The Expert at the Card Table (originally titled Artifice, Ruse and Subterfuge at the Card Table), published in 1902 by the mysterious S. W. Erdnase, is the most influential book ever written on card handling, card sharping, and sleight of hand. Its detailed explanations of blind shuffles, false cuts, stacking, shifts, palming, and bottom and second deals, together with its classic card tricks, have made it the foundational text for generations of magicians, gamblers, and card-magic enthusiasts.

This annotated edition presents the complete text of 1902, including the original Preface. It adds:

• A new, extensively annotated editor's introduction covering the book's origins, the world of turn-of-the-century gambling, and the century-long search for the true identity of S. W. Erdnase.
• About 200 footnotes, both historical and practical. The historical notes explain period terminology, gambling practices, and references. The practical notes clarify ambiguous instructions to help readers actually perform the moves.
• Redrawn illustrations based on Marshall D. Smith's original drawings, with new shading that shows hand positions and card placement more clearly.

Newly typeset in Garamond, this edition keeps the precision and voice of the original while making it more accessible to modern readers. It is an essential reference for magicians, card players, collectors, and anyone interested in gambling history or one of the great unsolved literary mysteries.

Topics covered include:

• Blind shuffles and false riffles
• False cuts and stacking
• Shifts, palming, and bottom and second deals
• Classic card tricks and sleight-of-hand methods