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Im reading RRTCM right now but theres not enough pictures for the over hand shuffle to see if im doing it right. When i do it it just feels weird and cramped. Is there a web site that shows pictures for basic shuffles?

Are you talking about an overhand shuffle ( standard ), or a false overhand shuffle retaining top or bottom stock or the lift overhand shuffle..?

Normal

You mean a genuine overhand shuffle? Its a very long time since I did a genuine shuffle In fact you know that you have become a real card magician when you have to think whenever you have to make a genuine shuffle.

On the more serious node I would start practing the false shuffles and then try to make the genuine shuffle match your false shuffles.

I agree with soren

Mark Wilson's 'Complete Course In Magic' has better diagrams than the RRTCM and it's a book worth investing in.
Also, if you're studying RRTCM (and have enough cash), it's well worth getting the R Paul Wilson 5 DVD set as everything in the book is shown.
It will help your progress.

Lord Freddie wrote:Mark Wilson's 'Complete Course In Magic' has better diagrams than the RRTCM and it's a book worth investing in.
Also, if you're studying RRTCM (and have enough cash), it's well worth getting the R Paul Wilson 5 DVD set as everything in the book is shown.
It will help your progress.

yea i have it but it also has defintions in the beggining and it says the face of the card is the number and the picture on it. In RRTCM it says to put the pack face down, but it shows a picture on its side. Plus it uses all those words like phanges to describe how you hold it which confuses me even more.

I second the RRTCM DVD set. I'm working on the first DVD which has the overhand shuffle.

The descriptions in RRTCM are somewhat archaic in places and can be hard to follow. The DVD set shows you everything very clearly and it also has one little gem of an effect which is not in the book, Roy Walton's 'Pass At Red' which I love performing.
Definitley a good investment if you are serious about developing your card magic skills.

Lord Freddie wrote:The descriptions in RRTCM are somewhat archaic in places and can be hard to follow. The DVD set shows you everything very clearly and it also has one little gem of an effect which is not in the book, Roy Walton's 'Pass At Red' which I love performing.
Definitley a good investment if you are serious about developing your card magic skills.

I already spent too much money, but I have mark wilsons complete guide and RRTCM. All i need is to learn the basic shuffles without spending more money. So if theres a web site that shows just the shuffles and no tricks thatll be nice.

If you just need a sample video search youtube.

already tried all the good ones are in a different language or the people mumble

I think the key to a correct overhand shuffle is to make sure the cards are face down. Maybe you will also occational drop some of the cards. This tends to give the shuffle a casual look as often demonstarted by Lennart Green. Anyway, accidentially dropping cards is normal when practicing new slights. Just keep on going.....

The key to a good and worth overhand is hand positions, grip, and angles of delivery for the cards.


Here's my technique, which I've acquired over the course of about 15 years, and now just comes naturally:


First, take half a deck and analyse how the RECEIVING hand (the hand you're dealing into) should be holding the cards dealt onto it...

The hand RECEIVING the cards should be gripping them by the long edges using only the pad of the thumb's base and index, middle and ring finger to hold the other side. The pinky is curled upwards to support the lower short end, and the thumb is able to curl over the cards and touch the centre of the top card.

Hold the deck so the PINKY end is slightly lower down toward the floor, and the opposite end is slightly up, to allow gravity to pull the cards towards the pinky.

Hold the cards like this, and now extend the pink and thumb as a test—the cards should stay in place.

The DEALING hand holds the cards by the SHORT edges quite firmly with the pad of the thumb and index, middle and ring finger, almost parallel with the palm. There should be a big gap between the cards and the palm, though!

TO DEAL, place most of the cards in the DEALING hand with the grip mentioned above. Hold about 10 cards in the RECEIVING hand (as practice only, you will obviously start with NO cards when you do the shuffle for real) in the grip as above.

Chop the cards down with the DEALING hand so they hit the RECEIVING HANDS' thumb base at the point it is gripping it's 10 cards. The angle that the cards come down is about 40° off from how the cards already in the hand, and the long edges are touching like a hinge.

With the thumb, just reach to the opposite long edge and gently add pressure as you withdraw the DEALING hand away at the same angle as the angle of entry. A few cards should drop away and land on top of the cards already in the RECEIVING hand... this can be aided by the thumb by pushing down.

Now, raise the thumb, and chop down again with the right hand, leaving another packet. Remember, the DEALING hand is the only hand that moves.


Hope that helps a bit!

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Barry