Under-spread Cull
The Secret to Moving Cards in Plain Sight
Imagine the spectator just finished shuffling the deck themselves. You take it back and spread the cards to show they did a good job. In those three seconds, you've already moved the Ace of Spades to the top without anyone noticing. This is the power of the cull. It lets you organize the deck right under their noses while you're supposedly just showing them the cards are mixed.
How the Under-spread Cull Works
The cards you're spreading act as a shield. While the audience looks at the faces of the cards, your fingers are busy underneath. By using your middle and ring fingers, you "steal" the card you need and slide it along the bottom of the spread. It stays hidden until you square up the deck, at which point the card is exactly where you want it.
What You'll Learn
You'll start with the single card cull. This is perfect for when you need to force a specific card later or if you just need to find a spectator's selection. You'll learn the exact finger positioning needed to make the steal invisible. Julio shows you how to use your thumb as a guide and how to keep the spread moving naturally so it doesn't look like you're doing anything suspicious.
Once you have the basic move down, you'll move on to culling multiple cards. This is how you find all four Aces or any group of cards in one go. You'll learn how to use both hands to make sure the cards don't get blocked as you slide them underneath. It’s a smooth, fluid motion that makes you look like a pro.
About Julio Ribera
Julio Ribera is a Spanish magician and digital creator known for his direct, practical approach to magic. With over 1.5 million followers, he knows how to teach moves that actually work in the real world. He focuses on "learning by doing," so you'll be practicing the move right alongside him.
What's Included
- The mechanics of the single card cull
- How to use your middle and ring fingers to "steal" a card invisibly
- Techniques for culling multiple cards in one pass
- Using both hands to keep the cards from getting stuck
- Tips for keeping the spread natural and fluid
- Exposed view demonstrations to see exactly what's happening underneath
Frequently Asked Questions
What angles work for this?
The cull is very safe from the front and top. Since the work happens underneath the spread, as long as you don't tilt the bottom of the deck toward the audience, they won't see a thing.
Can I do this surrounded?
Yes. If you keep the deck slightly tilted toward yourself and don't let people look up from under your hands, it's completely hidden.
How much practice does this take?
The basic move is simple, but making it smooth takes some practice. You'll need to build a little muscle memory in your middle and ring fingers so the "steal" doesn't cause a hitch in your spread.