Very good point.

I just attended a lecture by Karl Hein. He has a DVD devoted to false shuffles. His Heinstein Shuffle is very good. Here's a link: http://www.karlhein.com/

Ted

@BarryFernelius, unfortunately the link to the video doesn't work :/

@mrehula, I agree with you, the more the false shuffles you do look like real shuffles you also do the more deceptive they are. I don't have Simply Simon yet, I'm already working on the false shuffles from Green's Masterfile, I'll see that later. I also do perform my false shuffles at other moments, it really helps.

Sorry about that. Perhaps the video isn't viewable in France.?

Other folks: did the link work for you?

I didn't work earlier but now it does I do it more angled than he does, is that a problem?

It's not necessarily a problem. If it leads you to slide the cards from both packets forward in a way that looks nothing like a real shuffle, just to provide cover, it could be a problem. Remember, I've never seen you execute this sleight!

JJ Sanvert is another person who does the Zarrow shuffle beautifully: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0rAKSNyb7tk

Could I send you a link with a video of me performing it by PM? It would be great.

I'd be happy to take a look at your video. I look forward to your PM.

Here's one more link to a video of a Zarrow Shuffle, being done by none other than Herb Zarrow himself:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ly7xf0FccvI

I don't know how you intend to use the false shuffles, but one characteristic that the false shuffles (also cuts and heap cuts) from Lennart Green that I like it is that they don't look "normal" shuffles. If you can take advantage of that in the design of your trick it is really powerful.

Also, as it has been well pointed above, the gaze and the way you interact with the audience are important. But be careful. Interacting on the wrong time or manner could have the opposite effect, the audience is not sure whether you have shuffled, or is a foggy memory. It's like they didn't see the tricky part of the shuffle but neither the shuffle itself.

Tamariz calls the attention to the shuffle in a subtle manner, to make sure everybody remember the deck is really shuffled. In his show it goes something like this: he asks people, while doing a false riffle shuffle, "How do you call this action", when he gets the answer "shuffle" (or any other) he changes to a false overhand shuffle and asks again "How about this one?" and maybe people respond "To mix the cards". Everybody will remember the cards were mixed, but at the same time asking questions to the audience, and look them at the eyes is strong misdirection.

This relates with what I said above about Lennart Green's shuffles. Because they are "strange" they are able to compose an image that stays in the audience's visual memory.

eetu,

Thanks for that response. I have been remiss and failed to check your response until just today. My bad. And, of course, my apologies for such poor manners.

Mike