Meet the faces behind poker’s major tournaments with Secrets from the Shuffle’s six new interview-driven episodes that explore poker’s most captivating tales.
Gather your friends, put on some headphones, and dance to music to join in this social deduction game! Play modes may include finding players dancing to similar tracks as you as well as finding pairs and more!
The Story of Poker
Poker is an ancient, centuries-old, global phenomenon where players bet with chips that represent real money against one another in an intense and highly entertaining battle of skill and luck. It has seen significant milestones throughout its long and storied history spanning across continents and cultures alike – as evidenced by many important moments throughout.
Modern poker originated in New Orleans in 1829 when French settlers there developed a game known as Poques that closely resembles modern day draw poker. Played on riverboats and with players engaging in high levels of bluffing to win bets.
Tournaments are games in which all participants compete against one another for a large prize pool. Unlike cash games where blinds and forced bets increase throughout a hand, blinds and antes in tournaments remain fixed, meaning the last player standing can claim most of the pot as prize pool winners.
Texas hold-em became a cornerstone of World Series of Poker tournaments after Jack Binion introduced it in 1971. But Chris Moneymaker’s record-setting victory at 2003 WSOP gave poker its breakthrough into mainstream society.
The Story of Tournaments
Since Benny Binion put seven men through their paces at his inaugural poker tournament in Sin City back in 1970, poker tournaments have grown into a global phenomenon that draws thousands of visitors from every corner of the globe each year to Las Vegas.
Following Moneymaker’s triumphant win, online poker platforms witnessed a phenomenal boom as millions of amateur players signed up in hopes of qualifying for the World Series of Poker Main Event. Players could hone their skills, compete against players from around the globe, and qualify for live events – all while practicing and honing their abilities before entering actual events live or virtually.
Online poker also brought with it an era of poker celebrities such as Doyle Brunson, Johnny Chan, Stu Ungar and Daniel Negreanu – household names who made poker fashionable again. Ungar is particularly noteworthy as being the first player ever to win back-to-back Main Events; an unprecedented achievement that made him an iconic symbol of modern game poker.
The Story of the Game
Poker has come a long way since it first originated as an underground game involving cheating; today it’s one of the major spectator sports and players take great pleasure in its rich history and embrace it as part of their culture.
Poker’s precise origins remain unclear, though it is generally agreed that it originated sometime during the 1800s through a combination of Poque (french parlor game), Brag (English national vying game from 17th-18th centuries), and Faro (an ancestor to Baccarat). These games were played on riverboats up the Mississippi and in gambling saloons across America’s Wild West; their popularity attracted gamblers, hustlers, and card sharps who all saw potential profit in poker’s rise to prominence.
Secret Shuffle’s team includes graphic & UX designer Sim Kaart, music curator & sound designer Yero Pharaoh, creative producer Sandy Seifert and cameraman/video editor Gilles van Leeuwen. Together, these experts have designed various game modes like Fakers, Split Statues Possessed among many other variations requiring headphones.
The Story of the Players
Gamblers, scam artists, and individuals with questionable morals were drawn to this game as it became part of western legend; many gambled for high stakes by carrying guns into smoke-filled saloons to play cards or risk their lives in risky games of chance reminiscent of frontier expansion.
Betting size can have an enormous effect on the success of tournament poker players, affecting their chances of reaching the final table and ultimately reaching victory. Professional tournament players have extensive knowledge in bet sizing that can make or break their success at tournament poker tournaments, so use this guide on bet sizing to maximize your odds of making it to the final table!
Feeding the Dead” occurs when too many players in a poker tournament feed money into the pot for opponents to pick off later, known as “feeding the dead”. Doing this reduces your odds of making it all the way to the final table – learn to avoid this tactic with these timeless strategies and tips.
