Poker FactsSome common facts about poker and playing the game.
Poker has many, different facets. It is considered plain recreational activity by some. These people hold the cards for the simple reason that it makes them feel alive. Poker, for them, is a fountain of ecstasy. For some people though, poker has become a way of life. These people believe that by taking a plunge into the poker world, they can have the best of both worlds -- that of profit and pleasure. This means that every time they play poker, it is not merely putting money on the line. There is also an unleashing of passion devoted to their prized interests.
What is it about poker that tickled people's fancy aside from the winnings? Below are some fun facts that will surely heighten your fascination towards poker:
* Poker is said to have rooted from these words: Pochen and Pochspiel from Germany; Poque from France; Brag from England
* In United States alone, a whopping 70 million card decks are sold every year.
* The four classes of suits stand for the four types of people that dominate society: Spades stand for noblemen, Diamonds stand for merchants, Clubs stand for peasants, and Hearts corresponds to the clergymen.
* Do you know that sandwiches were invented because of a person's addiction for gambling? The Earl of Sandwich, Sir John Montague, was so hooked on gambling that he ordered for meal to be served while he was engaged in the activity. To make it easier for him to hold the cards while eating, he instructed his servant to put meat between two bread slices so he can hold his food on one hand and the cards on the other.
* Mr. Richard Nixon, the controversial ex-president of the United States, was an avid poker player. During his stay in the navy, he made a fortune amounting to $6,000 from playing poker games with his colleagues. He used the money in his campaigns during the time he was running for a seat in congress.
* 40 - 50 million: The estimated number of American people engaged in live and online poker gaming (link to: Poker Faq.txt).
* The first ever Texas Hold'em game was played in a Texan county called Robstown.
* If you have aces and eights, then you are considered to have a dead man's hand.
* When you are told to play "according to Hoyle," you were being asked to play fairly, honestly, and without any intention to cheat.
* The four Kings in the playing cards represent the great rulers in our history: The king of spades is David, Israel's famous king; the king of Clubs is Alexander the Great, the Greek king of Macedon; the king of Hearts represents Charlemagne of the Carolingian dynasty; and last but not the least, Caesar Augustus, the slain Roman Emperor in the Ides of March, as the king of Diamonds.
* The hardworking and creative people of China were actually the inventors of playing cards. They came up with the first ever deck in 1120 AD. It was only in 1300's when playing cards reached the shores of Europe. However, it was the French people who came with the ideas of design and improvements.
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