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Cardistry: moves, decks and terms
Cardistry (say KAR-dis-tree) is the hobby of doing fancy moves with an ordinary deck of playing cards, purely for how they look: fans, springs, cuts and spreads. Nothing is hidden and nobody is meant to be fooled, which is what separates it from card magic. People who do it are called cardists.
This section teaches the moves with written steps and simple diagrams, explains the words you will meet in videos, and helps you choose decks without wasting money.
Start with these three
The moves
Each page has the grip, numbered steps, diagrams of the key positions, common mistakes, practice tips and links to free video lessons. Guides do not agree on one order for learning them. This is the order we use, and it is the order of the two-week plan in our beginner guide, with the later moves at the end.
Swing cut
Beginner. A part of the deck swings out on your thumb and drops into the other hand.
Charlier cut
Beginner. The classic one-handed cut, done with the thumb and ring finger.
Thumb fan
Beginner. Spread the deck into an even half-circle in one hand.
Waterfall
Beginner. Cards fall from one hand to the other in a smooth cascade.
The spring
Beginner to intermediate. Bend the deck so the cards arc between your hands.
Swivel cut
Next step after the swing cut. The other hand lifts a part from behind.
Riffle shuffle and bridge
The shuffle that also breaks a deck in, and the arch that closes it.
Sybil cut
Later. A harder two-handed cut with several parts, and the move many histories point to as a starting point.
Decks and gear
You can learn on any standard-size paper deck, and a cheap one you do not mind wearing out is the right choice for a beginner. When you want something made for how it moves, these pages help.
- The best cards for cardistry: decks chosen for how they move, and how to break one in.
- The best practice decks and gear for cardistry: practice decks, a mat and a book.
- Where to buy cardistry decks beyond Amazon: the makers who sell their own decks.
Words and history
- The glossary explains the cardistry words you will hear, such as flourish, Biddle grip and XCM.
- A short history of cardistry, from old card handling to the first dedicated convention.