Herrmann pass - Wikiwand

The Herrmann pass (also Herrmann shift) is a sleight of hand move used to control cards. This style of the move is different from the Classic Pass.

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The sleight is named after Alexander Herrmann or his brother Compars (Carl) Herrmann and one of the earliest publications of the move was in Stanyon's Serial Lessons in Conjuring. This is supposed to be Herrmann's actual handling of the move.

The Herrmann pass differs from the Classic Pass as it is the bottom packet which is taken to the top, not the top packet that is taken to the bottom. There are numerous variations of this pass, including the Invisible Turnover Pass (also known as the midnight shift), published in 1940 by Jean Hugard^[1], and the Spread Pass, published in 1967 by Lewis Ganson^[2].

According to the Austrian magician Magic Christian, author of Non Plus Ulta — Hofzinser's Card Artistry, the Herrmann pass is erroneously named after Alexander Herrmann or his brother Compars (Carl) Herrmann. In reality, Johann Nepomuk Hofzinser was the inventor of the sleight. In his book, where the pass is explained in detail, Christian writes "It is hoped that, after the publication of this book, the Herrmann pass will come to be correctly known as the Hofzinser pass."

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[1]
"Turnover Pass". www.conjuringarchive.com. Retrieved 2025-05-18.
[2]
"Brent Braun presents The Miller Table Spread Pass (Instant Download)". Penguin Magic. Retrieved 2025-05-18.