Poch
20th century Poch board (Pochbrett) | |
| Origin | Germany |
|---|---|
| Release date | Before 1441 |
| Type | Melding, vying and shedding |
| Family | Stops group |
| Players | 3–8 |
| Skills | combinations, chance |
| Age range | 10+ |
| Cards | 32 or 52 |
| Deck | French or German-suited pack |
| Rank (high→low) | A K Q J 10 – 7 or 2 |
| Play | Anticlockwise |
| Playing time | 10 min |
| Related games | |
| Nain Jaune • Pope Joan | |
Poch, Pochen or Pochspiel (French: Poque) is a very old card game that is considered one of the forerunners of poker, a game that developed in America in the 19th century. An etymological relationship between the game names is also assumed. Games related to Poch are the French Glic and Nain Jaune and the English Pope Joan. Other forerunners of poker and possible relatives of the game are the English game, Brag, from the 16th century and the French Brelan (later Bouillotte) and Belle, Flux et Trente-et-Un. Poch is recorded as early as 1441 in Strasbourg. In north Germany it was called by the Low German name of Puchen or Puchspill, and the board was a Puchbrett.
Pochen is also another name for the card game Tippen or Dreiblatt.