The Riffle Shuffle for Basic Magic Card Tricks

Audiences are thrilled and impressed by magic tricks. The magician bases many magic tricks on entertainment misdirections. Most people can perform card magic tricks once the dealer secrets are revealed. The following card shuffle is a basic magic trick that a beginner can easily learn. 

The Riffle Shuffle Defined

The Riffle Shuffle is a flashy shuffle used in many card tricks by magicians. This shuffle is the foundation for most card tricks. The deck is divided into to halves and returned to one stack.

Holding the Deck and Other Tips

Card brands vary in weight and size, therefore, it is best to use the same brand all the time. The card deck should be held in the right hand facing down with the middle and ring fingers along the top short edge and the thumb along the bottom short edge. Slightly curl the ring finger over the back of the cards slightly touching the face of the bottom cards and press the cards in with the middle finger. The thumb should touch only the end of the deck, not the face.

Split the Deck

Apply slight pressure to the back of the cards. This pressure will cause the cards to bend slightly. Release half the cards slow and steady utilizing the thumb. Hold the cards in place with the middle and ring finger. If there is a problem with the cards falling, readjust the position of the middle and ring fingers to better hold the cards. Utilize the middle and index finger of the left hand to lift the cards on the table. Hold this half of the cards in the left hand in the same position as the other half of the deck is positioned in the right hand. 

Actual Shuffle

Face each half towards the other with the backs of the cards facing the palms of each hand. Push the index finger of each hand against the back of the cards so that the cards are slightly bent. Release the cards with the thumbs simultaneously so that the cards in the left hand overlap the cards in the right hand by about one inch. Practice this step until the cards release smoothly one card behind the other from alternating hands. Push upward with the index finger from the bottom of the stack on either side. The cards will flick into place interlaced into one stack.