Card Manipulations

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As Magician X peels off the cellophane, his heart rate quickens ever so slightly. Mr. X unconsciously gives his fingers a quick stretch as he reaches to break the seal. The scent of fresh laminate permeates the air as the playing cards are removed and revealed with a flourish. A true card manipulator knows better than to do “tricks”. They will weave a unique tapestry of techniques into an impromptu routine. Knowing just a few of the more common techniques, such as different ways to achieve a false cut, force a selection, and pass a card to the top or bottom of the deck, makes it possible to control a card without anyone seeing.
A person who handles cards in the grifting world is referred to as a mechanic. The first things a mechanic learns are a variety of methods to achieve a false cut and a false shuffle. These are generally the easiest techniques to master, as they require nothing more than a little confidence and movement to mask the fact that you did not actually cut the cards. There are more advanced techniques, and some of them are flamboyant flourishes that require the utmost skill. The simplest false cuts, however, can be achieved by holding the deck of cards in your right hand’s fingers, with your palm down and the backs of the cards facing your palm. With your index finger and thumb cradling the deck’s left hand corners from the far (top) and near (bottom) edges of the deck. Simply push about half of the deck off of the top with your right index finger, pivoting around the side of your thumb and into your left hand. Now, use just your right hand to do all of the work. Take the bottom half of the deck, which is still in your right hand, and tap the other half of the deck before proceeding to place the bottom...

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...which is below your finger, out towards the spectator, keeping it perpendicular to the top half. Since this is occurring below the top half of the deck, it can’t be seen. Then, act as if you are squaring the deck while you are really dropping the top half to the bottom and replacing the bottom half on top. Now the target card is on the top of the deck.
Card manipulation is an ancient art. Practitioners have crafted countless ways to get over on someone with a deck of cards. Some routines require sleight of hand while others rely on mathematics or psychology. With methods too countless to list, there are three basic techniques which, when mastered, will allow you to keep constant control of all the cards. With a solid version of a false cut and shuffle, a forced selection, and a pass, you are equipped with everything you need to perform playing card miracles.

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