I love going back and reading old magic books. This reversal of a single card is from “At the Table Tricks”, by Neal Elias. This book was first published in 1946. The slight reverses the bottom card of the deck and can be covered with an overhand shuffle.
To make this move smoother, think of it as a synchronized “squeeze and turn” motion.
1. The Setup (Left Hand)
- Hold the deck in a standard Mechanic’s Grip in your left hand.
- Position your left middle, ring, and pinky fingers so they are flat against the bottom card’s outer right corner.
2. The Buckle
- Squeeze those three fingers inward and upward toward your thumb (the inner left corner).
- This action “buckles” the bottom card, creating a gap and tilting the rest of the deck upward at a 45-degree angle. This is the standard buckle technique.
3. The Transfer (Right Hand)
- Reach under the deck with your right hand.
- Place your right thumb at the edge closest to you and your middle/ring fingers at the far edge.
- The palm of your right hand should be facing the bottom of the deck.
4. The Secret Turnover
- As the left fingers buckle the card, use the right hand to rotate the deck.
- Pivot the deck on its left edge until it is vertical, in the position to start an overhand shuffle.
- The “buckled” card remains hidden in your left palm as the deck slides over the top of it.
- If you rotate you left hand (holding the hidden card) and pull down on the right edge of that card with the left fingers, the card will rotate to be face up.
5. The Overhand Shuffle
Start an overhand shuffle of the cards in the right hand onto the top of the reversed card.
6. The Cover
- Front/Left: Tilt your left hand up slightly to shield the card from those angles.
- Right: Your right hand naturally blocks the view from the right as it turns the deck.