THE FARO SHUFFLE 4. Start the weave at the bottom of the

deck in a manner similar to Figure 38 or Figure 49 if you prefer.

5. Once the cards are partially

let the cards riffle off the thumbs as shown in Figure 53 which is the shuffle in action.

Figure 53

6. Note how the fourth fingers of each hand support the cards that have been riffled off. After the completion of the shuffle, the cards will be as in Figure 54 with the cards held between the three fingers on bottom and thumbs and the forefingers on top.

Figure 54

You will that as the shuffle is complete, the cards will actually slip into the position shown in Figure 54.

8. From here, push the cards further into each other and get into position for the Spring Shuffle Flourish to conclude the shuffle.

9. All previous variations in technique as applied to the Faro Riffle Shuffle on the table can also be applied to the one done in the hands.

10. On the Table Faro Riffle Shuffle when having trouble starting a weave, bringing both thumbs closer together

will sometimes be of great help, espe-cially with very soft packs that may have lost some of their required ten-sion.

Before going into the other phases of the Faro Shuffle, it may be well to men-tion that an End Faro can at times be very disarming. In fact all previously explained techniques and variations can be applied to it. In the illustration, Figure 55, an End Faro of the riffle shuffle type is shown so that the stu-dent can see what is meant by this.

Figure 55

Almost all the Faro Aids previously mentioned can be used or applied to the Faro Riffle Shuffle. If the Faro Riffle Shuffle should hang up, caused usual-ly by sticky cards, a slight back and forth movement of the packets as the riffle progresses, will be found to be helpful. However, such action must only be as a last resort and one must not make it a habit.

The Butt Faro

The Butt type Faro is all done on the table This one shuffle, while it can be made perfectly, offers little control as far as making it either an In or Out Shuffle. For this reason it is best used only when definite In or Out Shuffles are not required.

1. Place the deck face down on the table.

2. Grasp deck at the extreme ends between the thumbs, second and third fingers of both hands. The tips of fourth fingers rest at the ends of the cards while both forefingers are curled on top of the deck.

169 PARTIAL FARO CHECK

Figure 56

3. With right thumb break the pack at 26, then butt the two ends of the pack-ets against each other as shown in Figure 56, a top view.

4. If you have not cut the deck perfect-ly, you will find that one half or the other will be slightly higher. In this case, return the deck to its original position and either cut less, or more, cards as required. Then butt the ends together again. Note the fourth fingers are still at the ends of the deck.

5. With the aid of the fingers, raise the packets like a tent, the fourth fingers at the ends aiding in this by an inward pressure as seen in Figure 57 where you will note that the tent is only raised very slightly at center as the outer ends rest on the table.

Figure 57

6. Just when the cards are raised to the position in Figure the forefin-gers of both hands press downwards on the tops of their respective packets to start weaving as in Figure 58.

7. Once the cards are the deck is squared up in the conventional man-ner and the Butt Shuffle repeated.

As has been mentioned the above shuf-fle does not give a definite control of In

or Out Shuffles but it is fast and casual looking. Where it is required to only partially control a card, or group of it could be kept in mind espe-cially in the case of the Faro Throw-Off.

Figure 58

We now come to the part of the chapter that will be found to contain new Faro terms with some original approaches in regards to the Faro Shuffle. As I have already explained the 26th Card Faro Check, this section might just as well start with the Partial Faro Check.

Partial Faro Check

This is a method of using the Partial Faro Shuffle Check in order to quickly get two or three packets of cards the same number of cards in each packet. Note that the Fourth Finger Table is used to advantage here.

Hold the deck as in Figure 1 and with the right thumb cut off approxi-mately a dozen cards, then

them as in Figure 59.

Figure 59

2. Now lift up on the right hand portion as in Figure 60 so that the left fourth finger can enter and hold a break below the cards lifted up by the weave.

170

THE FARO SHUFFLE

3. Unweave the right hand packet and drop this packet to the table. The left fourth finger retains a break below the cards originally lifted as in Figure 61.

Figure 61

4. With the right hand cut off the cards above the break and repeat the Partial Faro Check as per Steps 2 and 3, Figures 59 through 61.

5. Cut at the third packet, which is also dropped to the table, and you have three packets of cards each with the same number of cards.

Use of this Partial Faro Check is made in the next chapter of the current vol-ume; Faro Notes.

Another method of doing the Partial Faro Check is that similar to the Table Faro Shuffle. In this case, the right thumb lifts up the cards as the left thumb moves in to obtain the break. The r i g h t hand can now unweave its cards while the left thumb maintains the break. A repetition of these actions will give the same results.

Before proceeding with the next Faro term it must be understood that an In Shuffle will double the numeric posi-tion of a card while an Out Shuffle will double the position of the card minus one. In other words, a card at the fourth position will become the 8th card after an In Shuffle and the 7th position after an Out Shuffle. Also, In Shuffles or Out Shuffles can be made with a card in either the top or bottom half of the pack.

Obviously in the case of a single card, any method that would give quick In and Out Shuffles, without having to always cut 26, would be quite useful.

The method to be described is not only useful but will also serve as a Throw-Off.

Throw-Off Faro - Top

1. First assume that a card is some-where near the top part of the deck.

Figure 62

2. Cut off a small packet of cards from the top being sure it includes the need-ed card.

3. Weave the small packet of cards into the larger one as in Figure

4. The right hand pushes the cards in as far as they will then it changes position to come over the top of the deck in order to push the cards flush at the ends.

5. As the fingers push the cards flush, the right fingers press down on the front end of the cards thus causing the

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