Sharps and Flats / A Complete Revelation of the Secrets of Cheating at Games of Chance and Skill

A practical manual exposing common methods used to cheat at games of chance and skill, surveying marked cards, prepared decks, covert holdouts, sleight-of-hand manipulation, collusion, and mechanical aids such as reflectors and loaded dice, with chapters on particular games and gaming-houses. It combines technical description with ethical concern, explaining how tricks are manufactured and employed, how to detect them, and what safeguards might reduce fraud. Illustrative examples, plates, and procedural detail aim to educate players and authorities about prevention and detection, presenting deception as a problem to be understood rather than admired.