Who has the best looking Bottom? - Who has the quietest Bottom? - Who has the most deceptive Bottom?

And so the crude analogy ends. Bottom Dealing crops up a lot around here, if not in "The Workers" section, then certainly over at "The Gambling Spot". I've created this thread in the hope of getting amateurs and professionals alike to share their deals - for better or for worse - with the Café community; take it as a study group if you will.

I've put the thread over here because not all Bottom Deals are suited for gaming artifice. I hope to see a whole variety of deals, whether they’re designed for magic, gambling, or both. Got a quirky grip or technique? Share it here.

Lets be open minded and cordial in our criticisms of one another. There is always going to be a massive gap between the newbie and the proficient dealer; the transition from one to the other is slllooooowwww. Unfortunately, there doesn't seem to be much wiggle-room in the midst of these two extremes – a reason why so many people give up on their Bottom Deals. I sure as hell know that I still have a long way to go...

So, to give the thread some shape here are a set of basic guidelines for posting your videos:


1. Anything is allowed as long as it is a genuine Bottom Deal. No pseudo-deals.

2. Let’s stick to posting only Bottom Deals.

3. Tell us about your Bottom Deal experience.

4. Tell us about your Bottom Deal technique.

5. What do YOU think needs improving? This gives outsiders a basis with which to critique.


I’ll get the ball rolling with my Bottom Deal:


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=655c5oGIVgw

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E9NnF7Je95Y


I’ve been working at this one for nearly a year now. I’m using a modified Erdnase Grip. The forefinger snuggles against the middle finger, lending the deck extra diagonal support. Also, the deck sits “deeper” in my hand than traditionally advocated - for me it just feels right this way. It is not too difficult to get into Marlo’s Master grip from this position. The deal I’m demonstrating is a push-out technique. It’s not however, the technique described by Erdnase in "The Expert at the Card Table". It’s essentially the loosening action described by Ed Marlo in "Seconds, Centers, Bottoms". A while ago, Jason England told me that the loosening action he uses when dealing from Erdnase keeps the fingertips “above” the deck; I can only assume that this is the type of action he was hinting at.

Areas for improvement: finger flutter and Bottom flatulence (sorry couldn't resist that one). The noise created when I pull the bottom card out is slightly different to my genuine top deals. I don't think that this is a major problem, but some may beg to differ. The knuckle flash is more worrying. My pinky sometimes likes to leap into the "lock and load" position required to buckle the bottom card. I'm working on amending this through slow practise, it's tough.

I know that there are some good base dealers around these parts, so please join in! It could turn into a uesful thread for future reference. If not then sorry, you're all going to be stuck with my mediocrity. .

Bottoms up!

Zac

PS - I don't want to expose anything, but because this is a help thread there might be a few close calls. The mods can decide whether or not it needs to be moved over to "The Secret Sessions" later - assuming that people actually respond!

A note on the videos: The quality isn't great, but oh well. I tried shooting them from a "fair" angle. From the far left, the loosening action would be completely hidden. From the far right, it would be much easier to see... Just because that's the nature of the beast. So a frontal view seemed like a good compromise.

This one:

http://www.arnoldmcdonald.org/code/main.php?p=6200000 : Cheating (technique) / Bottom Dealing (Still Fingers)

looks good .

Nice...I wanna play. I'm working emergency 'til Wednesday, maybe I can get a video together afterwards.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2YTpEly7ZfU

Older video, but they worked in game.
I use Gene Maze grip/modified Erdnase grip, never been called on using a funky grip.

Yup, no worries, join in.

To the other guys, good stuff! I like the Maze style bottom deal. I don't think that the dead thumb is an issue... as long as you're consistent. Looks good to me, but maybe the flash can be minimised a bit more?

Awesome bottom deal AMcD. For how many years have you been false dealing for?

Zac

I didn't worry too much about it at the time. The flash is a long time ago and these were the bottoms I prefered (reshooted though) when I was playing homegame and illegal tournament pokergames. Been caught on them only twice and that is quite a good record.

If you do magician demonstrations, yes the deal needs to be perfect. But I used that particular bottom because of the cover from the front, the loosening action (cards aren't always Bee quality in brand new deck order and you can't afford a hanger) and the overall tight grip.

For demoing purposes I use Gene Maze strike bottoms. Maybe I can shoot a video of those? If you would like that?

Thanks for your advice!
Kind regards

Thanks.

I don't practice bottom dealing anymore as I no longer use it. I don't think the one I show here has ever been described somewhere. If you pay attention it's a mix of different bottom deals. I have other variants. Met pet one is, I think, even better but, sorry, I want show it here.

Looks good to me anyway! Well done!

Is it a joke? I've never written that... Anyway, you might have understood "My pet one" and "I won't"...

What? lol... "I want show it here..." sounds much more like "I want TO show it here" ha ha

Erdnase27 yeah definately, get a demo up, I'd like to see the Maze Strike deal!

Hey

Vincero suggested me to put my bottom dealing video, into this thread.
So here it is:

http://youtu.be/3RqwerZNO1U

I hope to get some constructive criticism; to help me on my path on being a better bottom dealer.

Can you shoot a video of you doing the move from multiple angles from a little bit higher distance. It is difficult to give feedback on this, but I want to do it
From what I can see there, remember that if you apply a moving thumb for normal deals, the thumb should move also when doing the base deal. For the rest a very nice tempo and good feel to it!
keep on going

Beat this one:

http://www.arnoldmcdonald.org/code/main.php?p=6200000 / Cheating (technique) / Bottom Dealing (Worn Deck)

I sure cannot beat that bottom deal.

You are using a "strike" bottom deal right?

By the way I love your work. Keep it up!

I could see every bottom deal but that is not the point. It would most definately fly in any homegame. It looks super casual. I really like it!

It flied for years my friend .

Don't forget though that the deck I just used in that short video is worn, very worn.

Thanks for your comments.

Ye I know that for sure instantly
Most decks are worn in casual pokergames and you can't get away there with some less skilled bottom deals then the one depicted by AmCd (aka: they're very good! ). Higher stakes mostly make use of more professional casino cut cards (and no, bicycle and bee cards are no quality casino brand cards, think plastic cards like KEM etc)and a cutcard.

Sensational! Excellent work.

Is this limited to a deal action or would something like Sankey's Witchita Slip work as well?