The three card monte, which is also known as "monte," "three card trick," "follow the lady," "three way" and "find the lady," is a scam that is performed on the streets and uses three playing cards.
In the classic game, the practitioner, also known as the "thrower," displays three cards and one of the three, called the "money" card, contrasts with the others. For example, a black queen amongst two red number cards. The cards are "thrown" face-down onto a table where they’re haphazardly mixed, and the victim, also known as the "mark," bets on which card is the money card. Despite looking fair, the gambling game is a scam that the practitioner completely controls. There is no way for the mark to win.
In the street game, the practitioner often works with a group of colleagues that work together to fleece the mark. The crowd attracts the attention of the mark and others seem to be winning easy money. But the game changes once the mark brings out his money and begins to bet.
