Expert Card Technique. Jean Hugard
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Название: Expert Card Technique

Автор: Jean Hugard

Издательство: Ingram

Жанр: Кинематограф, театр

Серия:

isbn: 9781420971668

isbn:

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      As Mr. Ireland has pointed out, all hands differ but, once the principle of the grip is understood, experiment will give the exact points of the first finger tip and the, heel of the hand at which the grip is made.

      Once this exact position has been found, we would suggest that these points be marked in ink upon the flesh at the heel of the hand, the side of the palm nearest the thumb and the tip of the first finger. An hour or two devoted to placing the pack in the proper position will then make the procedure automatic and it will become second nature.

      b. The Right Hand

      The action of the right hand in taking the bottom card in lieu of the top card has never been fully described. It is most important.

      1. Curl the right third and fourth fingers against the palm and retain them in this position throughout.

      2. Hold the right first and second fingers rigidly together. During the subsequent actions these fingers must hold this position and must act as a unit. Any movement is from the innermost joints, they are never bent at the outer joints.

      c. The Deal

      1. Push off the top card with the left thumb.

      2. Bring up the right hand and place the first and second fingers, always acting as a unit, under the left forefinger so that this finger rests in the groove formed by the juncture of the right first and second fingers, Fig. 3. The tip of the left first finger rests at the outer joint of the right first finger; the right second finger is in the gap between the left first and second fingers. The flat surface of the right fingers is always parallel to the surface of the pack.

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      If this position is taken correctly, the flat first phalange of the right second finger presses lightly against the face of the bottom card at the right outer index, and the right thumb on the outer right corner of the top card which projects diagonally off the pack some three-fourths of an inch.

      3. Draw the right hand to the right, simultaneously snapping the first joint of the second finger inwards, taking the bottom card with it. This card is then grasped between the right second finger and thumb, the right first finger still being held rigidly against the second finger, Fig. 4. In this figure the top card is being drawn back onto the pack by the left thumb as the bottom card is removed. The pack is shown face upwards for clarity.

      This snapping action of the right second finger can be likened to the schoolboy’s action of snapping his fingers to attract the teacher’s attention; it is a quick sideways action of both right fingers with the bottom card playing the part of the thumb. This card is whipped out to the tips of the right fingers, passing over the left second, third and fourth fingers.

      Up to the moment when the deal is begun these three left fingers have been curled gently at the right side of the pack; once the deal is started they are extended rigidly, the fingers being straight from the palm to the tips, Fig. 5. As the bottom card is withdrawn to the right, they drop as a unit a fraction of an inch to allow its passage; this movement is negligible and passes unnoticed if the fingers are held rigidly straight. If the fingers are not straight this dip becomes very noticeable; some work is required to get the knack of the flat fingers but it quickly becomes automatic.

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      4. The bottom card is dropped on the table to the right as, simultaneously, the left thumb draws the top card back squarely onto the pack. Some operators make the deal without any movement of the top card, the movement of the hands in dealing being considered sufficient cover for the sleight. Others, again, move the thumb to the right and back without disturbing the top card.

      The reason for holding the right first and second fingers tightly together becomes apparent as soon as the procedure is followed; the forefinger masks the placing of the second finger at the bottom of the deck and, furthermore, makes the deal more natural in appearance. This latter point also applies to the curling of the right third and fourth fingers tightly against the palm.

      A covering movement is made with the left wrist by some card conjurers, upwards to the right as the hand approaches to take a card, downwards as the card is taken, while others move both hands together as the card is taken, apart as the card is dealt. The object in each case is to conceal the movement of the left thumb in drawing back the top card.

      Another method is to draw the right hand away with a long stroke instead of drawing back the left hand with the pack. Still another is that wherein the left hand, holding the pack, always follows the right hand, the deal apparently being made slowly. Each expert has evolved his own particular method of covering the action but the method explained above will be found easy to acquire and completely satisfactory.

      THE MIDDLE DEAL

      Here is a will-o’-the-wisp that has had the super card experts agog for years. The first rumors of such a sleight being in existence naturally came from the gaming table. Certain top-notch gamblers were said to be using the swindle and, quite naturally, keeping the details a closely guarded secret. In spite of this, or rather because of this, several methods have been worked out for performing the sleight but it is problematical if these duplicate those used by the very few gamblers who are skilful enough to use the middle deal in actual play.

      The first question that the reader will probably ask is—what is the use of the middle deal? To the gambler it is almost an indispensable accomplishment for this reason: The easiest place to set any desired cards in a game is at the bottom of the deck from whence the expert dealer can secure them at will. The trouble is that after the cards have been placed in this position the pack is cut and, when the cut is completed honestly, the desired cards are lost in the middle. In a loose game the gambler can overcome this inconvenience by simply picking up the lower portion and dealing directly from it. This would never pass in fast company, therefore the cut is completed in regular fashion and the gambler falls back on the middle deal to secure the desired cards.

      On the other hand the sleight is of little use to the conjurer in the performance of tricks with cards with the one exception of the exhibition of an exposé of gamblers’ methods. It is for the individual performer, therefore, to decide whether it is worth his while to devote the hours of practice necessary to master this sleight merely for this one display.

      We give several methods of working the sleight, the first being one that is actually in use by the less skilful gamblers who work their wiles in the less sophisticated circles. Here are the moves:

      a. 1. Hold the pack as for the regular deal, with the four left fingers at the right side of the pack, flush with the top card. The third finger holds the break after the cut has been completed. Push the top card off with the left thumb keeping its sides parallel with those of the pack at the end of this push-off.

      2. Move the tip of the second finger inwards until it presses against the right side of the card above the break. This action is concealed by the card pushed half-way off the deck. Insert only the tip of the second finger and let it touch only enough of the card above the break to give it a purchase.

      3. Push upwards and outwards towards the right with the second finger tip. At the same moment draw the top card back with the left thumb, Fig. 1. These two actions coincide, the second finger СКАЧАТЬ