Note: This is the most common variation of this trick, but I don’t know why. I find it harder than Variation 2. (See Variation 2 instructions).

• Start by holding three chips between your index finger and your thumb. The chips will be perpendicular to your fingers. Your index finger and thumb should be 180 degrees from each other on the edge of the chips.
• Reach down with your ring finger, to where your thumb is touching the chips. Use the first knuckle of your ring finger to pull out the middle chip.
• Roll the middle chip along your index finger, out from the other two chips, using your ring finger. At this point the middle chip should be completely outside the other two chips, and held between your ring finger and your index finger.
• Now, use your middle finger to rotate the chip (using your ring finger and index finger as the pivot points for the spinning chip).
• When the 180 degree spin of the chip is complete, it will be lined up with the open spot between the two outside chips. Now, just push it back in with your ring finger.

Pointers

Sometimes it’s hard to get the middle chip out with your ring finger. Try separating the three chips a little bit, before you try, or go a head and start with the middle chip pulled out a little bit.

The hard part of this trick, for me, was finishing the chip spin without it moving off of my index finger. Somehow, when I made a conscience effort to keep it on my index finger, it worked.