Spotting Marked Cards

[lwestatbus]

I was shopping for used casino cards on eBay and saw some listings for "Marked Cards." Looked at a couple, got curious and searched eBay for "Marked Cards." Found about a dozen listings including for Kem, Bee, and Bicycle cards. Some were doctored by the seller (or someone) but some were advertised as sealed and including an instruction manual!! Most of the listings were marked "for magic or amusement purposes only" (BS) but a couple came right out and advised the purchaser to use them for cheating or winning.

Anybody know how to spot these things in a game? There is some real potential for deception here (just read the listings for the cards).

[PocketRocket]

The kind that can be bought are easily spotted either with glasses, UV light, or are even plainly visible. And of course, as you may guess, those who are looking for such cards can easily be hoodwinked by their own greed. Some decks lead themselves for easier plain view marking than others, the Bicycle brand comes to mind as an easy one to plainly mark for the unknowing eye or even in the weekly home game.

And just in the remote chance that you're thinking of use such a deck to gain unfair advantage, you may want to think of your physical well-being first.

... and to tell you how to spot them would also be telling you how to mark them. Sorry I've left that part out, but I think people can do well without having to worry about amateurs marking cards in home games.

I was shopping for used casino cards on eBay and saw some listings for "Marked Cards." Looked at a couple, got curious and searched eBay for "Marked Cards." Found about a dozen listings including for Kem, Bee, and Bicycle cards. Some were doctored by the seller (or someone) but some were advertised as sealed and including an instruction manual!! Most of the listings were marked "for magic or amusement purposes only" (BS) but a couple came right out and advised the purchaser to use them for cheating or winning.

Anybody know how to spot these things in a game? There is some real potential for deception here (just read the listings for the cards).

[messenger309]

There is a way to make a KEM card 'flimsier' than its mates. You can easily tell when dealing a flimsy card if you know what to fell for.

There are also ways to mark decks that pass the closest scrutiny, even the 'flip movie' test.

Know who you are playing with.

Rob

[Prettey Toney]

If you haven't already, you must see the movie "Shade" This may shed some light on this topic if you are interested. Make sure you watch the behind the scenes footage.

[messenger309]

Also read 'phanthoms of the card tables' the book the movie is based on.

Rob

[MeridianFC]

If you have someone wearing sunglasses at your home game, beat their ass to a bloody pulp.

They may not be cheating it just seems like a good policy.

[Scott1101]

If you have someone wearing sunglasses at your home game, beat their ass to a bloody pulp.

They may not be cheating it just seems like a good policy.

Amen, dude. . .A dude wore sunglasses to our home game a couple weeks ago. We were too busy laughing at him and making fun of him to do much of anything else. Needless to say, the tool didn't wear them the next time.

[Prettey Toney]

Look at these:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?Vi ... 29661&rd=1

[expertmagician]

You can also try:

www.marked-cards.com

to get some good information about what to look for regarding different types of marked cards.

Sure the site tries to sell some high quality product, but there is good information there as well discussing luminous, juice, tintwork, scroll and block-out work, etc.

enjoy !