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jaschris Loyal user 262 Posts 
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After 22 years of working with the cards, a few difficult moves that I am proud of conquering are the Pinky Count, the Diagonal Palm Shift and the Hot Shot Cut. Three moves that I would love to be able to do but can't are the Clip Shift, the One Handed Bottom Palm and the Ambitious Riser. Anyone else like to chime in with their moves? By the way, if anyone can do any of these three moves that I wish I could do, was the time and effort worth it? I'm thinking I want to take another stab at learning one of them. I have the learning sources. Just curious about the experiences of others?
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Kjellstrom Inner circle Sweden, Scandinavia, Europe 5355 Posts
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The most difficult move I do is One handed perfect faro shuffle.
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critter Inner circle Spokane, WA 3307 Posts
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Depends on the definition of "can do." Can I do an Erdnase one handed shift without dropping the cards? Yes. Can I do it safely in front of people? No
I've got a pretty good DPS thanks to Ricky Smith's tutorial and a lot of reading and practicing. I have done that in front of people and not been caught. It's not the hardest move, but I worked hard on it. I do think there's something beautiful about improving the most basic sleights to their higher levels. Like a break is as basic as it gets, allegedly, but to get, hold, and transfer, an ultra fine break that's truly invisible (be honest) takes work. If we go outside of cards the Roth palm to palm transfer was pretty hardcore. Almost everything I do "could be better" but I'll probably always feel that way. I would very much like to be able to do some of the fancy one-handed waterfall shuffles I've seen. I don't think I'd use them much, but I'd like to know them anyway.
Typhoon Tuck
"As soon as you have succeeded at making a sustainable fire, your thoughts should turn to how you are going to start your next fire" ~Mors Kochanski "Work hard, study well, eat and sleep plenty. That's the Turtle Hermit way!" |
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davidpaul$ Inner circle Georgetown, South Carolina 3400 Posts
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Brings back memories of wanting desperately to learn Daryl's
Hot Shot Cut as well as the one handed Riffle Shuffle. I succeeded MONTHS later. But, that wasn't enough, I wanted to accomplish both moves with both hands. Much more difficult but I got it. Yes it was very rewarding for me. Worth the time, frustration, almost giving up but I was determined. I use both moves in some performances. (To show off) I'd like to get my Classic Pass down as good as Jonathan Kamm. I'm getting there. Yes the Ambitious Riser by Ray Cosby and his other card moves seem unachievable. I'll have to revisit his Impossible Card Magic Dvd.
Guilt will betray you before technique betrays you!
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lemonjug Loyal user 294 Posts
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Roadrunner cull. Bought the DVD when it came out all those years ago, but only managed to get it down recently.
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k2aust New user 51 Posts
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I'm with you, the diagonal palm shift is probably the hardest for me, or my double lift. I'd love to learn a better bottom deal.
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critter Inner circle Spokane, WA 3307 Posts
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Quote:
On Jan 29, 2026, critter wrote: Update, I started working on the one-handed shuffle. There's progress but it's got a LONG way to go.
Typhoon Tuck
"As soon as you have succeeded at making a sustainable fire, your thoughts should turn to how you are going to start your next fire" ~Mors Kochanski "Work hard, study well, eat and sleep plenty. That's the Turtle Hermit way!" |
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davidpaul$ Inner circle Georgetown, South Carolina 3400 Posts
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Try doing the shuffle with the cards face up initially. Someone I knew was struggling with the move and he watched me do it. He said " Oh,you start off with the cards face up!" Shortly after he got it. Not saying this is the problem,just an fyi.
Guilt will betray you before technique betrays you!
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critter Inner circle Spokane, WA 3307 Posts
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Quote:
On Feb 6, 2026, davidpaul$ wrote: Thanks, I was actually playing around with just that idea. The weave is where I can't hit it consistently. But I've only been doing it for two days so it would be a miracle if I were already good at it. 
Typhoon Tuck
"As soon as you have succeeded at making a sustainable fire, your thoughts should turn to how you are going to start your next fire" ~Mors Kochanski "Work hard, study well, eat and sleep plenty. That's the Turtle Hermit way!" |
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Bob G Inner circle 3293 Posts
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The hardest move that I can do -- in the sense that I'm working on it and am on a streak of improving it -- is the Erdnase/Houdini change. I can actually do it pretty well with a mechanical back and forth movement, but what I really want is an approximation to Elliot Terral or Curtis Lee's versions, in which there's a lot of curving and it really looks like the magi is performing arcane gestures over the deck and then one card just melts away and becomes another.
I've worked a lot on the spread cull, including taking virtual lessons with an excellent magician/teacher, but it still eludes me. Someday I'll try again and hopefully it will click in. |
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korttihai_82 Inner circle Finland 1911 Posts
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I don't believe there is hard or easy moves. There are just moves you can or cant do. Once you can do them, they are no longer hard. For someone faro, second, center, bottol deal etc might be hard. For me they are as easy as jog shuffle. Naturally this wasnt always the case.
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jaschris Loyal user 262 Posts
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Quote:
On May 2, 2026, Bob G wrote: Two good moves there Bob. The Erdnase Color Change I recall being difficult but it was one of those fancy moves I learned early on. It's all feel. The spread cull has to be one of the best utility techniques in card magic. I recommend Ian Moran's Cullfather video. The Roadrunner Cull is a popular video for this move but it's all pull and a lot of finger movement. Moran's technique is more push than pull and I think this is more deceptive. Just my two cents. I may be wrong but I think Marlo's technique was more push than pull also. |
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Bob G Inner circle 3293 Posts
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Thanks, jachris. I tried Roadrunner, too, without success. Not sure I have Cullfather, though. Maybe it's time for a fresh start!
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Nikodemus Inner circle 1546 Posts
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Quote:
On May 2, 2026, korttihai_82 wrote: I agree! I think the "hardest" sleight I use is palming a card. Technically it's not too demanding; my problem for a long time was finding the cajones to do it. But once you succeed a few times, it gets easier to just do it. |
| The Magic Cafe Forum Index » » The workers » » The hardest card moves you can do and some you wish you could do. (3 Likes) | |
Posted: Jan 29, 2026 09:08 am 
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