Don't discard the Jokers when you buy a new deck...
Using a smooth glue - like Elmers white glue - glue the two Jokers face to face.
When applying the glue, smooth it out with your finger, or a cloth, so the gaffed card will not appear "lumpy".
Put it under a heavy book for twenty four hours or so to dry..
Now, you have a nice double-backed card to use in any trick requiring a double-backed card !
Using a smooth glue - like Elmers white glue - glue the two Jokers face to face.
When applying the glue, smooth it out with your finger, or a cloth, so the gaffed card will not appear "lumpy".
Put it under a heavy book for twenty four hours or so to dry..
Now, you have a nice double-backed card to use in any trick requiring a double-backed card !
When I use the term "mechanics grip", it simply refers to holding the deck in the palm of your hand with your thumb resting along one side of the deck, your forefinger on the top edge of the deck, and the rest of your fingers along the other side of the deck from your thumb.
If you were to drop the deck from one hand into the palm of the other hand... it would probably land in the "mechanics position".
This is the most basic of grips... don't be confused by the name.
If you were to drop the deck from one hand into the palm of the other hand... it would probably land in the "mechanics position".
This is the most basic of grips... don't be confused by the name.
Holding a deck in the mechanics position - put the tip of all four fingers on your other hand on the far top edge of the top card.
Push the top card forward slightly and press down on the extended edge. This causes the back of the card to spring up into your palm.
You can now move your hand and carry the top card away - snuggled in the "palm" of your hand...
Push the top card forward slightly and press down on the extended edge. This causes the back of the card to spring up into your palm.
You can now move your hand and carry the top card away - snuggled in the "palm" of your hand...
To quote from the brilliant Encyclopedia of Card Tricks by Jean Hugard, "The danger is that it renders some operations so easy that the beginner especially comes to depend on it entirely."
This is, without a doubt, my very favorite way of 'tracking' a card throughout the deck. This is NOT a new technique... but it is often forgotten by current card masters.
Some folks call this the 'short card', and that name fits as good as any.
Take a pair of sissors and cut the top edge off ONE card. Cut very, very little... about as small amount as you can humanly cut, and round the edges slightly so you don't have two sharp points.
Select a card to cut that is either the three, four, five, six, or seven of clubs or spades.
Once done, place this card on the bottom of the deck and you are ready to perform some truly amazing magic! You will be limited only by your imagination...
Example: With your short card on the bottom, fan the deck and have someone select any card, look at it, and put it back on top of the deck. Visibly cut the deck. ( of course.. cutting the deck placed the short card directly above the chosen card, and cutting doesn't change this position.)
After cutting the deck, and assuming you are right-handed, hold the deck upright.. almost as if you were showing someone the bottom card... and riffle the top edge with your left hand. Not only will you 'hear' a small click when you pass over the short card, but you will feel it as well. Also, the deck will want to 'break' at this point.
Actually, when I perform this move, I either cut short of, or pass over the short card and then cut, three or four times, so the audience will get the impression that this 'end riffle cut' is just the way I cut cards... If you go straight to the short card the audience will be left with the impression that you did some kind of 'funny move' just before the reveal.
Just riffle and cut, riffle and cut, and watch your audience, NOT the cards.
When you're ready to perform your magic, riffle and cut the deck at the short card. Putting the top half under the bottom moves the short card to the very bottom of the deck.. and the chosen card to the very top....
Once you have the chosen card on top of the deck, you can do practically ANYTHING you want to do. Getting the card to the top is the beginning of many great tricks.
This is, without a doubt, my very favorite way of 'tracking' a card throughout the deck. This is NOT a new technique... but it is often forgotten by current card masters.
Some folks call this the 'short card', and that name fits as good as any.
Take a pair of sissors and cut the top edge off ONE card. Cut very, very little... about as small amount as you can humanly cut, and round the edges slightly so you don't have two sharp points.
Select a card to cut that is either the three, four, five, six, or seven of clubs or spades.
Once done, place this card on the bottom of the deck and you are ready to perform some truly amazing magic! You will be limited only by your imagination...
Example: With your short card on the bottom, fan the deck and have someone select any card, look at it, and put it back on top of the deck. Visibly cut the deck. ( of course.. cutting the deck placed the short card directly above the chosen card, and cutting doesn't change this position.)
After cutting the deck, and assuming you are right-handed, hold the deck upright.. almost as if you were showing someone the bottom card... and riffle the top edge with your left hand. Not only will you 'hear' a small click when you pass over the short card, but you will feel it as well. Also, the deck will want to 'break' at this point.
Actually, when I perform this move, I either cut short of, or pass over the short card and then cut, three or four times, so the audience will get the impression that this 'end riffle cut' is just the way I cut cards... If you go straight to the short card the audience will be left with the impression that you did some kind of 'funny move' just before the reveal.
Just riffle and cut, riffle and cut, and watch your audience, NOT the cards.
When you're ready to perform your magic, riffle and cut the deck at the short card. Putting the top half under the bottom moves the short card to the very bottom of the deck.. and the chosen card to the very top....
Once you have the chosen card on top of the deck, you can do practically ANYTHING you want to do. Getting the card to the top is the beginning of many great tricks.
Personal Favorite !
The double lift is a critical move in which the top two cards are lifted as one. If you a careful to keep your fingers in contact with three of the sides, the cards will stay together and appear as one..
Bending the cards out slightly will also aide in keeping them together. Once the cards are bent.. you can hold them with your thumb on top and your middle and ring finger on the bottom.
As you show the card, turn your wrist so your thumb is on bottom and then turn it so the thumb is back on top. This turning of the card will make it impossible for your spectator to see the edges. You can't focus properly on a moving object...
Much has been written about the double-lift, and you can perform a Google search for "cards double lift" and find both detailed text and pictures..
Bending the cards out slightly will also aide in keeping them together. Once the cards are bent.. you can hold them with your thumb on top and your middle and ring finger on the bottom.
As you show the card, turn your wrist so your thumb is on bottom and then turn it so the thumb is back on top. This turning of the card will make it impossible for your spectator to see the edges. You can't focus properly on a moving object...
Much has been written about the double-lift, and you can perform a Google search for "cards double lift" and find both detailed text and pictures..
