Royal Road to Card Magic The

the basis of several fine tricks with cards.
    Waterfall Shuffle
    This is a flourish applied to the riffle shuffle. It has come into common use among card players and its use by the card conjuror is therefore entirely justified.
    1. Proceed exactly as described for the riffle shuffle, interlacing the ends of the two packets for about 12 mm (½ in).
    2. Place the thumbs on the back of the packets at the point of junction and slide the middle, ring and little fingers under the outer ends of the packets, at the same time moving the hands towards each other and bending the packets (figure 35).

    3. Raise the hands and the pack about breast high, maintaining the pressure of the thumbs and fingers; then, by slightly relaxing the pressure of the hands on the outer ends of the cards and at the same time continuing the downward pressure of the thumbs, allow the cards to fall from the bottom separately on to the fingers of both hands held together (figure 36).

    In making the preliminary shuffle the cards should be allowed to fall as nearly as possible in regular rotation, a card from one hand falling on a card from the other. The cards should be interlaced just sufficiently to be held in position by the thumbs, for the higher the arch that is formed the longer and more effective the fall of the separate cards becomes.
    The Fan
    This useful method of displaying cards also makes possible a very fine card control and force.
    1. Hold the pack in the right hand at the inner end, between the index and middle fingers at the face and the thumb at the top, all the fingers parallel to the inner end.

    2. Place the left hand at the outer end in the same position, the fingers below and the thumb above and parallel to the end (figure 37). Spread the cards in an arc with the right thumb as the left fingers draw the cards to the left, the bottom cards being the last to be fanned. Straighten the right fingers so that the cards will pass over them as they are fanned. The completed fan appears as in figure 38.

    One-hand Fan
    This surprising flourish is particularly effective, the cards spreading into a wide fan in a flash. It may be performed with either hand.
    1. Hold the pack vertically in the right hand, between the middle phalanxes of the middle and ring fingers at one end and the thumb at the other. Rest the index and little fingers lightly at the side (figure 39).

    2. Hold the pack upright by a pressure of the fingers at the sides and remove the thumb, placing its tip at the middle of the back.
    3. Remove the index and little fingers, grasping the pack between the tips of the ring and middle fingers at the face and the thumb at the back.
    4. Spread the cards in a fan by an opposite pressure of the thumb and fingers very similar to that used in snapping the fingers. When the cards are completely fanned they are grasped by the index finger only, at the face, with the fan resting along the palm and the length of the thumb at the back.
    A reverse action closes the fan, bringing it to its original position.
    The knack of making the one-hand fan is not easily acquired, but as with all things, practice makes perfect.
    Thumb Fan
    This graceful flourish should be performed with cards in good condition. It is not only pretty to see, but also makes possible a version of the famous diminishing cards trick.
    1. Hold the pack at one end between the left thumb, above, and the index finger, below.
    2. Place the right hand over the pack and press the tip of the thumb firmly against the left side near the outer corner.
    3. Sweep the thumb in a circle to the right, drawing the top cards with it and spreading those below them in a fan. The thumb exerts a diminishing pressure, as it sweeps to the right, which is quickly learned.
    A small fan is formed by placing the tip of the left thumb at the inner right corner in grasping the pack. A larger fan is made by placing the thumb at the inner left corner. To make a rosette, place the thumb at the centre of the pack.
    By securing one of the modern, colourful bridge packs, many pleasing patterns can be formed by fanning the cards by this method and by grasping the pack at the four corners - in which case, when the outer corners are grasped, the fan is made in reverse, that is, by moving the thumb from right to left.
    Pressure Fan
    This modern two-handed method of making a fan ensures an absolutely symmetrical fan.
    1. Hold the pack at the ends between the right thumb and the middle and ring fingers, the first