How to Fan Cards: In Your Hand, With One Hand, and on the Table

A smooth, even fan of cards looks like a small piece of theatre — and it is mostly technique, not talent. There are three fans worth learning: one in two hands, one in one hand, and one on the table.

The thumb fan (in your hand)

The basic fan, and the one to learn first.

1. Hold the deck face up in your left hand by its lower end, as if you were about to deal. Your thumb is on the face, near the lower left corner; your fingers are behind.
2. Place your right thumb on the face of the deck at its lower right corner.
3. Sweep your right thumb in an arc, up and to the right, pressing lightly. The cards spread out in a circle around the point where your left hand grips them.
4. Keep the pivot still. The cards should turn around the lower left corner, which stays clamped by your left thumb.

Aim for a half-circle with every index showing. Go slowly at first; speed comes on its own.

The one-handed fan

Harder, but very satisfying.

1. Hold the deck in your right hand, thumb on the face at the lower end, fingers along the back at the other side.
2. Push the cards out with your fingers while your thumb holds the pivot — the fingers sweep in an arc, spreading the cards from the back.
3. Close it by pressing against the edge of the fan with your other hand, or by reversing the motion with your fingers.

Expect a few weeks of practice. A slightly worn-in deck fans much more easily than a brand-new one.

The table spread

1. Put the deck face down on a soft surface — a card mat or a tablecloth.
2. Place your hand flat on top with your index finger along the long edge.
3. Slide your hand sideways in one movement, letting cards slip out evenly from under your finger.

The finished spread should be a long, even ribbon. Practise the pressure: too little and the cards stay clumped; too much and they shoot off the end. Then learn the turnover: lift the first card at one end and the whole spread flips like dominoes.

Hard tables are difficult; a soft surface with a little grip makes all the difference. That is why close-up performers carry a mat.

Fixing an uneven fan

• Clumps: the cards are sticking. Clean them, or use a pinch of fanning powder.
• Gaps: too much pressure from the moving thumb. Lighten up.
• Fan comes out lopsided: the pivot is moving. Grip the corner more firmly.

Which decks fan best

A fan shows off the backs and faces in a way nothing else does, so it is the best way to display a beautiful deck. Foil decks turn a fan into a sheet of gold, silver or rainbow light; transparent decks look like a fan of glass. Plastic decks fan smoothly and evenly once they are broken in. A deck that is clean, flat and slightly worn fans best of all.

Fans are a flourish rather than a trick, and the first step towards cardistry.