At a $20 a game starting wager..a midwest okie proceeded to lose $3400 cash playing the old "3 card monte" game run by a few savvy players in Manhattan...when the sucker started watching a shill was winning and winning. The mark actually got ahead $80 before they dropped the guillotine when the bets were upped to $300 a crack..."It looked so easy I cannot figure out how I lost...I kept doubling up and before I knew it I had no cash left".....The game is played with 3 playing cards and a player must select a predetermined card ..say a jack or ace to win....the dealer will "shuffle" the cards and the player must guess the card....It is a sleight of hand con game and the use of shills is common..they make winning look so easy it is hard not to get sucked in....