Of all the things I’ve created in magic over the years, the Reverse Cull is the one magicians most often approach me about at conventions to say they use regularly. The original explanation of it is on Kostya Kimlat’s Roadrunner Cull Vol. 2, but it has evolved significantly since then. The handling is more deceptive, the thinking is clearer, and I realized it has never been properly written up, let alone formally published. It feels long overdue.
I’m going to teach the sleight in two phases: The Wrong Way and The Right Way. I recommend learning The Wrong Way first, then upgrading once you’re comfortable. Here’s a video demonstration of each of these ideas:
To be clear, The Wrong Way is still very deceptive, and in my opinion still stronger than the original Hofzinser Spread Cull. That said, if you are watching the card carefully, it isn’t completely invisible.
The Right Way is a simple refinement that eliminates any visible movement of the selected card and smooths out minor tells. In teaching the move I have found it’s easier to learn the basic handling first, then layer in the improvement once the mechanics are comfortable and second nature.
The crux of the move lies in a slightly unconventional way of spreading the cards. It may feel odd at first if you’ve never done it, but visually it flies under the radar and arouses no suspicion.