Twirl
Poker amateurs may have first seen this trick when Gus Hansen performed it on an episode of the World Poker Tour. Dutch Boyd and countless others have also done it during World Series of Poker episodes. It is one of the hardest tricks to learn, but one of the most fun to do. Other popular names for the twirl are “chip spin” or “chip twirl.”
Before you begin
Trick Difficulty - 3
Chips needed - 3
There are variations that use more than 3 chips, which I’ll discuss later.
Tutorial
Start by holding 3 chips between the index and ring fingers (perpendicular to the fingers), with the middle finger bracing the back of the chips. The grip is exactly the same as when you start the thumb flip. The chips shouldn’t be any closer to the finger tips than a half an inch.
Using the thumb, loosen the two outer chips. Only the middle chip is still held firmly with the index and ring fingers. Once loose, pull these two outer chips up with your thumb so that they are held by the thumb and index finger.
You can also view this as pulling the single chip down and out with the ring finger.
This next section is different from the way that you will see most people do the twirl, but I believe it’s easier this way. I’ll discuss the other variation at the end of the tutorial.
As the ring finger pulls away and the chip rolls along the index finger, bring up the pinky to grab the bottom of the chip. Once you have a firm hold, remove the ring finger from the chip.
Place your middle and ring fingers on the edge of the chip held by the index finger and pinky. Bend these two fingers in towards the palm, spinning the chip 180 degrees in the process by using the index finger and pinky as axis points.
By using two fingers to spin the chip, you have more control.
Once the chip is perpendicular to the fingers, carefully pull the middle and ring fingers out. With your pinky roll the chip along the index finger and back up. At the same time, the thumb helps to bring the outer chips down so that the single chip gets inserted back in between the two.
This trick has several hard parts. Seperating the outside chips from the middle chip can be difficult the first few times you try. Spinning the chip, but keeping it in place between your fingers can get extremely frustrating at times. Stay patient, keep practicing, and you’ll catch on.
Variations
After pulling out the middle chip, a lot of people like to keep it between the ring and index fingers. They then spin it with only the middle finger. I’ve found this method to be more difficult. By bringing up the pinky and using it as an axis, you are able to get more distance between the two groups of chips, making it easier to complete the spin. I’ve also found it to be more stable to spin the chip with two fingers instead of one and this would not be possible if you didn’t use the pinky as an axis.
Once you can easily spin the middle chip, try using a total of 4 chips. Pull the two inside chips out and spin them both before inserting them back in the between the outer chips. Or take 5 chips, only pulling out one and spinning it.
Comment #30 by Mike
November 1st, 2004 @ 5:03 PM
I tried this trick many times and i could almost get it but the twirl screws me every time because i dont have much room to spin it…..could my hands be too small for this trick??? btw wicked site
Comment #29 by Matt Ridings
October 29th, 2004 @ 2:59 PM
For some reason this trick came easy to me where even some of the level 1 tricks took more practice for me.
In regards to the chip falling out during the twirl. It typically is an issue of not spinning on the center point, you’re literally spinning the chip out of your hand because it isn’t turning on its center axis.
Simply hold a chip between your thumb and first finger and spin it and you’ll see what I mean. Once you get the feel for the center axis then do the trick but this time take note of where your spin chip contact points are on your thumb and pinky (I find the thumb contact more important) and if your spin chip is lining up vertically to the ground before spinning.
Comment #28 by Wilson Hsieh
October 28th, 2004 @ 4:01 AM
is this the same trick that is shown in the begining of the clip of the world poker tour?
and can u do it that fast?
Comment #27 by Wilson Hsieh
October 28th, 2004 @ 3:43 AM
wow…ur site is great…
is there anyway i could d/l these videos?
Comment #26 by pllplp
October 26th, 2004 @ 11:49 PM
I found that i couldn’t get the chips to seperate right, I found out that if i did the thum flip first it would set up right into the position for this move.
Comment #25 by aaron
October 26th, 2004 @ 9:29 PM
see, what i find difficult is to bring the middle chip far enough away from the 2 other chips so that they dont hit eachother when i spin the middle. this happens and then they all just fall out of my hand, someone pls help me with this.
Comment #24 by Ryan
October 26th, 2004 @ 10:52 AM
Finally got this one. Took a 4-hour car trip both ways to be able to do it right, but I got it.
Congrats on the blogger tourney win BTW.
Comment #23 by bob h
October 26th, 2004 @ 1:33 AM
Like many of the prev comments, I have had trouble with the twirl - what works for me is to have my pinkie touching my thumb as I start to separate the chips - this seems to get the chip in the most stable position between my index finger and pinkie when I spread the chips - I also use only my middle (social) finger for the twirl - I do not have enough flexibility in the first joint of my ring finger - a plus here is that my ring finger can add some support during the twirl - great site!!! and yes, it takes a lot of practice to do most of these tricks consistently
Comment #22 by Ty
October 25th, 2004 @ 2:08 PM
Possibly the best Poker Chip trick site on the net. I tell all my friends. The twirl. Best trick in poker.
Comment #21 by Matt
October 21st, 2004 @ 9:19 PM
I got the trick down I just don’t do it the same way as this site shows. I hold the three with my thumb and index, then put my middle finger under the furthest chip in. Then I loosen my grip on the three chips and the middle chip drops onto my ring finger. Then I just transfer it to my pinky so it is between the pinky and index. Then I have my middle and ring finger for spin and support. I learned in a couple of minutes. Try it out.