Card-sharpers, their tricks, exposed; or, The art of always winning

Front matter

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Preface

On many occasions when I have been honored by the bench by being consulted as an expert in trials for cheating, I have been frequently impressed by the fact that the want of knowledge of the subject has been an impediment in the path of the judge. How, indeed, could he be expected to understand the subtle schemes of the professional sharper? How put his finger on the point in question, when he knows nothing of the rascal’s cunning maneuvers?

By a singular contradiction to the ordinary course of justice, while the offender, armed with tricks and audacity, is strong, the judge is practically without defense and helplessly weak.

Devoted for a part of my life to the study of conjuring, and having given my time to the amusement of the public, I am of opinion that the time has arrived to return to my supporters, who have honored me with their applause, a not equivocal mark of my gratitude in devoting my leisure to their service.

I have therefore written this work, the object of which may be summed up in this self-evident truth: “Enlighten the dupes and there will be no more cheats.”

But is it sufficient that a truth be uncontestable for it to be uncontested ? I do not believe it ; and, to prove it, I myself advance to meet a probable objection.

In unveiling the tricks of card-sharpers, do not you fear to supply certain unfortunate players with the skill to correct the rigors of fortune?

I might content myself by replying that in mak-

PREFACE.

ing public the following revelations, I am acting on principles long since firmly established by the press and public writers generally. Nevertheless, to respond more directly to the objection I have stated, I will add that my exposures of trickery and tricks, although quite sufficient to put the public on their guard, are not enough for those desirous of executing them.

Suppose, for instance, that I had not taken that precaution, what would be the result ? Why, that for one already half-perverted person who might utilize my culpable principles, thousands of dupes would by taking warning be protected.

But if by these exposures bad instincts are awakened, what are we to say of the numberless books on duelling, where the art of killing his fellowman is methodically taught?

Should not we fear that the principles inculcated in such books may lead to criminal actions ?

I have myself an excellent opinion of the respectable classes, and hope that the reading of my book will inspire no thought beyond that of guarding themselves against the tricks of sharpers.

Every one then in taking his part at cards, strong in the information I have imparted, will read to his profit the line of Virgil :

* I dread even a present from a Greek.

PUBLISHER’S NOTE.

Attention is called to the use of the term Knave instead of Jack. There being no authority for either, I adhere to the word Knave , for it is the term universally used by the French. — Robert - Boudin.

Contents

CHAPTER PAGE

PREFACE 3

I. THE MODERN GREEKS 14

Part II. THE METHOD 113

INTRODUCTION . . 114

I. THE FALSE CUT 115

II. DESTROYING THE CUT .... 117

III. — THE PASS STROKE 119

IV. THE JUMP 121

V. THE BIG CARD 122

VI. THE BRIDGE 123

VII. DRAWING THE CARD 125

VIII. WITHDRAWING CARDS .... 128

IX. PLACING THE CARDS 130

X. — SEEING THE CARD 131

XI. — CHANGING THE PACKS .... 132

XII. THE BOX UNDER THE CUFF . . . 135

XIII. FALSE SHUFFLE 136

(a) THE CLASSIFIED SHUFFLE . . 136

(5) THE PARTIAL SHUFFLE . . 137

CONTENTS

CHAPTER PAGE

(C) THE FAN 137

(d) THE SWALLOW'S TAIL . . 138

XIV. CUT CARDS 139

XV. MARKED CARDS 141

XVI. CARDS THAT STICK OR SLIP . . 142

XVII. — CARDS NOT CUT ON THE SQUARE . 143

XVIII. PRICKED CARDS 144

XIX. CARDS WITH MARKED EDGES . . 145

XX. CARDS WITH BENT CORNER^ . . 146

XXI. CARDS WITH DESIGNS AT BACK . . 147

XXII. SPOTTING THE BACKS OF CARDS . 148

XXIII. THE CHAPLET 153

XXIV. THE MARKING RING . . . .156

XXV. THE SNUFF-BOX 158

XXVI. APPLICATION OF THE PRECEDING

PRINCIPLES ..... 159

XXVII. TRICK AT PIQUET .... 161

(c) SUBTRACTION AND SUBSTITU-

TION 165

XXVIII. TRICK AT ECARTE .... 166

XXIX. LANSQUENET CONCEALED 'CARDS . 169

XXX. — OBSERVATION ON GAMES FOR FOUR

PLAYERS 171

XXXI. AMUSING TRICKERIES . . . 173

XXXII. PLEASANT GAME OF ECARTE . .175

XXXIII. TRICK AT ECARTE . . . .178

XXXIV. ANOTHER TRICK AT ECARTE . . 179

XXXV. BACCARAT 181

XXXVI. WHIST 182

XXXVII. BOUILLOTTE 184

XXXVIII. BEZIQUE 186

XXXIX. TRICK AT PIQUET .... 190

XL. LITTLE TRICKS INNOCENT THROUGH

USE 195

Their Tricks Exposed.

A DANGEROUS TEACHER.

Whatever price the reader may think the exposure of the following tricks may be worth, he certainly will never pay as dearly for their knowledge as I have done. You will easily understand that I have not been able to draw from my own brain all the ruses and rascalities of which the art of the sharper and cheat is composed. I have therefore drawn them one by one from the cheats themselves and at times divined them.

My researches have been both difficult and dangerous; difficult because sharpers do not readily allow one to discover a trick on which their living depends; dangerous because inquiries among such people may lead to serious danger. The following fact proves it:

When I was a conjurer in the bud I often visited, as I have related in my ‘ ‘ Confidences, ’ * a maker of instruments used by conjurers named Father Roujol, in the hope of meeting there some master or even amateur of the art.

Roujol had taken a liking to me; he was aware of my passion, and found pleasure in furnishing me with occasions of gaining instruction.

One day he mentioned a man named Elias Hausheer, whom he had met in a cafe. That man, he said, possessed wonderful ability; but, from a few words dropped by my friend, I gathered that his

CARD-SHARPERS.

skill served less to amuse the public than to correct the chances of fortune at cards.

It mattered little to me whether he was a conjurer or a cheat. He was very clever, and that was enough for me. Besides, in either case, I hoped to extract useful information. I thanked my old friend for his intelligence, and at about ten o ’clock next morning I made up my mind to visit M. Hausheer.

As I was about to start a thought delayed me.

I was then known only as a mechanic, and I feared that title would not be sufficient introduction.

I had an idea. Recently I had made a mechanical bird that sang and flew from a snuffbox. I thought it — which, indeed, was very valuable — would speak in my favor. I took it with me.

More confident now in the success of my attempt, I walked toward Golden Crown Street, where dwelt the important personage in question. I do not use the words “important personage” in an ironical sense, because in my passion for conjuring of all kinds, which amounted to monomania, my fancy represented M. Hausheer as possessing a fortune and personal advantages in proportion to his great ability.

I did not know Golden Crown Street, and was surprised on reaching it with its miserable appearance ; but without dwelling on this first deception of my hopes, I advanced to No. 8. A narrow, dirty, damp alley led to the house, to which I boldly advanced.

“M. Hausheer?” I inquired, striking one of the smoky panels of a sort of glass box, above which was written the word 1 ‘ Porter. ’ ’

A man with a gray beard opened a little window ;

A DANGEROUS TEACHER.

he held a shoemaker’s apron in one hand and a shoe in the other.

What do you want ? ” he inquired, with a strong German accent.

“M. Hausheer,” I replied.

“Don’t know him; only Germans live in my house,” he replied, gruffly.

But, ’ ’ I replied, ‘ ‘ I think the name I mentioned is German ; look at that, ’ ’ and I presented him the name and address which my old friend had written on a card.

The artist in shoes put on his glasses, and after reading the name said :

‘ ‘ Ah, M. Hhhaoushheer, ’ ’ trebling the aspiration of the h in order to give me a lesson in German pronunciation. “Well, well, the third floor.”

Thus instructed, I soon reached the third floor, and on arriving at a very gloomy passage I knocked at a door behind which I heard a great noise.

A woman whose age was doubtful, by reason of her untidy and old-fashioned dress, opened the door as little as possible.

“M. Hhhaoushheer ? ”1 inquired, remembering the lesson of the man with the leather apron.

“Go right to the door, there,” she said, indicating one at the end of her room.

In spite of the horrible odor which appeared to strike me full in the face, and the unpleasant picture before my eyes, I entered quickly, decided to pursue my adventure, which was turning out singularly picturesque.

Six children, half-dressed and more than halfdirty, rolled about the room in violent and noisy play. The place, besides, was all their own, there being no furniture in the apartment.

I stepped over one, placed another on one side,

CARD-SHARPERS.

and, after opening the door, I found myself in a bedroom. I will not attempt a description; the reader may imagine, after what he has already read, that this retreat was not that of a fashionable exquisite.

There was no one there to receive me.

I ventured to pronounce the name of the conjurer I had come to visit.

Two curtains of an alcove, once upon a time white, were quickly opened, and in the middle of the opening appeared a thin, bony face in a nightcap yellow by long use.

‘ ‘ What do you want, young man ? ’ ’ inquired this fantastic personage.

“M. Hausheer,” I replied, a little astonished.

* ‘ That is my name. ’ ’

.And my interlocutor looked at me with an air which appeared to say : After ?

My illusions, so lofty and poetical a quarter of an hour ago, were now, you may believe, entirely dissipated. The man inspired me with absolute disgust. I wished to go at once, but could I do so ? It was necessary to say something to cover my retreat.

“Sir,” I said, “Father Roujol informed me of your ability in the conjuring art. I was so interested in what he said that I have called to talk with you about an art for which I have a passionate love ; but pray don’t derange yourself; I will call another time.”

“No, no, wait an instant. I understand. You want to take lessons.”

I answered nothing, for fear of entering a path to which I saw no issue.

Hausheer took my silence as consent, and, seduced by the prospect of an asssured payment, he

A DANGEROUS TEACHER.

jumped out of bed without ceremony, dressed in old calico drawers and a flannel waistcoat, and, without giving himself the trouble of donning other clothing, approached me.

“Let us see, young man, what you can do?” said he, presenting me a pack of cards.

Far from accepting this invitation, I repeated my desire to shorten my visit.

But my hungry teacher did not intend to lose me so easily. I had come for a lesson, and he determined to give it me, and would admit of no reason for my not taking it.

I persisted, however, in my purpose of a rapid flight.

Hausheer judged without doubt that it was necessary to seduce me, because he exhibited before me, as a specimen of his skill, a series of card tricks of a finesse truly wonderful.

During this display my apprehensions and disgust were, I confess, completely dispelled; admiration swallowed up all other feelings. I now desired to stay, and would at any price have explanations of his art.

It was now my turn to seduce my seducer.

I took the famous snuffbox from my pocket, and, presenting it to Hausheer, pressed the little spring. My little automaton left the box, sang, jumped, spread its wings, and, that being accomplished, disappeared as if by enchantment.

While the bird sang my attention was concentrated on it, but when it had finished I looked at Hausheer to judge the effect I had produced. I was struck by the expression of greed shining in his eyes. It appeared to me that he looked furtively around as if meditating an attack. His face was

CARD-SHARPERS.

very pale, and his hands, which he advanced toward me, trembled with feverish excitement.

‘ ‘ What do you think of it ? ’ ’ I inquired.

Hausheer appeared to be more and more preoccupied; instead of answering he went toward a drawer, opened it rapidly, took something out and hid it in the breast of his flannel jacket.

“It is very pretty,’ ’ he said at last, returning close to my side, “but, young man, you must leave it in my hands, and I will sell it for you to one of my friends.”

“It is not for sale, ’ ’ I replied ; “ it was made to order, and I must deliver it to-day. ’ ’

“That does not matter; I must show it to my friend, and you can have it after. ’ ’

I did not answer, but I wrapped the snuffbox up and was about to put it in my pocket, when Hausheer advanced toward me, his eyes on fire.

I confess I was frightened; and my fear increased when, after having almost driven me to a corner of the room, my aggressor said in a voice I shall never forget :

‘ ‘ Do you understand, you must give it me ? ’

He at the same time put his right hand in his flannel vest, and I saw it close on what I thought the handle of a dagger.

The instinct of self-preservation restored me all my energy ; the danger was imminent. I prepared for a desperate defense.

I placed the snuffbox in my pocket to free my hands, and I looked fixedly at Hausheer to read his least intentions.

He appeared to hesitate an instant and reflect ; then, either because my countenance and coolness impressed him, or that he knew it would be impossible to conceal a crime committed there, or

A DANGEROUS TEACHER.

that he thought he would try persuasion before resorting to violent measures, his face changed suddenly, his violet lips contracted as if to form a smile, while his face made an effort to return to an expression of calm and benignity.

“Well, well,” he said, striking me familiarly on the shoulder, “why will you not even lend me the snuffbox ? ’ ’

“Devil of a man,” I replied, with all the calm my recent emotions permitted, “you are so excitable that you don’t give time for explanations.”

Hausheer treated me to some bad jokes, that I hardly heard through my preoccupation of mind. I feared his return to violence, and to save myself i searched for a plan of escape, and had the happiness of finding one.

“Look here,” said I, with an appearance of good cemper, “you say you are sure you could sell my little box?”

“I am positive of it; it is perfectly certain, because my friend is very rich, ’ ’ replied Hausheer.

“Oh, indeed,” I said; “well, if your friend is really very rich, you can do me a great service, my dear sir.”

“What?”

“I possess another snuffbox, like the one you nave seen as to its mechanical points, but it is made of gold, and its high price prevents my selling it. I should be delighted if your friend would buy it. ’ ’

How true is the saying that the best means of being deceived is to believe that you are more cunning than others. The cunning cheat did not perceive my trap ; he w T alked into it.

“Yes, I can do it. He will buy it, I am certain of it. Come along ; I will go with you for it. ’ ’

“Very well,”I replied; “dress yourself. I will

CARD-SHARPERS.

wait for yon, unless you perfer coming with me dressed as you are.”

I accompanied this pleasantry with a forced laugh which produced no echo. Hausheer only offered me a chair and dressed himself before me. During that time I completed the plot of my little revenge.

We soon started.

Golden Crown Street was situated behind the Hotel de Yille. I lived very near in the Street Yendome in the Fields. We were quickly there; both of us desired to hasten the time of our arrival. I knocked at my door; it was opened. I passed in first, and, holding the door slightly ajar, I turned to my companion, and said in a calm and ironical tone :

“M. Hausheer, I have business here, and expect to be detained some time. I beg you will not wait for me. ’ ’

“And the snuffbox and the little bird?” said my German friend, red with rage.

‘ ‘ That shall amuse you on some other occasion, ’ ’ I replied, putting as much meaning and malignity as possible into my accent, and then shut the door close to his nose.

Listening at the door, I heard Hausheer offer up a frightful series of imprecations and oaths, in the middle of which I distinguished the words, “What a fool I’ve been!”

I cared little for his imprecations ; I was at home and had now nothing to fear; so I abandoned the baffled cheat to his anger and regret.

A few months later, in reading the Law Gazette, I was surprised at seeing the name of Hausheer figuring in the trial of a band of sharpers of the worst kind.

A DANGEROUS TEACHER.

His words, “What a fool I’ve been!’’ returned to my mind. I then understood all its criminal significance. Hausheer, if less a fool, would have taken the snuffbox by any means.

That thought sent a cold shiver down my spine.

This experience made me more prudent for the future, but did not stop my researches; only, instead of pursuing myself dangerous inquiries in dangerous places, I employed a third person.

In fact, I had a kind of courtier of trickeries. I made the acquaintance of a young man whose life, although tolerably respectable, was passed in eating houses and gambling places, and he undertook to supply me with the information I so dearly coveted.

At these words I fancy I hear the reader exclaim, '“Why attack so high a price to such unprincipled tricks? Is it not the conduct of a fool, or at the least of a monomaniac ? 9 9

Yes, you have said the right word; yes, I was a monomaniac; but I must say that my madness had a purpose which I felt convinced would be useful one day.

The end that I proposed to myself of reaching some time, and which thousands of circumstances have always retarded, is (and I think the reader has divined it) the work I now present under the title of:

CARD-SHARPERS : THEIR TRICKS EXPOSED.

.4

CARD-SHARPERS.

Chapter I. ‘ The Modern Greeks

After having written the title of this chapter, it is, I think, as well to explain to the reader why the compatriots of Homer and Plato enjoy so compromising a reputation, and by what circumstances the word Greek has become the synonym of sharper and rascal.

Towards the end of the reign of Louis XIV. a certain chevalier of Greek origin, named Apoulos, was admitted to the Court. He quickly made so much money at play that his success awakened suspicion as to the cause of such great good fortune.

Notwithstanding his astonishing ability, the gentleman was caught in the act and condemned for twenty years to the galleys.

This adventure made a great deal of noise, and the name of Apoulos, or simply that of Greek, was bestowed upon those who by trickery endeavored to adjust for their benefit the chance of fortune.

A word more in the French language is generally of no importance from a moral point of view, yet, nevertheless, I think it is due to the addition of that word that we owe a great increase in the number of sharpers at play. Many people who, if they are called cheats and sharpers, would hesitate to incur that infamy, have decided to fall into the temptation because the name applied to them was the comparatively lighter epithet, Greek. Proving once more how true it is that

Often names decide things.

But what contributed more powerfully to in-

THE MODERN GREEKS.

crease the number of scamps with light fingers was without dispute, the establishment in Paris of two public gaming places under the names of the Hotels de Gevres and de Soissons.

Before that the Greeks had exercised their industry separately; most of them had no method, and the means employed were, with few exceptions, gross and clumsy. In a word, the art of trickery was in its infancy.

The opening of the two before-mentioned hotels created a veritable revolution among the Greeks; the cleverest of them, at last united, agreed together to create new plans and schemes for the purpose of artistically appropriating other persons’ property.

They invented, they calculated, they imagined, and from these learned discussions resulted combinations previously unknown.

Lasquenet, pharaon, piquet, quadrille, favorite games of the period, proved gold mines to these astute manipulators of the dupes they made.

The game of roulette itself, which had been introduced into the two hotels for the public security, was not sacred from the combinations of the banded Greeks.

One of these clever gentlemen, a geometrician, invented a roulette where the black cases were arger than the white, the consequences of which was that the ball in its rapid movement had a greater chance of entering in one than the other.

The success of this discovery required an arrangement with the attendants of the hotel; but that was not too difficult, most of them being already cheats.

The number of cheats increased so rapidly in Paris that it seemed likely to terminate in there being no more dupes.

CARD-SHARPERS.

This penury of prey for the eager Greeks was not of long duration, for the latter were perfectly aware that the number of dupes is infinite, and that the supply can never fail if they take the weakness of the human heart into account. The Greeks therefore organized a service of emissaries, and charged them with the duty of drawing in — first, the foreigners just arrived in the capital; second, the winners of lawsuits just terminated; third, players who had gained large sums; fourth, sons of good family who had come into a large fortune ; fifth, dissipated clerks, likely to hazard on a card money not their own.

With such assistance the Greeks realized enormous gains ; but their conduct became so scandalous that, on the report of the police, Louis XV. ordered the Hotels de Gevres and de Soissons to be closed, and renewed the ancient laws against gaming.

Even this did not disconcert the Greeks; they opened private gambling hells.

The police, soon on their track, made a determined war on them. Perpetual pursuit, imprisonment of the proprietors of the gambling dens, the condemnation of a crowd of sharpers, terrified the dupes, who, although always blind, have much selflove, and at last they feared to enter such establishments.

Thus tracked, the Greeks scattered, flying to the provinces and abroad, to return again to take their pleasures in the capital when the State, in need of money, established Frascati and the rival houses of the Palais Royal. At the door of these establishments they might have placed these words: “Here we cheat in good faith,” because the sums people lost there, caluculated in advance on the probabilities of the case, produced a considerable

THE MODERN GREEKS.

tax for the State and an immense benefit to the farmer of taxes.

But the Gorvernment firmly closed its eyes to all abuses, until the public indignation made it reluctantly comprehend that it was no longer possible to organize and legalize frauds.

Roulette, and other games that follow :.n its train, were once more forbidden, and with them parted, or at least seemed to part, the band of pickpockets for whom such play was a rallying point.

We said that the band appeared to part, because, although roulette had been banished from France, the Greeks had not, unhappily, ceased to remain there.

But w T here could they be found?

The dupes they had made knew very well. They had been taught at their own expense that these insatiable birds of prey are to be found at every place where money is placed on a green tablecloth.

“But,” you will ask, “how are they recognized?”

There, indeed, is the difficulty, because these heroes of the Court of Assizes have become cle^. erer than ever. Forced to enter into society, they have felt the necessity of perfecting still further their guilty industy in order to escape the severe punishment the law reserves for them.

Still, in spite of the difficulty of recognizing them, we will endeavor to point them out to honest people, if not by their particular features, at least by some characteristic traits, and especially by the revelation of the tricks they habitually practice.

Taken collectively, the Greeks do not present any marked type; it would be difficult to portray their facial appearance, because the species is so numerous and varied. I, however, think it necessary

CARD-SHARPERS.

in order to better describe them to divide the Greeks into three categories:

1st. The Greek of the Fashionable World. 2nd. The Greek of the Middle Classes.

3rd. The Greek of the Gambling Hell.

To all lords, all honor; therefore we will commence by the first class.

THE GREEK OF THE FASHIONABLE WORLD. 19

Chapter II. The Greek Of The Fashionable World

The Greek of the fashionable world is without dispute the subtlest, the most adroit, and the cleverest of his talented species ; in short, he is a great master in the art of making dupes.

The Greek of this order is generally a man accustomed to good company, whose deportment and manners are all that can be desired; and if he does not dazzle by the brilliance of his conversation, it is only because he does not desire to eclipse any one else, and also that he reserves himself for his professional avocations.

The Athenian gentleman dispenses easily with showy and agreeable qualities; he does not value them. But on the other hand he values infinitely the qualities that assist him in his profession. Thus, for example, whether he owes it to nature or to study, he possesses in the highest degree that delicate and prompt perception, that exquisite tact, and especially that marvelous appreciation of which I have spoken in my work, “Confessions of a Conjurer.”

When he is skilfully dealing with a dupe at play, although he appears to be only intent on his own cards, you can see him direct a veiled and furtive glance around which takes in and appreciates everything which occurs around him. Pie knows, from the impression produced by the examination of the cards, as well as by the arrangement of them, how to form an opinion of the play of each of his adversaries.

CARD-SHARPERS.

As physiognomist the Greek of the fashionable world could give instruction to Lavator himself. It is in vain that any one attempts to cover his feelings and thoughts by a veil of cold impassibility ; at the least movement of the facial nerves, at the slightest possible contraction of the features, he will discover the most secret emotion of the soul.

These delicate appreciations, so useful for his perfidious plots, serve him equally well to weigh the degree of confidence he inspires.

The Greek of the fashionable world plays every game with equal perfection. The theories and possibilities of the game of hazard, so cleverly described by Van Tenac, are only for him elementary principles that he elaborates with a rare intelligence.

To these eminent qualities of the mind, the Greek of the fashionable world unites a profound knowledge of the most difficult tricks of conjuring. Thus no one knows better than he how to draw the card or break the cut, to use or place aside concealed cards, etc., these three important principles of deception he has raised to astonishing heights of perfection.

Favored by excellent sight, he can, after the cards have been played before him several times, recognize and distinguish several of them. One because it is to a very slight extent deeper-colored than the others ; another because it has a little mark or stain that the most careful maker cannot avoid ; and he profits by such knowledge to increase his chance of winning.

If such marks are not perceptible, the Greek through the extreme delicacy of his touch knows, when they are in his hand, how to recognize as he plays them, several cards that he has already marked with a slight scratch. This enables him to

THE GREEK OF THE FASHIONABLE WORLD. 21

either keep or pass them to his adversaries, according to his interest in the game.

The Greek of the fashionable world leaves the capital during the summer for the purpose of taking the waters. In that case he cheerfully proceeds to that celebrated and brilliant oasis called Baden- Baden. It is there that, thanks to the blindness when they are in his hand, how to recognize as he makes enormous gains, by the aid of which he leads the luxurious existence of a nabob.