War has been a part of humanity for as long as there has been a humanity for it to be part of. Throughout history tribes, ethnic groups, nations, and the occasional grouchy neighbors have had a go at each other with everything from sharpened sticks to satellite guided missiles. While war is horrible, and only somebody who has their babysitters head stored in the lettuce crisper would say it is a good thing, the reality is that it has been an important part of cultural expansion. When soldiers aren’t sharing the bits of their culture that involve firearms and sticking each other with pieces of metal, the lulls in fighting and occupation of cities have allowed for real exposure to what makes a completely different society tick. In the history of poker, it has been war that has greatly contributed to the evolution and expansion of the game to new corners of the world.
While there is a lot of dispute over where poker originally came from, there is no argument that early forms of the game that most of us would recognize as poker was entrenched in Europe during the 18th century. While French traders are responsible for some of the expansion of the game to Colonial America, it was the French and Indian Wars and really got it going in the pre-revolution English colonies.
When the American Civil War came about, the game went through a rapid and profound evolution. The game we accept as modern poker was born during the unsanctioned parlays between Union and Confederate soldiers who would meet at night to trade, enjoy a few hands of cards, and have a good laugh at the expense of their commanders.
Poker came full circle when the United States military returned to Europe during World War I and World War II. They brought with them the evolved version of the game, and it quickly took hold. This is a big part of the reason that poker was well established in Europe long before cable television and the internet could exploit its popularity.
