How to Make a False Cut for Magicians

Magicians use false cuts to make it appear that they are mixing up the cards in a deck before performing a trick. However, the cards are actually still in their original position, which helps when you are working with a fixed or pre-arranged deck. Keep reading to learn two different false cuts that magicians use.

Instructions

Difficulty: Easy

Things You’ll Need:

• Deck of playing cards

Variation 1

1. Hold the deck face down in your left hand. Using your right hand, grasp the bottom portion of the deck and pull it out.
2. Tap the side of the bottom half on the top half that is still in your left hand. Place the bottom half of the deck on the table.
3. Take the top half of the deck from your left hand with your right hand and place it back on top of the bottom half. Remember that you will need to do this false cut very quickly to make it realistic.

Variation 2

4. Grasp the deck face down in your left hand. The short sides should be pointing toward your middle finger and your wrist.
5. Remove the bottom third of the deck with your right hand and place it on top of the deck perpendicular to it. Take out the middle third, which was originally the top third, keeping the perpendicular portion on top. Again, do this with your right hand. An easy way to do this is to place your right index finger on top, and grasp the short ends of the middle portion with your thumb and middle finger.
6. Turn your right hand clockwise and slide the perpendicular pile back under the deck where it was to begin with. Return the portion that was originally on the top back to the top.

Tips & Warnings

• Knowing and using different false cuts will add variation to your routine.