Why You Do Not Play Cards with Strangers

[Zzzptm]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TwFIJyWKs1k

 

[Typhon]

I have seen card mechanics before, but he is the best.  Most of those maneuvers are done with touch, but I still don't understand how he can keep track of what he is doing without sight.  It reminds me of the great chess players who can play a blindfold game.  Truly incredible. 

[Zzzptm]

I saw another Penn and Teller discussion where they mentioned how Turner has extensive preparation on his decks. Let's just say it's not a fresh deck...

But even so, this is prep down to being able to tell if you've got 26 or 27 cards in a cut by the weight of the cards and noticing the cards by how they're filed on the sides.

I like how he says procrastination and laziness are bigger handicaps than being blind.

[Typhon]

There is no doubt that he prepares his decks.  This is standard practice for card mechanics and magicians.  But Turner was performing a terrific false shuffle to start his tricks.

false shuffle - mixing up the cards in such a way as to make it appear they are being rearranged, when in fact the deck winds up in the same order from when you started.

I can do a mild false shuffle, but nothing to the extent of this guy.  He also uses the Bee brand playing cards, because they have the diamond pattern backs.  It makes it much more difficult to detect slight-of-hand moves with that pattern, rather than using the Bicycle brand, for example, which has a white border around the edge.

[Zzzptm]

I did not know the back pattern made a difference. Now that you mention it, it makes sense...