What is a good card peek to learn?
- Thread starter NLNP
- Start date
I always just tell the spectator, "...Now place the card in the middle of the pack." as I cut the cards to the middle, extending my index finger, to casually point at the center of the bottom portion of the pack, (which is face down, of course). Meanwhile, by the action of rotating my wrist to point at the bottom portion of the deck (maybe giving it a bit of a quick "tap" even), I can catch a momentary glimpse of the bottom card of the top half of the deck of cards, which has it's face towards me, right in front of me; can't miss it. I simply memorize that card as the spectator does what I say and places their card on top of the bottom half of the deck of cards. Once I place the top half on top of the bottom half, I now know that the card I have memorized will be directly to the right of the spectator's card, when I fan the cards in my left hand from left to right. But BEFORE I do that, I give the deck of cards a bunch of real cuts as I make small talk with the spectator. This reinforces in their minds that the deck of cards really is getting all kinds of mixed up. In truth though, the order of the cards doesn't really change; if the card I memorized ends up on the bottom of the deck, then the spectators card is now on top of the deck. (I love it when that happens!) 
--Muolidae the Magician
--Muolidae the Magician
I may have a suggestion of two for you NLNP, but it would be helpful to know what you would need and use the peek for?
Whenever I glimpse a card, I usually just go for the index. One of my go-to peeks is a mid-performance peek, where I slightly peel back the top card and glimpse the index as I'm raising the pack.
Another good peek can be accomplished any time the deck needs to be squared. I injog the top card as I turn it on its side to square, and glimps the index then.
There is also the bottom peek, easily accomplished by tilting the hand ever so slightly to barely see the face. All are very useful to me.
A general tip on peeking: only glimpse enough of the card to glean information necessary. Seeing the whole face isn't often necessary.
Another good peek can be accomplished any time the deck needs to be squared. I injog the top card as I turn it on its side to square, and glimps the index then.
There is also the bottom peek, easily accomplished by tilting the hand ever so slightly to barely see the face. All are very useful to me.
A general tip on peeking: only glimpse enough of the card to glean information necessary. Seeing the whole face isn't often necessary.