The Pass

The Grip:

1. Hold the pack, back upwards, in the left hand as for dealing, but with the thumb flat against the left edge of the cards (Fig. 81).

2. Insert the little finger tip between the two portions of the pack to be transposed.

3. Place the right hand over the pack, the fingers at the outer end and the thumb at the inner end (Fig. 82).

Left-Hand Action:

1. Grip the upper packet firmly, by pressing down upon it with the first phalanx of the left ring finger, thus gripping it firmly between that finger and the little finger. Press the first phalanges of the index and middle fingers on the top of the pack.

2. Straighten the left hand so that the fingers, between the first and second phalanges, are parallel with the back of the left hand. The upper packet will be carried to the right between the left little and ring fingers, which continue to grip it firmly.

Right-Hand Action:

1. Now press upwards against the outer end of the lower portion with the right middle finger, which bends inwards to exert that pressure upwards. This pivots the lower portion between the middle finger and the thumb of the right hand, slanting it upwards to the right, until it moves above the other packet (Fig. 83). Note particularly that the left thumb remains pressing against the left edge of the packet.

2. Close the left fingers into the palm, carrying the upper packet below the other, where it rests on the left palm.

3. Close the packet originally at the bottom on top of the other portion, and square the pack. Do not extend the left forefinger in the action. This is a very common and serious fault.

The classical pass just described requires a cover of some sort, and in general the advice given is never to do it immediately after a card has been returned to the deck or while the eyes of the spectators are fixed on the performer's hands. There are certain covers, however, which allow one to do just that; since they are known to very few, we shall set them forth here. The first and one of the best follows.