To Palm a Number of Cards from the Top

Palming is probably the weakest spot in the technique of most card workers, both amateur and professional. The most common faults being the manner in which the hand is brought right over the deck, taking off the required cards with a perceptible grabbing action, at the same time telegraphing the movement by throwing the thumb straight upward and, finally, the removal of the hand with the cards in it without any reason at all having been given for the whole action. Under these circumstances it Would have to be a very innocent spectator who did not suspect that some cards had been removed from the pack.

To palm cards perfectly the action must be so covered that a spectator who keeps his eyes fixed on the performer's hands can detect no suspicious movement. This is not so difficult as might be imagined and the method that follows is well within the reach of any card handler with a minimum of practice.

I do not know who originated the move but it has been in use amongst some experts for years and the general belief is that we are indebted for it to the same source from which have come many of the most subtle card sleights--the gambling table. Hence I have dubbed the move--

The Gambler's Top Palm

To execute the sleight proceed as follows:

1. Hold the pack in the left hand by its sides between the first joints of the thumb and the second and third fingers, the first joint of the forefinger being doubled under the pack and resting against the bottom card, the tip of the little finger being inserted in the pack under the cards to be palmed. Fig. 1.
   
2. Bring the right hand over the deck, the fingers held closely together, covering the outer end, and the ball of the thumb touching the inner end, the hand being arched naturally over the deck.

3. Move the right hand towards the right and back again in the usual motion of squaring the ends of the cards with the tips of the fingers and the thumb.

4. Grip the pack between the right thumb and fingers, releasing it from the hold of the left fingers and thumb, and move them outwards as if merely squaring the sides of the deck, but in this action the first joint of the left little finger levers the cards above it upwards into the right palm, being assisted in the movement by the tip of the left thumb on the opposite side of the deck. Fig. 2.
   
5. The right hand must be held motionless as the cards are .pushed up and palmed. The pack is again gripped by the left hand as m move No. 1, and the right fingers and thumb are slid along the ends of the deck, squaring them as before.

6. Finally seize the pack with the right hand at the Outer top and bottom corners, at the same time extend the left middle finger and with it push against the middle of the palmed packet, pressing it securely into the palm.
   
7. Remove the left hand leaving the pack gripped by the right hand at the outer top and bottom corners between the forefinger and thumb and bend the other three fingers inwards a little, bending the cards in towards the palm. Fig. 3.

8. Note particularly that speed is not required, the action should be simply the apparent squaring of the ends and sides of the deck. Reference to the One Hand Top Palm on Card Manipulations No. 1, will show that the principle is the same but, in place of one card only, any required number of cards can be palmed undetectably.