin or history the game of poker has, it is certain that from being a recreational card game, today it is unarguably one of the most famous card games on the planet and is enjoyed by millions of people around the world. To become one of those millions, you need to learn poker first.
Poker tips and tricks can be obtained from long time players. These players are found everywhere and they will also be able to teach you the different variations of poker and the fundamental things you need to know before you can even pick up your first hand or place a bet. First off, poker is a game played using a typical 52 piece deck of cards. Each player is dealt a specific number of cards depending on the type of game. As an example, in Texas Hold 'em poker, a player is dealt two cards in hand, while in the typical version of stud poker, a player is dealt three.
The different variations of the game won't mean you'll be confused if you get to learn how to play poker. This is because the differences between the different types of poker games are only concerned with things such as how many cards are initially dealt with the player, the betting structures, and the sort. Basically, learning how to play one variation of poker will give you a clue as to how the others are played.
Learning from other poker players isn't the only way you'll learn how to play poker. You can watch televised tournaments, you can read books and other literature on the subject, or you can even go online and look at websites that offer poker tutorials for beginners. Whatever the source, you can be sure when you start playing, you'll have the time of your life playing poker.