The Expert at the Card Table
Encyclopedia
The Expert at the Card Table: The Classic Treatise on Card Manipulation, often referred to simply as Erdnase (or even, The Bible), is possibly the best book on cards and magic written in 1901 by S. W. Erdnase
, a pseudonym
ous author whose identity has remained a mystery for over a century. Although it is more a detailed manual for (or, perhaps, exposé of) card sharp
s, the book is considered to be one of the most influential works on magic or conjuring
with cards
.
Although the author did not renew the copyright, the book has remained in print since 1902, albeit small private printings on occasion. The influence of this book is such that it has been issued in annotated form; translated into Japanese, German, Spanish, French, and Italian; and issued as a series of DVDs by a professional magician, demonstrating and explaining Erdnase's techniques and methods. Among numerous demonstrations of techniques described in the book, the most comprehensive reviews of the sleight of hand
s are the same-titled DVDs published by Allan Ackerman, James Wesley and Revelations series of Dai Vernon. A featured show of the story of Expert of the Card Table is also performed regularly by UK magician Guy Hollingworth.
"The Professor" (Dai Vernon
) is credited with popularizing this influential text in the community of professional magicians. Well past ninety years of age, Vernon was fond of quoting from it, with page numbers, when discussing card techniques with his colleagues at the Magic Castle.
In Expert Card Technique, Jean Hugard
said of it, "... perhaps no other book in all the list of conjuring books has been so avidly read, so affectionately regarded." Erdnase's glossary of terms was in itself extremely influential, and has been reproduced more or less directly by numerous authors, including Hugard, and Henry Hay.
The book is divided into sections. Each section describes individual card manipulation
techniques. This article will describe the sections in précis form.
wrote the foreword to the 1995 edition. S. W. Erdnase
's preface and introduction from the 1902 edition follow.
for the advantage of the reader, magician or card sharp
.
and card cutting techniques are explained. Those are divided among eight subsections on different types of shuffles and cuts, with illustrations.
is explained. Illustrations omitted.
stocking.
The techniques Erdnase presents, with illustrations, in this section are as follows:
The techniques Erdnase presents, with illustrations, in this section are as follows:
S. W. Erdnase
S. W. Erdnase is a pseudonym used by the author of The Expert at the Card Table, a book detailing sleight of hand, cheating and legerdemain using playing cards. Still considered essential reading for any card magician, the book, known also as either the Bible or, commonly, just Erdnase, has been...
, a pseudonym
Pseudonym
A pseudonym is a name that a person assumes for a particular purpose and that differs from his or her original orthonym...
ous author whose identity has remained a mystery for over a century. Although it is more a detailed manual for (or, perhaps, exposé of) card sharp
Card sharp
A card sharp is a person who uses skill and deception to win at poker or other card games...
s, the book is considered to be one of the most influential works on magic or conjuring
Magic (illusion)
Magic is a performing art that entertains audiences by staging tricks or creating illusions of seemingly impossible or supernatural feats using natural means...
with cards
Playing card
A playing card is a piece of specially prepared heavy paper, thin cardboard, plastic-coated paper, cotton-paper blend, or thin plastic, marked with distinguishing motifs and used as one of a set for playing card games...
.
Description of the book
The author's identity remains an unsolved mystery, despite his widespread influence on the magicians' community. (See Gardner's Foreword, pp. vii-ix.)Although the author did not renew the copyright, the book has remained in print since 1902, albeit small private printings on occasion. The influence of this book is such that it has been issued in annotated form; translated into Japanese, German, Spanish, French, and Italian; and issued as a series of DVDs by a professional magician, demonstrating and explaining Erdnase's techniques and methods. Among numerous demonstrations of techniques described in the book, the most comprehensive reviews of the sleight of hand
Sleight of hand
Sleight of hand, also known as prestidigitation or legerdemain, is the set of techniques used by a magician to manipulate objects such as cards and coins secretly....
s are the same-titled DVDs published by Allan Ackerman, James Wesley and Revelations series of Dai Vernon. A featured show of the story of Expert of the Card Table is also performed regularly by UK magician Guy Hollingworth.
"The Professor" (Dai Vernon
Dai Vernon
Dai Vernon , aka The Professor, was a Canadian magician. His expert sleight-of-hand technique and extensive knowledge garnered him respect among fellow magicians. His influence was considerable in the magic world, and he was a mentor to numerous famous magicians...
) is credited with popularizing this influential text in the community of professional magicians. Well past ninety years of age, Vernon was fond of quoting from it, with page numbers, when discussing card techniques with his colleagues at the Magic Castle.
In Expert Card Technique, Jean Hugard
Jean Hugard
-History:Hugard was born John Gerard Rodney Boyce in Toowoomba, Queensland, Australia. He was a masterful performer and one of the twentieth century's most gifted writers on magic. Through his writing he brought the literature of magic up to a new, professional level.Over the course of his life he...
said of it, "... perhaps no other book in all the list of conjuring books has been so avidly read, so affectionately regarded." Erdnase's glossary of terms was in itself extremely influential, and has been reproduced more or less directly by numerous authors, including Hugard, and Henry Hay.
The book is divided into sections. Each section describes individual card manipulation
Card manipulation
Card magic is the branch of conjuring that deals with creating magical effects using a deck of playing cards. Card magic is commonplace in magical performances, especially in close up magic or parlor magic and street magic. Some of the most recognized names in this field include John Scarne, Juan...
techniques. This article will describe the sections in précis form.
Foreword, Preface, and Introduction
Martin GardnerMartin Gardner
Martin Gardner was an American mathematics and science writer specializing in recreational mathematics, but with interests encompassing micromagic, stage magic, literature , philosophy, scientific skepticism, and religion...
wrote the foreword to the 1995 edition. S. W. Erdnase
S. W. Erdnase
S. W. Erdnase is a pseudonym used by the author of The Expert at the Card Table, a book detailing sleight of hand, cheating and legerdemain using playing cards. Still considered essential reading for any card magician, the book, known also as either the Bible or, commonly, just Erdnase, has been...
's preface and introduction from the 1902 edition follow.
Card Table Artifice
Professional Secrets begins Erdnase's general discussion of card play with emphasis on card manipulationCard manipulation
Card magic is the branch of conjuring that deals with creating magical effects using a deck of playing cards. Card magic is commonplace in magical performances, especially in close up magic or parlor magic and street magic. Some of the most recognized names in this field include John Scarne, Juan...
for the advantage of the reader, magician or card sharp
Card sharp
A card sharp is a person who uses skill and deception to win at poker or other card games...
.
Technical Terms
Erdnase defines important specialty words and topics to be used throughout the remainder of the text.Erdnase System of Blind Shuffles
Sixteen shufflesShuffle
Shuffling is a procedure used to randomize a deck of playing cards to provide an element of chance in card games. Shuffling is often followed by a cut, to help ensure that the shuffler has not manipulated the outcome.-Shuffling techniques:...
and card cutting techniques are explained. Those are divided among eight subsections on different types of shuffles and cuts, with illustrations.
Top and Bottom Dealing with One Hand
The technique of bottom dealingBottom dealing
Bottom dealing or "base dealing" is a sleight of hand technique in which the bottom card from a deck of playing cards is dealt instead of the top card. It is used in card illusions, and as a method of card sharp....
is explained. Illustrations omitted.
Ordinary Methods of Stocking, Locating, and Securing
Techniques of arranging the order of the cards in the deck are explained, with illustrations. This is referred to as "stacking the deck" in modern terms. As Erdnase uses the terms, the "stock" is the portion of the full deck that has been "stacked" with "culled" cards.Stock Shuffle
Techniques of arranging the order of the cards in the deck, while shuffling, are explained, with illustrations.Erdnase System of Stock Shuffling
Seven individual techniques are discussed in detail, with illustrations. Each technique applies to a different number of cards to be stocked, from two cards to twelve and two methods of EuchreEuchre
Euchre or eucre, is a trick-taking card game most commonly played with four people in two partnerships with a deck of 24 standard playing cards. It is the game responsible for introducing the joker into modern packs; this was invented around 1860 to act as a top trump or best bower...
stocking.
Erdnase System of Cull Shuffling
Four individual culling techniques are discussed in detail, with illustrations. Each technique applies to a different number of cards to be culled. Erdnase defines culling as "the act of selecting one or more cards." The culled cards may be stocked, as described earlier in the text.To Hold the Location of Cut While Dealing Shifts
Three techniques are discussed, with illustrations.To Ascertain the Top Cards While Riffling and Reserve Them at the Bottom
The technique is discussed, with illustrations.The Player Without an Ally
The general strategies are discussed. Eight techniques for implementing the strategies are discussed in detail, with illustrations.Three Card Monte
Techniques for both European-style and Mexican-style three-card Monte are discussed, both honest and manipulated, from the viewpoint of the dealer, with illustrations.Legerdemain
Twelve sections define and discuss over thirty techniques of performance magic, with illustrations. Erdnase defines legerdemain as sleight of hand with cards, as opposed to his definition of card tricks.The techniques Erdnase presents, with illustrations, in this section are as follows:
Legerdemain (a general discussion of sleight of hand card illusions)
- Shifts
- Single-Handed Shift
- The Longitudinal Shift
- The Open Shift
- The S. W. E. Shift
- The Diagonal Palm-Shift
- The blind shuffle for securing selected card
- Forcing
- Palming
- The Back PalmBack PalmBack palm is a card sleight, in which the card is retained backwards in the hand between the little finger and the index finger. This can be used to effect a vanish....
- The Back Palm
- Changes
- The Top Change
- The Bottom Change
- The Palm Change
- The Double-Palm Change
- Transformations - two hands
- First Method
- Second Method
- Third Method
- Fourth Method
- Fifth Method
- Sixth Method
- Transformations - one hand
- First Method
- Second Method
- Blind shuffles - retaining entire order
- First Method
- Second Method
- Third Method
- Fourth Method
- Fifth Method
- Methods for determining a card thought of
- By the Riffle
- By Springing Flourish
- By the Cut
- By the Gaze
- To get sight of selected card
- The slide
- Favorite sleights for terminating tricks
- Catching Two Cards at Fingertips
- Leaving Selected Card in Hand of Spectator
- The Revolution
- Cards Rising from the Hand
Card Tricks
Fifteen card tricks are discussed. Erdnase defines card tricks as including either or both sleight of hand and self-working illusion effects. The latter do not always require legerdemain for their performance.The techniques Erdnase presents, with illustrations, in this section are as follows:
Card Tricks: Explanatory (a general discussion of card tricks)
-
- The Exclusive Coterie
- The Divining Rod
- The Invisible Flight
- Tricks with the prearranged deck
- The Traveling Cards
- The Row of Ten Cards
- The Acrobatic Jacks
- A Mind-Reading Trick
- Power of Concentrated Thought
- The Acme of Control
- The Card and Handkerchief
- The Top and Bottom Production
- The Three Aces
- The Card and Hat
External links
- The Expert at the Card Table, Conjuring Arts Research Center, 2007.