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Hi all.

Being new to magic I need some guidance on which card shuffles / false counts etc I need to learn in order to master the more advanced card tricks. Are there any false counts or shuffles that are used more frequently than others?

I master the elmsley count quite ok - but what else is nessecary to learn? Thought I'd might as well have a crack at them now since I have to learn them at one point or another anyways....

List is long


Shuffles
(in my oppinion)


Faro
Hindu (middle)
In jogged / Out Jogged
Slip Shuffle ( I believe it was a Shuffle used by balducci and lorayne in trying to discover a 4 ace effect)

Counts
Elmsley (love it)
Hommand (Very usefull)

theres another , I dont remember the name but its a "Card steal Count" Very useful and very effective

I master the elmsley count quite ok

A Huge Favorite of mine, I use it in a mentalist trick with a reveresed card , so its in my oppinion a good count to master

I would suggest learning some of the counts that require the Biddle Grip. You can do some really nice packet switches and steals and it's really easy todo.

I would also have a go at learning a face up bottom deal which is a great way todo an elmsley except with the X card on the bottom of the packet.

For full deck tricks I would suggest learning the slip cut and zarrow shuffle as they're a great convincers that the cards are mixing, and plus you don't have to look at your hands which is a nice touch.

The last thing I'd suggest (and I might get some backlash from this) is that you start learning the pass. It'll take ages to master - but you'll learn all your angles in the process, build finger strength and will give you a card control that doesn't upset the decks order.

Let me know if you have any questions.

TrueWizard wrote:

I master the elmsley count quite ok

A Huge Favorite of mine, I use it in a mentalist trick with a reveresed card , so its in my oppinion a good count to master

That's what I use the Elmsley for as well. It is super great when I don't f**k it up.

Thanks for the list TrueWizard!

Thanks for the list TrueWizard

Not a problem, anytime

Any questions, let me know

slip cut and zarrow shuffle

The slip Cut is more of a "Force" then a "False"

The Zarrow Shuffle is a vernon and I believe Fancis and it is very Useful in Effects like "triumphant" so thats a good one

Passes are not as hard as they seem, Christians invisble pass may be alittle hard but half passes , turn over passes, table tap passes, vernons pass, all rather easy passes to start of with, especially a half pass



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There are so many and they all have different uses it's really hard to ay what you should learn.

The hindu shuffle, although not strictly speaking a false shuffle is very useful and has many controls associated with it, the same goes for the overhand shuffle.

Have a look through Royal Road, all the shuffles and controls you're ever likely to need are in there

TrueWizard... can I just ask, which search engine you are using for your information?

I'm not sure how other people learn magic but I have rarely if ever sat and learnt a bunch of sleights without a context in which to use them.

The way I've always gone about it would be to look through a book or dvd and find an effect that takes my fancy and learn it.
For me it gives me a reason to learn it.
I suppose it would be akin to learning the chords on a guitar. It is far easy to have enthusiasm if you are learning them so you can play a song you love.
Knowledge needs application.

greedoniz wrote:I'm not sure how other people learn magic but I have rarely if ever sat and learnt a bunch of sleights without a context in which to use them.

The way I've always gone about it would be to look through a book or dvd and find an effect that takes my fancy and learn it.
For me it gives me a reason to learn it.
I suppose it would be akin to learning the chords on a guitar. It is far easy to have enthusiasm if you are learning them so you can play a song you love.
Knowledge needs application.

Yepp, that's so true and being a guitarist my self I can relate to your metaphore as well. However, the reason why I'm asking is becuase I have a bunch of card tricks printed out from the net pluss a bunch of tricks in a book I own but I find it better to master the "art" of false shuffles etc before I buy a new (more advanced trick) than the ones I allready own or try to learn a new trick. If I know the shuffles it would be easier to learn new more advanced tricks and I like to do some practicing while watching tv or commuting.

I might as well spend the "dead time" in front of the telly doing something usefull like learning a new false shuffle etc, right?

Martin, have you got yourself a copy of Royal Road? If not I'd really urge you to get it, it's a brilliant book that'll give you just about everything you're likely to want to know when it comes to cards. It starts off with the basics and builds up from there. You'll be so much better off with that than any dodgey website or expensive packet trick.

Lady of Mystery wrote:Martin, have you got yourself a copy of Royal Road? If not I'd really urge you to get it, it's a brilliant book that'll give you just about everything you're likely to want to know when it comes to cards. It starts off with the basics and builds up from there. You'll be so much better off with that than any dodgey website or expensive packet trick.

Allright, could you point me to somewhere to buy it or is it standard features of most magic shops?

I dont think you need a million and one half decent false shuffles. I use the Jog shufle. Or have the force card at the bottom and just bring it to the top. And the Haymow shuffle I use and thats basicaly it.

I don't do any false shuffles, imagine that! While it's certainly handy to know a couple (a false riffle like the Zarrow would be very useful) it depends a lot on the effects you're doing. Many excellent tricks have no need of a false shuffle at all.

To be honest you're better off learning a decent force, a decent control and probably a palm and you should be set for some miracles. Oh and a natural dl. Fortunately all these are covered in the above mentioned Royal Road, get that and you've got plenty to be going on with. As Gredoniz said you'll learn best by deciding on a trick to learn then learning the necessary sleights rather than sitting down and saying "Hmm, the next half hour shall be dedicated to the Flustration count".

A bit of opinion here from me too that some may disagree with but learning the pass early is a good idea, as someone mentioned previously. It's a tricky sleight but not that tricky and will reward you in the long run, also don't make the mistake of confusing technically advanced effects with better, in the eyes of a spectator. Get yourself a copy of Easy To Master Card Miracles by Michael Ammar, the first two volumes of this set contain some genuine milestones of card magic and are all within reach of the dedicated beginner.

Get yourself a copy of The Expert At the Card Table, by SW Erdnase. The first few pages on technique explain some classical methods of false overhand shuffling, as well as false riffle shuffles, to control top/bottom stock.

In the middle of the book, there are also shuffles for retaining full deck order, which I have yet to take a look at.

Fantastic bloody book, it.