Core Card Skills
Within this section you will find tutorials on the key skills that any card magician needs - starting with the most basic, and progressing up to more complex actions.
Glimpse / Peek
Difficulty level: 1
This video shows 6 ways to secretly glimpse the bottom card of the deck.
The glimpse is needed for a variety of different routines in Magic School.
Basic overhand shuffle control
Difficulty level: 1
This tutorial explains how to control a card from the top to the bottom of the deck, and back to the top again.
Cutting A Card To The Top
Difficulty level: 2
This is a simple control used to move a card from the centre (with a break) to the top, under the pretence of making a few cuts of the deck.
Cutting A Card To The Bottom
Difficulty level: 2
This is a simple control used to move a card from the centre (with a break) to the bottom, under the pretence of making a few cuts of the deck.
The Double Undercut
Difficulty level: 2
This is a staple technique for card magicians used to control a card from the centre of the deck to the top with a couple of cuts.
Maintaining Top / Bottom Card
Difficulty level: 2
This is a simple, deceptive way to keep control of the top or bottom playing card during an overhand shuffle.
The Injog Shuffle Control
Difficulty level: 2
This is a classic way of controlling one playing card from the centre to the top of the deck.
Swing cut 1
Difficulty level: 2
This is a way of cutting cards during a shuffle which looks quite fluid, and can be used in shuffle controls as you will see further down.
Swing cut 2
Difficulty level: 2
This is another variation which can be used as a flourish, as well as a cut, and is used in the following shuffle controls.
Shuffle Control Sequence 1
Difficulty level: 3
This controls one playing card using the following methods: shuffle from top to bottom and back again, retain the card on the bottom during an overhand shuffle, riffle shuffle maintaining the top card, and finally the injog shuffle control.
Shuffle Control Sequence 2
Difficulty level: 2
This controls one playing card using the following methods: swing cut 1, swing cut 2, riffle shuffle, swing cut 1, swing cut 2.
Shuffle Control Sequence 3
Difficulty level: 3
This controls one playing card using the following methods: swing cut 1, swing cut 2, Charlier Cut with a break, swing cut 2.
The Double Lift
Difficulty level: 3
This sleight, as the name suggests, is where two playing cards are turned as one. It is an important move with many variations and applications. This is the classic sleight as taught in the Royal Road to Card Magic.
Classic Palm
Difficulty level: 3
Palming is an essential sleight. This version, from the Royal Road to Card Magic is the classic version. There are various others and we will discuss them in turn.
The Top Change
Difficulty level: 3
This versatile move is used to switch one card for another. Like the double lift, and the palm, this is a really important sleight that every card worker should master.
The Glide
Difficulty level: 3
There are various ways to perform the Glide or Slide, and it has a range of applications. This is the classic version as described in The Royal Road to Card Magic.
Elastic Band Card Reveal
Difficulty level: 2
Having controlled a card to the bottom of the pack, you can use this stunning reveal with an elastic band.
​
See previous tutorial above:
Cutting A Card To The Bottom
Elmsley Count
Difficulty level: 3
The Elmsley Count, invented by Alex Elmsley, is one of the most important and useful moves in card magic. It requires practice to make it smooth and convincing.
​
See also Twisting the Aces and French Twist in the Live Video Classes section.
Ascanio Spread
Difficulty level: 3
The Ascanio spread is a useful sleight to show a number of cards and keep one hidden, or reveal a card in a visual way.
​
See also Cannibal Kings in the Live Zoom Classes (2020) section.