1. THE OVERHAND SHUFFLE
A neat overhand shuffle is still “the principall point,” as laid down by Scot. The proper position of the pack is important. Hold it in the left hand, at an angle of about forty-five degrees, the thumb on the back near the outer end and about the middle, the forefinger from the second joint resting against the outer end, the little finger curled against the inner end, and the second and third fingers resting on the bottom card (Fig. 1).
To shuffle the cards, raise the lower portion of the pack between the right thumb at the inner end and the tips of the second and third fingers on the outer end, the forefinger resting on the middle of the upper side and the little finger resting free. Bring the right-hand portion down on the remainder in the left hand (Fig. 1), pull off a few cards with the left thumb, and raise the right hand again. Repeat the same movements until the cards in the right hand are exhausted and the whole shuffled pack is again in the left hand. The positions of the left first and fourth fingers are important, for they serve to keep the cards together neatly.
This shuffle is applied to secret purposes as follows:
(1) To retain the bottom card. In drawing out the lower part of the pack press the tips of the left second and third fingers against the bottom card, holding it back so that the upper part, which remains in the left hand, falls on it. This action can be repeated as often as desired.
(2) To retain the top card. Press the left thumb on the top card; lift off all the other cards with the right hand and shuffle them onto that card, which then becomes the bottom card of the deck. Lift the lower portion of the pack and shuffle off into the left hand until the bottom card only remains in the right hand, then throw it on top. Practice this sleight by turning the top card face upwards so that you can follow it easily.
(3) To bring the top card second from the bottom and again to the top. Press the left thumb firmly on the back of the deck and the tips of the second and third fingers on the bottom card; with the right hand lift out all the intervening cards so that the top card falls on the bottom card, both being retained in the left hand by the pressure; then shuffle off on top of them as usual. You can now turn the pack over to show the bottom card (the card you are controlling being next to it and hidden by it) and then show the top card, yet by repeating exactly the same movements as before you shuffle the card back to the top. Here again it is well to reverse the top card when learning the sleight.
(4) Running the cards. This is the technical term for pulling off cards singly with the left thumb in the shuffle. By this you can place any required number of cards on top of the card you are controlling. Very little practice will enable you to do this with ease and certainty if the cards are in good condition. Never practice with cards that are sticky and dirty from use.
(5) The jog. This term means simply a protruding card. Turn the top card face up so that it can be followed easily. Begin the shuffle as usual by lifting the lower portion with the right hand, but at once draw that hand inwards a little toward the body so that when the first card is drawn off by the thumb it will protrude slightly over the left little finger (Fig. 2). Move the right hand back to its original position and shuffle off‚ the remaining cards. With the right thumb and second finger seize all the cards under the protruding card and throw them on the top of the pack, the action passing for a casual cut. The faced card will again be on the top. Naturally, several cards can be retained on the top in the same way.
(6) The break. This is the technical term for a separation between two portions of the deck secretly held at the inner end. Jog one card, as in the preceding paragraph, then, instead of making a final cut, seize about three-quarters of the deck with the right hand for another shuffle and press the right thumb slightly upwards against the protruding end of the jogged card. Squeeze the ends of the cards rather tightly and it will be found that a break will be formed below the jogged card. Shuffle off all the cards until the break is reached and throw the rest on top (Fig. 3).
The jog and the break are two of the strongest weapons of the card magician. They are not difficult and rapid execution is not at all necessary, rather smoothness and regularity in the action.
(7) Partial shuffle, controlling several cards. We will suppose that you have several cards on the top of the pack which are to be kept under control secretly and returned to the top while making an apparently fair shuffle. Call this packet A. Turn the top card so that you can follow the action. Seize the lower portion of the pack between the right thumb and second finger only, leaving the third finger free, and lift about three-quarters of the deck. Call this part B.
Bring B down in front of A; drop a packet (C) from the top of B; at the same moment press the tip of the right third finger against the outer end of A, pushing its inner end against the inside of the right thumb. A is thus held firmly between the third finger and the thumb, with a break between it and B (Fig. 4).
Shuffle off the remaining cards of on top of C, and when the break is reached throw A on top of the pack as the last move in the shuffle. Note that this sleight accomplishes the same result as the jog and the break in the preceding paragraphs but with one shuffle only.
(8), To retain control of a card which has been drawn from the pack by a spectator, noted by him, and replaced in the pack. Invite a spectator to draw a card from the deck and note what it is. Begin an overhand shuffle by drawing off three or four small packets into the left hand; have the chosen card placed on top of them and shuffle off the remaining cards in the right hand on top of it—at least that is what your appear to do. In reality, when you bring the right-hand packet down on the chosen card, merely slide the left thumb down over it but do not draw off any cards. Then tilt the left-hand packet onto the left thumb, drop a packet from the right hand on it, tilt the left-hand packet back onto the fingers, repeat the sliding of the left thumb without drawing off any cards, then tilt the packet onto the fingers and drop a packet from the right hand. Repeat the same movements until the cards in the right hand are exhausted. The chosen card is then on the top of the deck to be dealt with as may be necessary for the trick in hand.
Smoothly done, the action of the left thumb creates a perfect illusion.
An alternative method is to have the drawn card returned on top of the first packets shuffled into the left hand, run two cards on top of it, jog the next card, and shuffle off the remaining cards freely. Make a break at the jogged card, shuffle to the break, and throw the rest on top.
(9) To retain the whole deck in a set order. Begin the shuffle by lifting the lower half of the deck with the right hand, run five cards from the right-hand portion onto the left-hand packet; then throw the remainder of the right-hand packet a little forwards so that it overlaps the lower portion by about half an inch, the protruding part resting on the top joint of the left forefinger. Seize the lower portion between the right thumb and second finger, run five cards, and throw the rest on top. The action is very simple: the first shuffle reverses the order of five cards; the second shuffle brings them back to their original order; the remaining cards are not disturbed, but the illusion of a real shuffle is perfect.
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