Royal Road to Card Magic The

the middle and ring fingers, pressing the tip of the index finger on the middle of the pack.
    2. Pull the ends of the deck upwards with the thumb and two fingers, at the same time pressing downwards with the index finger.
    3. Place the pack on the table so that only the middle part of the bottom card touches the table surface (figure 31).

    4. Move the cards from left to right swiftly, allowing the ends to slip off the tips of the fingers and thumb, and at the same time maintaining the pressure of the index finger on the back of the top card. The result will be the formation of a perfect and symmetrical ribbon of cards, accompanied by a light riffling sound, which is very effective. The length of this ribbon spread of cards will be governed by the amount of pressure exerted by the index finger.
    Note that in this case the cards are spread sideways, not lengthways. The method may also be used on a cloth-covered table. It is excellent for use when a card is reversed at or near the bottom of the pack. In starting the spread, let half a dozen cards slip off the thumb and fingers before moving the hand, so that these cards will be bunched together and prevent the reversed card from being seen. The onlookers will automatically be convinced that all the cards are face downwards without your commenting on this fact.
    Gathering the Ribbon-Spread Pack
    When the cards have been spread, turned face upwards and face downwards again or ribbon-spread for the selection of a card, the whole pack can gathered with a rapid sweep of the right hand. To do this, slip the fingers of the right hand under the lowermost card at the extreme end of the line and slide it under all the others, following the line of the pack. The cards are all brought into the hand, the thumb falling on the last card.
    The action can be made as rapidly as you wish with perfect safety.
    Springing the Cards
    This is a favourite flourish with card conjurors and when well done the effect is brilliant. With the hands held apart the cards are made to leap from one hand to the other.
    1. Hold the pack in the right hand, by the ends, between the thumb and the middle and ring fingers.
    2. Bend the cards by squeezing on the ends, so that the convex side of the pack is towards the inside of the hand. They will then naturally tend to spring from the fingers.
    3. Place the left hand about 15 cm (6 in) away from the right hand, in position to catch the cards; continuing the pressure on the pack, allow the cards to escape, one by one, and catch them in the left hand (figure 32).

    The distance between the hands can be increased with practice, and the flourish should be accompanied by a swing of the body towards the left, so that the hands describe the arc of a circle. The right hand should follow the last card and be brought against the cards in the left hand with a loud smack.
    A Flourish Count
    This is a striking method of counting a small packet of cards.
    1. Hold the packet vertically in the left hand between the crotch of the thumb and the outermost joint of the middle finger.
    2. Push the top card to the right with the tip of the left thumb, pivoting it on the middle finger at the middle phalanx, until it projects at right angles from the packet (figure 33).

    3. Remove this card and repeat for each remaining card.
    Throwing a Card
    It is often necessary to throw a card or cards out to the audience. When this is done with neatness and precision it creates a marked impression of the performer's dexterity. The flourish depends on a little knack by means of which the card is made to revolve rapidly in its own plane.
    1. Hold the card in your right hand, near the outer end, between the forefinger and the middle finger (figure 34).

    2. Draw the hand back near the left breast, bending the wrist inwards. Extend the arm rapidly, letting the card go but at the same moment giving it a spinning motion by a sharp backwards jerk of the hand. It is this spinning motion in the card's own plane that carries the card to a distance; otherwise the resistance of the air would cause it to fall at your feet.
    When throwing cards to an audience, slant them upwards so that, their velocity expended, they flutter down on the spectators.
    By starting the throw at an upward angle of about 45 degrees and throwing the card only a couple of yards, the card can be made to return to your hand so that you can catch it with the tips of the fingers. This very pretty effect, known as the boomerang card, is