Up to the moment when the deal is begun these three left fingers have been curled gently at the right side of the pack; once the deal is started they are extended rigidly, the fingers being straight from the palm to the tips, Fig. 5. As the bottom card is withdrawn to the right, they drop as a unit a fraction of an inch to allow its passage; this movement is negligible and passes unnoticed if the fingers are held rigidly straight. If the fingers are not straight this dip becomes very noticeable; some work is required to get the knack of the flat fingers but it quickly becomes automatic.
4. The bottom card is dropped on the table to the right as, simultaneously, the left thumb draws the top card back squarely onto the pack. Some operators make the deal without any movement of the top card, the movement of the hands in dealing being considered sufficient cover for the sleight. Others, again, move the thumb to the right and back without disturbing the top card.
The reason for holding the right first and second fingers tightly together becomes apparent as soon as the procedure is followed; the forefinger masks the placing of the second finger at the bottom of the deck and, furthermore, makes the deal more natural in appearance. This latter point also applies to the curling of the right third and fourth fingers tightly against the palm.
A covering movement is made with the left wrist by some card conjurers, upwards to the right as the hand approaches to take a card, downwards as the card is taken, while others move both hands together as the card is taken, apart as the card is dealt. The object in each case is to conceal the movement of the left thumb in drawing back the top card.
Another method is to draw the right hand away with a long stroke instead of drawing back the left hand with the pack. Still another is that wherein the left hand, holding the pack, always follows the right hand, the deal apparently being made slowly. Each expert has evolved his own particular method of covering the action but the method explained above will be found easy to acquire and completely satisfactory.
THE MIDDLE DEAL
Here is a will-o’-the-wisp that has had the super card experts agog for years. The first rumors of such a sleight being in existence naturally came from the gaming table. Certain top-notch gamblers were said to be using the swindle and, quite naturally, keeping the details a closely guarded secret. In spite of this, or rather because of this, several methods have been worked out for performing the sleight but it is problematical if these duplicate those used by the very few gamblers who are skilful enough to use the middle deal in actual play.
The first question that the reader will probably ask is—what is the use of the middle deal? To the gambler it is almost an indispensable accomplishment for this reason: The easiest place to set any desired cards in a game is at the bottom of the deck from whence the expert dealer can secure them at will. The trouble is that after the cards have been placed in this position the pack is cut and, when the cut is completed honestly, the desired cards are lost in the middle. In a loose game the gambler can overcome this inconvenience by simply picking up the lower portion and dealing directly from it. This would never pass in fast company, therefore the cut is completed in regular fashion and the gambler falls back on the middle deal to secure the desired cards.
On the other hand the sleight is of little use to the conjurer in the performance of tricks with cards with the one exception of the exhibition of an exposé of gamblers’ methods. It is for the individual performer, therefore, to decide whether it is worth his while to devote the hours of practice necessary to master this sleight merely for this one display.
We give several methods of working the sleight, the first being one that is actually in use by the less skilful gamblers who work their wiles in the less sophisticated circles. Here are the moves:
a. 1. Hold the pack as for the regular deal, with the four left fingers at the right side of the pack, flush with the top card. The third finger holds the break after the cut has been completed. Push the top card off with the left thumb keeping its sides parallel with those of the pack at the end of this push-off.
2. Move the tip of the second finger inwards until it presses against the right side of the card above the break. This action is concealed by the card pushed half-way off the deck. Insert only the tip of the second finger and let it touch only enough of the card above the break to give it a purchase.
3. Push upwards and outwards towards the right with the second finger tip. At the same moment draw the top card back with the left thumb, Fig. 1. These two actions coincide, the second finger pushing outwards as the thumb draws the top card back; this double action, the second finger pressing upwards and the thumb pressing downwards upon the top card, serves to control the cards between them and hold them squarely in place above the lower half of the pack.
4. The right hand, which has approached to take the card pushed off by the thumb, takes in its place the card pushed out from the center of the pack and deals it to the right.
b. This method is used by some conjurers in their so-called exposé of gamblers’ chicaneries.
The deck is held very much in the same way as for the push-off second deal (page 29), the left little finger holding a break between the two packets after the cut has been made. The left little finger pulls the lower packet well down, extending the break along the side of the deck, the right second finger tip goes into the break and pulls out the bottom card of the upper packet. The right forefinger shields this action by curling in front of the outer end of the deck and the left thumb pushes forward and pulls back the top card as usual.
For exhibition purposes this method can be made to serve with comparatively little practice, particularly if the operator faces towards the right in the action.
c. This method is claimed to be that used by expert gamblers, though we cannot vouch for this by personal knowledge. It is much cleaner in execution and no doubt if sufficient practice were devoted to it a perfectly deceptive middle deal would result.
1. Place the cut well down in the fork of the left hand and the other packet on top in a slightly diagonal position so that there is a small step on the right side, the outer corner of the lower portion projecting.
2. Press down on this projecting side with the left third finger and press the tip of the left little finger on the face of the bottom card of the upper packet, pushing it out sideways, Fig. 2.
3. Seize the upper right corner of this card between the right thumb and second finger, bending the right forefinger in front to shield it. The left thumb pushes the top card off and draws it back in the usual way.
d. 1. Hold the pack in the left hand as for dealing, with the fingers at the right side of the pack, but with the thumb pressing down on the top at the left outer corner, Fig. 3. The little finger holds a break at the inner right corner. The first, second and third finger tips project well above the top of the deck in an entirely natural grip.
2. Deal cards by taking them between the right thumb and first finger at the inner right corner. Draw these cards inwards for an inch and then remove them to the right, a perfectly natural action since the tips of the fingers prevent them from being drawn directly towards the right.
3. To deal from the middle: Press down with the left thumb upon the outer left corner of the pack at A in Fig. 3, at the same time pressing down with the tip of the little finger upon the lower packet at B in the same figure. This double action opens a large break at the inner right corner which is wholly concealed by the left fingers curling up at the right side.
4. Place the tip of the right first finger upon