Gamblers, Card Sharks and Magicians

Playing Cards have had a major role in the livelihood of professional gamblers, card sharks, and magicians.  They have comprised some of the most colorful and skillful individuals in the past few hundred or so years.  The art of prestidigitation is fascinating to watch.  This article deals with a few of the gamblers, magicians, and card sharks who have made up this interesting world of entertainment.

Arnold Rothstein

There have been a number of very talented gamblers who manipulate cards with outstanding skill.  One of these was a man named Arnold Rothstein.  Rothstein’s father was a wealthy businessman and philanthropist with a reputation for honesty.   After flunking out of school Arnold spent his time and money gambling.  He was an intelligent and skillful poker player and by 1912, when he was thirty, he was a millionaire from the profits of his gambling parlors.  In 1919 he was involved with the infamous fix of the World Series between Cincinnati and Chicago.  He testified in his own behalf in 1921 and was acquitted.  Unfortunately, he was shot in 1928 by a fellow gambler and died a few days later.

Canada Bill

The term card shark has always been synonymous with swindler or cheat.  One of the greatest card sharks (or sharps) in history was a riverboat and railroad gambler names William “Canada Bill” Jones.  Canada Bill mastered a game called three-card monte.  Similar to the shell game monte is played with three cards, the first which the dealer shows the “mark”.   He then turns it face down with the other two, rearranges them, and asks the “mark” to find his card.  Well, of course, Canada Bill would palm the first card and replace it with another card.  The “mark” would select his card, lose and be none the wiser.  Canada Bill was a card shark at poker, too, but he died in 1880 penniless and was buried by the City of Reading, Pennsylvania at the city’s expense.

Penn & Teller - Las Vegas

The magicians and illusionists out there compose a list of well-known talent the likes of which include David Copperfield, Criss Angel, Penn & Teller, and Lance Burton.  Their skillful card manipulation and illusions have made them famous.  The tricks are, of course, comprised of clever sleight-of-hand moves that come from long hours of practice, patience, and discipline.  They very often use a technique known as misdirection in which the audience is distracted into looking in another direction.  David Copperfield has a very interesting illusion that involves the use of the Internet with a powerpoint presentation known as: I Can Read Your Mind.  It’s an interesting 1 ½ minute slide show deck where he guesses your card selection.  Of course, the trick to this involves replacing the original cards with similar cards of a different suite.  Watch this entertaining illusion.

David Copperfield

These are people who, through the years, have chosen an alternative livelihood.  Some have been misguided while others have gone on to entertain us and made a very good living in the process.  They illustrate the talents of people who have put as much or more effort into their trade as most of us put into ours.  So, the next time you sit down at a poker table you better hope that one of the other players at the table do not fall into these categories! 

From my site to yours – Enjoy!