on variations of the diagonal palm shift
Here are some other variations of the diagonal palm shift.
Right Hand Steal
The Jinx, Issue 40, 1938, p. 264 / Tom Bowyer
Tom Bowyer was one of the first to put a variation of the DPS into print in The Jinx as āIndetectableā. Despite being listed as an improvement, the move itself remains rather crude, using an exaggerated diagonal jog via Erdnase to set the card into position for a right handed classic palm. The card is then stolen in a similar action to the side steal. Ā
Larry Jennings on Card & Coin Handling, 1977, p. 22 / Larry Jennings
Larry Jennings published a variant steal in 1977 under LJ Angle Steal that involved using the DPS set up to steal the card into a right modified Tenkai palm or gamblerās palm. After the card is jogged and pulled back, the card is caught between the right thumb and right palm and maneuvered out of the pack. The card lies more forward than a tenkai palm with the outer right corner ending up around the palmer side of the fourth MCP joint. The position is similar to Marloās Angle Palm position (The Tabled Palm, 1957, p. 6) or Gene Mazeās Unit Grip (Packet Switches Part Four, 1977, p. 263)Ā
The Vernon Chronicles Vol 1, 1987, p. 65 / Arthur Finley
A more refined right-handed steal from the DPS was described by Stephen Minch in the first Vernon Chronicles. After the card is diagonally jogged, the selection is moved leftward by the actions of the right thumb and left fourth finger under the cover of the right hand. The card is then stolen into right classic palm as the right hand continues its movement left to pull up the left sleeve. A clarification appeared in volume 3 of the Vernon Chronicles (1989, p. 15) and a right steal into gamblerās flat palm is also noted to be Vernonās preference.
Technical VariationsĀ
The Card Magic of LePaul, 1949, p. 61 / Paul LePaul
In The Card Magic of LePaul, a technique is described for a left handed steal. While not directly related, the technique has been championed by many as an alternative to the DPS. Briefly: the right fingers straddle the outer left corner of the protruding card, which is the significantly displaced clockwise into left hand palm as it is apparently pushed in the deck. There are however a few drawbacks to this technique: the unnatural placement and squaring actions of the right fingers, and the need for the right hand to change grips during the steal. Ā
Side Steal, 1957, p 45 / Ed Marlo
Ed Marlo published a variation in lieu of the DPS in Side Steal coined āThe Diagonal Stealā. Similar to LePaul technique, it uses the right second finger on the outer left corner of the card to achieve a similar clockwise rotation of the selection into left palm. The movement of the right fingers is less obvious and the right hand retains its grip using Marloās āPinchā technique. Ā
Complete Works of Derek Dingle, 1982, p. 105 & 172 / Derek Dingle
In Complete Works, Richard Kaufman describes a technique of Derek Dingleās to steal a peeked card into the left hand. While labelled as the āPeek Twist DPSā, it is more aptly described as a side steal. The move retains neither the diagonal jog nor the rotational action used for the steal. Instead, a peeked card is side-jogged via the classic side steal action and then the entire deck is rotated moving the protruding card into palm position. Also of note is a technique published in the same volume under āTechnical Refinement of LJās Angle Palm Stealā that uses the left thumb to eliminate the action of the right forefinger. Note that this is similar to Vernonās technique in Revelations (1984).
Zarrow: A Lifetime of Magic, 2008, p. 347 / Herb Zarrow
Most of Zarrowās work outside of his eponymous shuffle remains largely unknown. In David Benās gargantuan tome, his variation of the DPS is recorded. In summary, instead of raising the deck to the fingertips, the shift is performed with the deck held in mechanicās grip. The fork of the left thumb or the interphalangeal joint is used to catch the right outer corner of the selection and bring it backwards to initiate the steal. Ā Ā
MagicCon 2010, 2010, p. 8 / Derek Delgaudio
Borrowing similar mechanics from Jacob Daley, Derek Delgaudio published an idea in his MagicCon lecture notes where the DPS can be performed from peek with a deck wrapped in an elastic band with no variation in technique.Ā Ā
Multiple Card HandlingĀ
Jack McMillen, 2011, p. 252 / Paul Chosse
Doing the DPS with multiple cards poses numerous issues, one of which being that the cards do not remain in alignment throughout the rotation into palm. Charlie Miller used to pose this as a challenge to young magicians. A solution of Paul Chosseās was posted years ago on the Magic CafĆ© and subsequently published in Jack McMillen. Briefly: combining the actions of the Erdnase bottom palm, method one, with the DPS, after the cards and jogged and begin their rotation, when the cards are parallel with the deck, the right fourth finger slides along the right long edge of the deck and pushes the cards backwards, lessening the degree of rotation required for the palm. Ā
Card Men, 2014, p. 60 / Ricky Smith
Taking a different approach, Ricky Smith publishes his variation in Dan and Daveās Card Men. Without disclosing his technique, the cards are simply displaced during the selection process and stolen together as a block.Ā Ā
CoversĀ
The Lost Tapes Vol. 2, 1984 / Earl Nelson
In Earl Nelsonās technical study of the DPS, he includes an all-around-square-up after the steal as a covering action for the DPS.
Jack McMillen, 2011, p. 252 / Paul Chosse
One of Paul Chosseās covers for the DPS was published in Jack McMillen in 2011. The technique is described in an earlier post, but briefly: after the steal, the deck is given an all-around-square-up. As the former inner end of the pack is rotated to the ceiling, the right thumb riffles the ends to bring attention to the deck and away from the dirty hand. Ā Ā
Ricky Smith on the Diagonal Palm Shift, 2015 / Dorian Rhodell
Ā In Ricky Smithās video tutorial on the DPS, he includes an exceedingly clever cover of Dorian Rhodellās that uses a pen to keep the dirty hand in motion.