Some Poker Trivia

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Here is some interesting facts I thought you all might enjoy.. Smile

40 to 50 million Americans regularly play poker. Thatâ€™s more than one in fiveâ€¦

The origin of the name Poker is uncertain. Some say it may come from the German verb pochen, meaning to brag or bluff, and there is an older, German card game similar to poker in that it involved bluffing, called Pochspiel. Another version traces the word to the French poque, also said to have been a card game resembling poker. The earlier version of the game in English was called brag.

Ex-President Richard Nixon won $6000 during his first two months in the U.S. Navy in World War II, playing poker. He used those winnings to fund his first (and successful) campaign for congress.

Each year more than 70 million decks of cards are sold in the U.S.

Playing cards were likely invented in China in 1120 AD and first introduced to Europe in the 1300â€™s.

When Columbus landed on U.S. shores in 1492, his men plucked wide leaves from trees, marked them with images, and played cards - a good way to relax after a hard years work on the oceans I say...lol

On a deck of cards, the king of spades represents David, King of Israel; the king of Clubs represents Alexander the Great, King of Macedonia; the king of Hearts is Charlemagne, King of France; and the king of Diamonds is Caesar Augustus, Emperor of Rome.

The suits in playing cards derive from French influence, and represent the four classes of men: Spades represent nobility, Diamonds represent merchants, Clubs represent peasants, and Hearts the clergy.

Posts: 83 · Posted: 22.11.2005, 19:46

I read this also learn something new everyday lol

Posts: 654 · Posted: 18.12.2005, 09:29

I am REALLY impressed with your trivia post, Dr. Crush. Very interesting.

About the origin of the name "poker" ~ Did you know that Pochspiel was a form of the game called "brag" and in that game, the players made a call which sounded like "Ich poche", pretty easily translated to "poker" or "it's poker"?

And to carry on with your trivia -- (see what you started? LOL) -- Not only did Nixon win quite a bit playing poker in the Navy, but that was also where he LEARNED to play.

Amarillo Slim and Puggy Pearson also learned how to play in the Navy.

To those of you who might be new to the poker world ~ Amarillo and Puggy went on to become big winners and big names in poker. I wonder which one, of all 3, ended up making the most money? Chances are we will never know -- and neither will the IRS! teehee

Thanks for triggering some memories, Dr. Crush!

royalblush

Posts: 647 · Posted: 27.03.2006, 11:28

I wonder why the spades represented nobility???
The others i can see, diamonds for merchants makes sense,and the others sort of I guess - but I can't make a connection between spades and the upper class!

Can you?

sunspun

Posts: 95 · Posted: 04.01.2009, 03:24

loved the info...very interesting!!!! marlene