The Hindu Shuffle

The shuffle which goes by this interesting name is an excellent sleight which serves a number of purposes. It may be used as a genuine shuffle, as a method of controlling a card or a number of cards, as a force, or as a glimpse. It is not difficult and it is genuinely deceptive.

1. Hold the pack in your left hand between the top phalanges of the thumb and the middle, ring, and little fingers. Place the index finger at the outer end. Hold the pack a little toward your left side, at about waist level, the outer end sloping downwards.

2. Grasp the inner end of the pack by its sides between the outermost phalanges of the right thumb and middle finger, with the index finger resting lightly on the top and the ring and little fingers free.

3. Move the left hand outwards, taking with it a few of the top cards gripped between the thumb and fingers (Fig. 100). When these cards are clear of the pack let them drop on to the palm.

4. Move the left hand back to its original position, grasp another small group of cards from the top of the pack in the same way as before–that is, between the thumb and the fingers–then move the left hand outwards and let this packet fall on the first cards drawn off.

5. Continue these movements until you have drawn off all the cards held by the right hand.

Do not move the right hand during the shuffle; the left hand does all the work. After a little practice you will be able to draw off a few cards at a time. The slanting position of the pack slides the cards against the left index finger, which acts as a stop and neatly squares them.

To repeat the shuffle at once: Grasp the lower half of the pack at the inner end by the sides, between the right thumb and second finger, and draw the upper half outwards with the left thumb and fingers. Let the upper half fall into the position described in step No. 3 above. Now continue the shuffle exactly as described until you have used all the cards held by the right hand.