Hindu Shuffle Control

Single Card

Several Cards

Single card

Proceed as follows:

1. Have a card drawn by a spectator. When he has shown it to everyone, begin the Hindu shuffle as already described.

2. After you have drawn off several small packets from the top into the left hand, extend the hand and have him place his card on top of these cards.

3. Move the left hand back to the right hand to continue the shuffle, placing its cards directly under those held by the right hand so that the outer ends of both packets butt against the left forefinger. Press firmly against the side of the top cards of the lower packet with the tip of the right thumb, which extends below the upper packet, and pick up a card or several cards, holding a break (Fig. 101). Immediately draw the left hand outwards, drawing off a few cards from the top of the upper packet and letting them fall on the cards which remain in the left hand.

The fight hand thus retains its own cards and a few of the top cards of the left-hand packet , the topmost of which is the chosen card.

These are separated from those above them by a small break held by the right thumb. The outer ends and the fight sides of both packets are flush and the pack presents an ordinary appearance.

4. Continue the shuffle in the regular way until the cards above the break have been shuffled into the left hand, then drop those remaining in the fight hand on top of all, thus bringing the chosen card to the top.

There should be no hesitation in securing the card from the top of the left-hand packet in step No. 3 above, since it does not matter whether one, two, three, or even more cards are picked up by the thumb.

Several Cards

This procedure is much the same as that used to control a single card:

1. Let us say that three cards have been drawn and noted by three persons. Begin the Hindu shuffle by drawing off several packets into the left hand. Extend the hand and have one of the cards replaced on them.

2. Continue the shuffle as described in step No. 3 of the single card control, picking up the chosen card and one or two more in the first action of the shuffle, and approach the second person, who holds the second card. Draw off several packets into the left hand; in the next movement, however, do not draw off any cards from the top, but instead let all the cards below the break drop on to those held by the left hand, which you immediately move outwards toward the spectator.

3. Have him place his card on top of those you hold in your left hand, thus placing his card above the first man's card.

4. Repeat this procedure exactly–that is, begin the Hindu shuffle , picking up a few of the cards at the top of those held in the left hand between the right thumb and second finger, holding a break with the thumb. Draw off several packets from the top with the left hand as you approach the third person, and when you reach him let the cards above the break fall upon those in the left hand, without drawing any from the top with the left fingers. The third card is thus placed above the second.

5. Finally, continue the shuffle by drawing off a packet from the top with the left fingers and at the same time grasping between the right thumb and second finger a few of the top cards of those in the left hand, holding a break above them with the thumb as before.

6. Continue the shuffle until all the cards above the thumb break have fallen into the left hand. Drop those that remain on the cards in the left hand; the three chosen cards will be at the top of the pack, but in reverse order to their replacement; that is, the first man's card will be the third from the top.

By using the Hindu shuffle to control a number of cards you save time, an important item, and you also convince those present that the cards are really scattered throughout the pack. This is important, because we must reiterate that, unless you have convinced everyone that the cards really are lost, the most brilliant subsequent discovery will not be impressive.