THE THREE-CARD TRICK.
We explain here one of those tricks of gamblers which, though as old as
cards themselves, deceives hundreds every week at race-courses, in
hotels, &c.
The "banker," or chief gambler, shows a few cards, at the bottom of
which is revealed the knave of hearts, for instance. To all appearances
he lays this knave on the table at the point A.
On B and C two other cards, not shown, are put. Then with the right
hand the knave is pushed from A to B, from B to 0, and so on, while the
left hand shifts another card from B to C, and from C to A. In short,
the cards cross each other's path in the utmost confusion. It is then
wagered that no one can tell which card is the knave of hearts, as if
it must have been lost sight of in its zig-zag course. The spectator
accepts the wager, under the impression that he will find it at one
point, but that one which he lifts up is another card, and the knave is
elsewhere.
The error arises from the looker-on believing that he saw the knave
in the first place laid on the point A, for another was actually placed
there. The dealer seemed to take hold of it, but really he left it, and
dealt out the following card. And while he seems to shift the three
cards rapidly, he does so bunglingly, to let the spectator keep the
supposed knave all the time in sight. (See "Rogues and Vagabonds of the
Race Courses.")
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