If you’re serious about card magic or simply fascinated by the mathematics of card shuffling, understanding faro shuffles is essential. The Faro Shuffle Simulator is a powerful web-based tool that lets you practice, visualize, and explore the elegant mathematics behind perfect shuffles and memorized deck systems.
Continue reading “Faro Shuffle Simulator: Complete User Guide”Free cut poker deal
This is not for everyone, but it is something I have been playing with. It is based on the “Free Cut Principle”, and sets up the deck for a five handed poker game, with the four aces going to the dealer. For more on the “Free Cut Principle” see:
Finnell, Gene. Free Cut Principle. Self-published, 1967.
- This booklet is a landmark publication. Gene Finnell independently rediscovered the principle and published several applications, including one titled “Aces at Random,” which is a direct application of the principle to find the four aces.
Card Tracking Trick revisited
I asked an AI to analyze the math behind the 4×4 and 2×2 grid used in the Card Tracking Trick. The math also works for other square grids, although I think it would be impractical to go larger than 4×4. So what happens when you deal a 3×3 grid.
Variation on trick that fooled Pen and Teller
This is a mathematical based trick that is explained at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eI7o95rGT9c. It is the revelation of two chosen cards using Jokers that were pre-set in the deck. I like good self working tricks and this is a good one. However I wanted to be able to perform it without having to use Jokers.
Continue reading “Variation on trick that fooled Pen and Teller”Faro stack from a cull
In playing around with the faro stack I started to set the five handed stack up with a cull, instead of “losing” the aces.
Continue reading “Faro stack from a cull”Faro stack for 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, or 8 hands, four aces
This was a “problem” I gave myself. Obviously you can stack four aces for a four handed game with two faro shuffles, but what if you want to deal a five handed game. Using my faro shuffle simulator I found a pattern that once the aces are in the correct locations a single faro out shuffle will stack them. (I used my faro shuffle simulator to work out the pattern)
Continue reading “Faro stack for 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, or 8 hands, four aces”Fan control
Effect:
The four aces are fairly inserted into the fanned deck, in different locations. The fan is closed and the deck is cut, then shuffled twice. At the completion of the second shuffle, all four aces are on the top of the deck.
Continue reading “Fan control”U.S. Playing Card Prediction
This is a prediction effect using a feature of some Bicycle Brand playing card decks. The decks that I purchase have two ways of showing a “prediction”. One of the advertising cards shows the King of Spades and the box show the Ten of Hearts. What follows is one way I use this as a prediction.
Sharps and Flats
by John Nevil Maskelyne
Most of the electronic copies of this book that I have found on line are not very readable, so I made my own copy. Click on the book to start reading.
Faro card control
In playing with the Faro Shuffle simulator I noticed that it takes only three faro shuffles to move the card that is seventh from the bottom of the deck to the top. I am sure that someone else has written about this, but here is my take on using that fact as a card control,
Continue reading “Faro card control”