talkmagic.co.uk

Hello,

Does anyone know where I can learn this move in detail? I'm struggling with getting the cards to interweave through pressure; I end up just jamming the two packets together (and wrecking the edges of my cards). Does anyone have any tips on learning the move?

Thanks.

Do you mean a one handed shuffle?

There's a free lesson at www.virtualmagicshow.com/stuff or a more detailed lesson in b***** Hard Moves made Easy (from the same site).

Ian

hds02115 wrote:Do you mean a one handed shuffle?

I want to learn that one eventually, but I thought I should learn the two handed version first and then progress to the one handed shuffle.

Seriously this is one of those moves that you can spend months on, then one day while watching tv it just happens. And then it happens again and then it almost doesn't stop. But getting those first few under your belt is amazingly annoying and you tend to go through quite a few decks.

bmat wrote:Seriously this is one of those moves that you can spend months on, then one day while watching tv it just happens. And then it happens again and then it almost doesn't stop. But getting those first few under your belt is amazingly annoying and you tend to go through quite a few decks.

This is true, you'll probably find it with most sleights that night be a little tough at first. I would say that for a tip, don't press the two flat egdes together, press the corner of one packet into the flat edge of the other, and slightly slide it back and fourth a little, maybe sleightly adjusting the angle you're pushing at. I'm sure this isn't be far the best discription but I've tried.

That helps a lot actually, thanks Anthony. They seem to interweave a lot easier if I push the corner of one packet against the side of the other. I can kind of do it, not a perfect 26-26 weave though, and it takes me a while to do it. Still, I think I have at least got a basic version of it going. Is the one handed one based on a similar idea? I've heard you have to bend the cards breadth-ways in the one handed version or something...

That's great to hear that you're managing to get a better weave now, I've got to say though that I can't always get a perfect faro first time, so nearly perfect isn't too bad.

As for the one handed faro, to be honest. I'm not amazing at it and I would only do it as a shuffle. I also learnt the one handed version through trial and error so I don't think I'd be the best one to ask for advice with that. I do remember a while back after seeing Rene Lavand I was obsessed for a while with learning a one handed false shuffle but that wore off after a while.

Your best bet is to begin by learning a partial faro. My reasoning for this is:

1. You can concentrate on perfecting the weave without the the hassle of trying to cut to 26. That can be picked up later.
2. To learn the principle (ie. getting that perfect weave) it is a lot easier with 15-20 cards.

I started faro'ing (is that a word?) before I even knew what it was. I used to, as a fancy flourish, make the cards from each packet raise and weave, much like the description from ECT, but from a traditional, in the hands faro position. Only later, through experimentation start to apply pressure with my right index finger, transforming a flourish into a utility.

That said, the only written sources that I own don't describe the move in any real detail. Those books are Juan Tamariz's Mnemonica and Morris's Magic Tricks, Card Shuffling and Dynamic Computer Memories and in both it is described in an appendix.

This is one of the few occasions where I would recommend youtube as a decent learning source.

Cheers,

Dan.

The faro shuffle was really easy for me right from the start. Try to angle the two packets until you get it right. Dont just jam them together.

kaala wrote:The faro shuffle was really easy for me right from the start. Try to angle the two packets until you get it right. Dont just jam them together.

Yeah, I'd kind of figured that out.

Card College 3 I believe has an excellent description. Maybe number 4.

Are you trying to mesh the entire short-side or do you start with a corner?

cc100 wrote:That helps a lot actually, thanks Anthony. They seem to interweave a lot easier if I push the corner of one packet against the side of the other. I can kind of do it, not a perfect 26-26 weave though, and it takes me a while to do it. Still, I think I have at least got a basic version of it going. Is the one handed one based on a similar idea? I've heard you have to bend the cards breadth-ways in the one handed version or something...

I think he's getting it.

If you're still having trouble, Michael Close has a downloadable video-illustrated PDF that's very good.