card sharp
Crooked poker player
A card sharp is someone skilled at cheating at card games, typically through sleight of hand, marked cards, or other deceptive techniques.
The term carries connotations of professional-level deception rather than casual cheating—a card sharp makes money by swindling other players.
The riverboat was known to attract card sharps looking for wealthy marks.
Also spelled cardsharp or card shark.
Cunning deceiver in myth
- swindlerPerson who deceives for money
- conmanFraud who deceives for profit
- hustlerAggressive, unscrupulous earner
- cheatAct dishonestly to win
grifter · fraud · scam · con · swindle · sleight · manipulation · mechanic
Hearth implement for coals
- blackjackCard game to twenty-one
- baccaratCard game targeting nine
- casinoFacility for wagering
- stakesPosts or wagers
high-roller · wagering · betting · table · dealer · pot · ante · house
Deceiving about one's position
- readingInterpreting written text
- tellsConveys information verbally
- countingDetermining quantity sequentially
- oddsLikelihood expressed numerically
probability · position · bankroll · edge · exploitation · timing · patience · discipline
Physically skilled, agile
- nimble-fingeredManually agile and precise
- sleight-of-handSkillful manual deception
- adeptHighly capable, well-versed
- masterfulHighly skilled and authoritative
proficient · quick-handed · cunning · shrewd · sharp-eyed · flourish · misdirection · prestidigitation
trickster
Cunning deceiver in myth
- swindlerPerson who deceives for money
- conmanFraud who deceives for profit
- hustlerAggressive, unscrupulous earner
cheat · grifter · fraud · scam · con · swindle · sleight · manipulation · mechanic · palming
poker
Hearth implement for coals
stakes · high-roller · wagering · betting · table · dealer · pot · ante · house · odds
bluffing
Deceiving about one's position
- readingInterpreting written text
- tellsConveys information verbally
- countingDetermining quantity sequentially
odds · probability · position · bankroll · edge · exploitation · timing · patience · discipline
dexterous
Physically skilled, agile
- nimble-fingeredManually agile and precise
- sleight-of-handSkillful manual deception
- adeptHighly capable, well-versed
masterful · proficient · quick-handed · cunning · shrewd · sharp-eyed · flourish · misdirection · prestidigitation
- swindlerscon artist, swindler, fraudster, scammer, grifter
- scamsscam, scams, fraud, frauds, swindle
- street consshell game, three card monte, three-card monte, thimblerig, cups and balls
- hustlershustler, hustlers, street hustler, con artist, grifter
- gambling cheatscard mechanic, marked cards, stacked deck, collusion, mechanic
- card gamespoker, blackjack, solitaire, hearts, spades