Good evening…

A transcript of the words spoken to sound accompaniment by Juan Muñoz one evening at the BBC studios in September 1997.

Photograph by Stephen White

As on every day of the week at the same time, from Monday to Friday, we present: A Man in a Room, Gambling.

This evening we are going to show the easiest and most daring solution to a problem that has been called the card-player's 'black hole'. It is the problem of cutting.

The professional gambler knows how to fix his cards before dealing. The false riffle and the palmed top packet are just two of the many subtle tricks of the trade … But every gambler, not just a professional, can fix some cards while he is shuffling … All you have to do, as you collect the cards from the table, is remember the order of an openly discarded hand - either the discard itself or the last card played on the table … Fifteen or twenty seconds are then more than enough to arrange three cards as you shuffle … If no one at the table cuts, you just have to deal from the bottom … but people do cut … at every gambling table the pack is cut after being shuffled.

Now we will explain two ways of coming out of a cut with the cards in the same order that they had when the pack was shuffled. … the first method should be used if you are cutting for a companion … others would say a buddy - who is on your side … the second false cut if you are gambling on your own …

Now, as on every evening, take your pack of cards … shuffle it and arrange some of the cards at the top … hold the pack by the sides near the end between the thumb and middle finger of each hand … but hold the lower part with your left hand and the upper part with your right. … draw the bottom packet up and forward with your left hand … bring it towards you and drop it … move your right hand up a little and slide the upper packet back on top … the moves have to be quick and clean …

… Take the pack again … shuffle it … lay it on the table …
Cut yourself as if you were going to be your own victim … good … now pay attention to the moves … they are so simple that they need some audacity to be performed. Remember that you have to shift the cards about openly, casually and without haste … the important thing is that your movements should look quite normal.

Pay close attention … take the lower packet with your right hand and, instead of putting it on top of the other, slide it along the table up to your left hand … now, take the second packet … and put it on top in the same way …

You now have your pack cut to your own taste, so to speak.

Amazing.

Good night and thank you.