The One-Handed Cut

The One-Handed Cut is an essential card sleight of hand for serious magicians. The move allows you to cut the deck in half using only one hand. It looks cool, and it’s a necessary move for more some of the more advanced card tricks.

How to do the One-Handed Cut

This move will take some practice, but not as much as other other sleight of hand moves. However, it will be worth it. You can incorporate it into your existing tricks or into future ones you learn. Even if the move isn’t necessary, it adds an extra bit of flair when you add it in.

Step 1: The Elevated Mechanics Grip

To do the move, you’re going to have to get into the Elevated Mechanics Grip which looks like this.

elevated mechanics grip

You want the majority of pressure on the cards to be concentrated on the index finger and the pinky finger. The middle and ring fingers are there for support.

Step 2: Split The Deck in Half With Your Thumb

Afterwards, you want to cut the cards as close to the middle of the deck as possible with your thumb. To do this, you want your thumb to push the top half of the deck so that it splits into two. It should look something like this.

push off with thumb

As you push off, you want to release the pressure from your index finger. Most of the pressure should be in your thumb to cut it in half.

Step 3: The Cut

Now, you’re ready for the cut.

As you push off the top half with your thumb, release your index finger completely from the deck. The deck’s balance should be supported by the pinky. Make sure to tilt the deck slightly in the pinky’s direction for this.

Take your index finger and push the bottom half up until it hits your thumb. Release the top half so it falls to the bottom. This is what it should look like (here’s a view from the side).

push up with index finger

Here’s a visual tutorial and video of what it looks like it action