Johnny Chan
By popular request I’m happy to finally post the poker chip trick everyone calls the Johnny Chan trick. This trick was made popular from the movie Rounders, in which Johnny Chan played himself. While playing poker against Mike (Matt Damon’s character) in Atlantic City, Chan was shown doing this poker chip trick several times.
Before you begin
Trick Difficulty - 2
Chips needed - 6 or more
In the video and photos I used 9 chips because I have rather long fingers and big hands. Depending on the size of your fingers and hands, fewer chips may work better. This is why I suggest 6 or more poker chips.
Tutorial
Setup the trick by resting the chips in between your ring and pinky fingers. Unlike other tricks, the poker chips should be placed an an angle, leaning toward the palm. The chip closest to your the palm will actually have about half of it pressed up against the flesh of your hand. When held in the correct position, the poker chips should be resting on top of the pinky finger at a 45 degree angle and the ring finger is held behind the chips to keep them in place.
The first step is to reach your thumb down to the bottom of the chips that are closest to your finger tips. Loosen three of the chips. Once the poker chips are loose, roll them up onto the ring finger so that only the thumb and ring finger are holding these three chips.
Once you have the chips on your ring finger, continue to roll them up and onto the middle finger. At this point, your index finger should be laying on top of the middle finger. After the poker chips have rolled off of the ring finger, they will now be held by the middle finger and thumb. Keep rolling the chips up and as soon as your index finger has a handle on the chips, release your middle finger.
At this point, you’ll be controlling the three chips with your thumb and index finger only. Raise them up so the poker chips are above those left resting in between the pinky and ring fingers. When you have them high enough, slowly release pressure on the chip closest to the finger tips, allowing it to fall into place. Repeat for the two remaining chips.
When dropping each chip, it should actually roll down along the middle and ring fingers, before coming to a stop on the pinky.
After the three chips have been “dropped” into place, bring your thumb back down and repeat the trick as many times as you’d like.
Comment #9 by Hank
May 12th, 2006 @ 12:15 AM
Well the bottom chips that u drop the three on to they keep slipping what can i do to prevent that?
Comment #8 by Dave Underhill
April 1st, 2006 @ 12:18 AM
I love to see people playing with their chips at the poker table.
I know I am observing a nervous poker player. Playing with chips DOES help relieve nervous tension.
Chewing gum will do the same thing, but is less noticable - unless you chew like your life depended on it.
Ten hears in psychological operations.
Comment #7 by jim
January 5th, 2006 @ 5:13 PM
a very cool looking trick, but very easy, i think it should be in the same category as the “Pullover” and “sweep”
Comment #6 by kevin
January 3rd, 2006 @ 11:47 PM
i found this trick easer than the dificulty 1 tricks. i masterd it in less than a half hour.
Comment #5 by Colin
September 5th, 2005 @ 12:10 AM
That’s, like a difficulty 0. Super-easy.
Comment #4 by qstN
August 25th, 2005 @ 5:06 PM
Now that I’m new in the poker-world I don’t know anything about difficulities, but I’ve tried some in difficulity 1, and I couldn’t make ‘em, but I made this in first time :/
Comment #3 by Jason
August 5th, 2005 @ 2:30 PM
This trick isn’t really that hard. It should be a difficulty 2,it’s not really ‘challenging’ to pick up three chips with your thumb and drop them.
Comment #2 by Nick
May 29th, 2005 @ 10:58 AM
No can do.
Comment #1 by Sebastian
May 28th, 2005 @ 3:29 PM
Can you let me donwload the chip ticks videos?