A second method of crimping -- the end crimp -- requires pressure on the lower half of the deck while pulling it out to place on top during the final cut as shown in Figure 7. The pressure is exerted quickly with the thumb and fingers of the right hand while tilting the deck and using the left hand to shield the crimping motion from players on the left. Note that the forefinger of the left hand is knuckled
underneath the deck, holding it firmly as the lower half of the deck is pushed down and inward by the right thumb and fingers.
Figure 7
Another Way to Crimp -- The End Crimp
Neocheaters often prefer another method of end crimping -- a deck-squaring method involving the right hand as a cover to shield the crimping motion from all directions: With the left forefinger knuckled beneath the bottom card to hold the deck firmly, the left thumb and middle fingers crimp by pulling both lower corners of the deck sharply downward and inward under the protective cover of the right hand that is seemingly squaring the deck.
Figure 8 shows an end crimp with a gap slightly exaggerated for illustrative purposes. A few minutes of practice will reveal how much pressure [ 7 ] is necessary to produce a crimp that is barely visible but easily felt.
Figure 8
Deck with an Exaggerated End Crimp
Because most players habitually cut at the sides of decks, end crimps reduce their chance of mistakenly hitting the crimp. Also, end crimps require much less pressure than side crimps and are easier to remove.
5. Letting Others Cut First.
gives the cut an air of finality and conviction, as though he had really mixed the cards thoroughly.) The crimp would then lie quite low in the deck. And since the victim will seldom cut as deep as three-quarters of the deck, the ace is almost always left for the Neocheater.
6. Forcing Others to Cut Deuces or Treys.
As an alternative approach when other players cut first, the Neocheater simply reverses his procedure: Instead of culling an ace, he culls a deuce or trey, crimps it, and places the crimp near the middle or slightly higher in the deck. The victim will often cut that deuce or trey at the crimp, leaving the Neocheater with very favorable odds for cutting a higher card.
7. Putting it All Together -- Quickly and Easily.
Fortunes can be won and lost on card cutting. After a strenuous night of card playing, players will sometimes risk all their cash or winnings in a final rash or weary decision to "get it over with" on the cut of a single card. The Neocheater makes sure that the cash from cutting cards ends up in his pocket.
The complete ace-cutting procedure -- riffling, locating the ace, shuffling, crimping, and cutting, including two or three center cuts, takes no more than fifteen seconds. With one hour of practice, you can do the entire procedure rapidly and smoothly. The success of the ace-cutting technique hinges on two basic maneuvers -- culling the ace (bringing it to the bottom of the deck) and then crimping the deck in a natural motion. ... The key steps in cutting aces with some added tips are reviewed below: First, riffle the deck to locate an ace. No matter how fast you stop when you see an ace, it usually slips past your thumb by one card, which necessitates the overhand shuffle to position that ace on the bottom. But suppose you stop dead on the ace. Simply complete the riffle, letting the ace --the bottom card of the deck-half in your right hand-- fall first so it is on the bottom. Then crimp and cut (an undercut) the deck to position the crimped ace within the deck. Gently square the sides of the deck before cutting to the crimp. Do not fumble or feel around for the crimp; just naturally grip the deck at about the crimp and the ace will be there waiting.
Practice slowly at first. Strive for naturalness. When riffling, avoid having the cards directly facing you. Instead, hold them at a slight angle so you see just the corners flashing. And if you miss the aces on the first riffle or two, simply riffle shuffle again until you locate an ace -- riffle shuffles are reassuring to victims.
After perhaps a center cut or two, crimp the deck in one quick movement. Remember, the Neocheater's hands and fingers shield the deck while crimping. Practice various pressures with your thumb. Strive to make the crimp nearly invisible. But if a slight gap exists, that is generally acceptable so long as it is not too obvious. Ideally, the gap should be felt, but not seen.
If suspicion develops during a sloppy crimp procedure, several quick center cuts after crimping instead of before can eliminate that suspicion. The undercut (which positions the crimped ace within the deck) looks reassuring immediately after a few center cuts. The center cuts must be pulled from the upper center portion of the deck to avoid disturbing the crimped portion of the deck.
Now, after positioning the crimped ace in the deck with the undercut, square the deck, cut with a gentle grip, and you will not miss the ace. Practice cutting with your eyes closed to get the feel of the crimp.
After cutting the ace, always flex the cards outward to remove the crimp. And if possible, give the edge of the deck a final riffle with your thumb to eliminate any remnants of the crimp.
A good routine for practicing the entire ace-cutting procedure is to cull for ten minutes, crimp for five minutes, and repeat. Then perform the entire procedure from beginning to end for ten minutes. You can master the complete ace-cutting maneuver in an hour.
* * *
In the next chapter, you will learn some shortcuts for culling and stacking. Neocheaters never disdain shortcuts or easy advantages in a card game. Indeed, they constantly seek them.
The culling and stacking methods in the next chapter are fast and easy shortcuts routinely used by Neocheaters. After an hour of practice, you will be stacking yourself winning hands in fifteen seconds. You will be invisibly stacking yourself four of a kind in draw, a wheel [ 8 ] in lowball, and aces back-to-back in five-card stud while also knowing every opponent's hole card. ... And if you have ever wondered if professional cheaters really can stack themselves four of a kind with what appears to be two or three rapid shuffles and a cut, the next chapter will open your eyes.