Knuckle Roll
I first saw Dutch Boyd perform this trick during the 2003 World Series of Poker. You may have also seen this trick on “The Nuts” during the 2004 WSOP, where Antonio Esfandiari was doing it extremely fast with both hands at the same time. This trick can be tough to learn, but it always looks cool. When the knuckle roll is done fast enough, the chip looks like it floats over the fingers.
Before you begin
Trick Difficulty - 3
Chips needed - 1
Tutorial
Start the trick with the chip laying flat up against the side of the index finger and your thumb holding it there, slightly behind the 2nd knuckle.
With your thumb, push the chip up and onto the top of the index finger. Raise the middle finger up and over the edge of the chip. Lower the middle finger, pulling the chip down with it. The chip will lodge itself between the index and middle fingers so that it is standing straight up. Continue to lower the middle finger, allowing the chip to flip onto the top of this finger.
Repeat the process with the next finger. Raise the ring finger up and over the edge of the chip. Lower the ring finger, pulling the chip down with it. The chip will lodge itself between the middle and ring fingers so that it is standing straight up. Continue to lower the ring ringer, allowing the chip to flip onto the top of the ring finger.
Continue in the same fashion by raising the pinky up and over the edge of the chip. Lower the pinky, pulling the chip down with it.
At this point you have options. You can allow the chip to lodge itself between the ring and pinky fingers so that it is standing straight up. If you do this, you’ll then want to reverse the entire process to roll the chip back to where it started.
You can also let the chip drop down between the ring finger and pinky, catching it with your thumb. When you catch the chip, you want to have the flat part of the chip laying on your thumb. Balance the chip on the thumb and bring it back underneath all of the fingers. Raise the chip up against the index finger, where the trick can be repeated over and over again.
The knuckle roll is a nice trick to learn because it can be done in a long loop, always returning the chip back to where it started so that the trick can continue.
Comment #10 by Brent
October 22nd, 2004 @ 4:48 PM
oh yeah you should have Pokerroom.com as a link.
It is the best online poker site ive seen.
Comment #9 by Brent
October 22nd, 2004 @ 4:33 PM
This is one of the easier tricks. I even taught my ten year old son to do it.
Great site!!!!
Comment #8 by Frankthetank
October 22nd, 2004 @ 2:47 PM
I can do this trick with pennies, dimes, nickles and quarters. I have the coin go all the way down to the pinky and i slide it under my hand and bring it back up with my thumb and roll it again. I just started playing poker recently and I find it difficult to pull off with poker chips. It’s because the chip is much bigger. I’ll keep at it.
Comment #7 by YAH
October 22nd, 2004 @ 2:23 PM
this site is easy
Comment #6 by BlakeM
October 21st, 2004 @ 2:59 PM
This trick is hard but the best way to learn is to sit there while your watching TV to grab a chip and practice. Try to do it whatever way feels the most natural thats how I learned.
Comment #5 by ryan jarvis
October 7th, 2004 @ 3:57 PM
wow this trick is hard
Comment #4 by Roger
October 5th, 2004 @ 12:04 AM
I have been practicing this trick for like 2 hours, and I’m getting better at it, but I’m still unable to do it fast!
Great site by the way.
Cheers!
Comment #3 by Nick
October 3rd, 2004 @ 10:10 AM
What’s that one? The one from Rounders?
Comment #2 by Don Diego
October 3rd, 2004 @ 1:24 AM
Hey great website. I thought you might want to add the “Johnny Chan” trick
Comment #1 by Kam
September 27th, 2004 @ 12:32 PM
I’ve tried this with regular coins (as opposed to poker chips), and noticed that if you curl your fingers the coin doesn’t fall through your fingers as easily. Maybe that works the same for poker chips(?).
Just a thought