Royal Road to Card Magic The

the regular way. 'Did you notice anything unusual with the deal?' you enquire. 'Of course not. Yet I dealt myself the four kings. Look!' Pick up your hand and, holding it well squared, turn it face upwards, showing a king at its face. 'The four kings!' Remove the top card, exposing an ace. 'Ah, something's gone wrong!' you exclaim disgustedly. Pause for a second, then brighten, saying, 'Oh, well! I imagine that four aces are good enough!'
    Spread the other four cards you hold showing that they are the aces.

CHAPTER 10

False Shuffles and Cuts

    Optical Shuffle
    We have already studied one overhand shuffle by means of which the whole pack is kept in a prearranged order while apparently becoming well mixed. The same effect is obtained with the optical shuffle, so called because for deceptiveness it depends upon an optical illusion.
    1. Begin an overhand shuffle by undercutting about two-thirds of the deck.
    2. Bring the right-hand packet down in front of the packet remaining in the left hand, its lower side striking against the left palm. Raise the left thumb in the usual action of drawing off cards from the right-hand packet, but do not actually remove any; simply slide the thumb over the back of the uppermost card as the right hand lifts its packet away intact.
    3. Tilt the left-hand packet back against the left thumb with the left fingers. Drop a packet from the top of those held by the right hand against the face of the left-hand packet.
    4. Let the cards in the left hand fall forwards on to the left fingers and repeat the action in step 2.
    5. Repeat step 3 and continue until the cards in the right hand are exhausted.
    At first thought this pretence of removing cards with the left thumb appears to be too audacious, but when it is smoothly done the illusion is perfect, as a few trials before a mirror will show.
    Charlier Shuffle
    This shuffle is also called the 'haymow' shuffle. It is unique among card sleights in that neatness of execution is not required; in fact, it is most effective when done rather clumsily. Although expert card handlers affect to disdain it for that reason, the wise operator values it for its effect on laymen, to whom it is the most convincing false shuffle around. The shuffle, though apparently thoroughly mixing the cards, really leaves them in the same condition that a simple complete cut would do.
    1. Hold the pack face downwards in the left hand, as for dealing. Push off a small packet, some five or six cards, with the left thumb and take it in the right hand between the thumb on the back and the fingers on the face (figure 78).

    2. Raise the left hand slightly and with the left fingers push out a small packet from the
bottom
of the deck. Take this packet in the right hand on top of the first packet, by lifting the right thumb and then dropping it on top (figure 79).

    3. Lower the left hand a little, push off another small packet from the top with the left thumb, and take it with the right fingers
underneath
the cards in the right hand (figure 80).

    4. Push out another small packet from the bottom with the left fingers and take it on
top
of the cards in the right hand.
    5. Continue as above until all the cards have been transferred to the right hand.
    As has already been stated, this shuffle leaves the deck in the same condition as it would be after one complete cut. By jogging the first packet from the bottom of the deck - that is, by making it protrude inwards from the packet in the right hand - a break can be formed at the jog at the end of the shuffle, and a single cut will return the pack to its original condition.
    This shuffle is especially useful for keeping a small packet of cards in sequence, for which purpose neither the overhand nor the riffle shuffle is suitable.
    We would emphasise the need for making the shuffle rather slowly and roughly, with great emphasis on the fact that it mixes (do not use the word shuffle) the cards thoroughly.
    The False Cut
    It is the invariable rule in games of cards to have the deck cut after it has been shuffled. How far back the custom arose it is impossible to tell, but it is an exhibition of good faith. The magician must prove his good faith by cutting the cards, which he does - but in such a way as not to disturb the arrangement he has already made. In other words, he uses a false cut. False cuts are made in different ways according to whether the whole deck is to remain in the same order or whether a small packet of cards is to remain