SW Erdnase Part 1

SW Erdnase was a card expert, who wrote THE treatise of card cheating in human history. No book had ever been written so lucidly since on card cheating and advantage playing with cards. 


Nobody knew who he was. He died a premature death by shooting himself before he got fuzzed by the feds. However, his legacy lives on as one of the most studies and illicitly read book on the subject of card cheating. 


Dai Vernon, one of the most influential magicians in the 20th century called Erdnase the 'greatest book on card magic that had ever been published, and there are no works that can supersede it since'. Dai himself had written the annotated version of Erdnase entitled Revelation, which, in his own words, 'needs to be studied with constant reference to the original text.' .


'The methods in Erdnase are both simple and practical', writes Vernon. Proves true in every sense of the word. However, simple does not mean easy to acquire. Simple in purpose and appearance, maybe. But cardsharping rarely takes a simple turn to acquire. Years and years of practice goes into making a move seem perfect. i.e. not like a move. Essentially, not only a perfect understanding of the mechanics is important, but also, on the situation where the move is made, and also the 'shade' utilised in making the move. 

It should be noted that reading Erdnase alone, without the effort on the part of the reader, will not make an amateur become a professional overnight. Hours of assidious practice is needed in order to fully grasp the teachings of Erdnase. 

From seemingly easy to acquire moves to expert manipulation at the card table, SW Erdnase is essential in the library of every card worker. 

"The finished card expert considers nothing too trivial that in any way contributes to his success." (Erdnase, 1902)