Title=The Oxford Dictionary of English Etymology Isbn=9-X – gives both meanings for both terms and even for the obsolete "sharker", but provides only the swindler definition for "card sharp" and both definitions for the "card shark" version, thus contradicting itself at the "sharp" entry] The original connotation was negative, meaning "swindler" or "cheat", regardless of spelling, with the more positive connotations of "expert" or "skilled player" arising later, and not supplanting the negative ones. Title=Webster's New Twentieth Century Dictionary of the English Language, Unabridged Isbn=52 – gives only negative meaning for "shark", and gives "sharper" as synonymous, without addressing the shorter form "sharp"] Cite book Title=Origins: A Short Etymological Dictionary of Modern English 380 – gives both positive and negative meanings for both "shark" and "sharp", labels them synonymous in this context, and indicates that positive sense of "shark" arose much later than the negative meaning, and later than it did for "sharp"] Cite book Isbn=0-19-861248-6 – gives only the negative meaning for both labels negative verb "to sharp" archaic.] Cite book Title=The Oxford Encyclopedic English Dictionary Pages=entries "shark" & "sharp" – gives the negative meaning only, for both] Cite book Title=Online Etymology Dictionary search results "Sharp" developed in the 17th century from this meaning of "shark" (as apparently did the use of "shark" as a name for the fish), but the phrase "card sharp" prefigures the variant "card shark". loan shark)", derives from German "Schorke"/"Schurke" ("rogue" or "rascal"), as did the English word "shirker". In their card trick routines, however, they often use card sharping techniques that originated as cheating methods.Īccording to the prevailing etymological theory, the term "shark", originally meaning "parasite" or "one who preys upon others" "(cf. The use of these methods to actually cheat at cards is generally frowned upon by stage magicians, cardists and other card trick artists, as this associates practitioners as a class with swindling. Dealing may also be done from the middle of the deck, known as the "middle deal" or "center deal", but this is not as common. These are called the " bottom deal" and the " second deal" respectively. Facts|date=November 2007ĭealing the cards can also be manipulated, by dealing either the bottom card from the deck or the second one from the top instead of the top card. More advanced techniques include "culling" (manipulating desired cards to the top or bottom of the deck), and "stacking" (putting desired cards in position to be dealt).
Essential skills are "false shuffles" and " false cuts" that appear to mix the deck but actually leave the cards in the same order.
Most, if not all, of these methods employ sleight of hand. The 1998 film " Rounders" dramatically illustrates this lifestyle.Ĭard shark who cheat or perform tricks use methods to keep control of the order of the cards or sometimes to control one specific card.
In general usage, principally in American English and more commonly with the "shark" spelling, the term has also taken on the meaning of "expert card gambler who takes advantage of less-skilled players", without implication of actual cheating at cards (in much the same way that " Cuegloss|Shark|pool shark" or " pool hustler" can (especially when used by non-players) be intended to mean "skilled player" rather than "swindler").Ī card sharp (by either of the gambling-related definitions) may be a "rounder" who travels, seeking out high-stakes games in which to gamble. The label is not always intended as pejorative, and is sometimes used to refer to practitioners of card tricks for entertainment purposes. Also known in card gaming jargon as a " mechanic", an older politically incorrect term is " greek". A card sharp (informally also cardsharp, card shark, cardshark) is a person who uses skill and deception to win at poker or other card games.
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