Shuffling Techniques
False Shuffle
A false shuffle at the right time can change a so-so card trick to a miracle. The type of shuffle depends on how much of the deck you're trying to "protect." For example, if somebody chooses a card and you secretly get it to the top of the deck, you probably want to protect the top card's position when you shuffle. For this, you can use an ordinary riffle shuffle. Just remember which hand is holding the cards from the upper half of the deck, and be careful not to release the last of these until all the cards in your other hand have fallen. Obviously you can use the same method to protect a card at the bottom.
When you need to protect a larger number of cards at the top, the overhand
shuffle is easier to use. Here's one method: Hold the deck in the usual overhand
position (right fingers at the outer end, right thumb at the inner end, cards
facing to the right). With your left thumb, pull off a bunch of cards that
includes those you want to protect. Lift your right hand and bring it down to
the left of the cards in your left hand. Pull off another bunch with your left
thumb, and simultaneously grab the first bunch of cards between your right ring
(third) finger at the outer end and the base of your right thumb at the inner
end. Keep this grip as you lift your right hand for the next pass. You are now
holding two bunches in your right hand--one between your second finger and your
thumb, the other between your third finger and your thumb.
Shuffle off the cards in the bunch between your second finger and your
thumb. Drop the remaining cards onto those in your left hand. That's it. Do it a
couple of times. It's easy.
If you use a stacked deck, you need a shuffle that protects the order of the stack. But with many stacks, it doesn't hurt to cut the deck. For example, if thirteen cards are stacked A,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10,J,Q,K, you can cut them as many times as you like and each card will still be 1 higher than the one to its left, with the understanding that A is 1 higher than K.
Here's a shuffle that merely cuts the deck: Hold the cards in your left hand. With your left thumb, push a batch of cards from the top into your right hand. *With your left fingers (not your thumb), push some cards from the bottom of the left cards to the top of the right cards. With your left thumb, push some cards from the top of the left cards to the bottom of the right cards. Repeat from *, moving cards from left top to right bottom and left bottom to right top until the whole deck is in your right hand. If you mention what you're doing (it's probably better not to), don't call it a "shuffle." Call it "mixing" the cards.
Here's another shuffle that does the same thing: It starts off like one of those described above. Hold the deck in the overhand position. With your left thumb, pull off a bunch of cards. Lift your right hand and bring it down to the left of the cards in your left hand. Pull off another bunch with your left thumb, and simultaneously grab the first bunch of cards between your right ring (third) finger at the outer end and the base of your right thumb at the inner end, and lift your right hand for the next pass. Your right hand is now holding one bunch of cards between your second finger and your thumb, and another between your third finger and your thumb. Drop the entire right bunch from your right hand onto the left side of the cards in your left hand. Lift your right hand and bring it down to the right of the cards in your left hand.
With your left thumb, pull off some of the cards in your right hand onto the right side of the cards in your left hand. Finally, lift your right hand and drop its remaining cards to the left of the cards in your left hand.
The last paragraph above describes the action that "cuts" the cards. If instead, you drop all the remaining cards onto the right side of the cards in your left hand, the deck will be in exactly its original order. This shuffle looks a bit skimpy. To pad it out, you can pull a few cards off the right bunch onto the right side of the cards in your left hand. Then bring your right hand over to the left and down, put your left thumb on it, and pretend to pull off some cards. Instead, just let your thumb slide over the cards. Lift the bunch over to the right and pull off a few more onto the right side. Repeat this until you've put all the cards on the right side.
Here's one more overhand shuffle that protects the entire order: With your left thumb, pull off about half the deck and then pull off 6 cards one at a time. Drop the rest of the cards to the left of those in your left hand, but "injog" them about an inch. That is, move your right hand about an inch toward you before dropping the cards so that there's a clearcut "step" between the two halves. Pick up all the cards to the right of the step, pull off 6 cards one at a time, and drop the rest of the cards to the left of those in your left hand.
The Faro Shuffle
The faro, also known as the weave shuffle is a technique that perfectly interlaces the cards. It is not a false shuffle, but properly speaking a controlled shuffle. An out faro is one which retains the top and bottom cards after the shuffle..an in faro keeps changing the top and bottom cards. If 8 perfect out faros are perfomed, the deck will return to the original order it was in before the shuffles were performed. The shuffle can be made in the hands, or on the table which gives it the appearance of a tabled riffle shuffle. The in the hands method is, by far, the easier of the two and I will describe the method that I use.
Square the sides and ends of the pack as evenly as possible with both hands. The
left thumb and second finger press on the sides of the deck to square while the
right thumb and second finger press on the ends of the pack to square them. The
forefingers of each hand are curled on top and bottom of the deck respectively.
The pack is turned on its side so that the left side now faces the performer.
The right hand releases its grip while the left fingers assume the following
position: At the front end of deck the tip of the left forefinger is placed. The
ball of left thumb is slightly above center of deck on the left side. The left
second, third and fourth fingers are on the right side of deck with the right
side of deck pressing against the first creases of the left second and third
fingers while the left fourth finger has its full tip pressing against the side.
The right hand comes over to cut or break the pack. The left fourth finger moves
out of the way so that the side of right second finger comes in contact against
the left third finger. The right forefinger is curled on top. While the right
second, third and fourth fingers press on the under side of the pack, theright
thumb comes over, close to the left thumb and slightly below center, to break
the pack exactly at 26.
Having split the deck, place the two halves against each other at the corners
only. Both hands move slightly inwards towards the body causing the packets to
assume a slightly angular position.
The grip of both hands must be firm to prevent any slipping of the cards in
either packet. Also, the right forefinger presses down rather firmly on top of
its packet causing a slight bow. The corner of the right hand packet is pressed
firmly upwards against the corner of the left hand packet. At the same time, the
right hand is moved sharply, but slightly, inwards for about a quarter of an
inch. This upward and inward action causes the cards to start weaving.
The right hand, still maintaining its upward pressure, moves its packet forward,
easily, to its original position. This forward movement of the right hand packet
causes the weave to complete itself. With practise, this upward and inward
action of the packets will become very slight, almost unnoticeable.
Push the packets together and square.
Rifle Shuffle
The deck is divided into two packets, the ends put together, the cards
being bent upwards and released in such a way that they become interlaced. To
retain a card or a small packet of cards on the top, you have simply to release
it or them from the right hand portion last of all. If the bottom cards are to
be retained then they are let fall from the left hand in the first movement of
the shuffle
Greek Shuffle
Here we go: Control the card you want to force to the top of the deck.
Undercut about a quarter of the pack and throw it on top holding a break above
the force card. Turn over the top card and give it to the spectator instructing
him to partially insert it face up somewhere in the middle of the deck. Make
sure it goes below the break. Take the deck in the Biddle Grip in your right
hand transferring the break to your right thumb. Push the cards below the
face-up card backwards with your left index finger while taking the deck in your
right hand. Push the section above the break a bit forward with your right hand
and grab the face up card and the section above the break at the short end of
the deck between your right thumb and index finger and lift it up to show the
face-up card at the bottom of this section. Now you have apparently cut the deck
at the face-up card, when you've actually cut it at the break
