A Reversal of Form

In this method of producing this .popular effect an apparently three-fold reversal is obtained by very simple means. First a wrong card is found reversed, this is replaced and rights itself, finally, after the pack has been spread and shown in order, the chosen card turns over at command.

You can use any pack and allow anyone to shuffle it as he pleases. Spread the pack for the free choice of any card and in closing the spread, reverse the two bottom cards. Have the spectator show his card to everyone and so get an opportunity to turn the pack over, bringing the two reversed cards uppermost.

Cut the pack about the middle, slipping the top reversed card on to the lower part of the cut, thus hiding the fact that the other cards are face up. Have the chosen card replaced on this lower part and at once drop the rest of the pack on it. Carefully square. the cards to show that the card is really lost in the middle. Drop the left hand carelessly to your side with the pack held in it and take a pencil from your pocket with the right hand, give this to the drawer asking him to make a note of his card. You take advantage of this favorable moment to reverse the top card by pressing the pack against your thigh (See Fig. 18) pushing the card off and deftly turning it over. Bring the pack back into view with the back of the left hand uppermost. All the cards are now facing the same way except the two in the middle.

Announce that the chosen card will turn over at your command. Riffle the cards and spring them from hand to hand saying that the turn will be visible. The spectators get a glimpse of a reversed card and naturally infer that it actually turned at that moment. Run through the cards and show that one card has reversed itself, there really arc two cards but you hold them well squared so that there can be no suspicion that the chosen card is under the visible one. The spectator tells you that the card you are showing is not his card.

Pretend to be incredulous and have him refer to his note. He insists you are wrong, so lift off the two cards as one, and, holding the pack in the left hand, backs of the cards to the front, let it fall slightly open at a point about ten cards from the bottom. Holding the two cards also with backs to the audience, make a motion of replacing the card in the break. Really /et the card you have just shown drop and retain the other, the chosen card. To the audience it appears that you have simply changed your mind and still hold the card they just saw.

"Wait a moment," you say, "This card should go back as it was and learn a lesson." So, still holding the card with its back to the audience, turn the pack round and insert it reversed. Thus you have actually reversed the chosen card under the very noses of the spectators, but they have no suspicion of the real state of affairs. Insert the card so that it will be a few cards above the other card which you placed about ten cards from the bottom.

"Now," you continue, "I shall have that card right itself so that we can begin the trick over again without its interference. Over you go." Riffle the pack and turn it over, then, running through the first few cards from the bottom, show that the card you had just before shown, is now facing the same way as the rest of the pack. A little further on in the pack, the chosen card is lying reversed and you are careful not to expose it. Boldly spread the whole pack, showing that all the cards are face up. This is perfectly safe if you make an even spread. Only the white margin of the reversed card will show. For this reason only, cards with white margins should be used in all reversed card effects. Cards with solid back patterns, such as Steam Boats are not safe for these effects as the slightest spread will betray the artifice used.

Hand the pack to the person who drew the card and, while he holds it tightly, order his card to reverse itself. As this has already been done, you can make the command as impressive as you like, Have your victim name his card and spread the pack face down. He finds his card face up.

Or you may have the pack spread with the face up. One card is seen to be face down. Then you have him name his card for the first time. He turns the reversed card over. It is his card.