The Genii Forum

I need to do a pass to move the three top cards of the deck to the middle of the deck.

Is there a proper name for this move, or is it just a classic pass variant?

If the technique is distinct, is there a source in print? (I searched CC and RCT to no avail).

Many thanks!

Ken Krenzel has some such sleights around - though I suspect the term you want is a "shift" in general.

You know, if you just do a pass the top three cards will be in the middle. I suppose you need to move just those cards?

Hi, Curtis:
Yes, exactly--I need to lose those top 3 cards (and preserve the stack underneath), but I don't want to pass the 3 cards to the bottom--need to get them to the middle.

Hi, Jonathan: do you have a reference for the Krenzel techniques?

One of the items I had in mind is in his Card Classics - the Harry Lorayne book.

Pass the 3 cards to the bottom and then give them a legitimate cut.

Jonathan Townsend wrote:One of the items I had in mind is in his Card Classics - the Harry Lorayne book.

I'll research it--thanks.

Why not a Table Slip Cut?

Philippe - the OP asked about shifting three cards, is there a preferred and published handling of the slip cut to slip more than one card?

Thanks, Philippe-- however, for the context of this routine, I want to be able to move these cards with as little overt handling of the deck as possible (other than perhaps a riffle or dribble cover). Also, I don't want to set the deck down on the table at this point in the routine.

Jonathan Townsend wrote:Philippe - the OP asked about shifting three cards, is there a preferred and published handling of the slip cut to slip more than one card?

I don't remember in which book or magazine is this idea but I'm sure Marlo has written about that. For instance, in Riffle Shuffle Systems and The Patented Shuffle, there are some block transfer which can be adapted.

Done on the table, A Slip Cut with three cards instead of one is not really difficult.

Jonathan:

Just checked the Krenzel book--this technique is not described here and the shifts described aren't readily adaptable to my particular application.

Any other leads?

Maybe Russell Barnhart's Sideswipe Shift from "Cardmagic", except you'd steal only the top three cards and insert them in the centre of the left-hand portion instead of on the bottom.

Do the cards have to go to a specific spot? You can use the actions of a classic pass or preferably a dribble pass to move the cards. Just get a break below the top three cards then when ready to do the shift just grab a block of cards from the middle and complete the actions of the shift. You need to ignore the cards below where you grab the block from they will just drop out of the way. I have been playing with this for some time now and have found a dribble works best to shade the noise. Think of it as pulling that block up through the top three cards.

If you can't visualize it let me know and I'll try to send you a quick video.

Mike

Another thought that comes to mind is an application of the Hofzinser Spread Cull used in revese to displace the cards - though you likely need at least one extra card on top for cover.

I'm pretty sure there's a technique on the recent DVD by Irving Quant that will do this for you. Sorry I can't offer more help but it's worth looking into.

Mike Masaveg wrote:Do the cards have to go to a specific spot? You can use the actions of a classic pass or preferably a dribble pass to move the cards. Just get a break below the top three cards then when ready to do the shift just grab a block of cards from the middle and complete the actions of the shift. You need to ignore the cards below where you grab the block from they will just drop out of the way. I have been playing with this for some time now and have found a dribble works best to shade the noise. Think of it as pulling that block up through the top three cards.

If you can't visualize it let me know and I'll try to send you a quick video.

Mike

Hi, Mike: That is precisely the solution I have been working on--it's a little tricky though in terms of covering that noise and making it look like one clean dribble. (Giobbi has some interesting work on the dribble cover).

I'd love to see your video to see how it looks in your hands. I'll PM you my email. Thanks!

Edwin, Jonathan, and Pete: Thanks for the leads! I'll go hunting for those sources!

Hello,

Jonathan is right regarding his reference to Ken Krenzel:
Check the "Top-Card Middle Pass" on page 183 of Close Up Impact by S. Minch.

Best regards

Thomas

Jonathan quoted The Card Classic of Ken Krenzel by Harry Lorayne (1978) instead of Ken Krenzel's Close-up Impact by Stephen Minch (1990).

To do a Slip Cut with more than one card is in Marlo's Magazine, Vol. 1 (1976). It's a Block Slip Cut inspired by Bill Simon.

Using Ken's technique from the earlier of the two mentioned, start dribbling the cards, then when you have about the right amount remaining execute the pass to swap the blocks in a reverse pass (Hofzinser) covered by the larger action of bringing the pack up in the vertical plane as a squaring action. This strategy also serves to swap only the cards above the desired position with those you wish to shift kept above a break leaving the bottom section of the pack intact. If I read the OP correctly - this latter approach would get the desired cards from the top to a position in the center of the pack without disturbing the rest of the pack order and appear to be a dribbling action followed by a squaring action.

Thanks, fellas! Sounds like exactly what I need. I'm on it!