Where does the phrase "pea-shake" come from in reference to gambling?

I'm going to have to take a totally wild guess on this one! I've searched all I can, and the only references seem to all lead back to a slang expression to black gambling dens in Indiana around 2004 during some news stories around that time. I assume the terms itself predates that, of course. The first thing that comes to mind is the feel and sound of dice, shaking in your hand. If you 've ever rolled dice, you know *exactly* what I mean!! Pea-shake is a perfect word for it.

*teehee* i know that feeling too, in experimenting with cooking and also while drawing/painting, etc. My first sketch/painting is Always the best. i cannot replicate the same effect. achenbreakin has already stated some good reasons. the freshness & uncomparability. other probable reasons : -- even in group activities, there's no pressure & expectations from others or even self; one can play one's game unrestricted. think tennis. think underdog. the bar is set lower in terms of expectations. -- for me, it's the Novelty of the first time. both in terms of the activity and in terms of my own initiative. one's Senses may be Heightened. moreover, one never knows How the thing is going to turn out - every step is like a mini-test accomplished without knowing the end-result. -- 2ndly, we are much more Careful & Meticulous/Diligent when trying something out the first time. we keep double-checking the recipe at each step & follow the instructions almost verbatim. when we've accomplished it well, the future attempts may become a little lax - call it Overconfidence or just a subtle Laissez-faire attitude. *** Complacency is the word that describes it best. not overt, but somewhere deep down. *** -- 3rdly, to further achen's point, about uncomparability - the first attempt has set the bar for us. but also, now that we've been successful the first time, we tend to See more details, tend to Think more of variations, tend to fall back on Other experiences [horizontal & vertical comparisons ], & so on. this Dilutes the results of the latter events. eg. in drawing, the more one looks at the object, the more nuances one comes across. as a beginner, these are not that obvious & one steps in boldly. in cooking, one wants to include some other technique/ingredient, etc. -- the Ennui of Repetition, Revision & Practice. wouldn't there be some part of the brain saying "oh, been there, done that". one already knows the outcome; there's no surprise really unless one tinkers with a few variables. -- going back to the cooking analogy, it could be that the tastebuds too recognise the taste now & are not that excited. this is more at the physiological level & has nothing to do with our own ability or lack of it. finally, there is the Disbelief that a Novice/beginner could have achieved/exceled at a high level. hence it is attributed to Luck. one will have to prove oneself Consistently if one has to rise above the "flash-in-the-pan" stigma. when one becomes CONSISTENT, it becomes a Fact that the first attempt wasn't beginner's LUCK, but a real talent, skill, ability, capability, attitude, ... so, i guess, beginner's luck is actually a more pleasing & milder way of saying : "let's wait & watch before we assess you - can you Repeat the feat?" if you can repeat it, then hats off to YOU, otherwise it really Was just a stroke of Luck ;-)) remember the quotation where the fool thinks he knows everything while the wise man knows he knows nothing ... i'll put up the exact words later. EDIT : okay, still searching for the exact quote. meanwhile, here's something that may fit the bill somewhat :-/ As we acquire more knowldege, things do not become more comprehensible, but more mysterious. - Albert Schweitzer, 1875 - 1965 and beginner's luck is not a Universal truth. practice Does make perfect in so many areas. sometimes, one just uses it for fun ;-) mere talent just gets you so far. to go beyond, one requires hardwork, perseverance, resources, long-term motivation, etc. including a benevolent Lady Luck too. *grinning broadly* - remember a recent Q where my answer lost out because Lady Luck didn't shine on me ;-))

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