Figure 1

Start with four face down cards. Reverse the third card from the top. This will be the concealed card during the counting action.  Figure 1

Grip the packet with the left hand fingertips with the thumb on top of the long side at the center and the fingers underneath the packet. Pinching the fingers together at the edge of the cards holds the packet.

The right fingertips grip the right long edge in the same fashion as the left. Slide the top card of the packet  to the right with the right thumb and fingertips. When the card clears the packet, move the right hand back towards the packet so the card goes under the packet in the left hand.  Figure 2

Now the next two actions happen simultaneously. As the right hand card goes under the packet, the top two cards of the packet are pushed to the right by the left thumb. This action is made easy by pinching the thumb and fingers together. With practice the two cards will stay aligned. When the right hand card contacts the left fingers, it is retained while the right fingers move away with the top two cards.   This action is exposed in Figure 3 to the left.

The right hand returns to the packet, allowing the cards to go underneath. The left thumb pushes the top card over to the right as the right fingers grip it. The right hand moves away taking all three cards with the previous top card of the packet going on top of the cards in the right hand. Repeat for the last card still in the left hand.

The order of the cards is three face down cards followed by a face up card.

Mechanic's Grip (right side pictures)

It is also popular to count the packet from a mechanics grip. With the packet in the left hand dealing position, grip the back right corner with the right fingers. Using the left thumb, pull the top card from the packet into the left hand dealing position. For the next card, pinch the right fingers on the edge of the packet to separate the top two cards, and make the switch with the card in the left hand. Continue the count with the remaining cards.

Figure 1

Figure 2

Figure 2

Figure 3 exposed

Figure 3

Figure 4

Figure 3a exposed

Figure 5

Figure 4

Figure 6

Figure 5