@
Main Contents
Poker Chip Tricks 101: The Center Cut
The center cut is a popular poker chip trick. This is often done by many professional poker players in tournaments. This trick is really not that difficult, but a good control of the fingers is needed. The center cut is also great in combination with other poker chip tricks, like the chip jump and chip shuffling.
The idea of the center cut is simple: using a single hand and without touching the table, a number of chips from the middle of your stack are cut to the top of your stack. This is actually a cool poker chip trick to do while waiting for your turn. Here is a step-by-step guide to doing the center cut.
1. Begin with a single stack of 15 chips. Less than this number and it will be difficult, more than this and it will be unstable.
2. Form your middle, ring, and pinky finger into a tripod. With these fingers, cut a section of four to five chips from the top of the stack. Apply just enough pressure to make sure that the chips won't fall off. Also, create a space such that an edge of the section is facing your index finger.
3. Lift the section up. With your index finger and thumb, cut another section of four to five chips from the main stack. Make sure that none of your fingers are touching the table. Lift this section up too.
4. By moving your hand, place the section held by your pinky, ring, and middle finger on top of the stack.
5. While you are putting the first section on top of the stack, lift up the section held by your index finger and thumb such that it would be placed on top of the first section.
6. With your thumb, roll the chips towards your palm and arrange them so that their edges are even.
7. Repeat the process as many times as you like. Or you could cut the chips and do a chip jump and chip shuffle.
The center cut is really easy to do once you make your fingers and hand more comfortable. Try to practice holding the chips first with your fingers before proceeding. We would really like to emphasize that the only way to do this is to practice, practice, and practice some more. Learn other poker chip tricks to use in combination with the center cut in order to have a more masterful and intimidating pastime at the table.