The History of Draw Poker
Originating from the German game of pochen and the Persian game of As Nas poker was invented in the early 19th century in New Orleans. The earliest reference of the game is made in J. Hildreth’s Dragoon Campaigns to the Rocky Mountains, published in 1836, but there is evidence that the game was played at least as early as in 1829.
At first it was played with a 20 card deck, but the 52 card deck was already in use in the mid-1830s, and it did during the period to 1845 gradually substitute the 20 card deck. At the end of this period the draw was introduced and poker as we know it today was born.
