THE WAYS OF BILLIARD SHARPERS.

Evening Post, Volume L, Issue 42, 17 August 1895, Page 1 (Supplement)

THE WAYS OF BILLIARD SHARPERS.

" There are not so many billiard sharpers about as there used to be," said a marker recently to the writer, " the game has been shown up a great deal, and people are far more cautious now in playing with strangers. "The modern, sharper is almost invariably well dressed, and is careful to preserve the manners and appearance of a gentleman — indeed, very often he is a gentleman, by birth, at least. He never plays his best in the first game, which he loses, if possible, with the intention of getting his victim to gamble on the succeeding game. His manner is urbanity itself, and should he be conceding points, as he frequently offers to do, he will venture to offer his opponent advice on a difficult shot, should one occur. " He rarely essays a really difficult stroke himself, unless he is in danger of losing the game, and then he wins by as few points as possible, and puts it down to his opponent's very bad luck. Then he will Buggest that the stakes be doubled, and he will concede a few more points in order that the victim may win his money back, which, of course, he never does. " One sharper whom I knew used to travel about the provinces, stored as a country farmer. He talked in a broad Yorkshire dialect, and if asked to play would profess entire ignorance of the game, it being even necessary to show him how to hold a cue. "In Bpiteof his ignorance, he almost always won, making most remarkable scores, butgettingthem so awkwardly that he was rarely suspected. This mail used to make at least £500 a year, and there are others in London who make even more than that. ' ' Some years ago there used to be a billiard saloon near Regent-street, which was much frequented by a certain clique of wealthy tradesmen. Although it was a public room, they endeavoured to keep it as much to themselves as possible. "One evening, as they were playing their usual game of pool, a stranger entered. In common courtesy they were compelled to ask him to join in. He asked what stakes they were playing for. Thinking to scare him off, they raised them 5s to the pool, and 2s 6d for each life. He assented, and played several games with indifferent success. " The following evening he came again. This ticno they again doubled the stakes. f lho strangor played, however, \ud in a short time captured three pools, and took his departure, ne turned out to be the cleverest pool sharper in London, and, having divined their obj ect, had simply waited until the stakes were high enough before showing his best form. "But the cheat does not always get the best of it, as the following incident will show : — •' One of our most promising professional players was practising playing with his left hand in a provincial billiard room, when a sharp entered.. He did not know the professional, and after watching him play for a while, proposed a game. " The other assented, and the game commencod, both playing left-handed. Half-way through the game the professional was leading a little, and the other offered a bet, which was taken. Then the sharp said his left hand was tired, he would try his right for a change The alteration immediately resulted in bringing him within a few points of the game. " The professional also changed hands, remarking that it had seemed to do the other good, and compiled a break of 50 odd, thus winning easily. Although the sharper did not know the professional, the latter knew him, and was resolved to give him a lesson."