Poker cards with king and a Joker.

5 Poker Facts You Didn’t Know

Poker is one of the best casino games that has been around for centuries. The game has a long history that even the most loyal fans don’t know.

In this article, we have put together the most unusual and mind-blowing poker facts you will be surprised by. They don’t have much in common with the game rules but rather with the social component of the game and the poker origin. Ready to know the most interesting poker facts so far? Buckle up. We are going to start.

The Birthplace of Poker is America

The history of poker is shrouded in mystery and legend. There are many theories about the game’s origins, but the most likely story is that it originated in America, specifically in the state of New Orleans in the early 1800s. 

One of the earliest forms of the game was called “poque”. Poque was a gambling game that used cards with numbers and symbols. It was a version of today’s poker. The game was spread across the country and became popular among soldiers during the Civil War.

While the exact origins of poker are unknown, the game has been played in America for centuries. In 1829, Jonathan Hildreth published the first known reference to poker in an American book. The book, called “A Treatise on the Game of Poker”, described the rules of poker and how to play it.

52 Poker Сards Represent 52 Weeks in a Year

52 cards of a deck.

Red and Black symbolise night and day. Besides, the four suits represent the four seasons. Thirteen cards in each suit represent thirteen lunar cycles. Twelve court cards represent twelve months of the year. If you add all the values of the cards in a deck, you’ll get 364 + one for the Joker. It is equal to 365 days in a year.

Of course, the modern deck of cards in poker was not designed with that in mind. It is just a coincidence, but very impressive. This coincidence adds mystery to the game.

There’s a Dead Man’s Hand in Poker

The phrase “dead man’s hand” is most often used in poker. In the most common version of the story, the hand consists of a pair of black aces and a pair of black eights. The story goes that this was the hand held by Wild Bill Hickok when he was gunned down while playing poker in 1876.

There are a few different variations of the story, but all agree that Hickok was shot while holding a pair of black aces and a pair of black eights. The most common version of the story goes that Hickok was playing poker in Deadwood, South Dakota when he was shot in the back by Jack McCall. As he lay dying, Hickok is said to have muttered, “My aces and eights.”

Now the phrase “dead man’s hand” has come to be used about any hand of poker that contains a pair of black aces and a pair of black eights. It is also sometimes used more generally to refer to any situation in which someone is unexpectedly dealt a losing hand.

Texas Hold ’em Ace-King is called “Anna Kournikova”

A woman smiling.

The starting hand (Ace-King) is often called “Anna Kournikova” because it looks great but rarely wins. Just like the world-famous tennis player, the Anna Kournikova starting hand in Texas Hold’em looks good on paper but doesn’t often deliver results.

“Jackpot” Originated From a Form of Poker

When it comes to gambling, the term “jackpot” is used quite frequently. It’s become so commonplace that many people don’t even realise its origins. The word “jackpot” actually comes from a form of poker called “draw poker.”

In draw poker, each player is dealt a hand of cards. They then can “draw” or exchange any of their cards for new ones from the deck. Once all players have a chance to draw, the hands are compared, and the best hand wins.

If there is one thing that makes draw poker unique, it’s the fact that there is a pot of money that grows as more hands are played. This pot is what’s known as the “jackpot.”

The size of the jackpot depends on a few factors, such as the number of players and the stakes of the game. However, it’s not uncommon for the jackpot to reach into the thousands of dollars.

While the word “jackpot” is now commonly used to refer to any large prize, its origins are quite interesting. The next time you hear someone say they hit the “jackpot,” you can be sure that they’re referring to more than just good luck.