Renowned Chinese poker magician Zheng Taishun has strongly adviced people to stay away from gambling during Lunar New Year holidays by making people aware how card tricks are played in gambles at a live card tricks demonstration in Chengdu, southwest China, on Tuesday.

Card magician Zheng Taishun (2nd from right) reveals sleight of hand techniques in card playing to his audience at a teahouse in Chengdu, southwest China, on Tuesday, January 20, 2009.[Photo: scol.com.cn]

The Guinness World Record-breaking card manipulator, also a card magician from southeastern Fujian province, gave the lesson at a Chengdu teahouse where he was on a preaching session on card play tricks, the local Tianfu Morning Post reports.

Zheng, also a staunch anti-gambling campaigner, invited a spectator during his session to hold a five of hearts in front of the audience. Standing a meter away, Zheng secretly replaced the card with a ten of diamonds under the crowd's watchful eyes.

The magician hopes that his live demonstration on card tricks can help the public understand how gamblers cheat by playing tricks on others.

"Out of ten gamblers, nine are losing. Out of ten winners, nine are cheating," Zheng was quoted as saying during his preaching session.

He believes that people who are addicted to gambling will only quit after they realize how subtle and widespread cheating is being used in gambles.

(CRI January 22, 2009)