Card Sleights


Double Lift: Hold the deck in the left hand as shown in ( fig:1). The fingers of the right hand, hold the top edge of the deck lightly and the thumb of the right hand, rests at the bottom left corner. Tilt the deck so you can look down and see the cards under the thumb.

The right thumb then lifts the edges of the top cards allowing all but two cards to fall back onto the deck as shown in ( Fig:2 ) . The right thumb now presses forward on these two cards so they press lightly agai
st the right fingers and the thumb and fingers can lift the two cards free of the rest of the deck as in ( Fig:3 )

If the right thumb and fingers squeeze the two cards lightly, maintaining a slight bend, the two will stick together as if they were only one card. There are many ways of doing a double lift and it is one of the most useful and commonly used card sleights. Practice until you get it perfect.

Hold deck in left hand, fingertips resting on top right edge, base of thumb resting on bottom left edge of pack. Turn up one edge of the top two cards with the thumb of your right hand. Lift the top two cards from the deck, keeping them together.

Fig:1 Fig:2 Fig:3

Palming a Card: Have your card to be palmed, on the top of the deck.The deck should be held as shown in Fig:1. With your other free hand, bring your palm face down over the deck of cards, cradling them and giving the impression that you are squaring up the deck. Keeping fingers and thumb of your free hand closely together, gently squeeze the top card so that its top edge is leaning against the first joint of your fingers and the bottom corner is wedged against the fleshy base of your thumb. Fig:2

Keeping fingers and thumb close together, maintain a slight bend on the card and subtly remove your hand away from the spectators view. Fig:3

As long as the palm of the hand is not visible to the spectator, it will look completely natural and unsuspicious due to the fact it is not in an obvious gripping position or closed fist. Click Here For A Video Demo

Hold deck in left hand as shown in photo Place palm of other hand on top card and squeeze gently. Maintain gentle grip on card and draw hand away from view.

Fig:1 Fig:2 Fig:3

Forcing a Card

Cross Cut Force: ( This is a simple method of forcing a card although there are many other ways of forcing a card )

Give the pack of cards a shuffle and catch a glimpse of the bottom card.( Fig:1 )
Ask the spectator to cut the pack in two and to place the half that they have cut, face down on the table. ( Fig:2 )
Take the other half of the pack and place it on top of their half at a 90 degree angle to form a cross. ( Fig:3 )

Shuffle deck and glimpse at the bottom card. Ask spectator to cut the pack in two and place their half pack on the table. Place the remaining half pack on top of the spectators half at a 90 degree angle.

Fig:1 Fig:2 Fig:3

Use a little patter or make a funny comment to distract the spectator from the set up of the cards.
Now ask them to pick up the top half of the cards, look at the bottom one of that pile and and memorize this as their chosen card.They can then replace the two half packs together and shuffle the cards.

The card they have actually memorised is the one that you glimpsed at before on the bottom of the pack while shuffling. They should believe that the have freely cut the cards at this point whereas the truth is that the card has been "forced " upon them.

Pinky Break: The pack is held in the dealing position. It is a good idea to slightly bevel the pack towards the outer fingers. This creates a slight edge and makes it easier for the pinky to feel and count down through the cards, the pinky tip is pressed slightly into the pack creating a small break in the cards above and below the pinky tip. The opposite end of the pack (nearest to spectator) should be held slightly higher than the end nearest you to disguise the break. Also at the end of the pack nearest the spectator, the edge of the top card should be firmly pressed onto the next card down with your thumb to hide the break. If the selected card is to be presented to audience, flip the cards above the pinky break over as shown in figure 3, using the thumb to help the move. The selected card should then fall face up on top of the deck. Maintain the pinky break and repeat the flip to return the cards to their original position. Click Here For A Video Demo

Bevel the pack and place pinky tip in below selected card. Flip over cards above the pinky break with forefinger of other hand and use thumb of holding hand to assist the move. Cards should be allow to fall face up on top of deck. Retain pinky break if required and repeat flip to return cards to their original position.

1) Slightly bevel pack and obtain break 2) Flip pack with other forefinger. 3) Allow cards to fall face up on deck.

Riffle Shuffle

The deck of cards is divided into two packets, the ends put together, the cards being bent upwards and released in such a way that they become interlaced. To keep a card or a small number of cards on the top of the pack, you have simply to release it or them from the right hand portion of cards, last of all. If the bottom cards are to be kept in position then they are allowed to fall from the left hand in the first movement of the shuffle.



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