Since this column began in Genii back in February, I’ve written almost exclusively about tricks. This month, I’d like to take a small detour and share a false shuffle I came up with over 25 years ago—one that simulates an overhand shuffle so convincingly, you may end up fooling yourself.
The beauty of this move lies in its simplicity. Once you get the feel for it, it can be done casually, without ever glancing at your hands. In essence, it’s a Charlier Shuffle turned on its side, which makes it look exactly like the kind of clumsy overhand shuffle you’ve probably seen a layperson attempt when you hand them a deck.
For years I assumed I must have reinvented something already in the literature. But after showing it to many of the cognoscenti of magic—and researching every false overhand I’ve come across—I’ve yet to find anything quite like it. Despite Charlier’s lineage dating back to the 18th century, to the best of my knowledge this handling appears to be original.