How did poker inspire John von Neumann’s early work in game theory?

In 1928, John von Neumann published his seminal paper, "Theory of Parlor Games," which served as a foundational text for game theory. The game of poker provided the nominal inspiration for this work because it incorporates the element of bluffing—a feature distinct from the pure logic found in games like chess or the probability theory applied to roulette.1

Von Neumann gave the subject mathematical substance by proving the mini-max theorem. This theorem asserts that for any finite, two-person zero-sum game, there exists a rational outcome where two perfectly logical adversaries can arrive at a mutual strategy, confident that they cannot improve their position by choosing differently. In the context of poker, von Neumann recognized that an optimal strategy must incorporate a chance element, requiring players to bluff occasionally and unpredictably to avoid being exploited by more savvy opponents.1