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• Three Cards Game
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Three-card Monte – also known as Find the Lady and Three-card Trick – is a confidence game in which the victims, or 'marks', are tricked into betting a sum of money, on the assumption that they can find the 'money card' among three face-down playing cards. It is very similar to the shell game except that cards are used instead of shells.^[1]

In its full form, Three-card Monte is an example of a classic 'short con'^[2] in which a shill pretends to conspire with the mark to cheat the dealer, while in fact conspiring with the dealer to cheat the mark. The mark has no chance whatsoever of winning, at any point in the game. In fact, anyone who is observed winning anything in the game can be presumed to be a shill.

This confidence trick was already in use by the turn of the 15th century.^[3]

Rules[edit]

The Three-card Monte game is simple. To play, a dealer places three cards face down on a table, usually on a cardboard box which provides the ability to set up and disappear quickly.^[4] The dealer shows that one of the cards is the target card, e.g., the queen of hearts, and then rearranges the cards quickly to confuse the player about which card is which. The player is then given an opportunity to select one of the three cards. If the player correctly identifies the target card, the player gets the amount bet (the 'stake') back, plus the same amount again; otherwise, the stake is lost.

Usual card selection[edit]

Since there are only three cards, the jack of spades and jack of clubs often complement the 'money card', which is usually a queen.^[5] The queen is often a red card, typically the queen of hearts. Sometimes the ace of spades is used as the money card, since in some cultures the ace of spades is viewed as lucky, which might lure the mark into playing the game.

Drawing a player in[edit]

When the mark arrives at the Three-card Monte game, it is likely that a number of other players will be seen winning and losing money at the game. The people engaged in playing the game are often shills, confederates of the dealer who pretend to play so as to give the illusion of a straight gambling game.^[6]

As the mark watches the game, they are likely to notice that they can follow the queen more easily than the shills seem to be able to, which sets them up to believe that they can win the game.

Eventually, if the mark enters the game, they will be cheated through any number of methods. An example of a simple scheme involves a dealer and two shills:

• The dealer and shills act as if they do not know each other. The mark will come upon a game being conducted in a seemingly clandestine manner, perhaps with somebody 'looking out' for police. The dealer will be engaged in his role, with the first shill betting money. The first shill may be winning, leading the mark to observe that easy money may be had, or losing, leading the mark to observe that they could beat the game and win money where the first shill is losing it.
• While the mark is watching, the second shill, acting as a casual passerby like the mark, will casually engage a mark in conversation regarding the game, commenting on either how easily the first shill is winning or how they are losing money because they cannot win at what appears to the mark to be a simple game. This conversation is engineered to implicitly encourage the mark to play, and it is possible the second shill could resort to outright encouragement.
• If the mark does not enter the game, the dealer may claim to see police and will fold up the operation and restart it elsewhere, or will wait for another mark to appear on the scene.
• If the mark enters the game, they may be 'had' (cheated) by a number of techniques. A common belief is that the operator may let the mark win a couple of bets to suck them in, but this is virtually never true. In a true Monte scam, the mark will never win a single bet, as it is not necessary. There are too many ways for a well-run mob to attract the marks, suck them in, and convince them to put money down.
• When the dealer and the shills have taken the mark, a lookout, the dealer, or a shill acting as an observer will claim to have spotted the police. The dealer will quickly pack up the game and disperse along with the shills.

Methodology[edit]

Dealers employ sleight of hand^[7] and misdirection to prevent the mark from finding the queen.

While various moves have been devised for Monte, there is one basic move which is overwhelmingly used with virtually all Monte games. It has to do with the way the cards are held and tossed to the table. The dealer will pick up one of the cards with one hand, and two with the other. This is the key: although it appears that the dealer is tossing the lowermost card to the table, in actuality they can toss either the top or the bottom card at will. Thus, having done so, and while mixing up the cards, the mark will be following the wrong card from the beginning. The move, done properly, is undetectable. Even the shills pretending to play are often unaware of where the money card actually is without the dealer employing signals of various kinds to let them know where it is.^{[citation needed]}

Inevitably, once in a while the mark will manage to find the right location of the card by pure chance. This presents no problem at all for the mob; if the mark picks the right card, one of the shills will simply post a higher bid, which the dealer immediately accepts, announcing that he will accept only the highest bid. In other words, the mark puts down money on the right card, at which point a shill will immediately place a double bet on top of the card, thereby winning the 'right' to play that round. Of course, if the mark picks the wrong card, the dealer takes the bid and the money. The dealer will never accept a winning bid from a mark.^{[citation needed]}

The psychology of the con is to increase the mark's confidence until they believe they have a special ability to cheat the dealer and win easy money. Everything the Monte mob does is geared towards creating that mindset in the mark. To increase the mark's motivation to bet, they will also employ standard strategies such as having the dealer be slightly abrasive or rude, so there is even more reason to want to take his money.

'Bent corner' variation[edit]

The 'bent corner ploy' is one of the classic scams in Three-card Monte, and is used if the mob thinks a mark can be had for more money, or needs more convincing to put some money down. During the course of tossing the cards, the dealer 'accidentally' drops the cards, resulting in a corner of the money card having a slight bend in it. Another variation is for the dealer to look away, and while occupied, one of the shills will quickly put the crimp in the money card. Either way, the dealer pretends not to notice, this perhaps being made more plausible by having the dealer wear thick glasses. Assuming the mark bets on the card with the bent corner, the dealer will tell the mark to turn it over (so there can be no accusations of card-switching), revealing that it is not the money card after all, but one of the loser cards. The dealer has, in the course of tossing the cards, unbent the money card and bent the loser card. In this variation, the mark will be even more reluctant to complain about having lost money, as doing so would reveal that he intended to cheat the dealer.

Solo variation[edit]

A skilled card mechanic can perform this con without shills or assistants.Everything is legitimate up until the reveal.To show that nothing dishonest is being done with the selected card, the dealer does not even touch it, using one of the other cards to turn it over.If a losing card was selected, the card is simply turned over.If the winning card was selected, a Mexican Turnover is used to switch the two cards.When done correctly, the two actions are indistinguishable.No matter which card is selected, when turned over it is a losing card.

Variation in card magic[edit]

The Three-card Monte is performed in card magic tricks with minor or major variations that manipulate the use of gimmick cards, and other sleight-of-hand techniques.

Legality[edit]

In Canada, under section 206(1) of the Criminal Code, it is illegal to do the following in relation to Three-card Monte, which is mentioned by name:

• Receive bets
• Induce any person to stake or hazard any money or other valuable property
• Carry on or play or offer to carry on or play in a public place
• Employ any person to carry on or play in a public place
• Allow the game to take place (the owner of the premises)

They are indictable offences, with a maximum penalty of two years in prison.^[8]

History and popular culture[edit]

Canada Bill Jones (1820–1877) was considered a master of Three-card Monte, in the middle of the 19th century in America.^[9]

In 1898, infamous con man Soapy Smith stole a sack of gold from returning Klondike miner John Douglas Stewart after several rounds of Three-card Monte. After Stewart had wagered and lost his cash, he was induced to bring his gold out of safekeeping. Smith's associates grabbed it and ran. A local vigilance committee ruled that Smith should return the gold, but he refused, claiming that Stewart had lost it 'fairly'. Smith was killed during a shootout with the committee the next evening.^[10]

After revealing the secret behind the trick on the British television show How Do They Do That?, American illusionist John Lenahan became the first person to be expelled from The Magic Circle.^[11]

The play Topdog/Underdog centers around two brothers who play Three-card Monte; the climax of the play comes when one brother bets his entire inheritance on one game. The play won the 2002 Pulitzer Prize for Drama.

The film Short Circuit 2 features a Three-card Monte scam being uncovered by pure chance by the protagonist Johnny 5, who correctly guesses the red card due to his acute vision.

The 1995 film Restoration has a brief Three-card Monte sequence that utilizes a double turnover and flushtration (or 'back') count. These magician's sleights fail to fool Meg Ryan's character Katherine.

The 1967 film Waterhole #3 features an excellent version of Three Card Monte including the trick of bending one corner being used by the James Coburn Character Lewton Cole.

The film Now You See Me 2 features a life-sized version of the Three-card Monte performed by Jack Wilder (Dave Franco).

The music video for Run DMC's 1987 song 'It's Tricky' features illusionists Penn & Teller trying to scam people by performing the Three-card Monte in front of the Rialto Theater in Los Angeles.

In a 1995 episode of The Simpsons entitled 'The Springfield Connection,' Homer is taken in by a Three-card Monte scam run by Snake and another man, a shill who Marge suspects is related to Snake, 'or at least in cahoots' with him. Homer places a $20 bet anyway and loses. Marge reveals that he's been scammed and accuses Snake of 'preying on the greedy and stupid'. Snake protests his innocence ('surely, you don't blame me!') and then flees.

In the novel and BBC series Wolf Hall episode 'Three Card Trick', Thomas Cromwell learns and utilizes the trick to survive in his adolescent days on the streets in early Tudor-era England, later emphasizing the supremacy of a child doing the trick due to the perceived confidence of prospective players. Cardinal Thomas Wolsey, baffled by his aide's skills at the con, jokingly suggests he teach it to him, should they fall from favor and be put in financial jeopardy.

The film Hearts in Atlantis (2001) features Alan Tudyk as a carny worker performing the Three-card Monte to fleece money from the protagonist Bobby Garfield (played by Anton Yelchin). However, Bobby had inadvertently absorbed a mind reading ability from Ted Brautigan (Anthony Hopkins' character) and was able to beat the con.

In the Marvel Comics television show The Punisher, Frank Castle (Jon Bernthal) learns how to play Three-card Monte with his temporary ward, Amy Bendix (Giorgia Whigham).

In the Dave Chappelle special, Unforgiven, Chappelle mentions he was conned in a game of Three-card Monte when he was 18-years-old.^[12]

Three Cards Game

Other names[edit]

In French-speaking countries, the game is known as Bonneteau. In italy is known as Gioco delle tre Carte. In German-speaking countries, the game is known as das Kümmelblättchen.^[13]In Uganda, it is known as Wakaleba.

Notes[edit]

1. ^Tom Ogden The Complete Idiot's Guide to Magic Tricks, p. 123, Alpha Books (1998) ISBN0-02-862707-5
2. ^https://nypost.com/2014/12/26/three-card-monte-scam-artists-return-to-midtown/New York Post, Three-card monte scam artists return to midtown, Is this Christmas 2014 – or 1974?
3. ^Paul B. Newman Daily life in the Middle Ages, p. 169, McFarland (2001) ISBN0-7864-0897-9
4. ^Richard John Neuhaus The best of The Public Square, p. 203, Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Company (2001) ISBN0-8028-4995-4
5. ^Three-card Monte at pagat.com
6. ^
7. ^Penn Jillette, radio interview, NPR, ca. 2000
8. ^Criminal Code, RSC 1985, c C-46, s 206.
9. ^William Norman Thompson Gambling in America: an encyclopedia of history, issues, and society, p. 205, ISBN1-57607-159-6
10. ^Sauerwein, Stan (2005). Soapy Smith: Skagway's Scourge of the Klondike. Heritage House Publishing Co. ISBN1554390117.
11. ^Vincent, Matthew (30 March 2012). 'Equities: A kind of magic'. The Financial Times. Retrieved 9 January 2015.
12. ^'Dave Chappelle - UNFORGIVEN - YouTube'. www.youtube.com. Retrieved 2020-12-25.
13. ^Hülsemann 1930, p. 294. sfn error: no target: CITEREFHülsemann1930 (help)

Literature[edit]

• * Hülsemann, Robert (1930). Das Buch der Spiele für Familie und Gesellschaft. Hesse & Becker, Leipzig.

Table Of Contents

• Three Card Poker is a simple and fun Casino game based on Poker
• 3-Card Poker requires a strategy but a very straightforward one
• How to play Three Card Poker is explained in this article

Three Card Poker game has been around since the very beginning of the card game that is Poker.

Since its invention, it has grown in popularity and is fair to say Three Card Poker is among the most well-known Casino games in the world.

A few facts have helped the game grow in stature over the years:

• Three Card Poker is easy to learn and easy to play
• Unlike some Casino games, Three Card Poker is not just based on luck because there's an element of skill involved in your hand selection
• You can play Three Card Poker online for free and for real money right on this page

Three Card Poker is a fair slow-paced table game that is very simple to learn.

Three Card Tarot

How to Play Three Card Poker

Three Card Poker, invented by Derek Webb in 1994, is the Poker version most people play when they head to their Casino.

Three Card Poker isn't played against other players. Instead, you play against the dealer.

You only have to be concerned with what your cards are and what the house's cards are. Making a mistake only punishes you and not your fellow players like at some other card game tables.

OK – so you want to try Three Card Poker? Good choice!

Here are the basics.

Three Card Poker Bets

In Three Card Poker game, the player makes an ante bet.

The dealer gives each player and themselves three cards. The dealer's cards are face down and you can only examine your own cards.

If you’ve made the ante bet then you must either fold or call.

Folding forfeits your ante wager, calling (raising) means you must make an additional play bet that is equal to your ante.

The dealer then turns over their cards.

Three Card Poker Outcomes

The dealer needs a queen-high or better to qualify:

• if the dealer doesn't qualify, you win even money on the ante bet and play bet is a push
• if the dealer qualifies, your hand is compared to the dealer's hand and the best hand wins

Whose hand is better?

• If it is yours, congrats! You win even money on the ante and play bets.
• If the dealer has a better hand, both your ante and play bets lose.
• If it is a tie, then both the ante and play bets are a push.

But that’s not all.

If you have a straight or better, you receive an ante bonus regardless of the value of the dealer's hand.

If you have placed a pair plus bet, it is paid based on the value of your hand. This pays out differently depending on where you play.

Practice Three Card Poker online before you play for real money. Or claim a bonus (or two) and dive into the real money games.

How to Win at Three Card Poker: The Strategy

Three Card Poker has a relatively small house edge, usually around 3.3 percent. If you play optimally, that is.

This edge can increase significantly with side bets or incorrect strategy.

To avoid this, follow a couple of simple Three Card Poker strategy tips:

1. Don’t Make The Pair Plus Bets

Betting on the pair plus increases the house edge by more than 2.3 percent.

It is tempting with big payouts (e.g. straight flush pays 40 to 1) but you’re bound to lose more making this bet even if you have a rare bigger payout from it.

So, forget about the times you could have won a big payout when you've not placed a pair plus bet. Simply try to play in a way that minimizes the house edge.

2. Remember One Strategic Combination of Cards

It’s not only the Three Card Poker rules that are easy to learn. So is the Three Card Poker strategy.

You only need to remember one combination of cards and base your decision to call or fold on it:

• Call with or higher hand
• Fold everything else

See, I’ve told you it was simple.

Because of it, you will find this game in a more relaxed setting as it’s pretty easy to avoid mistakes and nobody is worried about making mistakes that affect other players.

Where to Play 3-Card Poker Online

3 Card Poker

There are many options to play 3-Card Poker on the Internet, but some sites offer better bonuses and value than others.

As a new player at this online Casino, you’ll get some free spins for Slots on registration (before making a deposit) and extra cash as well as more free spins when you finally make a deposit.

That's a great way to earn some free money before hitting the 3-Card tables.

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