The history of poker is the subject of some debate. One of the earliest known games to incorporate betting, hand rankings, and bluffing was the 15th century German game Pochspiel. Poker closely resembles the Persian game of As Nas, though there is no specific description of Nas prior to 1890.
It is not clear whether the origins of poker itself lie with the games bearing those names. It is commonly regarded as sharing ancestry with the Renaissance game of primero and the French brelan. The English game brag, clearly descended from brelan and incorporated bluffing (though the concept was known in other games by that time). It is quite possible that all of these earlier games influenced the development of poker as it exists now.
The unique features of poker have to do with the betting, and do not appear in any known older game. People who play casino games know that poker is a great game enjoyed throughout the centuries. It is good to know of the origins of the game but it is better to know how to play and win.
