Poker is one of the most Iconic card games in the world, combining skill, strategy, and psychology. Its origins trace back to the early 19th century in the United States, through similar fames existed in Europe long before. Historians believe poker evolved from the French game poque and the German game pochen, noth involving bluffing and betting. As French settlers brought poque to New Orleans, it spread up the Mississippi River through riverboat gambling and quickly became a favorite pastime of soldiers and travelers.
By the mid-1800s, poker had developed in the 52-card deck version we know today, with hand rankings like full house an flush. The game continued to evovle through the 20th century, leading the birth of community card games such as Texas Hold'em and Omaha.
The World Series of Poker (WSOP), fist held in 1970 in Las Vegas, became the most prestigious poker tournament in the world. What began as a small gathering of top players at Binion's Horseshoe Casino has grown into a massive global event, attracting thousands of players competing for millions in prize money and the coveted gold bracelet. The WSOP helped turn poker into a spectator sport, broadcast worldwide and inspiring countless new players to learn the game.
I recently sat down with Linda Johnson, known as The First Lady of Poker. She is a Hall of Famer and advocate for woman in the game. She was inducted in 2008 into the Woman Poker Hall of Fame, and then three years later, in 2011, she was inducted into the mainstream Poker Hall of Fame. She has also won the coveted WSOP gold bracelet and many other accolades. She has written a few books, published articles in many magazines, and is well-recognized and respected in the poker community.
Q: What advice would you give to someone who is just learning how to play poker?
A: My advice would to learn, learn, learn. The good news is that you can become very good if you eant play the game but the bad news is you to put in a lot of time and study in order to be good at the game. However there are litterally hundreds of poker books available. There is also online training websites. Of course gaining experience will be the be the best learning tool of all.
Q: Some people say poker is more luck than skill. What are your thoughts?
A: Luck will play some part in winning or loosing but anyone who tells you that they always win are lying. There some times when your opponents will get lucky against you and there is really nothing you can do about it except keep good attitude and keep playing your best game. Over the run, skill be the factor in determining whether you are a winner or loser.
