The History Of Jacks Or Better Poker
The origins of Poker and Jacks or Better are quite
controversial. There isn't any specific ancestor of the game to
draw a date from. However, Poker is a very old game indeed. The
earliest reference seems to be from JH Green who, in 1834,
referred to the 'cheating game' being played on the riverboats
in Mississippi of the time. Jacks or Better Poker seemed to be a
more legitimate game than Three Card Monte, which was quite
popular at the time. Jacks or Better took over with popularity
because it was labeled a fair game.
The origin of the name 'Poker' likely comes from the French
'poque' and old French game; while other people claim that the
word 'Poker' must have come from Germany's pochspiel. There are
still few who also believe the word is derived from the Hindu
pukka.
Jacks or Better is one of the more popular original types of
Poker that were played, although no information is really
available as to its exact origins. Jacks or Better is one of the
common rules amongst most types of Poker games that are played
with some exceptions in the new variations of Poker that are
played at casinos.
Jacks or Better Poker is available as a game for video Poker.
The concept behind the game is that a pair of Jacks or Better
wins: the better hand consisting two pairs, flush, straight,
etc. up to a royal flush. Poker was thought of as a game of the
men of the underworld in times past however nowadays is played
legally in many variations in casinos around the world. It is
possible that Poker is derived from many of earlier games that
lent influence to the game of Poker we know today. It was
reported by English actor, Joseph Crowell, that Poker was played
in New Orleans in 1829 with a deck consisting of 20 cards, and
with four players betting on which player's hand was the most
valuable.
After the spread of gambling from the Mississippi riverboats,
the full, 52 card deck was introduced and used to play Poker and
the flush hand (five cards of the same suit) was introduced.
Poker has been around for nearly 200 years, and there have been
many variations that have come about from the game. Jacks or
Better Poker is one simple variation of the game that is
commonly played, especially in video Poker.