Ace-Deuce-Jack

The odds in this game are so heavily loaded, that it is found only as a hustler's game.

a) One standard pack of 52 cards;
b) Cash for betting.

Two or more can play. One player is banker.

With the Hustler as Banker

Objective

Players bet none of the three cards exposed in play will be an Ace, Deuce (2) or Jack.

These are agreed beforehand.

The banker shuffles. Any player has the right to shuffle, but the banker has the right to shuffle last. Any player, other than the banker, cuts the pack.

1) The banker takes three cards face down from the bottom of the pack, ensuring that no one sees their denominations. These three cards are ruled dead, and are put to one side.
2) The banker then cuts two groups of cards from the pack, taking care that no one sees the bottom card of each cut. He places each group face down alongside the pack, so that there are now three groups of cards on the table.

Each player, except the banker, may place a bet. The banker then turns the three sections face up, exposing the bottom card of each section.

If any one of the three cards is an Ace, Deuce or Jack, the banker takes all bets. If none of the cards is one of these denominations, the banker pays 1 to 1 on all bets.

All cards in the pack are collected, shuffled, and then cut for the next turn of play.

With the Sucker as Banker

Sometimes the sucker wants to be banker. The hustler then suggests the following version, in which players bet on which denomination will appear. "You bank, and we'll do the guessing too," says the hustler. "You can't help but win."

On a big hustle, with a planned victim, the hustler may set up this version from the beginning.

Players bet one of the three cards exposed in play will be one of three specified denominations.

These are agreed beforehand.

The banker shuffles. Any player has the right to shuffle, but the banker has the right to shuffle last. Any player, other than the banker, cuts the pack.

1) The banker takes three cards face down from the bottom of the pack, ensuring that no one sees their denominations. These three cards are ruled dead, and are put to one side.
2) The banker then cuts two groups of cards from the pack, taking care that no one sees the bottom card of each cut. He places each group face down alongside the pack, so that there are now three groups of cards on the table.

Each player, except the banker, may place a bet. Sometimes the betting denominaitons are as in the 'banker-hustler' version, i.e. Ace, Deuce, Jack (see above).

Usually, however, the three denominations change for each hand, and are chosen by the players as they place their bets.

This "guessing" process gives the banker the impression that the odds are with him.

The banker turns the three sections face up, exposing the bottom card of each section.

If none of the three cards is one of the three denominations bet on, the banker takes all bets. But if any one or more of the denominations appear, the banker pays 1 to 1 on all bets. (Note that he pays only l to l even if two or three denominations appear.)

All cards in the pack are collected, shuffled, and then cut for the next turn of play.

There are high odds that the three exposed cards will include one of any three specified denominations. This will occur on average nearly 60 times in 100 plays — which is enough to ruin anyone betting against these odds.

The hustler simply has to ensure that the sucker is on the wrong side of the appropriate version of the game.

From 'The Official World Encyclopedia of Sports and Games'
© Diagram Visual Information Ltd 1979