I’ve been playing poker for more than a decade and it’s a great journey and throughout this journey I have my ups and downs but I never stopped playing because I know it has given me a lot.
A very pretty true cut is made in the following manner. Seize the deck at sides, close to end, so as to expose the whole deck, between the thumb and second and third fingertips of right hand, the fingers close together, but the second fingertip coming only half way down the side. Hook up the top portion with the second fingertip so that the corner will come out free of the third finger, thus dividing the deck in two. (See Fig. 16.) Then give the hand a slight swing or jerk downward and inward, releasing the upper portion with the second finger, allowing it to fall on the table. Then drop under portion on top. In seizing the deck, if it is slid to the table edge and tilted over slightly, the thumb and fingers take hold much easier, and are certain of raising all the cards. In making this cut the deck is held but a few inches from the table, and the action must be nicely made to have the cards fall flatly. The run cut can be made in the same way, dropping the packets one on the other. The action is the same when the cut is made by seizing the ends, but it is a little more difficult. No haste should be taken. The movements should be deliberate, so that the truth of the cut is apparent. The only advantage the cut possesses is its beauty, and a possible aid at times, by giving an excuse to square up with both hands. The run cut is liable to leave the cards uneven, and a left palm hold out can be replaced in this way. The only drawback is the danger in making a display of even such simple ability.
TO INDICATE THE LOCATION FOR THE CUT
While on the subject of cuts, we shall consider the various methods by which a true cut can be made by an ally, and still leave the complete stock intact. The dealer prepares for this by making an extra cut when his shuffle is completed, and indicates by one of the following methods the point at which he wishes his ally to reverse his last action, by making a true cut.
I. This is located by the crimp. — When using the hand shuffle make an extra under-cut of about half the deck, and when throwing the under packet on top shift the right hand slightly inward and form an in-jog, the left little finger helping to hold the location between the two packets. Then turn the left hand slightly downward, bringing the right hand over on top of the deck, and seize the ends between thumb and second and third fingers, apparently to square up. As the right thumb comes against the inner end it pulls up the in-jog slightly, forming a break. (See Fig. 17.) Then with the fingers of left hand crimp, or squeeze the under packet against palm of hand so as to leave the under packet slightly concave. (See Fig. 18.) The right hand effectively conceals this action of the left. Lay the deck down perfectly square to be cut. The ally makes the cut at the ends with one hand, and locates the crimp by touch. There is little or no difficulty in finding the crimp. It is the most probable place the cut would be made, even if left to chance, and many an unsophisticated player has unconsciously cut into a crimp and aided in his own undoing. If the deck is placed before an innocent player so that his hand naturally seizes the ends, the chances are in favor of his cutting to the opening. (See Fig. 19.) A professional will calculate on this probability when his right-hand neighbor is not an ally. The mainobjection to the crimp is that the bent cards may be noticed. The dealer immediately crimps in the opposite direction when squaring up after the cut.
The same result can be achieved by putting in a convex crimp in the under portion. It is led up to in the same manner, and the first finger of the left hand aids in forming the crimp by being curled up and pressed against the under packet to bend it upwards. In this case the ally cuts at the sides, and locates the crimp accurately by pressing the second or third fingertip on the top near the outside edge. This tilts the upper packet a little, and enables the thumb to find the crimp without an instant’s hesitation. (See Fig. 20.)
Ii. This is located by the jog. —When using the hand shuffle change the position slightly so that the four fingers will lie flatly against the bottom of the deck. Make the extra under-cut and bring tips of the second and third left fingers in against and slightly above packet remaining in left hand. In throwing the right-hand packet on top, let it slide a little across the left fingertips, so that a jog is made by the bottom card or cards, which are prevented from going completely over. (See Fig. 21.) This is perfectly hidden by the right hand. Square up the deck by the ends only and lay down to be cut, thereby not disturbing the jog. The ally cuts with the left hand, seizing the upper packet by the sides, the left thumb easily and instantaneously locating the jog by touch.
The action of both players must be rapid and careless in appearance, but not hurried. The irregularity of the side edges made necessa
