Trick Terminology (A-F)

Biddle Move: -- Move used to bring selected card to the bottom of the
deck. Click on title for complete description.
Bottom Charge: -- Move used to change cards. Click on title for complete
description.
Break -- A slight opening secretly held in a deck of cards.
Breather Crimp -- The Breather crimp is a special type of "pyramid" crimp
put into a card. It's good because it's not really detectable like the standard
crimp is--but it's harder to put into the card and requires a little privacy. The
breather crimp is an undetectable crimp that can be put on a card at a
moments notice, and is an extremely powerful weapon in the card conjurors
arsenal.
Book Pass Force -- The book-pass force is where you do an overhand shuffle
(take a group of cards then throw them on the other pile, you do this
repeatedly) except you hold the top card and keep it on top. This will leave
the selected card on top.
Bridge-Sized Deck -- A deck of cards slightly smaller than a poker deck,
measuring 2-1/4’ wide. Bridge-size cards are frequently used and give the
magician an advantage in certain tricks becauseof their smaller width.
Card Discovery -- The climax or end of many card tricks during which the
spectator’s card is revealed or produced in a “magical” manner.
Card Location -- Any method that allows the magician to find or locate a
selected card after it has been returned to the pack.
Conjurer -- A magician
Control -- Any method that allows the performer to move a particular card or
cards to a specific location in the pack.
Crimp -- This involves putting a bend or crease in a playing card in such a
way that you are able to locate it in the deck by feel alone. The crimp can be
put anywhere on the card, but the corners or long sides are generally used.
You can crimp the card simply by bending the corner slightly upwards when
showng it. You can also crimp the side of a card by squeezing it gently at the
side between the thumb and forefinger. Basically, any (subtle) identifying
bend or crease in a playing card qualifies as a crimp.
Cut Deck -- Magician pulls a deck of cards out of a box showing that the
deck is cut in half! (from upper right corner to lower left corner). Magician
claims that he/she performed at a restaurant a while ago, and when he was
showing a trick to the cook that required him to cut the deck, he took it
literally and chopped the deck in half. Now, the spectator fans the left half and
asks the spectator to point to a card. That card is removed and given to the
spectator. The spectator then fans the right half and asks another spectator to
point to a card. That card is removed and given to the other spectator. The
spectators are then asked to place their cards face down on the table. The
magician takes their cards and puts them together, showing an exact match on
the back of the cards. They are flipped over and revealed to be the 2 matching
sections of one card!!!!!!
Do As I Do -- When you have the spectator do the same things as you do.
Double Cut Force -- The double cut force is a way of forcing the top card
of the deck. Click on Title for complete description.
Double Lift -- This is were the two top cards are drawn up to be shown as
one card alone. A fingerbreak between the two top cards before the
sleight is executed, is very nice. Otherwise it requires really light fingers.
Click on title for complete description.
Double Sided Cards -- Simply a double sided card which you can buy or
make for many good effects.
Double Undercut -- Card Control used to return a card back to the top of
the deck. Click on title for complete description.
Effect -- A sleight or trick
Elmsley Count/Elmsley Pass -- This is a sleight-of-hand manuever that can
be done ambidexterously. It is not as hard as a 'parallel pull', but it takes much
more grace and skill than a Hindu Shuffle, if that puts this sleights difficulty
into perspective. Click on title for complete description.
Face -- The face of a card shows its value and suit.
Face Cards, Picture cards, or Court Cards -- All of the jacks, queens, and
kings.
False Cut -- Any cut that leaves the deck in the same order as it was before
the cut.
False Shuffle -- Any shuffle that leaves the deck in the same order as it was
before the shuffle. Click on title for complete description.
Faro Shuffle -- The faro, also known as the weave shuffle is a technique that
perfectly interlaces the cards. It is not a false shuffle, but properly speaking a
controlled shuffle. The shuffle can be made in the hands, or on the table
which gives it the appearance of a tabled riffle shuffle. The in the hands
method is, by far, the easier of the two and I will describe the method that I
use. Click on title for complete description.
*Finger Break -- Move used to return to cards easily. Click on title for
complete description.
Flash -- Allowing the spectator to briefly see the face of any card.
Flourish -- A display of skill with cards. Usually not a trick but an important
part of a trick like one handed cut, fan, and ribbon spread.
Force -- Causing a spectator to select a particular card or cards when the
spectator thinks the choice was freely made. Click on title for complete
description.
List of Forces in Card Trick Central: Glide Force, Double Cut
Force, Dribble Force, Spread Cull Force, 20 Count Force,
etc... (Click on definition to go to force page...)
Free Choice -- When a spectator really has a free choice, no force.

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