29

CLEVER CARD TRICKS

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S V E N G A L I D E C K
Compi l ed By.
J IM SHERMAN
P R I C E 5 0
PUBLISHED BY
NAT IONAL MA GIC COMPA NY
119 S. STATE STREET
CHICAGO
Yhe State Li br ary of Vi ctori a
A L M A C O N J U R I N G C O L L E C T I O N
WILL ALMA ____
H.I.M.C. (LONDON)
Copyrighted 1940.
T his unusual pack of cards is so cleverly made and the pr in
ciple so s k illf ully concealed that y our audience will never sus
pect any special preparation.
Dont expose the tr icks to y our fr iends or the deck wil l be
worthless to you.
SECRET : Upon close ex amination y ou will note that in this
mechanical deck every other card is the same, but the deck
has been so prepared that all of the cards that are the same
are slig htly shorter than the others. Each one of these similar
cards is hidden behind one of the or dinar y cards and this
arrangement should always be kept in order to successfully
per f or m the tricks.
P RE S E NT A T ION: T o present the various tr icks properly,
i t is necessary to f ollow a f ew simple rules.
1. Always even up the cards by tapping the end of the
deck on the table.
2. Never spread the cards out fanwise when asking some
one to choose a card.
3. T he success of nearly all of the tr icks depends upon
r or cing upon the spectator one of the cards which are all aliKc.
T o f orce a card, hold the deck in the lef t hand face down,
being caref ul that the cards are all squarely evened up by tap
ing on the table as mentioned above. W i t h the t humb of the
r ig ht hand on the lower end of the deck and the f our fingers
of the r ig ht hand at the upper end of the deck, bend the
pack slig htly and release the cards slowly , allowing them to
f all into the l ef t hand. T his is called "r if f l ing . Inv ite the
spectator, as you do this, to pick out one of the cards.
He will be compelled to take one of the cards which are all
alike, f or the reason that i t will always be on top of the por
tion which falls int o the lef t hand. T his is due to the f act
that it is s lig htly shorter than the other cards, and every time
y ou rif fle the deck only the indif f er ent cards can be seen by
the audience, as one of the similar cards is always hidden be
hind one of those shown.
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4. Always place selected card at the same place f r om
which it is taken. T hen the deck will never be out of order.
5. When cutt ing the deck always cut f r om the ends
never f r om the sides and do not f orget to tap the deck on. the
end before doing so, as the deck will work much smoomtr .
Owing to the preparation of the cards, whenever you cut the
deck (always f r om the ends) it will always leave one of the
prepared cards on top.
A f t er you have thor oug hly practiced the above methods of
handling y ou are prepared to per f or m the f ollowing wonder f ul
tr icks:
NO. 1A P RE DICT ION.
The per f ormer undertakes the task to pr edict the name of a
card before it is withdr awn f r om the pack. (Name the force
card of the pack ). Hol d the pack in or dinar y dealing position,
with the lef t hand and inv ite a spectator to insert his finger
into the upper par t of the pack as the cards are riff led with
the index f inger of the r ig ht hand. T his done, the cards are
cut at this point and the spectator is allowed to remove the
top card of the bottom section. T his being a force card it is
obvious it will correspond with the prediction.
NO. 2 T HE X - RA Y EY ES.
A f t er cutt ing the pack a f ew times to apparently lose the
chosen card the [ Sick is cut in two sections. T hen the per
f ormer ex plains that with the aid of his "X - R A Y EY ES he
is able to select the heap containing the choice card and tell
its position f r om the top of the heap. A f t er making this
statement a heap is picked and any number is mentioned.
I f the number called is odd, count down to this number , tur n
up the card, showing i t as the choice card. Should the number
be even, count down to this number and tur n over the nex t
card to reveal it as the choice card.
NO. 3 ST OP.
A f t er the pack is cut a f ew times to apparently mix the
card, announce that y ou will place them one by one f r om the
top of the pack into y our r ig ht hand; whenever the spectator
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says stop that wil l be the choice card.
Y ou will note that the pack is arr anged so that all the odd
cards are force cards and will correspond to the dr awn card.
As you remove the cards count them and should y ou be stopped
at an even numbered card remove the nex t or odd numbered
card and show i t to be the choice card. I f y ou are stopped
at an odd card, tur n i t up and reveal i t as the choice card.
NO. 4 CUT T ING T O T HE C A R D.
A spectator is requested to name any number of times he de
sires the per f ormer to cut the cards. Upon cutt ing the cards
the number of times requested the choice card wil l be f ound
on top of the pack. Because a force card appears on top of
the pack af ter each cut, the pack may be cut the number of
times requested, the top card w i l l always be the choice card.
N O . 5 T HE T RA V E L ING C A R D.
Showing the choice card on top, cut the pack in hal f , then
cut the upper section once to bur y the choice card. Now
riffle the bottom por tion to show i t contains indif f er ent cards.
Upon snapping both portions w i t h the finger, the choice card
will leave the upper section and appear at any number down,
(mentioned by spectator) in the lower one. I t is obvious that
i f the number called was odd i t is only necessary to pick up
the bottom por tion and to count to this number and then tur n
up the card; this w i l l be the choice card. I f the number
called was even, count to the number and t ur n up the nex t card.
A f t er this procedure has beeen accomplished the top por tion
may be riffled to convince the spectators that the choice card
has disappeared.
NO. 6 T HE C A R D DE T E CT ION.
T he bottom or indif f er ent card is giv en to a spectator to in
sert i t f ace up anywhere in the pack. Upon cut t ing the pack
at this chosen point, the choice card is shown to be either
above or below it , as the case may be.
When presenting this effect one must be cautious so as not
to expose the force card on the bot tom af ter removing the
indif f er ent card. A t the conclusion of the effect place the
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indif f erent card on the top of the pack and give it a cut f or
proper arr angement.
NO. 7 O DD O R EV EN.
T he performer inquires whether he is to cut an even or odd
number of cards off the deck. Upon receiving a reply th-
pack is cut and the cards arc counted f or verification.
Not only will the cards cut correspond to the request but the
choicc card is shown to be either at the bottom of the scction
that has been cut of f or again it may be the top card of the
bottom section, which ever the case may be.
Should the spectator request an even number to be cut, cut
the cards in the ordinar y way ; at any point, count the cards
removed and show the top card of the bottom section to be
the choice card. I f the request is f or an odd number , the
cards arc held face downwards and are riffled in the opposite
dir ection with the lef t thumb; cutting them at any point,
count the cards cut off and in this case show the bottom card
of the counted off section to be the choice card. A f t er the
count is made f or verif ication, the cards are replaced to keep
them arranged pr operly.
NO. 8C OINC IDE NC E .
Five or six spectators each select ft card. T he cards af ter each
selection are replaced in their own respective positions. To
conclude the effect have the spectators name their cards at the
count of three. In wr iting , this effect mig ht seem simple,
however it really must be tried in order to see to what ex tent
it impresses the spectators when they discover they all se
lected the same card.
NO. 9T RA NS P OS IT ION.
A t this stage of y our r outine the spectators will be' dazzled
at y our perfection and no doubt will wonder how you can
accomplish such effects. Y ou mig ht ex plain to them that by
merely snapping any card with the fingers a change is made
in the value of the card into the choicc card. A f ter this
statement has been made per f or m the f ollowing effect.
Have a spectator say stop at any time the pack is being r i f
6
fled. Attention is called to the name of the card stopped at.
The card is now riffled onto the others. A t this point the
pack is cut and the apparent card noted is pushed off with
the left thumb, face down upon the table. (But in reality
when this card was riffled onto the others a force card im
mediately followed and it is this card that is actually placed
on the table.)
After the above procedure, the bottom section of the pack is
placed on the top so that after the card on the table is snapped
and then turned face upward, to show the change, it is placed
on the top of the pack to keep the cards properly arranged.
NO. 10R E UNION.
Turn the choice card face up on the top of the pack and cut
approximately one third of the cards off and place them on
the table. Cut the remaining portion in half and turn these
portions face upward. Either one of the heaps with an in
different card is selected.
The choice card is then turned face downward on its heap,
and the other heap with the indifferent card is placed face
down on the top of the choice card. Now attention is called
to the denomination of the card on the selected heap. The
heap is then turned face down and placed on the top of
the other cards. While doing this, attention is called to the
fact that the choice card is separated from the noted card by
the other heap. Now upon cutting the pack once, the noted
card is then located and the force card below it is then shown.
This impressses the spectators that the choice card has mys
teriously traveled to join the noted card.
NO. 11 THE MASTER TOUCH.
A fter cutting the pack a few times, attention is called to the
fact that the choice card is lost somewhere in the pack. Upon
making a statement in regard to your sensitive finger tips place
the pack behind your back or underneath the table and bring
forth the choice card, apparently removing it from the center
of the pack. To accomplish the above effect it is only neces
sary to remove and bring forth the top force card. Replace
this card on top and follow with the next effect.
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T he pack is prepared f or this effect as in the preceeding tr ick.
While it was held behind the back, the second card f r om the
bottom (a force car d) is placed i n the rear hip pocket. Pre
pared in this manner, and af ter completing the above effect,
(T he Master T ouch) remove the bottom card, fans the pack
w i t h it to apparently cause the choice card to disappear. Place
this card on the top of the deck and close the effect by re
mov ing the card f r om y our pocket and showing i t as the
choice card.
NO. 12CARD TO POCKET.
NO. 13REV ERS ED CA RD.
T he choice card is shown on the top, and the pack is then
given a cut. Upon spreading the cards, the choice card w i l l
be f ound to have reversed itself . As in the preceeding tr ick
one prepares the pack f or this pr oblem dur ing the Master T ouch
Ef f ect. Whil e the cards are held behind the pack as outlined
in the above mentioned effect, the thir d card f r om the top
(a force car d) is reversed. Upon completing the Car d to
Pockets effect, attention is called to the choice card being face
down and on the top of the pack. T he pack is then cut and
the effect is br oug ht to a climax by showing that the choice
card is now reversed.
NO. 14T HE MA S T ER CUT .
T he choice card is shown on top and a spectator is requested
to name any number of cards to be cut and placed on top of
it. T he per f ormer cuts approx imately the number of cards
f r om the bottom and places them on top of the choice card.
T o v er if y that the ex act amount of cards were cut, the re
quested amount is counted of f the top of the pack and the
choice card is disclosed. Should the spectator request an even
number to be cut, the approx imate number is then cut f r om
the bottom of the pack and are placed on the choice card. I f
the request is f or an odd number , the cards are held face down
and riffled in the opposite dir ection w i t h the l e f t t humb, the
8
thumb retaining back approx imately the requested amount of
cards which arc placed on top of the choicc card.
T he last procedure leaves a force card on the bottom, so the
pack must be held face downwar d so that the force card will
not be exposed. A f t er the count has been made to v er if y the
number of cards placed oro the choice card the pack is cut to
arrange it pr operly.
NO. 15A S PECT A T OR L OCA T ES T HE C A RD.
(Y ou will note that this effect is very similar to effect No. 1)
T he card is selected by the spectator in the same manner as
in the effect number one. J us t before the selection is made
tell him that he will locate the choice card.
NO. 16 S PEL L ING BEE.
T he cards are apparently mix ed either by a riffle shuffle or by
a cut. T he name of the choice card is spelled out, r emoving
a card f r om the top of the pack f or each letter. Should the
amount of letters in the force car ds name be odd, upon spel
ling it out, the card at the last letter will be the choice card.
Should it have an even amount of letters the card f ollowing
the last letter is tur ned and revealed as the choice card.
NO. 17C A R D O N CHOS E N HEA PS.
C ut the pack in f our heaps, cutt ing them at their ends so that
a force card will be on top of every pile. T he spectator is
then instr ucted to select a heap. A f t e r the selection, the
cards are reassembled with the ex ception of the selected heap.
Find it on top of the selected heap. Replace this heap on the
bulk of the pack and you are now ready to per f or m the f ol
lowing effect.
N O . 18 S OL ID T HR O U G H S OL ID.
Choicc card is tur ned face up on top of the pack and then
the pack is cut. T he lower hal f is riffled to show it contains
all indif f er ent cards. T his hal f is then held under neath the
table with the lef t hand. T he r ig ht hand turns the choice
card face down and gives upper hal f of the pack a cut. Upon
snapping the upper section of the pack with the index f inger
of the r ig ht hand, the lower section is br oug ht f or t h, becausc
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the top card of this section will always be a forced card. T o
climax the effect, it is only necessary to tur n card face up to
convince the spectators that the choice card has penetrated
thr oug h the table. A f t er this procedure the top section should
be riffled to show that the choice card is missing. When the
riff ling is complete replace the upper section on the lower
section of the pack and proceed with the r outine.
NO. 19T HE PERS IS T A NT C A RD.
Cut the pack a f ew times and snap the pack w i t h the index
finger, then tur n the top card over and show that it is the
choice card. Cut the pack again* snap the top card, tur n it
face up to again reveal its appearance on the top of the pack.
T he above procedur e may be repeated as of ten as desired.
NO. 20THE MENTAL DETECTION.
Rif fle the cards slowly before a spectators eyes, telling him
to mentally select a card. A f t er this pr ocedur e put the pack
behind y our back at the same time ex plaining that y ou will
place the choice card nex t to the mentally selected one. A f t er
apparently arr anging them br ing the pack f or t h and have the
thoug ht of card named. Riffle the pack slowly to locate this
card, cut the pack at this point, and reveal the f orce card on
top of the bottom section as the choice card. Replace the
upper section and proceed w it h the f ollowing effect.
NO. 21COUNTING TO THE CHOSEN CARD.
Riff le, shuffle or cut the cards a f ew times to apparently mix
them. A s k spectator to name any number f r om one to f if ty -
two. I f an odd number is called count to it and reveal it as
the choice card, however, i f an even number is asked count
to this number and t ur n up the nex t card.
NO . 22 A P E CUL IA R CHA NG E .
As the pack is riffled the per f or mer asks to be stopped at any
point. Place the bottom section on the top group. T his brings
a force to the top of the pack. Remove this card w it hout re-
10
vealing it and place it face down on the table. T he pack is
riffled again and a card is selected by another spectator ( i t is
obvious that this wil l be the force car d). A f t e r this pr o
cedure the spectator is asked to name the noted card. Upon
receiving a reply snap the pack with the index f inger and
then slowly riffle it to show that the card has disappeared. T he
card on the table is tur ned face up and is revealed to be the
choice card. Replace the card on top of the pack, cut the
pack a f ew times and f ollow w it h the nex t effect.
NO. 23T HE MA S T ER T OUCH.
A f t er the pack is cut a f ew times to apparently lose the choice
card, it is riffled and the per f or mer is stopped at any time
dur ing the operation. T he pack is then cut at the designated
point and attention is called to the number of pips on the
bottom card of the upper section. (J ack evaluates at eleven;
Queen, twelve and the K ing , thir teen). I f the number of pips
happen to be odd, count down to this number in the bottom
section and t ur n up the card at this number , showing i t as the
choice card. Should the spots on the card be even, count
down to this number and tur n over the nex t card to reveal
i t as the choice card. Replace the upper section and f ollow
thr oug h w i t h the nex t effect.
NO. 24T HE MIRA CL E .
T he pack is cut a few times and the cards are then dealt in
two heaps one at the time. T his brings the 26 short force
cards in one pile and the 26 indif f er ent cards in another pile.
Hav e the spectator select a pile. Should he select the i ndi f
ferent pile, have him search f or the choice card. Upon re
ceiving the acknowledgement that the choice card is not w i t h
in the heap, spread the short or force cards face down on the
table and have him pick one. T o his surprise the choice card
is picked. Should he point to the pile containing the force
cards spread them over the table and hand hi m the pile con
taining the indif f er ent cards and f ollow out the above procedure.
N O 2J T HE S T A BBING T RICK .
1. Run the cards over and have someone pull a card out.
He wil l always select the same card.
II
2. '5/r.,) the deck in a - 'ce o f paper. Hav e a knif e inserted
in the deck by the spectator. T he selected card will always
be either dir ectly above or below the blade.
3. C ut the deck int o three piles (remember to cut' f r om the
ends of the deck.) T he chosen card will always be on top of
any pile named.
4. Ask any spectator to call out a number , telling hi m the
card he took f r om the deck wil l be any number he says. I f
he asks f or an odd number the card is already there. I f an
even number is given, show him the nex t card.
NO. 26T HE MIST A K E.
1. L i f t the top card and show1 it . (Y ou actually pick up two
cards.) Replace it on the deck, slide of f the t r ick card face
down, and ask someone to place his hand over the card. Y ou
now have him select a card f r om the deck and replace it .
Y ou can now apparently cause it to leave the deck and change
places w it h the card covered by his hand.
2. Reverse the top card and cut the deck. Hav e a carc
1.1ken and replaced in the deck. T hen command the card t J
.ur n around in the deck.
NO. 27T HE RIS ING C A RD.
I . Place a tooth pick at the bottom of the deck and push
upward. T he chosen card will always rise.
N O . 28C A R D F ROM POCK ET .
Place the deck in y our f r iends pocket, face the deck towards
his body. A sk him to remove one car d quickly . He wil l
always pull out the selected card.
N O . 29T HE B URNE D CA RD.
A card is selected and burned. Y ou can make the card re
appear whenever y ou wish.
P RICE PER DE CK , Postpaid, $1.00.
N A T IO N A L MA G I C C O MP A N Y
119 S. S T A T E S T REET
C H I C A G O 3, I L L I N O IS f C v
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