Front Cover

A PAIN IN THE ACE

AIN IN THE

You push a selected card into the middle of the deck - it
rises to the top. You push it back into the middle and flip
over the top card. Unfortunately it's not the selection.
It's an Ace. You - or a spectator - give the deck a fair cut
to bury the face up Ace in the middle. Upon spreading
the deck all four Aces are now face up together in the
middle - but there's one face down card caught in the
middle. This proves to be the awkward selection.

Inspired by Euan Bingham's "Spectator's Intuition" from his Ebook No
Pretensions II (2003). The plot of a card appearing between Aces I first
encountered in Alton Sharpe's Expert Card Mysteries (1975) - see Alan
Shaxon's "Knockout Card in Aces."

Before you begin you need to get the four Aces (or any foursome) to the top,
with the top two face down and the 3rd and 4th Aces face up.

WORKING

1. Spread, or dribble, the cards for a selection to be made. Square the deck
and set the top four cards in readiness for Tilt. This is easily achieved due to
the back-to-back situation below the 4th card. Take the selection and
apparently push it into the middle of the deck - really using Tilt to place it 5th
from the top. As you push the card home obtain a break below it.

2. You are about to flip over five cards as one, but before you have a seizure
at the very thought, try it first. Riffle the front end of the deck, saying, "By
applying a gentle upwards pressure…like this…your card will move
from the middle." Look at the audience as you finish the sentence, then
smartly flip over the five cards so they land square on the deck. The
selection is now face up on top. Push it over and give it a flick. Everything
appears as it should.

3. You now set the top two cards in readiness for Tilt. I do this one-handed
due to the face-to-face nature of the 2nd and 3rd cards. If you find this
difficult, simply hand the selection to the spectator after it rises, then use

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A PAIN IN THE ACE

both hands to set the cards.

4. Push the selection into the Tilt break and square the cards - this time
obtain a break ABOVE the selection (below the top two cards). Again riffle
the front of the deck, saying, "Once again, your card will move up to the
top." Flip over the top two cards as one. An Ace shows. Appear
disappointed at this apparent failure. Place the deck on the table.

5. "We seem to have lost your card!…Maybe the Ace can help us find it
again?"

Give the deck a complete cut - or invite the spectator to do it. Now spread
the cards across the table revealing all four Aces face up in the middle.
"Well, at least he found his three mates, the other three Aces!" Then
notice the face down card in the middle of the Aces and slide it out. "And, it
looks like they found your card." Slowly turn it over to reveal the
selection.

Index

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THE ROLEX GANG

OLEX

ANG

You remove the four Aces then place a random card
between them. The card vanishes. You place another
random card in the middle of the Aces and again the
card vanishes. A spectator selects a card - it might be a
Queen (it will be a Queen!) - and this is placed in the
middle of the Aces. "A very stubborn lady," you say, as
the Queen refuses to vanish. Instead, the Aces change
into the four Kings - her four chaperons!

Based on Roy Walton's "Cannibal Cards" from The Devil's Playthings (see
also The Complete Walton). The first vanish is an Alex Elmsley concept. The
switch at end using the Pass is inspired by Roy Walton's "Make 'em Laugh"
(Roger's Thesaurus). The word "Rolex" in the title is a nod to Roy and Alex.

Cull the four Kings to the top of the deck, followed by any Queen, then add
any two random spot cards, avoiding Aces. So the set-up reads from top
down:

X - X - Q - K - K - K - K - rest of deck.

WORKING

1. Run through and remove the four Aces, placing them face down to rear of
the face up deck. Turn the deck over to bring the Aces face up on top.
Spread the Aces to show them, saying, "A gang of four. Let me show what
happens if another card tries to infiltrate the gang."

Flip the Aces face down but injog the lower Ace slightly as you do so, then lift
off only the top three cards and place them on the table. This is made easy
by pushing down with your right thumb on the injogged 4th card.

2. Give the deck a couple of False Cuts. Double Lift and turn over the top two
cards as one - keep a break below them. "This card will do." Name it if you
wish. Flip the double face down then push over the top card with your left
thumb. Meanwhile your right hand lifts off the top card from Ace pile on the

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THE ROLEX GANG

table. Thumb off the top card of the deck onto the remaining two Aces then
replace the right hand card on top.

Pick up all four cards (apparently five) and place them on top of the deck.
Give the deck a riffle, then deal off the top four cards face up onto the table.
Four Aces show and the odd card has vanished.

3. "OK, let's find another random card." Double Cut the top card to the
bottom. Alternatively give the deck a Slip-cut to lose the top card. Flip over
the top card showing another random spot card. You now place this card in
the middle of the tabled Aces, but do it as follows. Though not essential, it
matches what you will do next time.

Your right hand picks up two Aces from the table and turns them face down
onto the table. Now flip the random card face down onto the deck then deal it
on top of these two face down Aces. Finally turn the remaining two Aces face
down on top of all. All the time you emphasise that the card is going between
the Aces. Pick up the five-card packet and place it on top of the deck.

Give the deck a riffle then deal off the top four cards face up onto the table as
follows, Second Dealing on the 3rd and 4th cards: TOP, TOP, 2ND, 2ND.
The second card has vanished.

4. Give the deck a complete cut and retain a break between the halves at the
middle. Riffle Force to the break - a spectator calling stop - and cut all the
cards above the break to the bottom. The deck is back as it was a moment
ago.

Double Lift showing a Queen, and say, "Oh, you picked a Royal lady. Not
so good. They can be very stubborn. But let's try anyway." You now
proceed exactly as you did in step 3 above, with one exception - that is you
flip a double over rather than a single. Here is the process again:

Your right hand picks up two Aces from the table and turns them face down
onto the table. Now flip the double face down onto the deck then deal the top
card onto these two face down Aces. Finally, turn the remaining two Aces
face down on top of all. Again you emphasise that the card (Queen this time)
is going between the Aces. Pick up the five-card packet and place it on top of
the deck, but retain a break under it.

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THE ROLEX GANG

As before, you give the deck a riffle, but this time you carry out a Riffle Pass,
sending the top five cards to the bottom out of the way.

Look at the audience and say, "I told you the Queen could be very
stubborn...and I really don't think she's vanished."

You now deal five cards into a spread on the table - all face down except the
middle card. Here's a break-down of the action:

2nd, 2nd, TOP, TOP, TOP. And these are dealt: FD, FD, FU, FD, FD

Push out the face up Queen from the middle, then say, "But she's quite
safe from the gang of four, because she brought her four Royal
bodyguards with her." At that, flip over the four face down cards revealing
the Aces have changed into Kings.

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GARDEN PATH

ARDEN

ATH

A card is selected and placed face down on table. The
spectator deals three packets of three cards and
discards the rest of the deck. The top card of each
packet is turned face up, and the performer uses the
information on each card in an attempt at divining the
name of the selection. But he fails. The packets cleanly
are placed together with the three reversed cards still in
place. You hold the packet and tap it with the selection
whereupon the three reversed cards visibly change into
the three mates of the selection.

This is a streamlined version of a previous trick of mine called "Return to
Garden Path" that can be found on my website. Here, less piles are used,
and Triple Lifts have been reduced to Doubles!

The only preparation is to cull any four-of-a-kind to the top of the deck. Let's
say you have the four Jacks on top with Spades at the top.

WORKING

1. Force the Jack of Spades and, once the spectator has looked at it, ask
him to place it face down on the table.

2. Say, "I'm going to try to assertain the name of your card using the
remaining cards in the deck. However, I only get three chances."

Deal three cards into a face down row, followed by three more on top of the
first three. Then again. This results in three piles of three cards - a Jack at
the bottom of each. The rest of the deck is now discarded.

3. At this stage it doesn't matter in which order you deal with the piles. So
pick up an end pile, saying, "Hopefully, the top card of this pile will tell
me something about your card."

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GARDEN PATH

Buckle the bottom card and flip over the upper two as one. Make any
suitable comment about the card now showing, then replace the pile back on
the table where it came from.

NOTE: As you know the card (in this example) is the Jack of Spades, you
can inject much humour into this by making sure you're way off target.

4. Repeat the above with the two remaining piles. At this stage, the audience
perceives three piles, each with a face up card on top. In fact, the true
position is the complete opposite!

Cleanly gather up the piles, placing one top of the other in any order. Hold
the packet in left hand dealing grip. There is a face up card on top.

5. "Okay. I failed miserably! Let me see if your card can get me out if
this embarassment." At that, pick up the card and hold it face down by its
right edge - your right thumb on top and fingers below. As one would for a
Top Change (but you're not going to do that).

Bring the card over the packet in your left hand, and as soon as your right
fingertips touch the edge of the packet, execute a Paintbrush Change. That
is, you appear to flick (brush) the top of the packet with the selection, but
your fingers flip the complete packet over during the up and down movement
of the card. This is well-described in Roy Walton's Some Late Extra Card
Tricks (See Complete Walton).

The effect of this is that the face up card on top of the packet visibly changes
into a Jack. As soon as this occurs, fan the packet revealing the other two
cards have also changed into Jacks.

Finally, snap the selection face up , saying, "And your card is the fourth
Jack...the Jack of Spades."

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INSIDE OUT

NSIDE

In the book Alternative Card Magic (See
CardZones), I included a trick called, 'Inside Job'. I
have since published a couple of variations.
However, this is the first that requires no
significant set-up.

WORKING

1. During a previous effect, cull any four of a kind to the top of the deck
(that's the insignificant set-up!). Let's say you culled the four Aces.

Hold the deck face up and secure a break above the rear two cards. Spread
through and upjog the two black Jacks. Strip then out - adding the rear two
Aces via the Vernon Add-on then immediately drop the deck on top, but
leave the four cards injogged slightly.

2. Turn the pack face down sideways and turn over the top four cards as a
block - easy due to the injog. Keep a break under these four cards then
spread over the uppermost Jack to display both black Jacks.

Explain that the Jacks are to guard a priceless cargo.

Flip the four cards face down again - keep a break below them - then push
off the top two cards and drop them face down in front of a spectator.

3. Double Cut the top two cards (above break) to the bottom of the deck,
saying, "Let's find a random card to act as our priceless cargo."

Double Lift to display an Ace. "Remember this card."

Turn the double face down and remove the top card and place it face down
between the two cards on the table. Ask that the spectator place his hand on
the cards as an added precaution.

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INSIDE OUT

POSITION CHECK:

the black Jacks are on the bottom of the deck, and the

Cargo (Ace in this example) is on top. The spectator has his hand on three
cards which he believes to be the aforementioned cards - in fact these are
the other three Aces.

4. You will now produce the Jacks and Cargo as follows:

"The robbery commences. In fact, it's already happened."

As you speak, establish a break above the bottom two cards. With your left
thumb resting on top of the deck toss the cards into your waiting right hand.
The bottom two cards and the top card all remain behind in your left hand. A
sort of Hofzinser-cum-Muller Toss.

You hold a three-card packet. Without pause, push over the top two cards
and take them with your right hand by their long edge - fingers above, thumb
below. Immediately turn the double face up - at the same time use it to flip
the remaining single card face up also - both cards turning face up almost at
the same time as you place the double on top of the single, then fan all three
cards (not unlike the Trevor Lewis monte move). The shows the black Jacks
with the Cargo in the middle.

5. Finally, say, "It was in fact an inside job, and the black Jacks had
planned it all along, and to buy time, they left behind three replicas of
your cargo."

Have the spectator turn over the three cards below his hand for a surprising
conclusion.

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NEW HUE VIEW

IEW

An outgrowth from a previous effect of mine
called "A Piece of Fred" that appeared in
Obsession. Both this and the previous effect are
inspired by an, as yet, unpublished Fred
Robinson concept along with a Charles Jordan
Riffle Shuffle principle. This is better performed
for other magicians.

Set the deck as follows:

13 reds

/ 13 blacks /

13 reds

/ 13 blacks.

We'll assume the upper quarter is red, but it doesn't matter in performance if
the blocks alternate in reverse.

WORKING

1. Begin by cutting the deck at the mid-point (easy due to the separation of
colours) and setting the halves side by side on the table in front of a capable
spectator who can Riffle Shuffle. Invite him to do so. Due to the Jordan
principle, the top half will now be all reds and the bottom half all blacks, with
a few out-of-place stragglers at the middle.

Once teh spectator has completed the Riffle Shuffle, you suddenly appear to
remember something and pick up the deck, saying, "Oh, we need a colour
chosen." Fan the upper half only and ask the spectator to touch any card.
Split the spread at that point - square the right hand section by tapping it
against the left section - then raise your right hand and say, "This card
must be red or black. Just remember its colour and nothing else." The
card will be red.

Replace the right hand section, square the deck and place it back on the
table in front of the spectator.

2. Now tell him to lift off about a third from the top and set this packet on the
table somewhere. Make a mental note that this is the top portion. Next tell
him to lift off about half of the remainder and hold this packet in his hand.

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Point out that this is the middle section of the deck, and as such, must be a
completely unknown entity in both quantity and the cards therein.

Tell him to shuffle the cards he is holding in his hands. While he is shuffling,
say, "This experiment is all about colours. And it's very simple really
because there are only two main colours in this deck - reds - and
blacks. You are already thinking of a colour and that's the colour you
will use in a moment."

The above is simply suggested patter (as is all patter in all of
my publications) and you'll probably prefer to come up with your
own. However, make sure you do say something because you
really want the spectator to be shuffling those cards
THOROUGHLY so there is no evidence of the red/black
separation that existed prior to his shuffling. If you keep talking,
while glancing down at the cards, he'll keep shuffling. You don't
want to have to tell him to keep shuffling because there is no
overt reason for him to shuffle at all! This is assuming he uses
an Overhand Shuffle, which is likely because of the size of the
packet.

3. There are still two piles lying on the table. Gather them together by, first
picking up the original bottom section and placing this into your left hand,
followed by the other section. Keep a small break between these packets.
To avoid a line showing at the front end where the break is, it's best not to
square the cards.

Say, "I'm going to deal through these cards and see if I pick up any
vibrations. If or when I do, I'll turn a card face up to mark the spot."

You will now deal the complete packet into a face down pile on the table,
but, in doing so you will turn two cards face up. These are: the card above
the break (last card of upper portion) and the 27th card when you arrive at it.
Then you finish dealing the rest of cards onto the pile.

4. Appear to study the pile of cards, then say, "You are thinking of a
colour...and the vibrations tell me that colour is red. Correct?" It is
correct.

"OK. That was a 50-50 chance. But I was still correct. But there's more

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NEW HUE VIEW

to these vibrations than that."

At that, you Ribbon Spread the cards across the table to display the two face
up cards. Point out that there are a number of cards between the two face
up cards. Ask the spectator to spread his cards in front of his eyes and count
the number of red cards in his packet.

Count aloud the number of cards between the two face up cards and repeat
the total.

Finally, ask the spectator to announce his number. It will be the same.

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BETWEEN QUEENS

ETWEEN

UEENS &

ARK

LACES

The two black Queens are placed together face up in
the deck. The deck is flipped face up and spectators
remember both the face card and the card at the rear.
The deck is turned face down and immediately
spread, revealing one face down card is now caught
between the Queens. This is one of the selections.
The other selection is brought out your pocket.

WORKING

1. Remove the two black Queens and obtain a break under the top two cards of
the deck. Place the Queens face up on top and lift off all four cards above the
break (the two Queens plus two face down cards hidden below). Peel off the
upper Queen onto the deck then place the remaining triple on top, keeping a
break under these three cards. "The two black Queens will perform their
witchcraft for us."

2. Allow one card to drop from the break then carry out a Triple Double
Undercut finishing with the Queens 2nd top and 2nd bottom.

3. Flip the deck face up in your left hand. Ask a spectator to remember the face
card. Bring your right hand over and pick up the deck - hand is in position for a
Kelly Bottom Placement. Slide out the rear card and ask a second spectator to
remember this card, at the same time you pivot the card now at the rear
downwards a la Kelly. This allows you to replace the 2nd noted card 2nd from
the rear.

NOTE: The Kelly action has been used several times in the past to load a card
into a sandwich, but in this instance, we are actually removing a card from the
sandwich!

4. Turn the deck face down again, executing a Turnover Pass at any point near
the middle. Ask the first spectator to remind everyone of the name of his card.
Spread the cards between your hands revealing that a face down card is now

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BETWEEN QUEENS

trapped between the face up Queens. "The witchcraft begins," you say. Drop
the three-card sandwich onto the table and place the upper section of the deck
below the other. This brings the other selection to the top.

Slide out the face down card and turn it over revealing it to be the first card.

5. Allowing the effect to sink in, you casually Palm off the top card from the
deck. Alternatively, you can have the first spectator turn over his card, thus
affording you maximum misdirection for the Palm.

Now say, "And more witchcraft." Reach into your pocket and bring out the
palmed card. Hold it back outwards to the audience and ask the 2nd spectator
to remind everyone of the name of his card. Turn it round to conclude.

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BAD INFLUENCE

NFLUENCE

Four red cards are placed on the table beside four black
cards. A spectator chooses a pile, then chooses any one
of the four cards. The selection is placed back into the
packet, then both red and black piles are placed
together. The spectator eliminates all but one card. This
is his selection. Finally the other cards are now turned
over revealing them to be all red cards. The selection is
now the only card of its colour!

Despite (or because of) the simple means used to achieve this effect, it is
quite effective.

WORKING

1. Spread the deck with faces towards you and note if the top (rear) three
cards are of the same colour. If they are not, cut the deck to bring such a
threesome to the top position. Let's assume the top three cards of the deck
are all red. Proceed as follows:

2. "We'll only use a small number of cards for this…half of one colour
and half the other." Spread through and upjog any four black cards - in
doing so (or prior to it) obtain a break above the rear three cards. Make sure
the audience get a good look at the four cards so they know that they are
black cards. Strip out the four black cards, adding the three reds via the
Vernon Add-on move (Strip-out Addition), then place all behind the deck.
Flip the deck face down and push off the top four cards - retaining their order
- flash the face card briefly - then drop the packet face down on the table.
"Four black cards."

Turn the deck over and remove four red cards in the same manner - this
time the removal is genuine. "Four red cards." Drop these four cards face
down beside the first packet. Discard the remainder of the deck.

3. "Which pile would you like to be the control pile? The reds or the
blacks?" He points to a pile. If he points to the black pile pick it up and

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proceed onto the next step. If he points to the red pile, ask him to pick it up
and hold it, saying, "These red cards will exert a remarkable influence
later. Keep them secure for now."

4. The packet you now hold consists of three red cards on top of one black.
Give the cards a quick mix to reposition the bottom card 3rd from top. Now
fan the cards and say, "Which card would you like to have…one, two
three or four?" As you speak, tap each card, starting with the top card as
number one and moving down. You now force the black card using a known
method. Unfortunately, I don't know who devised this.

If he says, "One." Close the fan and do a triple turnover using a
Buckle to assist.

If he says, "Two." Close the fan - remove the top card, then flip
over the next two as one, again you can use a Buckle, or, I
prefer a push-off here.

If he says, "Three." Keep the fan open and simply pull out the
third card and show it. Then replace it back at its position.

If he says, "Four." Close the fan, saying, "You want the
bottom card?" Now Buckle and slide out the second from
bottom card and show it to him. Buckle again and replace the
card 2nd from bottom.

5. Drop this packet on top of the red pile on the table then hand the complete
packet to the spectator. Or, if the spectator is already holding the reds
(depending on the opening option) drop your packet onto his packet and tell
him to retain all in his hand.

6. He now eliminates all but one card as follows, using a straightforward
process, similar to a Judah concept, except this doesn't really use the
principle because the target card is already positioned within a set number of
cards and it just works:

a) He deals one card to himself, then one card to you (discard).
He repeats this until all 8 cards are dealt in two piles.

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BAD INFLUENCE

b) He now holds only four cards. Again he deals one to himself,
the one onto the discard pile, and repeats this again.

c) He now holds only two cards. Finally he deals one to himself
and the last card onto the discards.

Ask him to remind everyone of the name of his card, then to turn over the
card he is left holding. This will be his selection.

Act as if the trick is over, the say, "Actually, we didn't need to go through
all that in order to find your card. There is an easier way." Snap your
fingers over the seven discards then flip them over and spread revealing that
all the cards are now red cards.

If the spectator chose the reds at the start, modify your patter, saying, "You
choose the red cards as a control at the start? Well, they've managed
to control all the cards except yours! Your card is the only one that
retained its original colour."

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MORE CONVIVIAL

ORE

ONVIVIAL

A card is selected then returned to the deck. You
make three attempts to find the card and fail each
time. So, you perform some magic with the three
cards you did find. Finally the chosen card turns up
completely unexpectedly.

This is based on a previous effect, "The Convivial Contortionists" that
appeared in Obsession.

WORKING

1. Cull any Six spot to the top of the deck. We will assume that it is the Six of
Spades for this description. Force this card on a spectator, using your
favourite method. If there is not a method that you favour, use one you don't
like! Now, take the card back into the deck and control it to the top.

2. Say that you will now demonstrate finding a chosen card faster than any
other living magician. Spread through the deck and quickly locate the Ace of
Spades and toss it face up onto the table. Look at the spectator, who will tell
you that you are wrong. Apologise, saying that perhaps you tried a little too
fast. Spread through again and toss out the Two of Spades. Again you are
wrong. Go for it a third time, tossing out the Three of Spades. When the
spectator denies that this is his card, say, "Well, I'll come back to your
card later. Perhaps I need to warm up. I'll show you something with
these three cards. We will also use the two black Jacks." Spread
through and transfer the two black Jacks to the rear of the spread, turning
them face down as you do so.

3. Turn the deck face down. This brings the Jacks face up on top. Push over
the two Jacks to display them, at the same time push over the next card
slightly and catch a little finger break below it. Square up the two Jacks and
lift off all three cards above the break with your right hand in a Biddle grip.
Your left hand places the deck to one side.

Peel the upper Jack into your left hand and place the remaining two cards as

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MORE CONVIVIAL

one on top, saying, "These two Jacks are better magicians than I am. At
least their tricks work." Turn the packet face down into left hand dealing
grip. Arrange the Ace, Two and Three, in order in a row face up on the table.

4. Pick up the Ace and apparently place it face down on the bottom of the
packet. Actually your left fingers buckle the bottom card and the Ace goes in
second from the bottom. Tap the top of the packet then buckle the bottom
cards and flip over the top three cards as one. The Ace is back on top. Deal
the Ace back to its position on the table.

5. Repeat the above elevator sequence with the Two, and then again with
the Three.

6. Now say, "However, they do a better trick than that. They can make
all three travel up at once." As you are speaking, gather up the three cards
on the table in order with the Ace on top. Turn them face down and repeat
the buckle insertion second from bottom. Tap the packet three times for
effect, then buckle the bottom card and flip over all the cards above it. The
Ace, Two, and Three are now face up on top. Deal the three cards onto the
table.

7. Act as if the trick is over, then suddenly say, "I'll tell you what, I'll allow
them to perform one final trick. This one is so difficult that even I can't
do it!" Turn the Jack packet face up and Back-spread the lower card to the
left displaying both Jacks. Hold them fanned between your right thumb and
fingers. Tap each card on the table, then say, "You remember the card
you selected earlier? How can you forget my embarrassment? Three
Spade cards tell us that the card you selected was a Spade. Is that
correct? Yes? Good. Now if we add the pips, we get, one, plus two,
plus three equals six. So you must have picked the Six of Spades. Is
that correct?" The spectator will say that you are correct.

At this, spread the cards sharply to reveal a face down card between the
Jacks. Turn the card over revealing the Six of Spades, saying, "I told you
they do better than me."

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CARD OF DARKNESS

ARD of

ARKNESS

A face up wrong card changes into the selection -
influenced by the powers of darkness.

WORKING

1. Have a card chosen and returned to the deck. Control this card to the top.
Explain that this is an experiment in the Occult.

"The three sixes are the sign of the beast. Let's represent that."

Push off six cards from the top of the deck (retaining their order), one by one
so that the audience can count them as you push - then drop the packet on
the table, saying, "Six."

Repeat, pushing off a second group of six and drop these on top of the first
group, saying, "Six."

Do this on more time. "Six."

Place the rest of the deck on the table ahead of the 18 card pile.

2. Pick up the 18 cards and say, "Another number that has deep Occult
properties is 13. Let's see what the 13th card is."

Deal off the top 12 cards one by one into a pile on the table, then Double Lift
to apparently show the 13th card. "Is this your card by any chance?" It
isn't. Leave the double face up on top.

Pick up the 12 dealt cards and place them on top - but - as you do so,
openly push the upper face up card forward, so it is oujogged for about an
inch.

3. Pause at this point, saying, "I didn't expect this to be your card
because the 13th card is always an Occult-related card. And the

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CARD OF DARKNESS

_____of _______ is well-known in Occult circles as The Card of
Darkness."

Look directly at the spectator and, continue, saying, "...and you would not
have picked such a card...would you?" As you are saying this, you
apparently push the card flush with the packet and place all on top of the
deck. In fact - you execute a Diagonal Palm Shift, palming the card in your
left hand as your right hand continues forward and places the packet on top
of the deck.

Your left hand falls to your side - or rests on the table - as you ask the
spectator to pick up the deck and count down to that 13th card.

When he does, he will be surprised to find that the card has changed into his
selection.

Finally, say, "Remember the Card of Darkness? Well, it's gone to the
darkest of places....my pocket!" As you reach into your left pocket and
bring out the palmed card.

Back

Index

Next

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DEAL STEAL COLLECTORS

EAL

TEAL

OLLECTORS

The Walton Collectors. Here, the cards are
immediately dealt off the deck the moment they are
placed on top, thanks to the Benzais Deal Steal.

The value of stealing a block of cards during a deal was made clear to me
by watching, and listening to, Gene Maze. The steal is accomplished as
follows:

To get the idea, hold a break under the top four cards. You will now deal
the top card to the table. Then you will steal the next three as you deal
the card below them. Note, that your right thumb will cross over to the left
side of the deck for each deal.

So, deal the first card fairly. Now come back and your left thumb pushes
over the block of three cards above the break - these go straight into Unit
Grip (a forward Tenkai Palm). As this happens, your left thumb engages
the next card and pushes it to the right. Your right thumb contacts this
card and it is dealt to the table on top of the first card.

Now for the trick:

1. Remove the A - 2 - 3 of Clubs and place them face up on top of the
face down deck, in order, with the Three at the top. Spread over the top
few cards and catch a break under the 2nd face down card. You now do
an ATFUS, as follows:

Square the packet and lift off all five cards above the break in a Biddle
grip then lift one more card and keep a break above it with your thumb.
Pull the 3C onto the deck, followed by the 2C, then apparently place the
Ace on top and lift off the cards - really you leave the extra card on top
and lift off the upper three only. Place this packet on the table, or across
the card box. This consists of the face up AC then two face down random
cards.

2. Riffle the deck and invite two spectators to each pick a card. As they
are looking at them, get a break under the top two cards in readiness for

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DEAL STEAL COLLECTORS

TILT. Take back either selection and apparently push it into the deck -
really pushing it into the break. Immediately drop a card so your break is
now under only one card. Insert 2nd selection but keep your break under
the top card.

3. Now for the instant collectors.

Pick up the alleged face up A-2-3 packet from the table and place it
square on top of the deck. Tap the cards then deal as follows:

Deal the Ace onto the table, then execute a Deal Steal of the three cards
above the break dealing a face down card onto the Ace (overlapping to
form a row), then deal the next three cards fairly to form a five-card
spread = AC-2C-3C with two face down cards trapped between. Take the
deck with your right hand - adding the palmed cards to the top as you
place it on the table. You simply let them fall from Unit Grip onto the deck.

Finally reveal the trapped cards to be the selections.

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Index

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COUNTING THE MAZE WAY

OUNTING THE

AZE

A short while back Gene Maze sent me an intriguing
effect where you dealt four hands of cards. Each hand
was numbered 1-2-3-4. Spectator 1 counted one card,
spectator 2 counted to the 2nd card, and so on. Each
spectator turned over their card arrived at to reveal four
Aces. Here is an extension of that idea.

Remove the four Aces and the four Kings and set them on the bottom of the
deck in the following order, reading from the bottom up: A - A - K - A - K - A -
K - K.

1. Shuffle the deck retaining the bottom 8 cards in place. Place the deck on
the table and ask a spectator to cut off a portion and place it aside. This is
optional, and the full deck can be used. I think the cut would be better for lay
people as you are dealing from a blind spot. The cut portion should be less
than half.

2. With 4 spectators at the table, deal four hands with five cards in each,
dealing rotationally left to right as in a proper game. You deal a mixture of
tops and bottoms as follows:

1. Top - Top - Top - Bottom
2. Top - Top - Bottom - Bottom
3. Top - Bottom - Bottom - Top
4. Bottom - Bottom - Top - Top
5. Bottom - Top - Top - Top

The above is easy to remember as the bottoms are in a diminishing
sequence.

3. Four spectators each receive a hand, with no.1 on the left and no.4 on the
right. Allocate these numbers to the spectators.

Spectator 1 picks up his hand and transfers ONE card from top to

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COUNTING THE MAZE WAY

bottom.

Spectator 2 picks up his hand and transfers TWO cards from top to
bottom.

Spectator transfers THREE cards, and spectator 4 transfers FOUR
cards.

4. After making the transfers each hand is replaced face down on the table.
Ask each spectator in turn to turn over their top card to reveal four Aces. The
Aces are placed face up on the table in front of the hand. Point out that four
Aces make an excellent Poker hand, unfortunately this would not count
because there is only one Ace in each hand, and of course the Aces would
need to all be in the one hand. However, if we were to change the game to
blackjack, things might improve.

At this, ask each spectator to flip his hand face up to reveal a King at the
face of each.

Back

Index

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MINI HELLRAISER

INI

ELLRAISER

A fast moving Elevator routine that finishes in
the hands of a spectator. This is a short
version of my Hellraiser routine from
Obsession and is useful where no table top is
available. See Effortless Card Magic for further
Hellraiser thoughts. The elevator plot was
developed by Ed Marlo.

WORKING

1. Remove the A, 2 and 3 of any one suit and place them face up on a
spectator's outstretched hand. The cards should be in order with the Ace
showing at the face.

Now remove the two black Kings then place the balance of the pack in your
pocket as it is no longer required.

2. Hold the Kings face down in the left hand and pick up the Ace. Place the
Ace face down on top of the Kings. You now appear to transfer the Ace to
the bottom - in fact, you push over two as one and place the double to the
bottom.

Make a magical pass then buckle the bottom card and turn over the top two
as one to reveal that the Ace has risen to the top. Turn the double face down
then remove the top card and slide it under the two face up cards on the
spectator's hand.

3. Repeat step 2 exactly as described with the Two - finish by sliding the
Two(?) under the cards on the spectator's hand.

4. Now repeat with Three, but at the end you place the apparent Three spot
on TOP of the two face down cards on the spectator's hand. As there are no
longer any face up cards on the spectator's hand, it appears perfectly natural

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MINI HELLRAISER

to drop the card on top.

You are left holding two face down cards which the audience believe to be
the two Kings. Say, "These Kings did the trick all by themselves. You
look skeptical? I'll tell you what - you do it!"

At that, drop the two cards square on top of the spectator's cards. Snap your
fingers over the packet, then ask the spectator to deal the top three cards
face up onto your hand - Three, Two one!

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Index

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AN IMPOSITION

MPOSITION

Random cuts of the deck reveal the suit & value of
a selected card. With no further manipulation of the
cards, the spectator himself locates the card. This
is a different approach to my "The Impromptu
Imposition" that appeared in the late Ellison
Poland's excellent Second Addendum (1994) to his
classic Wonderful Routines of Magic (1969).

As stated above, my original routine was called "The Impromptu Imposition"
and was published in the above named book in 1994. However, it required
an eight-card stack and, therefore, I have no idea why I gave the trick its
name! There was a reason, but either it was too subtle, or my memory
fades...

So, this also requires a small stack but only three cards need to be
positioned.

Cull the 2C to the top, followed by the 2H & 4C. The 2C is 3rd from the top
and the 4C is on top. Once you understand this routine, you will see how
these cards can be varied somewhat. Give the deck an Out Faro, then
shuffle 4 extra cards on top. So your starting set-up appears as follows,
reading from top down:

X - X - X - X - X - 4C - X - 2H - X - 2C - Rest of deck.

WORKING

1. False Shuffle retaining the top stock then give the cards to a spectator.
Tell him you want him to arrive at a random card using a numerology and a
number that nobody can know in advance.

Tell him to name any number between, say, 10 and 20. Let's say he says
17. He now deals 17 cards off the top of the deck one at a time into a face
down pile on the table. Now point out that 17 has two digits. These are
added. 1 + 7 = 8. Tell the spectator to take back 8 cards, one by one, from
the dealt pile and place each back on top of the deck in his hands.

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AN IMPOSITION

"Look at the top card of the cards you are holding. Remember the card.
Now pick up these cards from the table and drop them on top of your
card."

Once he has done the above, take the deck from him.

2. Say, "The cards themselves will now complete this card trick. I like
an easy life! First it will try to discover the value of your card."

You now appear to cut a section from the bottom of the deck and place it on
the table. In fact you carry out a Slip-Cut so the top half goes to the table,
while the top card is retained on the left hand section. Immediately flip over
the top card of the tabled pile to reveal a Two spot. "A Two. You card was
a Two?"

Slide the Two off the pile and onto the table, then pick up the pile and drop it
on top of the deck in your hands.

"Next, I need to know the suit." Repeat the Slip Cut and turn over the top
card revealing a Club. "It appears that you picked the Two of Clubs?" Slide
the 4C off the pile and onto the table, then pick up the pile and drop it on top
of the deck in your hands.

3. Hand the deck to the spectator as you point out that the two indicator
cards that just revealed the value and suit, when totaled, add up to 6 (2 + 4).
Hand the spectator to count down to the 6th card and turn it over. He will
turn over his selected card the Two of Clubs.

Back

Index

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CRIME SUSPECT

RIME

USPECT

A spectator locates his card without knowing how.

This uses George Sands Prime Number Principle.

WORKING

1. Begin by forcing a Three spot on a spectator and have him keep his hand
on it, unseen, until required, saying, "That card will be a key witness
later."

2. Give the deck to another spectator and ask him to shuffle it. Then, while
you turn your back, he deals two equal piles of cards - no more than ten in
each pile. He places the rest of the deck aside.

He picks up either pile - looks at the bottom card, then drops the packet on
top of the other pile.

3. Turn round and pick up the packet. Give it a couple of False Cuts,
followed by a Klondike Shuffle. This is simply as follows; pull off top and
bottom cards together and drop them on the table. Repeat with the rest of
the cards, forming a single pile.

As you do the Klondike, secretly count the cards so you know how many are
in the packet. This also brings his selection to the top of the packet. Give him
the cards to hold face down.

4. Say, "The card you looked at will be the prime suspect in a criminal
investigation. There is only one witness who can identify it from among
all the other cards."

Ask the first spectator to turn over the card he picked at the start. "Our key
witness is a Three," you say. "The Three will now eliminate all but one

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CRIME SUSPECT

card from the identity line-up."

Unless the packet contains 6, 12 or 18 cards, he counts three cards from top
to bottom then flips over the top card. He repeats this until only one card
remains face down. This will be his selection.

If the packet contains 6, 12 or 18 cards (easy figures to remember) he spells
T-H-R-E-E each time rather than counting to achieve the same result.

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3 DOWN - 1 TO GO

HREE

OWN,

NE TO

After a card has been selected and lost back into the
deck, the spectator cuts the deck into three face up
piles. He may have cut to his selection, but the spectator
must not tell you. You remove the face card from each
pile and mix these three cards as you ask the spectator
if, indeed, you were lucky. He confirms that one of the
three cards is his selection. The three cards are replaced
in the deck one by one and all squared. You spread the
deck revealing his card is now face up. No, you didn't
secretly reverse when you mixed the three cards!

Before proceeding, secretly reverse the bottom card of your deck.

WORKING

1. Have a card selected then swing-cut the upper half of the deck into your
left hand and have the card replaced on top of this section. Place the right
hand section on top and retain a break between the halves. Now, Double
Cut to the break (selection now on top), then Double Cut the top card to the
bottom in a continuation of the previous cuts.

Alternative to the above - obtain a break below the selection on its return,
then Double cut once only. Either way, the selection finishes on the bottom
directly below the reversed card.

2. Place the deck face down on the table. Invite the spectator to cut off about
one-third and place this to the left of the main deck. Then ask him to cut off
half of the remainder and place this pile to the right.

"Three random piles with three random cards at the bottom. A slight
possibility that one is the card you picked. But only a very slight
possibility. Whatever happens now, please do not tell me if you see
your card."

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3 DOWN - 1 TO GO

3. Pick up either end pile and hold it face down, saying, "Let's see what the
first card is." Turn the pile face up - allow the card to be seen, then flip the
card face down onto the face up packet. Place the pile back at its position on
the table.

Pick up the middle pile and hold it face down, saying, "The second
possibility. Let's see if you struck gold." As you are speaking, allow the
bottom three cards to riffle off your right thumb then retain a break. Turn the
packet face up retaining the break. This allows you to now cleanly flip over a
triple - face down onto the face up packet. Place the pile back at its position
on the table.

Pick up the last pile and repeat what you did with the first pile (turning a
single).

POSITION CHECK

: There are three face up piles on the table -

each appears to have a face down card on top. While this is in
fact true, the middle pile also has a face down card 3rd from the
top (and this is the selection).

4. Carefully pick off the the face down card from atop each pile and gather
them into your left hand. Then, casually reassemble the three face up piles,
ensuring that the middle pile remains as the middle pile when the deck is
assembled. Turn the deck face down and leave it where it is.

5. Mix the three cards in your hands and say, "Now you can tell me. Is one
of these cards the one you picked earlier?" He will say yes. Remove any
one and toss the other two face up to one side, saying, "I don't think either
of these is your card." Drop the card face down on top of the deck, and
ask the spectator to name his card.

Say, "Watch!" Slam you hand flat on the deck, then spread the cards
revealing the selection face up in the middle.

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Index

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SUIT YOURSELF TOO

UIT

OURSELF

A variation on Roy Walton's "Suit Yourself" (Devil's
Playthings and Complete Walton Vol.1). Roy based his
trick on Karl Fulves' Self-Duplicating Set-up (Epilogue -
also see "Replica Poker," More Self-working Card
Tricks).

The following offers a way to perform Roy's trick with a rotational stack
that can be cut by the audience.

WORKING

1. Remove 16 cards that rotate with the four suits repeated, for example:

C-H-S-D-C-H-S-D-C-H-S-D-C-H-S-D

2. Give the packet, with the faces upwards, to a spectator and ask him to
give it a few cuts, then to spread through and randomly flip over one card
of each suit - leaving each card at its original position.

(If you think a spectator may have any difficulty doing this you can ribbon-
spread the cards on the table and ask him to turn over his four cards,
leaving each card at its place in the spread).

Give the packet to a second spectator. He gives the packet a couple of
cuts and, he too, flips over one card of each suit. Say, "These eight face
down cards are YOUR cards. The ones remaining face up are MINE."

3. Take the packet and say you'll now demonstrate the "Famous Re-sort
Shuffle." Here you do a Klondike forming a single pile on the table (pull
off top & bottom cards repeatedly). Once done, say, "That rearranged
YOUR cards."

Repeat the Klondike, then say, "And that rearranged MY cards."

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SUIT YOURSELF TOO

4. Finally spread the packet between your hands and cleanly outjog all
eight face down cards - strip them out and place the packet on the table -
"Your cards." Turn the remaining cards face down and place them
beside the other packet, "My cards. Let's see what the Re-Sort shuffle
did to the cards."

Turn over the top cards of each pile simultaneously to show a match of
suits.

Continue through the packets showing that both packets are in suit
identical order.

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ULTI-PRINT

LTI-

RINT!

You show 4 cards with backs but no faces. One of these
cards is reversed - this is the magic catalyst that does
the magic. What happens to the catalyst, happens to the
others too. The catalyst suddenly prints a face. Then the
three other blanks all develop faces. The 4 cards are
counted one by one both sides being seen. There are no
extra cards.

Inspired by Peter Kane’s seminal 1960’s packet trick "Blank Amazement."

REQUIREMENTS

You require a set of 4 cards: Two are regular and two have blank backs/
normal faces. All four faces in the set are the same. The order of the cards,
reading from top to bottom, is:

FD regular / FD regular / gaff - printed side up / gaff - blank side up.

WORKING

1. Begin by saying, "I have four cards which are blank - they haven’t
been printed yet - with one reversed. I always keep one reversed for
luck."

Hold the packet face down and carry out an Elmsley Count to show three
backs and one face up blank.

2. Count off the top two cards into your right hand reversing their order - then
use these cards to flip over the remaining two cards in your left hand. Finally
place the right hand pair on top of the left pair.

As you do the above, say, "No matter which way I have these cards, I
always leave one reversed."

Now carry out a Jordan Count to show three blanks and one face down card.

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ULTI-PRINT

3. Hold the packet face up in dealing position and slide out the bottom face
down card. You can pretend to remove this from the middle if you want to
remain logical. Ask a spectator to blow on the card, then turn it over to show
that it has printed a face.

Drop this card face down on top of the face up packet. You can now finish in
one of two ways:

a) Casually spread over the top three cards (don’t reveal the
last card) as you say, "If I leave this card reversed so it faces
the other three, something strange happens."

At that, do a Fist-Flourish by passing the packet through your
fist and secretly reversing it. Finally make a one-hand fan to
reveal three printed faces. Then turn over the face down card
and drop it on top. Finally carry out a Flushtration Count to
show four printed faces and backs - turn both hands during the
count as you have two backs to show.

b) Buckle the bottom card and grip the upper three at the inner
end. Pull these three cards inwards as one to reveal that a new
face has been printed. Now flip over the triple and make a fan
revealing all four cards are now printed. Finish with Flushtration
Count - but take the lowermost card first so you can turn both
hands to show two backs throughout the count.

ALTERNATIVE STAGES 1 & 2 FOR EXPERTS ONLY!

Set up is: FD regular / FD regular / gaff - blank side up / gaff - blank side up.

1. Hold the packet face down and carry out an Elmsley Count to show 3
backs and one face up blank.

2. Execute a Half Pass of the lower three cards then turn the packet face up.
Now carry out a Jordan Count to show three blanks and one face down card.
Now proceed as above from step 3 onwards.

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Document Outline