Getting Comfortable With Cards

Starting from a solid foundation, looking at fundamental card handling skills. Nothing tricky yet, but future skills build upon these basics.

This lesson is focused on building a strong foundation and getting comfortable with the basics of handling a deck of cards. There is no trickery or deception in these moves. However, you need to make sure you're doing the legit move properly before you can start to cheat. I wanted to make sure this course is useful even if it's your first time picking up a deck of cards.

Lesson 1-A Get A Grip

In this video: Dealer Grip, Mechanic Grip, Bridge vs Poker Size, Tension and Relaxation.

Don't take this for granted. I've seen magicians struggling to tackle a more advanced move because their basic mechanic's grip was incorrect.

Missed detail: When dealing cards it's the second and third fingertips, peeking over the edge of the deck, which allow a single card to pass over, while preventing the second card from sliding along with it.

LESSON 1-B Cutting Cards

In This VIdeo: Table Cut, Undercut, Kick Cut, and Estimation

LESSON 1-C Riffles

In This Video: Front and back riffle, Thumb riffle, Dribble (drop), and Springing Cards

LESSON 1-D Spread 'Em

In This Video: Hand to hand spread, Table spread, Pressure Fan, Thumb Fan.

Errata: In the video I repeatedly say "Spread Fan" for what is more commonly called a "One-Handed Fan".

LESSON 1-E Shuffles

In This Video: Overhand, Riffle, Weave, and Hindu Shuffles

If you want to master the perfect shuffle, I suggest Michael Close's Learn the Faro Shuffle Ebook available direct from his website.

TRICK Mephisto Prediction

by Charles Jordan

This effect puts our basic card handling skills to work, but nothing further.

While it's important to know and understand the complete workings of this effect, you may want to skip to 17:22 for a quick method overview before digging in to the details.

Reference: This trick is published in Annemann's Miracles of Card Magic (1948), called "Mephisto Prediction" credited to Charles Jordan.

Alternate handling: If you don't like the descrepency in counting 11 + 1 cards, you can also choose to displace three cards rather than two as the joker is removed.

52 Card Dealing Rhyme

A silly little rhyme you can say next time you need to deal through 52 (or 53) cards.

31.77 KB Download pdf

Next time on Casual Card Magic...

We're going to start getting sneaky with some Card Control, which means secretly moving, or maintaining the position of, known cards in order to stay one step ahead of the randomness.

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Table of Contents for Casual Card Magic

Casual Card Magic In this course Ryan digs into a collection of sleight-of-hand card techniques suited for a casual, relaxed performance.
Getting Comfortable With Cards Starting from a solid foundation, looking at fundamental card handling skills. Nothing tricky yet, but future skills build upon these basics.
Relaxed Card Control A collection of techniques to gain, and keep control of a "lost" card with an emphasis on diffusing suspicion.
Efficient Card Controls Learn three sleights that have only one job to do, and do them very well. Quickly gain control of a chosen card with no extra moves, cuts, or shuffles.
Spread Work Two techniques from the spread to get an advantage, plus four new and old tricks to apply these techniques
False Shuffles And Cuts A variety of ways to mix up a deck of cards, while accomplishing nothing.
Key And Locator Cards Different approaches and applications for key cards and locator cards including the Quadruple Threat for the ultimate is casual control.
Use The Force A variety of techniques to get the result you require, including a discussion of matching the method to the moment.
The Elmsley Count An in-depth tutorial to get you doing a smooth count, plus two great tricks to put it into action.
Double Lifts A fundamental move of card magic, which ought to look like nothing at all.
Palming Cards Tackle your fear of this bold move with a pep talk, and a few great reasons to make it worth the trouble.
Top Change This one is more about the misdirection than the move, and this lesson includes two routines to put it into context.
Card Folding The Mercury Card Fold is responsible for many of the strongest, most impossible card act closer tricks.
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