The Faro Shuffle

This is a description of the faro shuffle technique I've always used. It follows the video clip also on the website.

Note: I am left handed, so I will use Dominant (dom) for your most used hand, and non dominant (nondom) for the weaker hand. It takes a bit of getting used to, but it's worth it in the end...

1. The deck is held in the nondom hand from above, at the near end of the long sides. The thumb is one one side, the middle and ring fingers one the other and the index finger is resting on the top.
2. The dom hand takes the other end of the deck from below, the finger positions mirroring those of the other hand. The dom index finger is curled with the nail against the face of the deck.
3. The nondom hand presses the edge of the deck against the middle and ring fingers of the dom hand to keep the deck square. The tip of the dom thumb pulls away half the deck (this is a knack, sorry) and splits the deck into a very steep V. This break is taken by the nondom thumb.
4. The dom hand now regrips the lower packet, the index finger uncurls and rests at the middle of the outer short end, so that the packet is held in a sort of horseshoe grip. 
5. The packet is now drawn forward until it clears the upper packet which is still in the nondom biddle type grip. The wrists turn slightly away from each other until the two halves are about 45 degrees to each other and the ends are tapped together. This squares them up in preparation for the weave.
6. The wrists turn back towards each other until the packets are in alignment again, and the two hands move together until the ends of the packets are touching, and as aligned as possible.
7. The nondom index finger reaches forwards and touches the middle of the two short edges where they meet. There is a slight downward pressure here keeping the packets together.
8. It is important that the dom hand holds the front packet at an angle of about 20 degrees to the rear packet. The dom hand presses it's packet slightly against the rear packet so there is the slightest bridge in the front cards.
9. As the nondom index finger releases it's pressure the dom hand drops slightly, bringing it's packet in line with the nondom hand's cards, whilst keeping the slight pressure between the two packets. The cards will weave together.

Increasing the pressure between the packets will increase the distance the cards weave together. There is a knack to this, but it is easier than it reads. Thanks for taking the time, and I hope you got something from this.

Ian Kendall
www.virtualmagicshow.com