Gambling/Card Hustling

[Vago]

Hey all, this is my first post and I wanted to make it about my favorite topic: Card Hustilng.

I've been browsing these forums for some time now and I've seen that there's a lot of willingness to help around here, this is such a blessing because in my social circles no one even knows what a double lift is! (This is both a blessing and a curse, a blessing because I'm able to cheat and/or impress them with tricks really easily and a curse because nobody is able to help me further develop my skills)

Anyway, I wanted to know, in your expert opinion, which books are worth reading? (that are obviously related to the topic). It could be books about history of card cheating, moves, etc. I'm deeply interested on anything related to this. I already got the most obvious ones (Expert card technique, TEATCT, etc) but I'd be really greateful with anyone who provides an internet link, a book or even a movie that are worthwhile =).

P.S.: I'm aware of Jason England's 1-on-1 and I know they're excellent, I'll definitely get them but I don't have access to a credit card right now so I'm looking for something to keep myself occupied in the meantime. Thanks in advance! It's really cool to find a place where almost everybody can help you out =).

 

[TheBlack&WhiteIllusionist]

Hey man, Welcome.

Well, I seem to be having a hard time recalling certain books at the moment. However, if you get the chance at some point, you should check out The Score & Blood by Daniel Madison. They're on marking system's for cards. Link to his online Shop. Should I recall the names of any books i've read on the subject matter, i'll be sure to drop a post.

 

[Robert//Livingston]

CardShark, and Darwin Ortiz at the Card Table are both great. They both teach great sleights and fun routines.

Gambling Protection Series is also a must for anyone wanting to explore the cheating realm.

And there is so much more..

 

[mehar]

http://www.amazon.com/Magic-1400s-1950s-Mike-Caveney/dp/3836509776

Not a history book on cheating.. but it's one hell-of-a history book on magic in general!!!

 

[Vago]

Hey man, thanks! I'm familiar with the Blood deck and it inspired me into creating my own code for different decks, Daniel Madison is truly an inspiration =). If you are into card hustling too, you shoud really check out his Advocate, it allows you to get any card at any time from your pocket without looking at it, you can palm it/sleeve it while at play and you're ready to go =) it also allows many mindblowing magical effects and it uses no gimmicks but the deck itself! =).

I'm thinking about getting the score too because he claims it can be applied during play, by any chance do you happen to know if it's practical to apply "The Score" during a game? Or do you happen to know of any method of marking a deck during play?

 

[Ola]

Hi!

I've been looking for much of the same stuff that you have, and I've found that the book "52 ways to cheat at poker" by Allan Zola Kronzek is a good resource for a lot of cheat-related techniques.
It of course a "gambling prevention"-book, but it'll definately send you off in the right direction.

Simon Lovells "How to cheat at everything" is also something worth checking out, as it contains a lot of small cardrelated bets you can try in between the rounds of a pokergame.

Phantoms of the Card Table is also worth checking out. It's an interesting read, and you get some insight on Walter Irving Scotts techniques in the last chapters. Very, very useful if practised to perfection and applied correctly.

Arthur Buckleys Card Control is also a nice book, and one I always keep coming back to myself.

 

[TheBlack&WhiteIllusionist]

Hey man, thanks! I'm familiar with the Blood deck and it inspired me into creating my own code for different decks, Daniel Madison is truly an inspiration =). If you are into card hustling too, you shoud really check out his Advocate, it allows you to get any card at any time from your pocket without looking at it, you can palm it/sleeve it while at play and you're ready to go =) it also allows many mindblowing magical effects and it uses no gimmicks but the deck itself! =).

The Advocate is a little dream ticket of awesomeness. I'm pretty sure i've checked out almost everything he's released since his last couple of releases or so.

I'm thinking about getting the score too because he claims it can be applied during play, by any chance do you happen to know if it's practical to apply "The Score" during a game? Or do you happen to know of any method of marking a deck during play?

I'm not sure as I don't currently own The Score. I do remember, and I can't recall where, but I remember someone talking about using a thumb nail indent as a method for marking cards on the spot. It obviously wouldn't be used for the whole deck, just certain cards you'd want to keep track of during play if i'm not mistaken.

Does anybody else know what i'm talking about? My mind seems to be a little fuzzy at the moment .

 

[TheMerryPup]

I do remember, and I can't recall where, but I remember someone talking about using a thumb nail indent as a method for marking cards on the spot. It obviously wouldn't be used for the whole deck, just certain cards you'd want to keep track of during play if i'm not mistaken.

Does anybody else know what i'm talking about? My mind seems to be a little fuzzy at the moment .

Are you talking about Martin Nash's Infinity method?

 

[TeeDee]

Are you talking about Martin Nash's Infinity method?

"Nailing" cards during play is an ancient technique, as is crimping. I think these are the best known methods for marking cards in play.

Regarding Blood and The Score, no disrespect to Daniel Madison, but, from what I've seen, they're just rehashes of old marking systems, nothing really original.

 

[saborfang17]

Here are the books I would recommend:

EATCT
Expert Card Technique
Sharps and Flats
Buckley's Card Control


There's plenty more, but you seem like someone who isn't sure in what they're looking for, so long as it's cheating. So before you start trying to get into it, first try and find out what you like most, and what'll work best in a demo. If you're looking to cheat "fo realz", have fun learning how to do that. I know you're looking for something more specific, but seriously -- come on, you don't even tell us what you're looking into "specifically", and you already have all the "basic books". And also, try and think of things that are actually applicable. Why would you really need a true full deck false shuffle in a real game? If it's a gambling demo, I understand, but anything more then 6 cards and I'd just cold deck it. If 6 or below, retain the stock at the bottom.

And even some poker strategy books. I assume by card hustling you're referring to poker, so to understand how to cheat in a game of poker, I'd start by learning to understand the players and the game in itself, then how cheating applies to it. The best book overall is David Sklansky's "Theory of Poker", however, if you're one of those die-hard hold'em players I'd recommend getting his two books on Texas Hold'Em instead. The examples and situations all purely apply to hold'em and to be honest, the information is the exact same. It'll just be easier to understand.


Really, you seem like you're in need of some grounding and where to start, so those are books that'll hopefully give you background knowledge and show you what you're interested in. As far as marking a deck in play, I've found that edge work (particularly, nicking the edges with your fingernail) and using a makeshift daub work best, but that's just me. Really, it's all preference and setting. But don't go with Blood or Score. NEITHER are worth getting. And anything by Daniel Madison in regards to cheating is pure bull****, I wouldn't even bother with any of that either.

 

[Vago]

Here are the books I would recommend:

EATCT
Expert Card Technique
Sharps and Flats
Buckley's Card Control


There's plenty more, but you seem like someone who isn't sure in what they're looking for, so long as it's cheating. So before you start trying to get into it, first try and find out what you like most, and what'll work best in a demo. If you're looking to cheat "fo realz", have fun learning how to do that. I know you're looking for something more specific, but seriously -- come on, you don't even tell us what you're looking into "specifically", and you already have all the "basic books". And also, try and think of things that are actually applicable. Why would you really need a true full deck false shuffle in a real game? If it's a gambling demo, I understand, but anything more then 6 cards and I'd just cold deck it. If 6 or below, retain the stock at the bottom.

And even some poker strategy books. I assume by card hustling you're referring to poker, so to understand how to cheat in a game of poker, I'd start by learning to understand the players and the game in itself, then how cheating applies to it. The best book overall is David Sklansky's "Theory of Poker", however, if you're one of those die-hard hold'em players I'd recommend getting his two books on Texas Hold'Em instead. The examples and situations all purely apply to hold'em and to be honest, the information is the exact same. It'll just be easier to understand.


Really, you seem like you're in need of some grounding and where to start, so those are books that'll hopefully give you background knowledge and show you what you're interested in. As far as marking a deck in play, I've found that edge work (particularly, nicking the edges with your fingernail) and using a makeshift daub work best, but that's just me. Really, it's all preference and setting. But don't go with Blood or Score. NEITHER are worth getting. And anything by Daniel Madison in regards to cheating is pure bull****, I wouldn't even bother with any of that either.

Thank you Saborfang, that was really helpful =) I didn't say anything specific because I'm intrested in everything the topic covers, but if you asked me what I'm more intrested in my answer would be false dealings and culling cards. You seem to be pretty knowledgeable on the subject so if you happen to know any source where I can find good info. about those two I'd be really grateful, I'll also make sure to check out David Sklansky's books and Buckley's card control. Thank you very much for your advice, it's really appreciated.

 

[saborfang17]

Thank you Saborfang, that was really helpful =) I didn't say anything specific because I'm intrested in everything the topic covers, but if you asked me what I'm more intrested in my answer would be false dealings and culling cards. You seem to be pretty knowledgeable on the subject so if you happen to know any source where I can find good info. about those two I'd be really grateful, I'll also make sure to check out David Sklansky's books and Buckley's card control. Thank you very much for your advice, it's really appreciated.

For false deals, there's a variety of material. For the most part, second and bottom deals are all about practice and finding a grip that works for you. Although I recommend a push off second versus a strike second, if you're into them. Centers are kind of cool, although impractical in play, and greek deals are just a fail, in my opinion. Too much work and effort to accomplish something simple.

For culling cards... In real games, you're not going to find any "riffle culling", however, Marlo, Fulves, and even Steve Draun have some work on the subject of a riffle cull.

I see you're looking for only books, but to be honest, a couple of DVDs are notable too. Anything by Steve Forte wouldn't be in the wrong direction at all, so I'd recommend Steve Forte's GPS. Doesn't just have cards, but a lot of it is cards. Some dice stuff, too. He also has two books, Poker Protection and Casino Game Protection, which are $50 and $200, respectively.

 

[tian_ci]

Hey, I have looked through a ton of gambling material. Simon Lovell's book "how to cheat at everything" is great. Also, you can watch Brian Brushwood's Scam School on the ole internet. Just google it and you can learn tons of bar bets, puzzles, and scams. This will get you into the mindset of what a hustle is.

As far as learning the sleights. I recommend the DVD "Fast Company". The teaching is great especially on the second deal section. I think my second deal is finally at a place where I feel comfortable doing it under the guise of watchful eyes. It also teaches shuffling, cuts, etc..

 

[Vago]

I've seen scamschool and it's really entretaning to watch, it has some episodes that aren't worth it but it also has some info. and hustles I did liked. Like getting out of cuffs and stealing watches

Also I was unsure about getting Steve Forte's GPS for the amount of money i'd be investing on it but a lot of people have recommended his works so I now know it is definitely worth it, I'll make sure to get it.

Thank you really much for your advice, I've made a list with all your recommendations and I've had the opportunity to check a few, I've learned more sources in 2 days here than by myself in a lifetime, I now see what I've been missing out! Thank you very much it really is appreciated. I'll make sure to check out everything you've recommended so far.

 

[saborfang17]

Hey, I have looked through a ton of gambling material. Simon Lovell's book "how to cheat at everything" is great. Also, you can watch Brian Brushwood's Scam School on the ole internet. Just google it and you can learn tons of bar bets, puzzles, and scams. This will get you into the mindset of what a hustle is.

As far as learning the sleights. I recommend the DVD "Fast Company". The teaching is great especially on the second deal section. I think my second deal is finally at a place where I feel comfortable doing it under the guise of watchful eyes. It also teaches shuffling, cuts, etc..

How To Cheat at Everything is more of a reference source giving short detailed explanations about various cheating methods. Brian Brushwood's Scam School is kind of idiotic. There's crap he does which people think cheats do when they don't, and he makes it ALL seem like a joke.

Fast Company is a GREAT DVD set. Props to Damian for the movie "Shade" as well.

Just for entertainment, I would watch some movies about cheats. Ones that come to mind are "Rounders" and "Shade". Not all of it is correct information, but they're quite interesting to watch nonetheless.