question on 2nd deal

[vvccy]

Hi everyone,

I am new here and hope to find idea on the 2nd deal that i have been learning. I discover when trying to do the deal, sometimes my thumb is slippery(even my hand is dry) and sometimes it not. So if during an impromptu card trick and if I wanna do a 2nd deal, what the best way to make sure my thumb is not slippery?

 

[Donatas.S]

Just lick your thumb secretly and your problem is over

 

[Silver]

Just lick your thumb secretly and your problem is over

Not always feasible, especially if the OP needs to do the 2nd deal repeatedly.

You can rub some moisturizer on your hands, which should last a bit longer. E sells something that bank tellers rub on their hands to count money easier. It will detract from the life of your cards, but it works. Stop by your bank and ask i they have any.

My hand condition fluctuates as well, but they get a little tackier as I perform just due to the added stress of doing a show, however big or small. If this happens to you as well, just don't do the 2nd deal immediately in your act.

 

[TeeDee]

There are two schools of thought on this.

Walter Scott thought that the answer was to practice with decks in all conditions, with your hands in various levels of moistness so that you're ready on all occasions.

Erdnase and Richard Turner both favour(ed) the use of lotion to keep your hands soft and in optimum condition. Something that I've never tried, but is apparently done is to rub your fingertips with papaya or pinapple juice to, effectively, tenderise them, and increase their sensitivity. I imagine that might sting a bit though.

 

[WitchDocIsIn]

This depends on if you're doing the strike or the push off second. If you're doing a push off, Expert Card Technique by Hugard and Braue has some great information on how to get a consistent push off right at the beginning.

If it's a strike, then you have two choices. Change the condition of your hands, or change the way you execute the move. The stuff Silver is talking about is 'Sortkwik" which can be purchased at office supply stores for not much. Like $5 for 3 little containers about the diameter of a silver dollar but about half an inch deep.

Personally I prefer to practice with my hands in a variety of conditions so that I never have to use something extra. I moisturize my hands every now and then because I live in a really hot place and they get dried out, but I really don't like the feeling of lotion on my hands. Thus I work the deck while my hands are dry and just figure out how to make it work.

Experiment, tweak, adjust. There is no one 'right' way, whatever way works for you is the right way.

 

[vvccy]

WOW! I m so glad that I can get some professional advice in here. Thanks everyone. Just one more thing, all this while I have been learning the strike second. Is it better if i learn the push off second as well? Because I have been thinking of just focus on one until get really really good on it then would be ok. But since different weather will effect the condition of the hand and the thumb, at times strike second may not be 100% executable, so at that time push off might be more feasible. Should I think that way?

 

[WitchDocIsIn]

Think however you want.

I personally think you should learn as much as possible. There are situations where the push off is more appropriate, there are situations where the strike is more appropriate.

 

[Silver]

Think however you want.

I personally think you should learn as much as possible. There are situations where the push off is more appropriate, there are situations where the strike is more appropriate.

Yes, but the most important thing is to make the deal smooth and natural. You need to deal 2nds as you deal tops, and without breaking your normal dealing rythmn.

As much of a fan I am of the Scott 2nd, it's not how most people deal cards, including myself. Therefore, I essentially relearned how to deal cards in strike manner and now always deal this way as to not arouse suspicion.

 

[TeeDee]

As much of a fan I am of the Scott 2nd, it's not how most people deal cards, including myself. Therefore, I essentially relearned how to deal cards in strike manner and now always deal this way as to not arouse suspicion.

Scott's deal is a strike second. Did you mean something different?

 

[Silver]

Nope. I was just interchanging the two in my post. I wanted to learn the Scott 2nd, so in order to do so, I starting dealing in his method regularly instead of my normal pushoff method.

 

[TeeDee]

Nope. I was just interchanging the two in my post. I wanted to learn the Scott 2nd, so in order to do so, I starting dealing in his method regularly instead of my normal pushoff method.

Ahhh....sorry, I misunderstood.