The History of Magic: The World's Greatest Card Cheat
Daniel Roy・11 minutes read
Canada Bill Jones was a successful three card monty hustler during the American Civil War, but he lost all his wealth and died penniless at 40 due to his gambling addiction. Pharaoh, a game similar to blackjack, allows the dealer to manipulate the deck to secure the house's advantage, showcasing the importance of caution when playing against the house.
Insights
- Canada Bill Jones was a skilled three card monty hustler during the American Civil War, using tactics like bending a card's corner to deceive players and win big, ultimately losing his fortune due to gambling addiction.
- Pharaoh, a game akin to blackjack, allowed dealers to manipulate outcomes by selecting specific cards, showcasing the house's advantage and advising caution for players against such tactics.
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Recent questions
What was Canada Bill Jones known for?
Three card monty hustler during the American Civil War.
What strategy did Canada Bill Jones use in three card monty?
Bending the corner of the queen of diamonds.
How did Canada Bill Jones lose his wealth?
Playing the crooked game of pharaoh.
What is the game of pharaoh similar to?
Blackjack.
How did the dealer manipulate the game of pharaoh?
By locating and dealing specific cards to ensure players lose.
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Summary
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Canada Bill Jones: Three Card Monty Mastermind
- Canada Bill Jones was a renowned three card monty hustler during the American Civil War, winning $150,000 in one year, equivalent to over $5 million today.
- Three card monty involves two identical aces of clubs and a money card, with players betting on the location of the money card after shuffling.
- Canada Bill's strategy involved bending the corner of the queen of diamonds, tricking players into betting on the wrong card.
- Canada Bill, a gambling addict, popularized the phrase "the only game in town" while playing the crooked game of pharaoh, losing all his wealth and dying penniless at 40.
- Pharaoh, a game similar to blackjack, involves players betting on cards dealt by the dealer, with the first card being the losing card and the second the winning card.
- The dealer in pharaoh can manipulate the game by locating and dealing specific cards to ensure players lose, taking advantage of pairs to secure the house edge.
- The dealer demonstrates how to manipulate the deck to ensure pairs are dealt, showcasing the house's advantage in pharaoh and emphasizing caution when playing against the house.
