The Three Card Trick as a Trick and not a Gamble

This gambler's trick depends upon a subtle change. The sleight is easily acquired with just a little practice. I know of no other card feat which will repay the student as fully as this. It can be made to provide endless amusement, and unlike other card feats, repetition enhances the effect. Before describing a routine in which the sleight is used to create a series of mystifying changes, in place of the usual gambling game, a brief explanation of the correct method of executing the sleight is necessary.

The Throw

Place two cards together and bend them lengthwise, making the faces concave, so that they may be easily picked up by the ends. Lay them on the table separately, face down. Take one by the ends, near the right side corners, between the right thumb and second finger. Place this card over the other so that their left sides touch and pick up the lower card between the thumb and third finger, with a space of about half an inch between the right hand sides of the two cards, the forefinger rests on the top of the upper card.

To make the change you apparently throw the lower card face down on the table and drop the other alongside it. In reality the top card is thrown first. To do this you move your hand with a slight swing towards the left, release the top card and quickly draw the hand back to its former position. At the same moment drop the tip of the second finger on the corner of the lower card and straighten out the third finger. The onlooker sees the second finger still holding the upper card, as he thinks, and when this is put down he has no suspicion that the cards have changed places.

If you take the positions EXACTLY as described you will have no difficulty in acquiring the sleight. In practice you should really throw the lower card first, then execute the change, imitating the moves just made.

Three Card Routine

The best cards to use are the seven and eight of hearts and the ace of spades. Lay these cards, after bending them, face down in a row. Red. Black. Red.

Position     R2   B   R1

Lift the cards one by one, show their faces and replace them. Take up RI, show its face, with it cover R2, turn and show face, throw R2 down without change, turn R1, show face, and with it cover B which you turn and show. Throw B (no change) on table a little forward toward spectator, finally turn RI, show face and throw down on right side.

	B
Position	R2     R1

Again lift R1 and show, cover R2, show and throw R2, (no change). Show R1, cover B and show. You ask spectator to place his hand on the Black card and you throw it down towards him. This time you make the change and throw R1, on which he puts his hand. At once cover 132 with B, and show. Throw B (change) to right, turn hand and show R2, which you drop to the left.

	R1
Position	B     R2

You pass your hand over your two cards, then over spectator's hand and back over your cards, saying that you are taking the red off your cards and passing it to his, and the black from his cards to yours. He lifts his card, it is Red. You lift R2, not showing its face, cover B and turn and show, throw R2 (change). Again turn B and show face, then drop it to the right.

	R1
Position	R2     B

Now you show your two cards Red by taking B and with it as cover lifting R2 which you turn and show, throw B (change) turn and show R2 again.

	R1
Position	B     R2

Show all three Red by lifting B, with it cover R1, throw B (change). Cover 132 with R1, turn and show. Throw R2 (no change) to left of B, turn R1, show and throw to right of B.

Position     R2   B   R1

Pass your hand over B, lift and show B has returned. Put down in the middle again. Lift R1, cover B and show, throw R1 (change), with B cover R2, lift and show R2, throw B (change) to right, show R2 and throw to left.

Position     R2   R1   B

Make a motion of passing B from middle to right. Lift B, show and replace at right.

Position     R2   R1   B

Next show all as Red. With B as cover, pick up R1, show and throw B (change). With R1 as cover pick up R2 and show. Throw R2 to left of B (no change), show R1 and throw to right.

Position     R2   B   R1

Now show all as Black. Pick up R1, cover B, turn and show B. Throw B1 (change) to right. Drop B. Pick up R2, cover B, lift and show B. Throw R2 (change). Drop B then lift and show it. All have been shown Black.

Finally gather up all three one on the other and throw them down faces up. You have two Red and one Black as at the start.

It is essential to success that when you hold two cards in the hand to make the throw or show the lower card the outside edges must not touch and coincide. Fig. 13. If you wish to make a reputation for phenomenal dexterity with cards with the least possible time required for practice, then master this routine. It is based on one by M. Nordach in Gaultier's book, "Prestidigitation sans Apparels."

For further details and moves relating to Three Card Monte see the exhaustive treatise by Scarne and Walsh.