The Expert at the Card Table: The Classic Treatise on Card Manipulation (Paperback)

by S. W. Erdnase (Author)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description
Considered by many magicians and card sharps to be the one essential guidebook to attaining the highest level of card mastery. Includes author’s own systems of false shuffling, false riffling and cutting, dealing from the bottom, palming cards, "skinning the hand"—even three-card monte, plus 14 dazzling card tricks.

Product Details

• Paperback: 144 pages
• Publisher: Dover Publications (July 19, 1995)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0486285979
• ISBN-13: 978-0486285979
• Product Dimensions: 8.4 x 5.4 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 6.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars See all reviews (15 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #139,802 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

52 of 52 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars S.W. Erdnase's Classic, January 20, 2003

By A Customer

Ok, Ok, so the author is amazingly mysterious and I find that this makes me give a 5 star rating.

First of all, this book is considered the bible of card work because of its historical significance. It seemed to be the first major public known book that contained wholesome magic material (second half of the book, LEGERDEMAIN), whilst also carrying a good blend of card cheating techniques using sleight of hand--the first half of the book.

So, the second half focuses on magic / card conjuring practice and theory / card tricks... some of these moves quite extraordinary... but nonetheless still amazingly wonderful when mastered.

I wouldn't recommend this book as a beginning for card magic (although it wouldn't be a bad choice if you have strong determination), but nonetheless this book is a must have. It will increase your knowledge on the subject (other authors reference his text) and may also interest you to practice some of these moves.

S.W. Erdnase's style is incredibly mysterious: For a master card cheat, he has a master of vocabulary (This will also stun you) (I believe he self-edited the book). There are many theories as to the author's true identity, and I don't buy into the most popular one, that being the Milton Franklin Andrews theory. (Too much conflicting evidence)

(Look at the name S.W. Erdnase, then spell it backwards. Interesting huh!)

...

Also, there are 5 mistakes in this Dover Edition. These are common knowledge among the greatest card men in the world, and I share them here with you now. These correspond to the Dover edition (Green cover).

(Corrections in CAPS)

1. Page 22

(To Retain Complete Stock, 6th line)

...Now suddenly draw out the middle packet with the right THIRD finger and thumb, and release ....

2. Page 28

(Third paragraph in middle of page)

The THIRD finger and thumb do the work.

3. Page 29

(A little under middle of the page)

After the hold is established, the main task is in acquiring facility to push out the bottom card with the THIRD fingertip.

4. Page 82

(Middle of page)

The RIGHT third and little finger take no part in the action and are held idly out of the way.

5. Page 128

(Fourth line from top)

This leaves >>C<<'s cards in position.

There you have it. Good luck!

31 of 33 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Classic of Card Manipulation, March 8, 2001

By	Tony Rush "IFoundTheSolution.com" (southeast Alabama) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

Expert At The Card Table is considered to be a classic of both magicians and "mechanics", or card hustlers. S.W. Erdnase was not the author's real name and it's possible that we may never know who wrote such an excellent book. (Some think that the name "SW Erndnase" was an acrostic for the author's real name.)

In this book, the reader will find all the information necessary for second dealing, bottom dealing, palming cards, dealing two cards as one; techniques for moving a card from the center of the deck to the top in one, undetectable motion. In a word, it's a bible of card manipulation.

Written at the turn of the 20th century, the language is a bit dated, but the illustrations and text provide excellent direction for every detail of each move.

If you're interested in card manipulation, this is a must for your library.

21 of 21 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Serious Card Workers Should Read This Book Before They Die!!, April 18, 1999

By	Diamond Jim Tyler (Dallas, Texas) - See all my reviews

What else can I say? This book contains the real mechanics used by professional card handlers. The author's true name is not known because he knew that exposing these secrets could be detrimental to his health. Most of the material within is knuckle-busting, but worth your time if you would like to know how card cheats do what they do. -Diamond Jim Tyler