The Bottom Change
In this form of the sleight, the card to be exchanged for the one on the top of the pack is left at the bottom of the pack. Two descriptions on how to do “the force” will be provided – the first as written by A. Roterberg, and the second by Howard Thurston.
A. Roterberg’s Description of The Bottom Change
The pack is kept in the left hand between the thumb, which is lying across the top of the cards and the first finger, which is placed at the bottom. The remaining fingers of the same hand are held loosely at the same place in readiness to receive the card to be exchanged, which is held between the second and third fingers of the right hand.
Fig 12
The hands are now brought together for an instant only. As this happens, the card in the right hand is left at the bottom of the pack, being inserted between the second and third fingers. At the same time the top card of the pack, which has been previously pushed towards the right by means of the left thumb, is quickly seized and carried away by the thumb and lower part of the first finger of the right hand (Fig. 12).
As already stated in the description of the Top Change, there must not be the slightest lingering while the hands are placed together for that very short period of time necessary to execute the change. In the same manner as the Top Change this sleight is generally accompanied and disguised by an auxiliary movement of the body from the right towards the left.
This description is from the book “Card Tricks and How To Do Them”, published by A. Roterberg.
Howard Thurston’s Description of The Change
The card to be changed is held between the first and second finger of the right hand, the pack being held in the left, with the card for which the first is to be changed slightly projecting from the top. The right hand now makes a sweeping motion, and, as it passes the pack, leaves the card at the bottom and brings away, with the thumb and first finger (see Fig. 106), the top one.
Fig 106
This may appear to the neophyte to be impossible to do without being detected, but with even a little practice it will be found that a perfect illusion can be created. If the body makes a half turn from right to left, it will greatly facilitate the deception, or if done in the act of ad-dressing a spectator, and slightly bending forward at the same time.
This description is from the book “Card Tricks” by Howard Thurston.
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