Hi Everyone.

I recently decided it was time to start learning the Faro shuffle after buying a used copy of Harry Lorayne's 'Close-Up Card Magic' on Ebay.

I have also recently purchased the re-issue of Ed Marlo's 'Revolutionary Card Technique'.

My problem...Mr. Lorayne explains the correct way to do the Faro shuffle is by doing it from the top down however Mr. Marlo states that the best way to perform it is to do it from the bottom up.

I have no mentor to advise me on this. Are there any technical superiorities between the two and should I favour one method over the other?

I don’t think it matters which way you faro, it’s what works for you. I learnt to do it bottom up, just because I found it easier at the time I was learning and maybe the cards I learnt (standard bicycle riders).

The cards play a big role in the Faro Shuffle. Some cards weave better top-down, some better bottom-up. I prefer bottom-up and therefore I select cards which facilitate that. In my experience, the cards which are "traditionally cut" work best for my purposes. Traditionally cut means when the cards are cut from the sheet, they are face-up in relation to the cutting dies. This creates a slight taper on the edge of the card and that taper helps the cards to weave reliably.

The superior method isn't top-down or bottom-up but the one you can do repeatedly and reliably.

I learned the Marlo method i.e. bottom up. It turns out that there are applications of the faro that require a bottom up. It'd be good to be able to do it both ways just in case. Also of note is that the bottom up mimics a normal riffle shuffle where the bottom cards go first.

M

I always found it easier from the top down.

IF you faro from the bottom up, then Bicycle cards are suitable for this. Seems like they changed their cutting process some years ago. Phoenix faro well from the top down. Best advice: Learn it both ways. It's not that difficult to change.

If it has to be a faro from the bottom up I will just faro the cards face up with the new Bikes.

I prefer top down, but like many things you learn, it will ultimately depend on which way you start learning it and how often you practice. If it’s an incomplete Faro, then the nature of the effect might dictate whether it’s top or bottom. Whether you’re doing an in or out Faro might also affect the end you want to start with. It won’t hurt to become proficient at both, but just keep practicing. A new deck out of the box or a soiled deck will make it difficult.

ThomasJ pointed out the Incomplete Faro location. There are situations where you have to shuffle bottom up to be sure the location will work. There are workarounds, but bottom up is probably a better solution.

M

Personally, I've always preferred top down, and I use Bicycle cards. I've found that for everything I've had to use a faro shuffle for, it hasn't mattered all that much- what does matter is getting the in vs. out correct. For the FUJ Shuffle (faro utility jog) it also doesn't matter.

Scott.

Get comfortable with both. No need to handicap yourself when learning a new technique.
PS there are many effects to explore where the initial top or bottom weaves are critical.

I've found Bicycles faro better from bottom up where as Tally hos faro better top down

Thank you to everyone for your valuable advice which is much appreciated. I believe I will work on both versions and the chapters on Faro in 'Revolutionary Card Technique' will give me much to study on this sleight.

I, too, am a top-down faro guy. Just a quick note that CardShark's Phoenix deck are always standard cut so they faro perfectly top down. Another quick tip: until you get comfortable with both methods of faro, if you find a deck particularly difficult to work with, then turn it face up and try again. You will likely find everything works much easier.