The Change-Over Palm

This very useful sleight appears to be known to but few present day card manipulators although it is a very old move. The reason for this may be that it has never been explained in any of the textbooks on card sleights. By its means a card or packet of cards can be transferred imperceptibly from one hand to the other, the effect to the onlooker being that both hands are empty. The procedure is as follows:

A. With Small Packet of Cards Only

1. Standing with left side to the front, a packet of cards being palmed in the left hand, hold the right hand palm towards the audience, the arm bent and the fingers pointing upwards. Bring the left hand over to the right, extend the left forefinger and with it lightly touch the empty right palm, the cards being held securely by bending the other three fingers inward slightly. Fig. 4.

2. Make a half turn to the left, under cover of which, as the right hand moves in front to the left, bend the left forefinger inward and with it grip the outer index corner of the cards, pressing them firmly against the base of the thumb. Release the other three fingers of the left hand and bend them in behind the cards, thus bending the packet outwards. Fig. 5.

3. At the moment that you face the audience squarely and the back of the right hand is towards the front, straighten out the left second, third and fourth fingers and spring the cards into the right hand. Fig. 6.

4. Complete the turn to the left bringing the now empty left palm to the front, extend the right forefinger, bend the other three fingers in towards the palm and with the forefinger touch the left palm. Fig. 7.

The sleight is not at all difficult but must be done smoothly. The actual transfer of the cards from one hand to the other is imperceptible if made at the right moment. The action should be practiced before a mirror.

Two faults must be guarded against; one is the tendency to let the thumbs fly straight upwards as the cards are palmed. They should lie flat in an easy natural position throughout. The other is, allowing the cards to make a distinct click as they are sprung from one hand to the other. The transfer must be noiseless as well as invisible.

B. With the Pack in Hand

1. Hold the pack in the left hand and palm the packet to be transferred by means of the bottom palm in the left hand. (Erdnase, p. 86.) Immediately afterwards carry the pack away towards the right with the right hand, holding it between the thumb and fingers by the outer top and bottom corners, and making a gesture appropriate to the patter used, to show the right hand empty.

2. Replace the pack flat in the fork of the left thumb. At the moment that the back of the right hand is towards the front, bend the left second, third and fourth fingers in behind the palmed packet and spring the cards into the right hand as in the first method A.

3. There must be no noise and the thumbs must lie naturally against the sides of the hands. The action takes place under cover of a swing from right to left and when the transfer has been made the left hand should be so held that all can see it holds the pack only.