SpareJoker wrote:There's an excellent illustration of the required hand position in Expert Card Technique.
Indeed, that's where I learned it from.
To your questions - it is the pad of the pinkie that loosens and levers the card not the actual tip.
2 - Yes, for a fraction of a second. The card doesn't move forward per say, only the right corner moves forwards (as Jing says) and is hidden from view by the fingers (including the pinky). The fingers, sort of roll around the front of the deck, subtly moving their grip from being flat against the front edge to a grip similar to what you describe - their grip at the end of this motion is concentrated more towards the bottom of the deck, then immedietly goes back to the normal grip as the card is palmed. The pinky remains straight (which is why its the pad and not the tip) during the push of the right corner until the left inner corner is free from the thumb, then bends inward causing the card to lever into the palm.
3 - Yes, usually.
Jim
If this post says too much for this part of the forum my apoligies. Feel free to edit/move as appropriate.