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Hey what are some basic tricks I can start off with that will be good for me since I am just learning?

Thanks,

The one flourish everyone usually starts with is the basic one handed cut, The Charlier. Probably thousands of tutorials of it on youtube.

After that you'll probably want to go for some other one handed cuts that develop more flexibility and strength, The Thumb Cut and Scissor Cut are both good for that.

The Spring is one you might want to start learning early on, as it will take quite some time to get enough muscular control to do it smoothly (easy to learn, hard to master).

After that you can have your pick with any two-handed cuts you can find, or maybe start fanning.

Happy flourishing

Thanks for the tips, I will start with your approach! Thanks

MagikFingerz wrote:The one flourish everyone usually starts with is the basic one handed cut, The Charlier. Probably thousands of tutorials of it on youtube.

After that you'll probably want to go for some other one handed cuts that develop more flexibility and strength, The Thumb Cut and Scissor Cut are both good for that.

The Spring is one you might want to start learning early on, as it will take quite some time to get enough muscular control to do it smoothly (easy to learn, hard to master).

After that you can have your pick with any two-handed cuts you can find, or maybe start fanning.

Happy flourishing

Hey MagikFingerz,

Thanks for the tips, I was just trying the Charlier one handed cut. I watched a video online and the person showed it with the left hand so I practiced with my left and got it right away - not bragging I know this is the basic stuff So then I was like well when I play poker I mostly hold the deck in my right hand so I tried it with my right as well. I picked that up a little bit faster and it looked better than my left hand. Is there a hand that most people start off doing tricks with? Maybe is preference or maybe it depends on the trick?

Thanks again, off to try some more stuff.

The scissor cut and thumb cut are really hard for me, I need to practice much much more!

It's generally recommended to learn one-handed stuff with your non-dominant hand first, that way you build dexterity in the hand that needs it the most and it will be that much easier to get it with your dominant hand later. But yes, it can also depends on the move and which situation it is commonly used in. In card games the deck is usually held in the left (non-dominant) hand in a so called dealer's grip, while the right hand do things like deal, do an overhand shuffle etc. Subsequently, you'd probably want to do cuts and one-handed deals with your left hand.

The thumb and scissor cuts are all about flexibility and maintaining control of the deck when your fingers are stretched out. If you find that the muscles in your hands get very tense when practicing these, take a break and try doing some simple warm-up exercises (for example clenching and stretching). The muscles will get tense because they want to shorten, since working while stretched out is not the optimal length-tension relationship (ie they're weaker in that range of motion). It will take a bit of time to counteract that reflex. You can also try putting rubber bands around the packets so you don't have to worry about cards falling out, this way you can work towards strength and flexibility without needing the fine mechanics of keeping the cards squared all the time.

And no need to thank me, I enjoy helping others and there just isn't enough people posting in the cardistry section

Great advice! I have been practicing and am getting better but it still not were I want to be. I will use the rubber band tip, thanks. One other question, I dislocated my pinky finger playing basketball and it is really tight and hard for me to move it correctly on the thumb cut. I saw a video on youtube that it was a kind of modified move it used the middle finder and the two finger next to the middle finger to grip the cards, is this ok to do? is it looked down upon? I was asking because I find that might be easier for me to pull off. But I don't want to practice something that is not considered the real trick just because it is easier. But if it is not looked badly at then I think it will help me because of my pinky finger. If it is, then I will just continue to practice with the pinky.

Thanks for your help!

Not using your pinky to clip the cards in the thumb cut is fine, whatever works for you, works for you There's pro's and con's with both variations, neither are frowned upon. Just don't make it a habit to exclude your pinky even after it heals, it is the weakest and least dexterous finger and therefore needs all the "exercise" it can get

MagikFingerz wrote:Not using your pinky to clip the cards in the thumb cut is fine, whatever works for you, works for you There's pro's and con's with both variations, neither are frowned upon. Just don't make it a habit to exclude your pinky even after it heals, it is the weakest and least dexterous finger and therefore needs all the "exercise" it can get

Sounds good, Thanks!

Tom has some great advice I know that this was posted a while ago but I figured I may add what I can Here are some of the 7 basics that you will need and also look great For each move I will give you the best youtube video that I know of so that you can Kind of use this for a reference.
I) Charlier --- http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ga2Xhzr98gU
II) The Spring --- http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sE1P7fINjX8
III) The revolution cut --- http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ThneslhFxhE
IV) Thumb cut --- ( there is not a great video on this that I found but this one works) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ks6F5Fpi9mY
V) Scissor cut --- ( This guy is great with all kinds of card stuff ) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=krI-jAVRa2g
VI) One handed fan -- http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7ETppxkLPxY
VII) Two handed fan -- http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jC6LuAfD57A
Bonus I) TG deck flip -- http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aMTYLNsiLpM
Bonus II) Easy two handed cut series --- All the videos labeled two handed cut tutorial video 1-5 the link to the first one is below -- http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m42Eh_-K ... verview-vl

Thanks for posting this, this is great. Unfortunately I jammed my index finger recently on the same hand I jammed my pinking finger. I play basketball and unfortunately I have had some bad hand injuries. Once it gets better I will be right back at practicing with the cards again.

Thanks,

Maybe you should change your username to Jamm Pakd Fingerz

I know about basketballs on fingers though. Gotta open those hands when you receive passes!

EDIT: A note about the one-handed fan tutorial posted above; that's more of a magician's way of doing it (quick and easy, no offense to magicians). Here's a small tutorial on making a circular one-handed fan, which looks MUCH better.

MagikFingerz wrote:Maybe you should change your username to Jamm Pakd Fingerz

I know about basketballs on fingers though. Gotta open those hands when you receive passes!

EDIT: A note about the one-handed fan tutorial posted above; that's more of a magician's way of doing it (quick and easy, no offense to magicians). Here's a small tutorial on making a circular one-handed fan, which looks MUCH better.

LOL, Jamm Pakd Fingerz. That is a good one, thanks for the info on the tutorial.

Hey! Thanks for the links Blake! Very useful!

I'm also new to this sort of stuff and was thinking about getting a DVD on how to do these sort to tricks. What are some recommendations that are best for beginners, or are YouTube videos just as good?

Phenomenal links posted in this thread. Cant wait to start practicing!

Yall ROCK!!!!

Blake wrote:Tom has some great advice I know that this was posted a while ago but I figured I may add what I can Here are some of the 7 basics that you will need and also look great For each move I will give you the best youtube video that I know of so that you can Kind of use this for a reference.
I) Charlier --- http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ga2Xhzr98gU
II) The Spring --- http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sE1P7fINjX8
III) The revolution cut --- http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ThneslhFxhE
IV) Thumb cut --- ( there is not a great video on this that I found but this one works) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ks6F5Fpi9mY
V) Scissor cut --- ( This guy is great with all kinds of card stuff ) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=krI-jAVRa2g
VI) One handed fan -- http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7ETppxkLPxY
VII) Two handed fan -- http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jC6LuAfD57A
Bonus I) TG deck flip -- http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aMTYLNsiLpM
Bonus II) Easy two handed cut series --- All the videos labeled two handed cut tutorial video 1-5 the link to the first one is below -- http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m42Eh_-K ... verview-vl

I can do most of these one handed cuts now. However, the thumb cut is the stupidest cut in the whole world. I say that because I cannot do it yet. Also, currently working on perfecting my deck flip.

Then its ON TO THE TWO HANDED STUFF!

Just figured I would give an update to all who may want to know that someone out there is trying just like you are.

That's awesome, man!

The thumb cut is probably the one that is most affected by hand size (along with maybe the scissor cut). I've never had much trouble with it, although in the beginning I had to realize that the deck had to get further into the "crotch" of my thumb than what felt natural. Doing it with half a deck helps because the reduced thickness makes the aforementioned happen MUCH easier, and if I'm showing off my one-handed cuts I tend to do half a pack in each hand anyway

Wow Cardshark88.....so many memories

I like this explanation of the Spring: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U-GvSSBLVhg" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

I'm having difficulty doing fans... both the one handed and two handed. I have no clue what I'm doing wrong. I think it has to do with the motion the fingers need to do under the deck. I've watched multiple videos but still suck at it. Anyone else having these issues or am i alone?

OnTheGrind wrote:I like this explanation of the Spring: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U-GvSSBLVhg" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

I'm having difficulty doing fans... both the one handed and two handed. I have no clue what I'm doing wrong. I think it has to do with the motion the fingers need to do under the deck. I've watched multiple videos but still suck at it. Anyone else having these issues or am i alone?

Two-handed fans doesn't need any finger motion from the left hand (assuming you're right handed) under the deck, the right hand does all the work. More specifically, the right thumb does most of the work (assuming you're doing a thumb fan) and the left thumb merely holds the cards in place serving as the pivot point. In a one-handed fan though, you would typically pull with the index finger (around the pivot point of the thumb) and push with the others. You end up with the index finger flexed (ie pulled in towards the palm) and the other fingers extended.

I can imagine there aren't many videos showing this very well due to the angles required and gravity working against the cards in those angles.