A card game can be a great way to spend time with friends or family but some people choose to cheat at cards. Card cheating can be done in many different ways and is usually based on a combination of tactics. It can include preparing a deck, false shuffling and dealing, palming cards and more. It can be difficult to spot someone cheating at cards but there are some things you can look for to help you.
Preparing a Deck
A deck of cards that has been prepped by the card cheat can be brought into a game at an opportune moment. This deck has been stacked in such a way that the cheat knows they will get a good hand. This deck can be brought in before the deal, after the real shuffle, or sometimes even at the same time as the real shuffle. This type of cheating requires a high level of skill to pull off and is often performed by a skilled card sharp.
False Shuffling
There are many ways to make a false shuffle but the most common involves keeping track of certain cards in the deck. A skilled card cheat will be able to find these cards while they are shuffling the deck and then move them around to stack in a particular way during the dealing process. This is also known as top stock control and can be very difficult to detect.
Another method of false shuffling is to use a cold deck. This is a deck of cards that has not been played with before the cheat brings it into the game and combines it with the real shuffle or at the deal, when they know they will have an advantage. This is a method that may require collusion but can be very rewarding for the cheat.
While a cheat may not be able to perform a riffle shuffle undetected they can still conduct a false overhand shuffle. This can be done at the same time as a cut and is easy to do but difficult to spot. This method is often combined with a false deal in which a card is secretly dealt to the cheat or a confederate.
Marking
The marking of cards is a simple and effective way for a card cheat to gain an edge over their opponent. This can be as simple as scratching or bending a corner of a card but it can also involve more sophisticated methods such as invisible ink marks that can only be seen with special glasses.
A card cheat may also mark the deck by putting something on it that will cause it to stick to the fingernails of their opponent when they pick it up. This will allow them to grab a specific card that they need to win when the cards are being manipulated during the game. This method can be difficult to detect and is a popular technique for card cheats that are not specializing in card manipulation.