10 Levels of Sleight of Hand: Cheating at Poker

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NOTE:
Obviously, this video contains a series of gambling demonstrations meant to be at least semi-accurate, but mostly entertaining. This is NOT meant to be an instructional video on how to cheat at cards or on how to protect yourself from cheating. Don't watch this video and then try this stuff in a game or think you can’t be cheated. I make these videos for entertainment so that people can more deeply appreciate the craft and the art of sleight-of-hand. If you find this stuff interesting, go check out the work of people like Steve Forte, Jason England, Richard Turner, Darwin Ortiz, and Jason Ladanye. If you want to learn how to protect yourself at the card table, check out “Casino Game Protection,” “Poker Protection,” and “Gambling Protection Series” by Steve Forte and “Gambling Scams” by Darwin Ortiz.

THE RULES Of TEXAS HOLD'EM:
In the video, I glossed over the rules about what players actually do with the community cards since I didn't want to get bogged down with technicalities. For those interested: using their two pocket cards and the community cards face up on the table, a player constructs the best 5-card poker hand possible. If you want to learn more about the rules of hold'em, just google the game -- it's by far the most popular version of poker these days.

CREDITS:
Level 1: this demonstration is based on a routine by Jim Swain, explained on his Miracles DVD set.
Level 2: I use a shuffle sequence created by Rod the Hop in this phase and throughout the video. It is explained in Steve Forte's books, Gambling Sleight of Hand Vols. 1 and 2.
Levels 3 & 4: these demonstrations are based off of Harry Lorayne's routine Numero Uno, released on Vol. 1 of his "Best Ever" DVD set.
Level 5: while different in method, this level is based off of ideas found throughout Jim Swain's act on the first DVD of his Miracles DVD set.
Levels 6, 7, & 8: these levels are comprised of a slight variation of Darwin Ortiz's routine Positively Fifth Street, found in his book Lessons in Card Mastery.
Levels 9 & 10: this demonstration is a (very) slight variation of the Dai Vernon Poker Demonstration, published in the Dai Vernon Book of Magic.

[DanielRoyMagic]

CREDITS:
Level 1: this demonstration is based on a routine by Jim Swain, explained on his Miracles DVD set.
Level 2: I use a shuffle sequence created by Rod the Hop in this phase and throughout the video. It is explained in Steve Forte's books, Gambling Sleight of Hand Vols. 1 and 2.
Levels 3 & 4: these demonstrations are based off of Harry Lorayne's routine Numero Uno, released on Vol. 1 of his "Best Ever" DVD set.
Level 5: while different in method, this level is based off of ideas found throughout Jim Swain's act on the first DVD of his Miracles DVD set.
Levels 6, 7, & 8: these levels are comprised of a slight variation of Darwin Ortiz's routine Positively Fifth Street, found in his book Lessons in Card Mastery.
Levels 9 & 10: this demonstration is a (very) slight variation of the Dai Vernon Poker Demonstration, published in the Dai Vernon Book of Magic.

[yekevin]

The fact that those "levels" were all done in one cut with the same cards is amazing! Great job!

[singleplayermoments]

It’s honestly kind of scary how good you are at keeping track of where cards are in the deck.

[keijokuuppa]

I've always enjoyed watching people do different things when they have absolutely mastered the skill. Skilled instrument players, rally drivers in-cam footages, strongmen, E-sports player montages etc. you name it...If you can do it at the top level (whatever it is) its incredible. But magic tricks has always been its own tier. Well done sir. This is just something what I can't imagine how much practise and patience it would take to reach this level... How the f... is this possible?? Mad respect.

[jimmeade]

If I ever see you in a poker game, I'll just fold every hand. :-)

[rolfbuchner]

I would have drawn a card with the quad 2's. There's no downside, and it helps obfuscate the hand. If you stand pat then you're telegraphing a very strong hand. If you draw, then there's more ambiguity.

[praevasc]

wow, it's not just a demonstration of skill, but also of perfect memory! Even if I was able to do all the moves, I wouldn't be able keep track of all those cards for the finale!

[guifrombr]

10 levels of why my friends don't let me shuffle the cards

[wsp]

Even though I have a rough clue how many of the things are done in theory, this is just so damn smooth. Thanks Daniel and keep the non-shorts videos up pls :-)

[BlackaneseCantRap]

Daniel I work in cybersecurity and you might make me change professions. I’ve been watching your videos for over a year and your sleight of hand is top notch! Keep going KING!

[dimitreze]

this is impressive
so next level that looks inhuman

[SalamanderLSF]

I used to think that the proper play with four of a kind is to discard one card. Now I know the proper play is to fold.

[kirbymarchbarcena]

DEALER: You're a cheater
CHEATER: I prefer "Smooth criminal"

[AndyCotgreave]

Single take routines are so effective on YouTube. Well done!

[xygomorphic]

Poor Daniel. He's the world's best card shuffler and nobody ever asks him to shuffle.

[chriscoetzee]

Some of your best yet Daniel, astonishing!

[honeyloops]

Holy s***, this was disgustingly good.

(I came from Tom Scott’s newsletter)

[turtlerecords]

This was such an awesome video, I had a big smile on my face after every thing you did. You're incredible!

[towellight]

Beautiful as always.

How I would have handled the discard/draw phase at the end:

The first hand, I agree with the discard because it is too unlikely to go for the straight because the numbers are far enough away.
Second hand, also agree.
The third hand however, personally I would have discarded the 5 because I would want the rest of the table to think I was fishing for a straight, flush, or full house.
Also for the fourth player, the sucker who cut the deck nicely for you, with 5 players at the table, and having 2-3 extra cards taken, that would mean 27-28 cards are in play. I wouldn't risk getting rid of all my other cards and hoping for a jack or another pair. I probably would have kept the 9 and hoped for a jack or a 9.

[mycroft_moriarty]

I have been obsessed with magic since I was a small child. I have learned all manner of slight of hand, and though I'm still only okay at it, I've seen may skilled masters of slight of hand, and you are among the finest I've seen in quite a while! Your dead cuts are flawless!