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There are a lot of different opinions about poker’s history. Probably poker came from various games and it’s rooted in ancient times. The earliest record of poker is dated 1834 and it belongs to Jonathan X. Green. In his feature story Green describes the rules of “cross game”, which was very popular on the Mississippi river boats that time. He realized that his notes were the first and the game didn’t have any name and decided to call it “poker”.

That game used only 20 cards with ace, king, queen, Jack and ten. Usually from two till four people could take part in the game, every player got five cards. That time the “cross game” was even more popular than Three-Card Monte. A lot of people who liked Three-Card Monte considered that poker with 20 cards was more legal that’s way they returned to it again and again. Eventually poker became popular thanks to card-sharpers.

Often people like to discuss the birth of the word “poker”. Most if not all of dictionaries and historians are sure that the word descends from the French game of the 18th century – poque. However there is an opinion that poker came from German game - pochspiel. When the player lose, he tapped on the table with screaming "Ich Poche!". Other people supposed that the word came from Hindu pukka.

One more explanation of the word “poker” may be the slang of the criminal world. Pickpockets usually use "poke" word. Cheaters who played “cross game” with new player tried to take his wallet and used the word "poke" between each other. Probably they added the letter r. The main secret was that the victim didn’t know specific phrases from the criminal slang and about some changes in his wallet.

Additionally jugglers used the word "hocus-pocus" which is so similar with poker. Later the game included 32 cards and nowadays – 52, without two Jockers.

Today everyone can play poker not only in casino. It’s becoming more and more popular to play online.

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