Top Palm

Single Card

Several Cards

Top Palm, I (Single Card)

1. Hold the deck in your left hand by the sides between the middle, third, and little fingers, the tips of which are flush with the top of the deck, pressing the left side of the deck against the ball of the thumb. Bend the thumb at the outermost phalanx on the top card, with the tip resting a little below its middle, and place the tip of the index finger against the outer right corner (Fig. 49).

2. Bring the right hand over the pack as if merely to square it, the hand being well arched. Place the fingers, held close together, against the outer end, with the third (outermost phalanges pressing against the outer end. Rest the tip of the thumb against the left inner corner (Fig. 50).

3. Straighten the left thumb pressing it on the top card and so push the card into the position shown in Fig. 51. (Right hand not shown.)

4. The outer right corner of the top card is thus brought against the tip of the little finger. Press lightly downwards with the right little finger and lever the card upwards, at the same time bending the left thumb inward to its original position, and the card will be tilted upwards against the palm and the fingers (Fig. 52).

5. Draw the right fingers and thumb along the ends of the deck, squaring the cards. Grip the outer corners between the thumb at the inner end and the index and middle fingers at the outer end, at the same time flexing the ring and little fingers (Fig. 53).

The two essential points in the correct palming of cards are:

(a) The right hand must remain arched throughout.

(b) The right hand must retain the deck after the card is palmed, while the left hand moves away to make some appropriate gesture or natural personal action. For example, you may gesture to illustrate what you want done, which may be for a person to stand closer to you. Or you may brush the table clean of an imaginary speck, touch the corner of your mouth with the knuckle of your index finger, touch your chin as if in momentary thought–in other words, make some personal action that is natural and characteristic of you. Because of this, the transfer of the pack from your left to your right hand will seem to have no connection with the trick you are performing.

Do not make the mistake of trying to palm a card with the utmost rapidity, for all rapid actions of the hand arouse suspicion. The quickness of the hand does not deceive the eye. The palm must be made in exactly the same time as–neither more nor less than–in merely squaring the cards.

6. A moment later, take the pack from the right hand with the left and dispose of the palmed card as required by the trick.

Top Palm, II (Several Cards)

1. Hold the deck face downwards in your left hand between the second (top) phalanx of the thumb on one side and the third phalanges of the middle and ring fingers on the other, the index finger bent under the pack and the little finger free. Not only is this a very open and graceful method of holding the deck but it is also essential to the proper execution of the sleight.

2. With your right hand square the deck, and under cover of this action lift the inner ends of the cards to be palmed and insert the tip of the left little finger into the break thus made (Fig. 55).

3. Remove the right hand, making some appropriate gesture, then with it grasp the whole pack, with the fingers close together at the outer end and the thumb at the inner end, which maintains the break.

Move the left thumb and fingers inwards along the sides of the deck, squaring it. Press the tips of the thumb and fingers into the break, and in the outward squaring motion push the separated packet of cards up into the right hand (Fig. 56).

4. Slide the right thumb and fingers along the ends of the pack, squaring them. Grip the pack between the thumb and the index and middle fingers, and flex the ring and little fingers a little, thus palming the cards securely. Remove the left hand, holding the right hand stationary for a few moments. Use the left hand as you would when palming a single card, and a few moments later take the pack with the left hand again and dispose of the palmed cards as may be required.