To a person who cannot execute a pass, or who does not want to expend the necessary time and energy, the following is an easy and practical method of obtaining possession of a selected card, which can be replaced on top of pack and alter false shuffling the cards, many effects are possible. In this method if so desired, several cards can be chosen, all of them being placed on top of packet.
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This trick can be performed with borrowed cards, thus relieving any suspicion of marked cards being used. Performer runs the cards before a spectator's eyes in a fan shape, requesting him to remember one of the cards; as soon as a card has been noted, performer closes the fan, squares up pack, immediately handing it to spectator with a request that he shuffle same.
Taking back the pack performer deals the cards off face up on table. stopping at the chosen card, or the location can be varied to suit individual fancy, or depending upon the dexterity of the performer.
Run the cards by fan shape, requesting spectator to inform you when he has chosen a card, make it emphatic, pushing the card a little more into view, inquiring if that is the card, and also asking that he be sure and remember it; in the meantime, the left thumb bends over a small corner of this card; square up pack and offer for shuffle.
In running through the cards, it is easy to locate this card with the turned up corner, but before exhibiting, smooth back the corner by pulling the card through the hand. To one versed in sleight of hand; after pack is received back? fan cards, asking if card is still in pack, locating it by the turned up comer and passing it to top, to be located in pocket, or as you may desire.
T H E N O N P A R E I L V A N I S H
This is a very pretty sleight and for the conclusion of a few flourishes is hard to beat.
After producing a fan of cards from the arm, another from the knee, this latter fan is taken, the balance of the pack fanned and the cards caused to entirely disappear. They are then removed from the performer's neck.
Palm off a number of cards, riffle balance of deck and produce these palmed cards in a fan from the arm, replacing these back on the pack steal oft from bottom of pack a fairly good sized bunch of cards, riffle deck and reach down under knee while in this position, left hand holding the deck comes to an entirely natural position back of left ear, and half the remaining cards, or more are stuffed down under collar, the left hand being drawn away as fan is produced and you assume an upright position.
Left hand holding remaining cards, with backs to audience turns over, concealing cards, immediately returning to the former position; just as if you were practicing the move; right hand with fan approaches left, left hand turns so back of hand shows, right gently fans same, at the same time drawing away from left; left hand is slowly opened, shown unmistakably empty and the cards then produced from the neck in a fan.
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To cause the disappearance without any abrupt moves, proceed as follows; right hand holding fan has thumb on outside, first and second fingers pressed against back of cards, holding the fan, while little finger extends out like a scoop; the fan is placed close to bottom of cards in left hand, and as left hand turns over, it is slightly behind the fun, the cards being dropped into the crook of little finger which presses them against back of fan; as the left hand turns over and the cards are gripped. the right immediately makes a downward move and then continues to fan. (See illustrations.)
If the moves are made as above described it will be found that the sleight is undetectable.
When cards are removed from neck, place back of fan against cards already concealed there, and then square up the pack.
T H E S E V E N C A R D T R I C K
A neat little dodge to pull as an off-hand effect, but which will not allow of repetition before the same audience; at least on the same evening.
From the pack, remove the four sevens, not allowing audience to see what the cards are, or the number thereof, loving these down on the table, then remove a packet of seven cards in this case also not allowing audience to observe the number of cards counted off.
Exhibit a small piece of paper, demonstrating that both sides are free from writing: then write thereon, after turning back or standing away from the observers, a sentence, folding paper up and handing to some certain person to hold. N.N. hat you really write on the paper is:- "You will select the seven pile." Ask the party holding paper to make a free choice of one of the piles; ask him if that is his free choice, or if he desires to change his mind. After the choice of piles has been made, request him to open up the paper and read your message, which will be of course- "You will select the seven pile."
If he has chosen the pile containing seven cards-count the cards off, enabling all to see that there are really seven cards in the packet, not, however, allowing the faces to be seen. Then pick up other packet, counting off likewise, and four cards are the result.
Should the pile with the four sevens be selected, turn these cards face up, shoving that it contains the four sevens, then casually show that the other pile of course cannot contain a seven.
This is the heads I win, tails you lose proposition, but as bold as it is you will be able to "put it over," at least the first time you attempt it.
T H E S U C K E R ' S E X P L A N A T I O N
In the parlor, at the club, and nearly everywhere, there is the usual "wise guy" who is always explaining your tricks, or at least attempting to do so.
The following described effect is a good one to pull all him; it is also suitable to be used when having a boy or two for assistants, offer to explain to him how you find a selected card.
Have a card freely selected and returned to the deck at the end as the cards are riffled, holding the thumb against opposite edge of cards so that this selected card cannot be returned all the way in deck, or flush with the other cards. Now call attention to the fact that you have held the end of the deck, making it impossible for him to force his card all the way in, and that it is now protruding; therefore, all you have to do is cut the cards at this point, illustrating the move by apparently cutting the cards, but in reality, after separating slightly so that this protruding card is the top card of bottom half, where you cut, press down on top card, and when taking the packets apart, this top card is slipped down invisibly onto the selected card, so that on completion of the actual cut, the selected card is really the second one from the top.
Ask this party if they know where the card is at the present moment. Generally, especially if they have been paying attention, the answer will be "On the top of the deck." Display the top card, showing it is not the card they selected, also the bottom card, making a remark to the effect that evidently they are not paying attention to what you were doing, stating that you simply cut the cards near the middle and set them back in the same position, showing that the bottom card is the same, but when making this second separation of the cards, you again cut the top card into middle of pack, placing the two halves back in the same position, leaving the selected card on top, but this time simply turning deck over to show that the bottom card is the same as just shown, in the meantime palming off top card and producing from beneath their coat, from under your knee, or in like manner.