Magical Originalities
Ernest E. Noakes
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The "Game of Whist"
IN THIS trick I commence, "For my next experiment I desire the assistance of two good-looking members of my audience;" this should produce a smile, and, in a drawing-room, two or more persons rise to assist. I select two ladies if possible, and then ask a gentleman to come up as well, to help me to entertain them.
The point is, I want three persons up. Having succeeded in obtaining three to help me, I now ask them if they play cards, and point out that I generally get first prize at a whist drive, and that I will just explain the best way to "play your cards." I show the pack, shuffle it well, and place it down on the table "to cut for deal." Any of the three assistants cut, and I at once deal the cards for a game of whist, and hand each of my assistants one of the heaps. I now inquire of the most distinguished person present, "What shall be trumps?" I then tell my three assistants that I will play against the three of them and take twelve (or thirteen) tricks, which of course I do.
The points to make the trick the great success it is are as follows:--To prepare the pack the cards should be laid, face upwards, on a table as per the key, and separated into the four hands.
KEY FOR THE WHIST ARRANGEMENT
|
|
Winning
Hand
No.1
|
No.2 |
No.3 |
No.4 |
|
| Hearts |
Ace
King
Queen
2 |
Jack
6
5
|
10
7
4
|
9
8
3
|
|
| Clubs |
Ace
King
Queen
|
9
6
3
|
Jack
8
5
2
|
10
7
4
|
|
| Diamonds |
Ace
King
Queen
|
10
7
4
|
9
6
3
|
Jack
8
5
2
|
|
| Spades |
Ace
King
Queen
|
Jack
8
5
2
|
10
7
4
|
9
6
3
|
|
If the arrangement is studied for a few moments, it will be seen that whatever trumps are cut, the performer must take thirteen tricks in hearts, or twelve each in clubs, diamonds, or spades, provided he picks up hand No. 1. It makes no difference where the pack is cut for dealing, as all the performer has to do is to see that he gets the hand of cards with pattern on back opposite to the other three hands. Then each hand is shuffled well, placed down (in separate heaps), and the cards collected again one at a time alternately. It follows that when the cards are dealt, every fourth card will belong to its "hand" as per key. Use cards with a "single" pattern back, and after having got your pack arranged in order, see that the back of the winning hand is the reverse to the pattern on the backs of the other cards. The cards I use are of a red background, with a gilt Chinaman and fancywork on them, and the reversed pattern is quite overlooked by the three assistants.
When presenting the trick, you pick up the pack and give it a good "false" shuffle. You place the pack down to be cut for deal, and then deal out the cards quite openly. The winning hand is the one with the pattern different from the others, and you give out the other three packs to your assistants. Up to this moment no word has been spoken as to trumps. Each player holds their hand before "trumps" is mentioned. You ask now the most important personage present in the audience to nominate trumps. If "hearts" are requested, you tell your audience you will make the thirteen tricks (if any other suit you say you will try and make a "round dozen" out of a possible thirteen). You play against the other three, and win accordingly. So that the" reason" may be quite clear as to the number of tricks to be won, you will see by the key that the winning hand has the three highest cards of each suit, and the two of hearts. The other hands only have three hearts each, all under in value, so thirteen tricks must result in hearts. In the other suits, the jacks secure one trick, if any other trumps are nominated.
This is one of my favourite tricks, and never fails with a smart audience to obtain applause. In playing out your hand, appear to be well considering your next play, and do not work all one suit out first. As you play the hand out, take each card as it is played, and place it down in its separate heap upon your table. This helps you to prepare them for use again, and is also a safety valve in case some member of your audience insisted upon the trick being repeated. All you would have to do would be to note the bottom card in picking up the four heaps, false shuffle, cut back to whatever the bottom card of the pack happened to be, and under cover of your patter, deal thirteen cards out at a time.
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