A very nice (and affordable) reprint of the second (1868) edition of this desirable book.

While the author of the 1868 second edition was originally attributed to "A Retired Professional," we need only look back to the 1865 first edition to learn that the author was Gerritt M. Evans.

Whether Mr. Evans had "cold feet" for having his name associated with the slightly enlarged second edition, or if it was a decision by the publisher to inject an air of mystery into the proceedings, we'll never know.

We do know that Evans was the proprietor of a store in New York City, specializing in crooked cards, dice, and other items of interest to "advantage players" -- a nice-sounding pseudonym for cheaters and card sharps.

Describes methods used by professional gamblers to fleece their victims at a variety of gambling games.

Makes a great gift for that hard-to-please gaming enthusiast, magician, or law enforcement professional on your list.

Partial contents:

• HOW GAMBLERS WIN
• BLUFF OR POKER
• The Square Game
• The Top Stock
• The Bottom Stock
• The Palm Stock
• Running up Two Hands
• Flushes, Fulls and Fours
• Strippers
• Briefs
• Second Dealing
• Bottom Dealing
• Crimping
• Cold Decks
• Holding Out
• False Shuffles
• False Cuts
• Shifting the Cut
• Convexes and Reflectors
• "Paper"
• Partnerships
• DRAW POKER
• Stocking for a Draft
• Double Discard
• Shifting the Cut After Dealing
• The "Bug"
• Running up Hands
• Marked Cards
• SEVEN-UP, OR HIGH, LOW JACK
• The Half-Stock
• The Whole Stock
• Crimping
• Marking the Edges
• Strippers
• Briefs
• The High Hand
• Holding Out and Dealing Seven Cards
• Turning Jack from the Bottom
• "Paper" (Marked Cards)
• EUCHRE
• The High Hand
• VINGT-UN, OR TWENTY-ONE
• WHIST
• CRIBBAGE
• THE VALUE OF "PAPER" TO THE GAMBLER
• LOADED DICE
• DICE TOPS
• DEAD PROPS
• A FEW SPECIMENS OF CARD-SHARPING