Phantoms of the Card Table

Walter Irving Scott is arguably the most accomplished card shark in history. In 1930, he astounded New York’s top card handlers by dealing himself winning poker hands from a shuffled deck, one of his many feats. He took pride in “cheating the cheats” and his exceptional card skills earned him the nickname “The Phantom of the Card Table.” Six decades later, British magician Gazzo sought out Scott. They formed a friendship and Scott openly shared his techniques for potential publication. Scott insisted on honesty, saying, “I don’t care what you say, as long as you tell the truth.” This is the true story of Scott and other card table phantoms who spent years mastering the art of card cheating, a topic rarely discussed. A special chapter on master card tricks is also included.