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The Magic Cafe Forum Index :: Magic Stage Left :: Left Handed Sleights? (1 Like) Printer Friendly Version

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supremefiction
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An idle question for a rainy day . . . for right-handers, are there any sleights that manifest themselves by using the left hand instead of the right as the primary hand?

A little difficult to explain.

For example, a pivot cut is usually: deck face down in right hand Biddle grip, first finger on top, thumb at the back and remaining three fingers at the front. Left hand approaches, left first finger pivots the top half into the waiting left palm, right hand drops the remaining half on top of left hand.

If this was done in a mirrored position--deck face down in left hand Biddle grip, first finger on top, thumb at the back and remaining three fingers at the front; right hand approaches, right first finger pivots the top half into the waiting right palm, left hand drops the remaining half on top of right hand--does this somehow give rise to an opportunity for a false cut?

Likewise, would certain palms or peeks habitually done from the right hand be easier/better/novel if begun from the left hand rather than the right hand?

The metaphor (in a way) is the reverse spread or "losing control." Similar motion but mirrored.

Interested to hear also from any left handers out there.
Tilman
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Changing hands / changing sides opens up many interesting possibilities, some related to presentation and blocking, some to technique.

Spreading a face-up deck from right-hand dealing grip into left hand will orient the indices so they are legible to your audience.
Techniques for secret glimpses usually depend on the hand (changing hands would lead to glimpsing a non-index corner). Darwin Ortiz has a beautiful glimpse that only works from a right-handed dealing grip.
Ambidextrous handling of the deck (using sometimes one, sometimes the other hand for the same position/grip/move) expands possibilities further.
Example: A very efficient reversal of top card(s) to bottom of deck by using right hand first for end grip from above, later as deck-holding hand from below. (Since this is an open forum, I will leave it at that.)
PressureFan
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Darwin Ortiz, the Sinister Glimpse. So named because it only works left handed.
He uses in Maximum Risk, Shark Attack, and The Zen Master.
Cain
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For card sleights, lefties have an advantage when using pseudo-duplicates. If you want to use the 4D as a dupe for a 5D (say in ACR), you can cover the index with the tip of your index finger whilst pushing the card flush. There's also the reverse-fan. Allan Ackerman learned how to make a fan "left-handed" for some of its hideout advantages.
Ellusionst discussing the Arcane Playing cards: "Michaelangelo took four years to create the Sistine Chapel masterpiece... these took five."

Calvin from Calvin and Hobbes: "You know Einstein got bad grades as a kid? Well, mine are even worse!"
supremefiction
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Very helpful, thank you to all.
jaschris
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Obvious answer is fanning. I am left handed and can do a left handed fan where the cards appear to be blank. Though, I actually do a right handed fan better because that is normally what is demanded. However, if you happen to be left handed it is a pleasure to learn from Bill Malone or Darwin Ortiz videos because both of them are left handed. All the "learn from books" diehards don't appreciate how difficult it is for left handers to learn sleight of hand technique from books. And on that note, if you're into coins, Eric Jones is a master who happens to be left handed.