Riffle Shuffle in the Air

It is surprising that in this nation of bridge players so many persons who know how to make a neat riffle shuffle at the table do not know how to make the same shuffle away from a table. To be able to riffle shuffle in the air is a particularly useful weapon for the card conjurer who has to perform under varying conditions. This form of the riffle shuffle is not difficult, but it does require some practice to perform it neatly.

1. Take the pack face downwards in the right hand with the thumb at one end, the middle, ring and little fingers at the other, and the index finger bent so that its nail rests against the middle of the back of the top card. Turn the pack to a vertical position with the thumb at the top and the faces towards the left.

2. Place the left hand, palm upwards, a couple of inches to the left of and a little above the tips of the fight fingers. Bend the middle of the pack outwards by pressing outwards, with the right forefinger at the middle and the thumb and fingers inwards at the ends. Allow about half the cards to fall forward on to the left fingers in a horizontal position (Fig. 17).

3. Place the tip of the left thumb momentarily on the back of this packet and move the left forefinger up to take its place.

4. With the tips of the fight fingers bend the left-hand packet upwards and place the left thumb on the middle of its upper end. The two packets are thus held facing each other and with exactly the same grip by each hand–thumbs at the top, index fingers at the middle of the backs, and the other three fingers gripping the lower ends (Fig. 18).

5. Turn both hands palm downwards, bend the ends of both packets upwards by pressure against the forefingers, and hold the packets with the inner ends close together in the shape of a shallow V, the point of which is away from the body.

6. Allow cards to slip from each thumb alternately, interlacing the corners.

7. Press the packets flush by bringing the hands together, and square the pack.

If the positions are taken correctly it will be found that the lower end of each packet will be held firmly between the first phalanx of the index finger at the back and the first phalanges of the other three fingers at the face. The grip must be held firmly until all the cards have been riffled off by the thumbs.