Counting Cards

161 entries in Cards / Sleights / Counting Cards
Creators Title Comments & References Year Source Page AA Categories
Henri Decremps Knowing the Amount of Small Pile asking amount of red / black cards
 		1785
Supplément A La Magie Blanche Dévoillée
242
Throw Packet to Count its Cards
1876
Modern Magic
50
Novel Card Discovery - First Method cards counted during spreading during selection, replaced at known position, controlled via jog shuffle
 		1909
The Art of Magic
40
T. Nelson Downs Bottom Count riffled off thumb
 		1909
The Art of Magic
145
T. Nelson Downs Fifth Method card to any number, with placement strategy to twenty-sixth
 		1909
The Art of Magic
154
Jack Merlin Thumb and Finger Counting
1927/28
Merlin's Master Manipulations
12
Jack Merlin First Method thumb count with two hands
 		1927/28
Merlin's Master Manipulations
12
Jack Merlin Second Method thumb count with one hand, also for finding a card in the center and turning it over on top
 		1927/28
Merlin's Master Manipulations
12
Jack Merlin To Place a Selected Card in a Given Position in the Pack
1927/28
Merlin's Master Manipulations
12
Jack Merlin Vibrating Cards three selection produced one handed from the middle of the deck, pulled out with the thumb one by one
 		1927/28
Merlin's Master Manipulations
13
Jack Merlin Throwing a Card in the Air and Catching in the Pack at a Chosen Number
1927/28
Merlin's Master Manipulations
14
Jack Merlin Telling the Amount of Cards Cut by a Spectator performer knows amount of cards cut to, then asks for another number and cuts that number himself
 		1927/28
Merlin's Master Miracles
8
Laurie Ireland Push-off Count see also page 22
 		1931
Ireland Writes a Book
14
Ralph W. Hull Counting Subtlety apparently forgetting to give the spectator the instruction to take a card while spreading
 		1932
"Eye-Openers"
12
David Devant The Devant "Mark-Off" how to establish break under certain number of card
 		1933
Farelli's Card Magic — Part One
55
Thumb-Counting from bottom with right thumb
 		1933
Farelli's Card Magic — Part Two
69
William Larsen The Riffle-Down quickly getting break at any small number, preparing with two breaks
Variations 1933
Page Wright's Notebook
28
Audley Walsh Thumb Count Stacking
June 1936
The Jinx (Issue 21)
122
Walter B. Gibson Master Card Location counting while spreading
 		1937
Encyclopedia of Card Tricks
331
Edward Victor The "E.V." Invisible Double Lift using a thumb count
Related to 1937
Magic of the Hands
4
Dai Vernon The Lift Get-Ready squeeze break, uncredited
Related toVariations 1940
Expert Card Technique
4
Louis Zingone The Zingone Thumbnail Gauge cutting off packet of known number
Related toVariations 1940
Expert Card Technique
114
Jean Hugard The Side Count "bubble count"
 		1940
Expert Card Technique
183
The Top Thumb Count
1940
Expert Card Technique
183
The Bottom Thumb Count three methods
 		1940
Expert Card Technique
185
The Overhand Count
1940
Expert Card Technique
186
The Lost Card how to locate a lost but known card
 		1940
Expert Card Technique
192
Determining Intervals distances between cards
 		1942
Miracle Shuffles and Tricks
4
Walter B. Gibson Pick Me Up number between one and thirty is named, an indicator card is inserted at that position and the card card named
Related to Aug. 1943
The Phoenix (Issue 41)
169
Audley Walsh Thumb Count Stacking
1943
Full Deck of Impromptu Card Tricks
7
Edward Marlo One Hand Side Count pinky count done with second finger
Related to 1945
Off the Top
7
Bert Allerton The Allerton Top Palm featuring the thumb count
 		1946
Card Control
69
Bill Gusias Gusias' Fancy Lift push off method with forefinger count
 		1947
Marlo In Spades
4
Edward Marlo Middle Finger Count
1947
Marlo In Spades
5
Arthur H. Buckley Fan Jog counting while spreading, then having a side-jog, out-jog or in-jog to mark position
 		1948
The Card Expert Entertains
61
Thumb Count From the Bottom cards spring off thumb
 		1948
The Card Expert Entertains
77
Thumb Count From Top
1948
The Card Expert Entertains
101
Counting Cards in Pocket
1948
The Card Expert Entertains
109
"Bubble Count" as a get-ready
 		1949
Stars of Magic (Vol. 5 No. 2)
78
Note on the Double Lift thumb count
 		1949
52 Amazing Card Tricks
56
Thumb Count right thumb at back of deck
 		1954/27
Tarbell Course in Magic — Volume 6
71
Edward Marlo Throw in Location thumb riffle estimation to nineteenth/twentieth position, two methods
Related toAlso published here 1955
The New Phoenix (Issue 329)
125
Tony Kardyro T. K's Master Utility Sleight deck held with both hands, top cards buckled with right first finger, inner right corners buckle up
  • The Peek
  • The Count
Variations 1955
Kardyro's Kard Konjuring
3
Edward Marlo Marlo Bottom Count cards spring off right thumb via buckling with diagonal pressure at upper left corner
 		1957
1957 Card Annual
31
Bert Allerton Nail Count using length of nail to cut off certain amount of cards
 		1958
The Close-Up Magician
37
Edward Marlo Pinky Count here credited to Marlo
Related to 1959
Seconds, Centers, Bottoms
88
James Steranko The Pinky Count
1960
Steranko on Cards
41
Charlie Miller Group Counting 2-3-2-3
 		1961
The Magic of Charles Earle Miller
35
Edward Marlo Fourth Method: Marlo's Favorite finding out how many cards a spectator cut off by cutting remainder in half and counting those
 		1962
Estimation
8
Edward Marlo The Fan Spread Estimate spread count estimation between the hands
 		1962
Estimation
22
Edward Marlo Faro Divider dividing a deck/packet into four piles with an equal number of cards
 		1964
Faro Controlled Miracles
1
Edward Marlo Off Center Faro Divider method of dividing deck in four packets of non-equal size of known number
 		1964
Faro Controlled Miracles
2
Sam Randlett Finnell's Spell as a set-up for Gene Finnell's "Spelling the Aces"
Related to Mar. 1968
Epilogue (Issue 2)
16
Edward Marlo Marlo's Double Count using partial secret incomplete faro condition to quickly place cards at wanted positions, two methods (faro and table faro)
Related to Winter 1969
Hierophant (Issue 2)
69
Pinky Count very brief
 		1970
Advanced Fingertip Control
147
Edward Marlo Marlo's Double Count second procedure "Marlo's Double Count"
Inspired by Spring 1970
Hierophant (Issue 3)
164
Thumbnail Measuring
Related to 1972
The Living End
144
Thumb Count
1972
The Living End
163
Dai Vernon Vernon's Push Card Count No. 41, counting while spreading and pushing groups of certain number of cards
 		1972
Jacob Daley's Notebooks
15
Dr. Jacob Daley Shuffle Count Break within No. 283, in-jog shuffle with two jogs and later two breaks with known number of cards between breaks
 		1972
Jacob Daley's Notebooks
71
Martin A. Nash Vernash's Aces faros and Free Cut Principle, see p. 443 for additional crediting
Related toVariations 1975
Ever So Sleightly
70
Darwin Ortiz Pinky Count Divider handling for forming packets of twelve cards each
 		1975
Afterthoughts
77
Double-Lift - Second Method thumb-count
 		1976
Now you see it, now you don't!
30
Edward Marlo Kick-Out Count counting upwards from break
Related to 1977
Marlo's Magazine — Volume 2
41
Working Behind Your Back how to minimize arm movement
 		1978
The second now you see it, now you don't!
79
Harry Lorayne Overhand-Run Finesse finesse for overhand shuffling some cards singly and putting them back on top
Related to 1979
Quantum Leaps
238
Walt Lees Thumb Count hand held upside down
 		1981
Four Professional Card Tricks
9
Wallace Lee Thumb Count hand held upside down
 		1981
The Complete Cannibal Act
14
Edward Marlo Casual Faro Divider creating four packets of equal size
Also published here 1982
Card Finesse
155
Thumb Count
1983
The New York Magic Symposium — Collection 2
71
Ross Bertram Subtle Thumb Count as Double Lift get-ready
 		1983
Bertram on Sleight of Hand
93
Edward Marlo Tabled Thumb Count mainly for riffle shuffle context
 		1984
Marlo's Magazine — Volume 5
198
Frederick Braue FB Top Count-Down (1937)
 		1985
The Fred Braue Notebooks (Issue 2)
6
Thumbcount of Cards from bottom, riffling off right thumb
 		1985
The Fred Braue Notebooks (Issue 2)
16
Larry Jennings Multiple Card Get-Ready for getting break under specific number
 		1986
The Classic Magic of Larry Jennings
60
Darwin Ortiz The Pinky Count
1988
Darwin Ortiz at the Card Table
11
Stephen Minch Push-Off Count and Pull-Down Move credit information
Related to 1988
The Vernon Chronicles — Volume 2
22
Counting while Spreading
1988
The Vernon Chronicles — Volume 2
124
Edward Marlo The Silent Count counting the spectator's deal while back is turned
 		1988
Marlo's Magazine — Volume 6
170
Edward Marlo Marlo Bottom Count buckle
 		1988
Marlo's Magazine — Volume 6
235
Edward Marlo Secret Incomplete Faro as Counting Aid counting cards in pairs
 		1989
So Soon?
24
Harry Lorayne Buckle Count from Top
1990
Trend Setters
26
Edward Marlo The Slow Silent Count counting the spectator's deal while back is turned
 		1990
That's It
61
Edward Marlo Giving 26 Cards to Spectator faro
 		May 1991
The Olram File (Issue 5)
14
Vanni Bossi Double Lifting Again
Related to 1991
Escorial 1991 — The Erdnase Year
1
T. Page Wright Chapter 5 - The Riffle Count intro
 		1991
Page Wright's Manuscript
162
T. Page Wright A Cut at Any Number using thumb count (with right hand shielding the count) and several finesses like pre-established breaks, mis-hearing and so on
 		1991
Page Wright's Manuscript
162
Edward Marlo Pinky Count credit information
 		Apr. 1992
The Olram File (Issue 11)
9
Jon Racherbaumer, Stephen Minch More on the Buckle Count corrections and additions to the article, quotes from correspondence with Stephen Minch
Inspired by Sep. 1993
The Olram File (Issue 13)
6
ブレークの作り方III (ピンキーカウント) (Forming a break: Third Method) Pinky Count
 		1993
Larry Jennings's Card Technique
16
Edward Marlo Kick-Count
June 1993
MO — Modus Operandi (Issue 2)
22
Sid Fleischman An Aside on the Thumb Count
1993
The Charlatan's Handbook
120
Vicente Canuto Contrar Cartas en Secreto secret card counting techniques
  • 1.- Por Extensión de la Baraja
  • 2.- Con el Pulgar Derecho
  • 3. Con el Pulgar Izquierdo
 		1993
Cartomagia Fundamental
127
Alex Elmsley Counting while Spreading brief
 		1994
The Collected Works of Alex Elmsley — Volume 2
64
Alex Elmsley Counting while Spreading brief
 		1994
The Collected Works of Alex Elmsley — Volume 2
183
Edward Marlo Click Count
Related to 1994
Roger's Thesaurus
85
Roger Crosthwaite Rapid Thumb Count rhythmic
Related to 1994
Roger's Thesaurus
109
Fred Robinson Overhand Run Technique running groups of two, three, four cards
Related to 1994
Wonderful Routines of Magic — The Second Addendum
91
Thumb Counting plus suggestions for management of this technique
 		1995
Card College — Volume 1
197
The Little-finger Count plus many applications
 		1995
Card College — Volume 1
201
Counting Cards in Spread
1996
Classic Sampler
71
James Swain The Unweave Revelation Faro Divider type
 		1996
Miracles with Cards
109
Karl Fulves Digit Counts on using a different finger like Dai Vernon (second) or John Scarne (third)
 		1996
The Fine Print (Issue 4)
87
Edward Marlo Kick-Count from break
 		1997
Virtual Foolery
24
Chris "Doc" Dixon A Brief Introduction to the Pinky Count
1997
Everything Is Funnier with Monkeys
99
Juan Tamariz Counting Cards in a Fan
1998
Card College — Volume 3
509
Roberto Giobbi, Roger Klause, Alex Elmsley Counting Cards while spreading them between the Hands double pushover technique
 		1998
Card College — Volume 3
510
Michael Skinner Placement Principle to any position
Also published here 1999
21st Century Card Magic
99
Dai Vernon ECT Get-Ready upwards buckling
 		1999
Mechanical Deck
22
Pinky Count brief
 		1999
Tricks of my Trade
32
Edward Marlo Kick Out Count
1999
Tricks of my Trade
71
Ellis Stanyon Overhand Shuffling a Card to Any Position No. 15, counting spread with replacement, then jog shuffle placement
 		1999
Ellis Stanyon's Best Card Tricks
284
Dai Vernon Straddle-Grip Getready
  • The Unseen Side of Dai Vernon
one-handed squeeze break
Inspired byAlso published here Dec. 1999
Genii (Vol. 62 No. 12)
60
Edward Marlo Kick Count
July 1999
Onyx (Issue 8)
14
Michael Skinner Placement Principle establishing a break at any number with faro check and overhand shuffle sequence
Also published here Nov. 2000
Genii (Vol. 63 No. 11)
29
David Malek The Pinky Count
2001
Rebel without a Pause
7
Paul Cummins Lift Get-Ready out of ECT
 		2002
FASDIU II
41
Darwin Ortiz Pinky Count Divider four equal packets of twelve cards with pinky and thumb count
 		2002
Scams & Fantasies with Cards
14
Alex Elmsley Spread Count Procedure method to count cards while spreading
 		2002
Scams & Fantasies with Cards
92
Thumb Count brief
 		2004
Mnemonica
355
Pinky Count brief
 		2004
Mnemonica
355
Aaron Shields Reduced-Tension Pinky Count two-handed
 		2004
Deviant Practices
11
Harry Riser Glimpse Count in spread
 		2006
Secrets of an Escamoteur
35
Edward Marlo Casual Faro Divider creating four packets of equal size
Also published here Aug. 2006
Antinomy (Vol. 2 No. 3)
15
Fred Robinson Overhand Run Technique shuffling off two, three or four cards as a unit at each take
Related to 2009
The Magic of Fred Robinson
128
Thumb Count
2009
The Magic of Fred Robinson
131
Aaron Fisher, Larry Jennings On Break Get-Readys pinky count comment, alternative
 		Jan. 2009
Genii (Vol. 72 No. 1)
34
Tyler Wilson Pinky Count - Credit Information
2010
Reinventing the Real
20
Roberto Giobbi To Separate a Deck at a Specific Point two methods
 		2010
Secret Agenda (Issue Jan 1)
3
Michael Weber Binary Division quickly arranging a packet of a wanted number of cards
Related toAlso published here 2010
The TAOM Intelligencer
12
Michael Weber Binary Division quickly arranging a packet of a wanted number of cards
Related toAlso published here 2011
Knew & Improved
12
Michael Weber Binary Division quickly arranging a packet of a wanted number of cards
Also published here 2011
Denverismilitude
12
John Born The Second Push Quick way of counting cards while spreading cards between hands, groups of ten
 		2012
Seeking the Bridge
55
Aaron Fisher Everybody's Favorite: the Right Thumb Count from bottom
 		Feb. 2012
Genii (Vol. 75 No. 2)
32
Aaron Fisher The Overhand Shuffle
Feb. 2012
Genii (Vol. 75 No. 2)
33
Jason Ladanye Thoughts on the Pinky Count
2013
Confident Deceptions
11
Alex Elmsley Elmsley’s 3-2-2-3 Count to count groups of ten cards effortlessly
 		2014
Applesauce
60
Denis Behr Finger Count Strategy counting cards with fingers while listening to spectator reading them off
Also published here 2015
FFFF Lecture Notes 2015
7
Patrick G. Redford Tools for the Arranged Stack brief notes
  • Secretly Counting to Cards Positions
  • False Shuffling & False Cutting
  • "Messy" Faro Shuffle Technique
  • Removing/Replacing Cards
  • Keeping the Stack Out of Phase
 		2017
Temporarily Out of Order
60
Edward Marlo Kick-Off Count
2018
The Magic of Johnny Thompson (Issue 1)
78
Johnny Thompson Pushover Glimpse bottom card of face-up deck, also near bottom via Ed Marlo's Kick-off Count
 		2018
The Magic of Johnny Thompson (Issue 1)
188
Jason Ladanye The Pinky Count explanation
 		2018
Game Changer
15
Ryan Murray Weave Count using fine incomplete faro condition to quickly riffle count to numbers
 		2018
Curious Weaving
15
Alex Elmsley, Michael Powers The Elmsley Spread Count (3-2-2-3 Technique) 3-2-2-3 (Mike Powers' Variation)
credit to Elmsley's "Brownwaves III", but it's not really in there
 		2019
Sleightly Out Of Order
242
Steve Forte First-Finger Corner Short Location first finger riffles upward in dealing grip
 		2020
Gambling Sleight Of Hand — Volume 2
944
Greg Chapman Splitting 26/26 - How to split perfectly in half using estimation (in the hands)
2020
Faro Fundamentals
20
Dai Vernon Dai Vernon's Squeeze Break
  • Two Hands
  • One Hand
Related toAlso published here 2020
Mr. Jennings Takes It Easy
49
Shimpei Katsuragawa The Pinky Count detailed discussion
  • Hand Position
  • Ways of Counting
  • Multiple Break Pinky Count
  • Pinky Count from a small packet
  • Cover for the Pinky Count
  • When to use the Pinky Count
 		2022
La Campanella
9
Dai Vernon Count from the Bottom without right thumb but left fingers instead, from private lecture notes by P. Howard Lyons
 		2022
Dai Vernon: The Spirit of Magic
86
Denis Behr Finger Count Strategy counting cards with fingers while listening to spectator reading them off
Also published here 2023
Instructions for Miracles
64
Rafael Benatar Counting Without Counting overhand shuffle run
 		Jan. 2024
Genii (Vol. 87 No. 1)
60
Rafael Benatar Deconstructing the Pinky Count: Part One
  • Thoughts...

  • Condition of the Deck
  • Guitar Grip vs. Violin Grip
  • The Pinky Count Grip
  • The Double Bevel
  • The Starting Contact Point
  • Counting or Riffling
  • How to Count
  • Acoustical Backtracking
  • Physical Cover
  • Disguising Tension
  • Other Observations
  • Splitting the Count
Related to Mar. 2024
Genii (Vol. 87 No. 3)
48
Rafael Benatar Deconstructing the Pinky Count: Part Two: The Dormant Break
  • Thoughts...

  • The Pull-Down Correction
  • The Third-Finger Count
Related to May 2024
Genii (Vol. 87 No. 5)
52
Rafael Benatar The Thumb Count
May 2024
Genii (Vol. 87 No. 5)
54
Rafael Benatar Push and Resquare
May 2024
Genii (Vol. 87 No. 5)
54
Rafael Benatar The Overhand Shuffle
May 2024
Genii (Vol. 87 No. 5)
54
Rafael Benatar Spreading and Checking
May 2024
Genii (Vol. 87 No. 5)
54
Rafael Benatar With the Deck Out of View
May 2024
Genii (Vol. 87 No. 5)
54
Rafael Benatar Practical Use
May 2024
Genii (Vol. 87 No. 5)
54
Rafael Benatar Exercises
  • For Counting Many Cards
  • For Smaller Numbers
  • For Counting to Assorted Numbers
  • Reducing and Disguising Tension
 		May 2024
Genii (Vol. 87 No. 5)
56
Edward Marlo Kick Out Count counting upwards from break
Related to 2024
All In — Volume 1
97