Royal Road to Card Magic The

the upper packet, and pick up a card or several cards, holding a break (figure 109). Immediately draw the left hand outwards, drawing off a few cards from the top of the upper packet and letting them fall on the cards which remain in the left hand.

    The right hand thus retains its own cards
and a few of the top cards of the left-hand packet
, the topmost of which is the chosen card. These are separated from those above by a small break held by the right thumb. The outer ends and the right sides of both packets are flush and the pack presents an ordinary appearance.
    4. Continue the shuffle in the regular way until the cards above the break have been shuffled into the left hand, then drop those remaining in the right hand on top of all, thus bringing the chosen card to the top.
    There should be no hesitation in securing the card from the top of the left-hand packet in step 3 above, since it does not matter whether one, two, three or even more cards are picked up by the thumb.
    Several Cards This procedure is much the same as that used to control a single card.
    1. Let us say that three cards have been drawn and noted by three people. Begin the Hindu shuffle by drawing off several packets into the left hand. Extend the hand and have one of the cards replaced on them.
    2. Continue the shuffle as described in step 3 of the single card control, picking up the chosen card and one or two more in the first action of the shuffle, and approach the second person, who holds the second card. Draw off several packets into the left hand. In the next moment, however, do not draw off any cards from the top, but instead let all the cards below the break drop on to those held by the left hand, which you immediately move outwards towards the spectator.
    3. Have him place his card on top of those you hold in your left hand, thus placing his card above the first man's card.
    4. Repeat this procedure exactly, that is, begin the Hindu shuffle, picking up a few of the cards at the top of those held in the left hand between the right thumb and second finger, holding a break with the thumb. Draw off several packets from the top with the left hand as you approach the third person, and when you reach him let the cards above the break fall on those in the left hand, without drawing any from the top with the left fingers. The third card is thus placed above the second.
    5. Finally, continue the shuffle by drawing off a packet from the top with the left fingers and at the same time grasping between the right thumb and second finger a few of the top cards of those in the left hand, holding a break above them with the thumb as before.
    6. Continue the shuffle until all the cards above the thumb break have fallen into the left hand. Drop those that remain on the cards in the left hand. The three chosen cards will be at the top of the pack, but in reverse order to their replacement, that is, the first man's card will be the third from the top.
    By using the Hindu shuffle to control a number of cards you save time, an important item, and you also convince those present that the cards are really scattered throughout the pack. This is important, because, and we must reiterate that, unless you have convinced everyone that the cards really are lost, the most brilliant subsequent discovery will not be impressive.
    Hindu Shuffle Force
    As we have seen, forcing a card is making a spectator draw the card you want him to take and at the same time convincing him that he has had a free choice. The Hindu shuffle enables you to make a most convincing force.
    1. Place the card to be forced at the top of the pack.
    2. Begin a Hindu shuffle by drawing a packet from the top into the left hand in the normal way. In drawing off the second packet, grasp in the usual way a few of the top cards of those now in the left hand by gripping them between the right thumb and second finger, holding a thumb break.
    3. Continue the shuffle as usual by drawing off small packets from the top. Invite a spectator to stop the shuffle whenever he pleases. When he says 'Stop' bring the outer end of the right-hand packet against the left forefinger, flush with the outer end of the packet in the left hand, saying, 'Right here.' Drop the cards below the break on to those in the left hand. Extend this hand and ask the spectator to remove the card at the top.
    This force is completely deceptive. It may be used to force several cards if these are placed at the top of the pack.
    Hindu Shuffle