Watch the deck

If it leaves your line of sight for even a splitsecond it can be switched, either to dispose of incriminating evidence or, more dangerously, for a ‘cooler’ – a deck already set up to give good hands to one or two players but an even better one to the cheats. If in doubt, ask for a new one.

The Zarrow shuffle

‘The Zarrow shuffle may very well be the single most important practical card move…’ says Persi Diaconis, another sleight-of-hand genius and prodigy of Dai Vernon. What is it? A perfectlooking riffle shuffle that doesn’t change the deck in any way. How to spot it? You can’t, so cut that deck!

Peeking

This is possibly the most popular cheat for the sleight-of-hand amateur. There are numerous ways to glimpse the top or bottom card while squaring, shuffling or dealing. You simply won’t see it so pay attention to the dealer’s eyes instead – and those of the other players.

The rigid thumb

Second, bottom and centre-dealing require the top card to be pushed out as normal, but then whipped back into place as another card is dealt. The only visual clue is the thumb, which never lifts up. Second-deals can be noisier than normal because the card scrapes both the pack and the top card on its way out. So listen hard.

The cut

False cuts are often used by a player and dealer in cahoots. Cut the cards once and ensure it wasn’t at a slightly bent card that was leaving a tiny gap – a trick that can make an innocent player cut to the dealer’s choice. If a cut looks suspicious, or a player taps the deck indicating no cut, exercise your right to cut it again.