Shuffle and Cut a Deck of Cards One Handed

This might take some practice to learn, but it'll be worth it when you casually shuffle and Easily Cut a Deck of Cards (One Handed Method) with one hand while sorting your chips with the other. It's also great for those interested in astonishing friends with Do-Amazing-Card-Tricks.

Steps

  1. Learn the basic grip. Pinch the deck lengthwise between your thumb and middle finger. Place your ring finger next to your middle finger, holding the side of the deck. Use your little finger to brace the bottom edge of the deck. Curl your index finger around so that the bottom face of the deck rests against your nail and knuckle.
  2. Shuffle the cards. Rotate your hand so that the deck is vertical.
    • Bring your index finger out from the back of the deck. Grip the side of the deck above your middle finger.
    • Use your index finger to pull back half of the cards. Pinch the bottom half of the deck between your thumb and index finger.
    • Let the top half go with your thumb, balancing on your little finger and supporting it with your middle and ring finger.
    • Rotate your hand, letting the top half of the deck balance on the last three fingers.
  3. Get into the finished position. Rotate the bottom half of the deck counter-clockwise with your bottom three fingers.
    • Rotate your hand so that the faces of the lower half of the deck are pointing directly down.
    • The top half should be resting against the nail of your curled index finger.
    • Pinch the top half of the deck between your middle and index finger or slide your middle finger underneath the top half of the deck. Pinch the top half between your index finger and ring finger.
    • Pivot two halves of the deck around your forefinger so the corner of what was the top half of the deck is braced against the side of what was the bottom half of the deck.
  4. Do a One Handed Cut. Start with the basic grip.
    • Pinch the upper half of the deck between your thumb and middle finger. Let go of the bottom half with your thumb so it falls onto your curled index finger.
    • Draw your index finger back so that the bottom half of the deck falls against the palm. The index finger is resting underneath the edge of the bottom half of the deck farthest from thumb.
    • Push up with your index finger while holding the top half of the deck. Let go with your thumb and let the top half of the deck fall against the edge of the bottom half as you push it up with your index finger. This should make a little A-frame of cards.
    • Keep pushing up with your index finger until the bottom half of the deck pushes past the top half, and the top half falls onto your waiting index finger. Bend your index finger flat to your palm as you can, lowering what was the top half of the deck as much as possible.
    • Use your thumb to push what had been the bottom half of the deck over on top of the other half.
    • Tip your hand away from you slightly and use your index finger, curled flat underneath the deck, to lift the deck up out of your palm and pinch the deck between your thumb and middle finger as in the basic grip.
    • Now use your fingers to straighten up the deck as after the one-handed shuffle, and then return to the basic grip, ready for another shuffle or cut if required.

Tips

  • Practice learning how to hold your hand at the right angle at the right time so as to balance the cards rather than gripping them. Wherever possible, let gravity do the work.
  • It takes considerable practice to get really smooth and consistent at these techniques. If you're aiming at that, try to focus on making each step smooth and easily repeatable. Speed isn't that important.
  • Practice while sitting watching TV or reading a book, and idly manipulating the deck as you do so.

Warnings

  • Do not assume that it is impossible to do this because your hand simply isn't big enough. It takes practice and perseverance to learn how to make space in your hand.

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Sources and Citations

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