Читать книгу Expert Card Technique - Jean Hugard - Страница 56

Up to the present time there have been only three methods of palming the bottom card of any value to card manipulators, the Erdnase, Hofzinser and Hugard methods. That to be described here for the first time is new in conception and entirely practical, and, for some purposes, particularly those of the poker genre, is of greater utility than those just mentioned. It is very fast, easy and deceptive, and it can be made with one or a score of cards; it can be used for legitimate palming purposes or as a color change. The method follows the explanation hereunder:

1. Hold the pack in the left hand, the first finger curled at the face, the other fingers at the right side and the thumb extended flat against the left side of the pack. Insert the left little finger above the cards to be palmed from the bottom by the right hand.

2. Place the right second, third and fourth fingers at the outer end, the thumb at the inner end, the first finger being curled at the top of the pack exposing as much of its surface as possible. Rest the left little finger tip at the bottom of the pack at the end, on the curved outer right corner, and press the tip of the right thumb into the break at the inner end, retaining it.

3. Move the left little finger, pressing its side against the edge of the packet to be palmed at the inner end, near the right corner.

4. Swing the little finger to the right, carrying the inner end of the packet with it, the outer end pivoting on the tip of the right little finger at the outer right corner. This action causes the packet to project diagonally, Fig. 1.

5. Remove the right thumb from the inner end and lower the right wrist until the inner left corner of the packet to be palmed presses against the inner surface of the right thumb at its root, the pack being supported by the curled left first finger pressing up against its face.

Lift the left thumb and place it slantwise across the left outer corner of the deck, thus gripping it between the thumb and the side of the first finger, the right fingers supporting the pack meanwhile. Grip the packet between the tip of the right little finger at the outer right corner and the root of the right thumb at the inner left corner. Exert an inward pressure with the thumb and finger as the left hand withdraws the pack to the left, the right thumb moving inwards as though to touch the tip of the second finger and thus curving the packet up into the right hand where it is palmed.

Note particularly that the right hand must remain stationary as the left hand carries the pack away, otherwise the illusion is destroyed.

If it is desired to palm cards from the bottom into the left hand, the procedure is simply reversed: The right hand grips the pack as for dealing and the left hand covers it.

Delaying the Braue Bottom Palm. The series of actions from No. 1 to 4 having been made, an extremely effective use of the palm is the following:

1. Grasp the diagonally jogged packet between the tip of the right forefinger and the base of the palm, extending the thumb straight along the inner end of the pack. The packet is now to all intents and purposes already palmed, for if the pack is removed not another action need be made to bring the cards up against the right palm. Figure 2 shows the right hand, seen from below, with the pack and packet in the correct positions. The right first finger is curled tightly at the top, its nail pressing upon the back of the top card, exposing as much of its surface as possible. The deck is held in a vertical position.

2. Transfer it to the left hand, grasping it at the left side. A moment before the pack is removed to the left the right first finger straightens and the palmed packet is perfectly concealed, the right hand remaining motionless as the left hand moves away.

To the onlookers, the pack is transferred to the right hand, which holds it naturally as the left hand is used for any purpose, such as moving cards previously tabled, or tugging at the right sleeve, or gesturing. The cards are taken from the right hand and, the packet having long since been effectively gripped in the right hand, it seemingly is impossible for a palm to be effected. The impression created here is that the two hands are not together long enough to permit sleight of hand.