One Hand Palm for a Number of Cards

This clean and rapid method of palming a number of cards from the top of the deck was originated by a French magician and is almost unknown here, probably because no correct description has appeared in English text books.

Hold the pack between the tips of the right fingers at the outer end and the thumb at the lower left corner. Bend the thumb a little inward so that the cards lie exactly below, and in line with, the fingers and the palm.

Bend the cards as if about to spring them from the hand and allow the inner ends of the cards to be palmed to slip from the thumb upwards into the hand where they are held by a slight additional contraction of the second, third and fourth fingers. Immediately afterwards straighten the thumb outwards, bringing the deck into view. The action takes place while transferring the deck to the left hand or putting it on the table. Fig. 2.

It is said that the originator of the move was able to release the cards one by one in making the palm and so could secure any desired number of cards at will. To do this requires a great deal of practice, the same result can be secured very simply by holding a break below the cards required and letting them slip in one packet.