Discussion

Figure 5

9. In a squaring action of the ends, the right hand holds onto the corners of the projecting card. As the hand moves to the right the card is taken along also as in Figure 6 which is a bottom view of the action. Note that the left forefin-ger is in a straight line while the remaining left fingers are against the side of pack. The fingertips of the left hand will be rubbing slightly on the face of the card being stolen during the strip out action. From here on do not move the left fingers at all as the rest of the mechanics will be accomplished by the right hand.

Figure 6

10. When the card is stripped out for almost its whole width the right hand moves back to the left. During the movement to the left the right thumb releases the pressure on its corner, but the right fourth finger presses down-ward on the upper right corner. At the same time the card will pivot on the left second finger tip into the right palm as shown in Figure 7. The movement to

the left is continued until the lower left corner of this card comes in contact with the base of the right thumb. At this point a slight contraction at the base of the right thumb will hold the card between the right fourth finger and the base of right thumb.

A corner of the card will still be in the pack as can be seen in Figure 7;

therefore, the right hand once more moves to the right until this corner clears the pack. Once the corner comes out of the pack there may be a tenden-cy on the part of the right hand to want to curl around the palmed card. This should be avoided.

Figure 7

12. The right hand moves towards the left over the pack again. This time the palmed card is pressed further into the palm as the index corner of the palmed card is made to ride over the upper right corner of the pack.

After the final squaring motion the right hand drops to the side with the palmed card while the pack still remains in the left hand almost at the fingertips.

14. A moment later the stolen card can be replaced to the top of the pack using any one of the palm replacements described in the Action Palm, Chapter 2, or those detailed here later on in the chapter.

77

DELIBERATE SIDE STEAL The Deliberate Side-Steal

There are many instances where it is necessary to get a peeked card to the top of the pack. The usual process of first getting the card into the palm, then on top of the deck would be con-sidered cumbersome; therefore the fol-lowing technique will be found not only effective but under the closest scrutiny. In fact the whole seems to be the mere action of squar-ing the deck. Again we emphasize the arch of the hand as against the flat appearance.

Proceed as in The Technical Steal from Step 1 to 9, Figures 1 to 6, but I from this point on, when the card reaches the position shown in Figure 6, the procedure changes.

2. In Figure 6, the right hand is moving the card to the right and so in this par-ticular case the right hand continues the action to the right while at the same time the performer turns his body slightly to the left and the right hand pivots downwards slightly to cover the right side of the expos-ing more of the top of the deck.

3. Naturally as the right hand moves the card to the right, the card will come clear of the deck as in Figure 8 which shows the performer's view.

At the stage of Figure 8 the right hand will actually be holding the

side-stolen card between the tips of the right 4th finger and right thumb at the card's upper right and lower left cor-ners as in Figure 9 which shows the bottom view of the right hand and left hand. Note how the right side of the stolen card lies parallel to the right forefinger and base of the palm.

Figure 9

5. While Figure 8 shows the per-former's view or what is seen from left side, Figure shows the view as seen by your audience.

Figure

6, With the stolen card completely out of the deck the right hand raises up ever so slightly as to bring the stolen card on a level with the top of the deck.

The right hand then moves to the left as the card is now placed on top of the deck as shown in Figure which shows the replacement begun.

Remember the stolen card now slides along the top of the deck.

7. Figure 12 shows how this replace-ment is invisible even from almost directly in front, if the hands are angled properly.

78

THE SIDE STEAL

8. The right hand continues moving to the left until the stolen card is flush with left side of the deck as in Figure 13 which shows a performer's view of deck while Figure 14 shows the audi-ence view from an almost frontal view.

Figure 13

Figure 14

9. As soon as the stolen card is flush with the left side of the deck the right forefinger curls in on top of the deck as in Figure

Figure

Immediately the right hand lifts the deck into the Two Hand Square Up Position as in Figure 16 to square the sides of the deck, then as an after-thought, the right hand lightly runs over the ends just before lowering the deck back into the left hand into a dealing position. The card is now on top to be used as required.

Figure

The Curled Forefinger The Deliberate Side Steal can be providing close attention is paid to the angles, while the right forefinger remains curled on top of the deck at all it is the perfect throw-off even for those who know quite a bit about Side-Steals.

Proceed exactly as for the Technical and Deliberate Side Steal with this exception. After the card has been peeked at, the right hand comes over

79

THE CURLED FOREFINGER