Chapter I: The False Cut

The _saut de coupe_--The passe-coupe--The cut above--The large
card--The bridge--The bent card.

The art of making a false cut, is the most important artifice employed by sharpers: and the Greek always exerts his best energies to accomplish this feat.

In order to show what a false cut is, I must recall to the mind of my reader, the use and end of the regular cut.

In all games of cards, it is the custom for the dealer, when he has done shuffling, to present the pack of cards to his adversary to cut: it is a sort of guarantee of good faith, which is also performed even amongst perfectly honest players.

The following is the way in which it is generally done:--

The cards are placed by the dealer near his adversary.

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THE DEALER. | 1 | THE ADVERSARY.
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]

The adversary cuts, that is to say, he takes away a portion of the pack of cards, and places them beside the dealer, thus making two packets, No. 1 and No. 2.

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THE DEALER. | 1 | | 2 | THE ADVERSARY.
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+---+ +---+
]

The dealer raises the packet No. 2 and places it on No. 1.

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THE DEALER. | 2 | THE ADVERSARY.
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]

Thus the two packets are formed into one, and the natural or artificial arrangement of the cards is disordered.

It is of great importance to the Greek to prevent this, as it would defeat his plans, and prevent him availing himself of the arrangements he has made against his adversary. It is necessary, then, for his success, that the two packets, whilst in his hands, should regain their first position. For this purpose, he employs different methods, the principal of which are:--

1. The saut de coupe.
2. The cut beneath.
3. The cut above.
4. The bridge.
5. The large card.