Referring to the pass, or shift as it is sometimes called, Erdnase in his book, The Expert at the Card Table, writes: " The shift has yet to be invented that can be executed by a movement appearing as coincident with card table routine." Jack Merlin agrees with this statement and writes that he has spent many weary hours trying to devise an invisible pass without success. The following pass, invented by Mr. Zingone, fullfills the requirements. In his hands, performing at the table, the pass is imperceptible. Here are the moves:
1. The pack having been cut, pick up the original lower portion by the ends between the right thumb and second finger, the other three fingers resting on the end but taking no part in the grip.
2. Place this half of the pack on the original upper half and, in drawing the pack off the table, secure a break between the two packets by pressing a minute portion of the flesh of the ball of the second finger between them.
3. Place the third finger against the outer end of the lower packet and hold it against the thumb at the inner end, (Fig. 1).
4. Bring the left hand, palm upwards, over to the right hand and, in the act of placing the pack in it and moving both hands towards the left, grip the outer left corner of the upper packet with the left thumb and draw the lower packet towards the right with the right thumb and third finger, (Fig. 2).
5. Raise the right side of the lower packet and press downwards on the upper packet with the left thumb until the packets clear one another,
(Fig. 3). Bring the packets together, remove the right hand, continue the motion of the left hand to the left and deal the top card with the left hand.
The moves are not difficult but a good deal of practice will be required to execute them with the deftness of the originator.