4 ms·
Isn't it a "card sharp?"
by Zigurd 7y ago
Isn't it a "card sharp?"
- smoyer 7y agoThey are synonyms - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Card_sharp https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Card_sharp. Curiously, I've never heard the term "card sharp" before (or I mis-heard it as "card shark").
- Zigurd 7y agoI suspect card shark has bled over from loan shark or some other term like that
- GeorgeTirebiter 7y agoI'm hopeful they will carry slightly different meanings in the future, where "card sharp" isn't pejorative but "card shark" is. Actually, today is the first time I've heard the term "card shark". Ahhh, English...
- specialp 7y agoYes smart bettors call themselves "sharps" and "AP"s (advantage players) I don't think I have ever heard an AP call themselves a card shark. This seems to be a piece of fiction as most of the terminology doesn't line up and the tactics are odd too.
- rcthompson 7y agoI think I've only ever heard "card shark" used to refer to a person who is really into the game, plays it competitively, and generally knows the probabilities of various hands, but generally isn't counting cards or otherwise keeping track of any hidden game state. They're also generally into betting strategy, bluffing, reading people's faces, and other such things. I don't think I've ever heard it used to refer to someone playing to win by counting cards, except in case where card counter is mistaken for the above.
- pfarrell 7y agoI think it’s a British usage versus American usage thing. Also might be historical as you can see in the title of Caravaggio’s famous work: https://www.kimbellart.org/collection/ap-198706 https://www.kimbellart.org/collection/ap-198706
- dreamcompiler 7y agoI've always thought of "card shark" as a common American mishearing of the correct phrase "card sharp." Like saying "mute point" instead of the correct "moot point" or "take a different tact" for the correct "take a different tack."
- stOneskull 7y agoI like that they all still make sense.
- tamaharbor 7y agoTrue, for all intensive purposes...