origin of "case" in poker lingo

[mikech]

i'm wondering how this word came to mean "last" or "only remaining" in poker terminology, as in "case ace" and "case money." not only is there no mention of its poker meaning in ordinary dictionaries, there isn't even a single entry of "case" as an adjective, only as nouns. anybody know the etymology of this term?

[SheetWise]

Interesting question.

http://www.americandialect.org/ameri...ives/may94.txt

[Ray Zee]

ill tell in a few days if no one gets it. small hint: only a very old time gambler would know.
from a game long gone. i played in the last legit one at the alladin in 1972.

[Andy B]

The term comes from Faro, a card game that was popular in the latter 19th and early 20th century, but which has since died out more or less completely. The dealer dealt from a box or "case," and the last card of a particular rank was the "case" card. This term carried over into poker. Faro is also where the term dealer's "box" comes from, and probably other terms I'm not thinking of right now.

[Andy B]

You played Faro? I didn't realize you were that old. [img]/images/graemlins/grin.gif[/img]

[Ray Zee]

i am that old and you ruined the game for others to guess. next time you are barred. but its the right answer.

and i did play the faro bank in vegas. years ago they had a few of them still happening although your chances werent always so good.

[mikech]

[ QUOTE ]
The term comes from Faro, a card game that was popular in the latter 19th and early 20th century, but which has since died out more or less completely. The dealer dealt from a box or "case," and the last card of a particular rank was the "case" card. This term carried over into poker. Faro is also where the term dealer's "box" comes from, and probably other terms I'm not thinking of right now.

[/ QUOTE ]
this sounds fascinating, can you explain the game in more detail?

[mikech]

[ QUOTE ]
and i did play the faro bank in vegas. years ago they had a few of them still happening although your chances werent always so good.

[/ QUOTE ]
ray, what do you mean by "faro bank"? was this game a casino pit game, something like blackjack? or was it a player vs player game like poker?

[mason55]

After reading into Faro a little bit more, it looks like this is the game they were playing in Kubrick's Barry Lyndon. Anyone know if this is the case? I always wondered WTF was going on with that card game.

[Cry Me A River]

Online Faro Game (Flash)