75 TRICKS with a

STRIPPER DECK
Compiled and Edited
dited b y
AL STEVENSON

2nd Edition
dition * Completely Revise d
WIZARD BOOKS
22-14 FORTIETH AVENUE
LONG-ISLAND CITY 1
NEW YORK

Copyright 1962 by WIZARD BOOKS

 ÍNDICE
 ÍNDICE
 ÍN DICE ..........
....................
.....................
.....................
.....................
.....................
....................
.....................
......................
......................
.....................
.....................
.....................
....................
.....................
.....................
............
..  2
 PREFACE T O SEC
SECON
ON D EDIT
EDITIO
IO N ............
........................
........................
.......................
.......................
........................
.......................
.......................
........................
.......................
.............
..  9
 INTR
 IN TR O DU CT IO N ...........
.......................
........................
.......................
.......................
........................
.......................
.......................
........................
.......................
.......................
........................
...................
.......  1 0
T HE T APERE D DEC K .....................
..................................
..........................
..........................
..........................
..........................
..........................
..........................
..........................
..........................
.............  1 2
THE COIN CIDENCE ............ ..........................
............................
............................
...........................
...........................
............................
...........................
...........................
............................
...............
 1 4 .
THE PERFECT COU COUNT NT ..........
.....................
.....................
.....................
......................
......................
.....................
.....................
......................
.....................
.....................
......................
..............
 1...4
THE SHUFFLED SETUP.............. ..........................
..........................
...........................
..........................
..........................
..........................
...........................
..........................
.........................
.............
 1 4
MIXED
MIX ED UP MIRACLE.......... .....................
......................
......................
......................
........... ...........
......................
......................
......................
......................
.....................
.....................
................
.....
 1 4
OD DS AN
AND D EVEN
EVENS S...........
.......................
.........................
............. .............
.........................
.........................
............. .............
.........................
.........................
............. .............
.........................
.............
 1 5 .
A SIMP
SIMPLELE FORCE ..........
......................
.......................
......................
......................
.......................
.......................
......................
.......................
.......................
.....................
.......................
............. ......
 1 5
THE POKER HA HAND ND ............
..........................
..........................
..........................
...........................
...........................
...........................
...........................
..........................
..........................
....................
......
 1 5
READING THE DECK ............. ...........................
...........................
.........................
........................
.........................
..........................
..........................
..........................
.........................
..................
......
 1 5
COLO R SEPARATI
SEPARATION ON ...........
.......................
.........................
.........................
........................
.........................
.........................
.........................
.........................
.........................
.......................
..........
 1 5
THE INDIA
INDIAN N GIVER.................................
.....................
.....................
......................
......................
.......................
............ ............
........................
............ ............
.......................
......................
............
 1 6 .
AN OD DITY .........
.....................
.......................
......................
.......................
.......................
......................
.......................
.......................
......................
.......................
.......................
.....................
................
......
 1 6
THE SMART
SMART SME SMELL LLER ER.............
..........................
.........................
.........................
...........................
..........................
.........................
.........................
..........................
...........................
................
 1...6
POCKET
POC KET LOCAT
LOCATION ION ...........
......................
.......................
.......................
.......................
.......................
.......................
.......................
.......................
.......................
.......................
.....................
.........
 1 6
POCKET
POC KET PUZZLER....................................
.........................
..........................
..........................
..........................
............. .............
..........................
...........................
.............. .............
.......................
..........
 1 6
A WEIRD REVREVERSAL
ERSAL.............
.........................
.........................
.........................
........................
.........................
.........................
.........................
.........................
.........................
.......................
..........
 1 7
THE STABBED DECK ........... ......................
.......................
........................
.......................
........................
.........................
.......................
.......................
.........................
............. .............
................
 1...7
THE GAMBL
GAMBLER'S ER'S ACES......................................
.........................
...........................
..........................
.........................
...........................
..........................
.........................
...........................
...............
 1 .8
THE TH
THUMB
UMB COU NT ....................................
.......................
........................
.......................
........................
.......................
........................
............. .............
........................
.......................
...............
 1...8
OUT OF THE HAT .............................
..........................................
..........................
.........................
.........................
........................
........................
.........................
.........................
.......................
..........
 1 8
ALL CALL IT .........
.....................
.......................
......................
......................
.....................
......................
.......................
......................
......................
......................
.......................
.......................
.................
......
 1 8
THE FOUR ROBBERS.......... .....................
.......................
.......................
......................
.....................
.......................
............. .............
........................
.....................
.....................
......................
...........
 1 8
THE NEXT
NEXT ONE IS IT ........... ......................
......................
.......................
......................
......................
.......................
......................
.......................
.......................
......................
......................
...........
 1 9
WITHOUT
WITH OUT THE REVERS REVERSE E.............
...........................
............................
............................
............................
.............................
............... ..............
............................
............................
...............
 1 .9
AN EY
EYEE POP
POPPERPER............
..........................
..........................
.........................
.........................
.........................
.........................
.........................
...........................
..........................
.........................
................
 1...9
COIN - INCIDENCE.............
........................
........................
..........................
.........................
.........................
..........................
........................
........................
.........................
.........................
...............
 1..9
THE PREDICT
PREDICTION ION ..............
...........................
.........................
.........................
...........................
..........................
.........................
...........................
..........................
.........................
.......................
..........
 2 0
THE GIMMICKED
GIMMICKED CASE............. ...........................
.............................
............... ..............
............................
............................
............................
.............................
............... ..............
.................
 2...0
THE FLIP
FLIP OVER REVE REVELATION LATION ..............
..........................
..........................
............................
...........................
...........................
..........................
...........................
............... ..........
 2 0
ANY CAR
CARD D OP ANY SUIT........... ............ .......................
......................
......................
.....................
......................
........................
............ ............
.......................
......................
............
 2 .1
USING A CO NFEDERATE ............. ...........................
............................
............................
............................
.............................
............... ..............
............................
............................
...............
 2 .1
ACE THE HAR D WAY............. .........................
..........................
............................
.............................
............... ..............
..........................
..........................
.............................
............... ..........
 2 1
A GAG BIT............
...........................
............... ............
........................
.........................
.........................
..........................
...........................
.........................
.........................
.........................
.........................
.............
 2 1
WHICH POCKET ? ................................
.......................
........... ...........
.......................
.......................
......................
......................
.....................
.....................
......................
.....................
...................
.........
 2 2
IN TRIPLICA
TRIPLICATE TE............
.........................
...........................
..........................
.........................
..........................
..........................
..........................
.........................
..........................
...........................
................
 2...2
LUCKY TH THIRTEEN
IRTEEN ............
........................
.........................
..........................
..........................
..........................
............. .............
..........................
...........................
.............. .............
.......................
..........
 2 2
TWO BLACK ACES............ .......................
.......................
.........................
............. .............
.........................
.......................
.......................
.......................
.......................
........................
...................
.......
 2 2
LUCKY SEVSEVEN
EN............
.......................
......................
.......................
.......................
.....................
.......................
............. ............. .............
........................
.....................
.......................
............. ......
 2 3
KINGS AND QUEENS............ ........................
.......................
.......................
.........................
.........................
.......................
.......................
.........................
............. .............
.........................
.............
 2 3 .
THE LOST ACE............
..........................
..........................
.........................
.........................
........................
.........................
...........................
..........................
.........................
.........................
..................
......
 2 3
THE EY
EYES
ES HAVE IT ............
.......................
......................
......................
......................
.......................
......................
.....................
......................
.......................
.......................
......................
..............
 2...4
FINGERPRINTS
FINGERPRINT S.............
.........................
........................
.........................
.........................
.........................
.........................
.........................
.........................
.........................
.........................
....................
........
 2 4
FACE UP OR FACE DOW N ........... .......................
............ ............
.......................
......................
......................
......................
.....................
......................
.......................
......................
............
 2 .4
MATHEMAGICAL ........... .......................
............ ............
.......................
......................
......................
.....................
.....................
......................
......................
.......................
.......................
.................
......
 2 5
COLO R TELEPATHY........... .......................
.......................
.......................
.......................
.......................
.......................
.......................
.......................
......................
.......................
.....................
.........
 2 5
PURELY MENTAL.....................................
............................
............... ..............
..........................
..........................
.............................
............... ............
..........................
............................
....................
......
 2 5

2
 AN UNUSUAL VANISH ........... .........................
THE TRIPLE COI NCIDEN
NCIDENCE
THE MAD MAGICIAN ........... ........................
THE ALLOWANCE...........
.......................
THE STRA
STRANGER
NGER............
........................
THE REL
RELUCTA
UCTA NT CAR CARDS
WORLD'S
WORLD' S FASTEST COU
JUST FOR LAUGHS ...........
.......................
SUPER STRIPPER ............... ............
END STRIPPERS ..........
.....................
BLANK STRIPPER ...........
MAKING YOUR OWN ...........
ALPHABET CAR
CARDS DS...........
ESP CAR
CARDS
DS .............
...........................
 FOR TH
THE E C AR D MEN ...........
TAP
TA P IT OFF ............
..........................
THE AUT AUTOMATI OMATIC
THE PAPER CLIP.............
THE FLY FLYING ING CAR CARD
ONE HAN D LOCATION .............
THE BAD PENNY...........
THREE
TH REE CAR CARD D MONTE ............ .......................
PASSE PASSE............. ...........................
INKREDIBLE
INKREDIBL E...........
.......................
THE JACKS
JACKS'' PERSISTENCY...........
ELUSIVE
ELU SIVE CAR CARD D .............
..........................
# 6 6 ...........
.......................
.........................
# 6 7 ...........
.......................
.........................
# 6 8 ...........
.......................
.........................
# 6 9 ...........
.......................
.........................
# 7 0 ...........
.......................
.........................
# 7 1 ...........
.......................
.........................
# 7 2 ...........
.......................
.........................
THE GIANT FAN ...........
BOOKED DECK DISCOVERY..........
AGAIN THE BOOKED DECK ...........
 A SH OR T ST RIPPER RO U TI
TINE
NE.............
..........................
 PA T TER & R OU TI NE.............
.........................
...........................
.........................
..........................
...........................
...........................
..........................
.........................
...........................
...............
 2 6 .
CE...........
.......................
.........................
............. .............
.........................
.........................
.........................
.........................
.........................
.......................
...........
 2 6
.........................
.........................
...........................
.............. ............... ..............
...........................
.........................
.........................
................
 2...7
.........................
.........................
........................
.........................
.........................
........................
.......................
........................
.........................
..................
......
 2 7
.........................
...........................
..........................
.........................
.........................
.........................
...........................
.............. ............... ............
.............
 2 8.
DS ............. .............
.......................
......................
.......................
......................
........................
.......................
......................
.......................
....................
.........
 2 8
COUNT NT ...........
.........................
............................
...........................
...........................
............................
...........................
...........................
............................
...............
 2 .8
............ ............
.......................
......................
......................
.....................
......................
........................
............ ............
.......................
......................
............
 2 9 .
..........................
............................
.............................
............... ..............
..........................
..........................
.............................
............... ..............
.................
 2...9
.......................
.......................
.....................
.....................
.......................
.......................
......................
......................
......................
.......................
..................
......
 2 9
......................
.....................
.....................
......................
......................
.......................
............ ............
........................
............ ............
.......................
......................
............
 2 9 .
......................
......................
......................
.....................
.....................
......................
.......................
.......................
......................
.....................
...................
.........
 2 9
.........................
............................
..........................
...........................
............... ............
..........................
............................
...........................
...........................
...............
 3 0 .
..........................
.........................
..........................
..........................
..........................
.........................
..........................
...........................
.........................
..................
......
 3 0
........................
..........................
..........................
..........................
..........................
..........................
..........................
..........................
..........................
.......................
..........  3 1
..........................
..........................
............................
...........................
...........................
...........................
...........................
..........................
..........................
....................
......
 3 1
C RISE...........
.......................
.........................
.........................
.........................
...........................
..........................
........................
.........................
.........................
..................
......
 3 1
.........................
........................
..........................
...........................
..........................
.........................
........................
.........................
.........................
.........................
................
 3...1
D ...........
.......................
.......................
........................
.......................
.......................
........................
.......................
........................
.......................
.......................
.....................
.........
 3 1
...........................
...........................
..........................
............................
...........................
.........................
..........................
............................
.......................
........
 3 2
.......................
.......................
......................
.......................
.......................
......................
.......................
.......................
.......................
.......................
.....................
................
......
 3 2
.......................
........................
........................
........................
........................
........................
.......................
........................
.........................
.............
 3 2 .
..........................
...........................
............... ..............
............................
............................
............................
............................
.............................
............... ..........
 3 3
.........................
.........................
........................
.......................
........................
.........................
.........................
.........................
.......................
.......................
..................
......
 3 3
......................
.....................
.....................
......................
.......................
.......................
......................
.....................
.....................
......................
..............
 3...3
..........................
.........................
.........................
...........................
..........................
.........................
.........................
..........................
...........................
................
 3...4
............. .............
.........................
.........................
............. .............
.........................
........................
.......................
........................
.........................
.......................
...................
........
 3 5
............. .............
.........................
.........................
............. .............
.........................
........................
.......................
........................
.........................
.......................
...................
........
 3 5
............. .............
.........................
.........................
............. .............
.........................
........................
.......................
........................
.........................
.......................
...................
........
 3 5
............. .............
.........................
.........................
............. .............
.........................
........................
.......................
........................
.........................
.......................
...................
........
 3 5
............. .............
.........................
.........................
............. .............
.........................
........................
.......................
........................
.........................
.......................
...................
........
 3 5
............. .............
.........................
.........................
............. .............
.........................
........................
.......................
........................
.........................
.......................
...................
........
 3 5
............. .............
.........................
.........................
............. .............
.........................
........................
.......................
........................
.........................
.......................
...................
........
 3 5
.......................
.........................
............. .............
.........................
.........................
.........................
........................
.........................
.........................
.......................
...................
........
 3 6
....................
.....................
......................
......................
.....................
.....................
......................
.....................
.....................
......................
..............
 3...6
........................
.........................
........................
.........................
.........................
.........................
.........................
.........................
.......................
..........
 3 7
.........................
.........................
..........................
.........................
.........................
..........................
........................
..................
.......  3 7
.........................
..........................
..........................
..........................
..........................
..........................
..........................
..........................
.......................
..........  3 8
3
4
 75 TRICKS with a

STRIPPER DECK
Compiled and Edited
dited b y
AL STEVENSON

2nd Edition
dition * Completely Revise d
WIZARD BOOKS
22-14 FORTIETH AVENUE
LONG-ISLAND CITY 1
NEW YORK

Copyright 1962 by WIZARD BOOKS

5
6
 TO
my fri en d s of THE
THE WIZ
WIZAR
ARD'S
D'S SHOP
SHOP
who have bought the Wizard
Wizard Deck and are a nxious
nxious
to do othe r than t he element
element ary effe
effects
cts
given
given in the instr uctions.

7
8
 PREFACE TO SECOND EDITION

T h e fif i r s t e d i ti
ti o n o f t h i s b o o k le
le t w a s p u b l i s he he d i n 1 9 5 7 s o d h a s h e r o n o t
of print for som e time.
S ev er
e r a l f r ie
ie n d s , i n cl
c l u d i ng
ng m a g ic
i c d e a lele r s,
s , h a v e u r g e d m e t o r e - p r i n t i t. t.
However, I felt that the original version had room for improvement and so I
have revised
revised the en tire manu script, script, discarding
discarding some effects effects and adding other s.
I t is
i s m y h o p e t h a t m y e f f o r t s w il il l gi
g i ve
ve m a n y h o u r s o f p l e a s u r e t o t h o s e
w h o l ik ik e t o d o c a r d t r i ck ck s b u t h a v e n eiei t h e r t h e t i m e n o r t h e p a t i e ncnc e r e q u i re
re d
to p ractice intricate sleighs sleighs of h an d. But But:: Don’Don’tt sell the stri ppe r s hor t! Once you
l eeaa r n t o h a n d le l e i t w el el l, y o u m a y f i n d t h e n e ce c e s s ar
a r y t i m e a n d p a t ie
i e n ce
ce a n d
- c o m b i ne ne d wi t h s l ei e i gh
g h s o f h a n d - a s t r i p p e r d e c k w il ill m a k e i t p o s s i bl
bl e f o r y o u
to do ap parent miracles. miracles .
ALWYN STENSON
New York, York, 196 2

9
 INTRODUCTION

In the opinion of the au thor, one of the mo st n eglected

eglected pieces of magical
magical
apparatus is the tapered, or "stripper," deck. Prop erly used, this deck can give

10
t h e i m pr
p r e ss
s s i on
o n o f m i r ac
a c ul
u l o us
u s s le
le i g h t o f h a n d a n d - e v en
e n m o r e i m po
p o r ta
ta n t -
pro perly han dled, the stripp er cannot be s potte d as being gimmicked. gimmicked.

T he
h e p rir i nc
n c i pl
pl e o f t he
h e s t ri
ri p pe
p e r i s n o t a s c om o m m o nln l y k non o wn
w n a s m o st st
m a g ic
ic ia
ia n s b e li
li ev
ev e d e s p i t e t h e f a cctt t h a t t h e t a p e r e d d e c k i s m a n y y ea ea r s o l d . I t
has been s aid many times tha t to use t he stripper is "cheat "cheating,ing,"" but t he stripper
c an
a n b e p la l a ce
ce d i n t h e s a m e c at a t eg
e g or
o r y a s t h e s h o rt r t c ar
a r d,
d , f or
o r ci
ci ng
n g d ec
e c k,
k, e tctc.
Gi m mi
m i cck
k e d c ara r d s a n d e veve n e n ti
t i r e t r ic
i c k d e c k s h a v e b e e n u s e d b y m a n y c ar ar d
men. But it is the end result, the making of a Mystery, that counts. The means
used to attain that end are unimportant.

T hi
hi s m a n u s c ri r i p t h a s b e e n w r iti t t e n w i t h t h e e xp
x p r e s s P u r p o se
s e o f m a k inin g
those who sh un the st ripper, or who are not aware of it's it's pos sibil
sibilitiities,
es, come to
t h e r e aall i za
z a t io
i o n o f t h e f a cctt t h a t a s a n a d j u n c t t o s l ei
ei g h t o f h a n d , o r b y i t s e lf
lf , i f
n e ed
e d b e, e, t h e p r o p er e r u s e o f t h e s t r ip i p p e r c a n g e t t h e m t h e a p p r o b at a t io
io n a n d
applaus e of their audiences whenever whenever they perform.

The stripper deck has many uses other than the location of a card or
group of cards and the follow
following
ing pages will
will prove to you th at, with
with it, you can
do un drea med of things in card magic,
magic, create effects
effects impossible with
with sleight
sleight of
han d. Torn
Torn to any page in this book, read any one of the n um erou s effects, and
give yourself a pleasant surprise. The tapered deck is a magical "tool'-and the
pro per use of this tool is
is the Purpose of this book.

11
 THE TAPERED DECK

The principle
principle of the ta pered deck is a simple one: One O ne end of the d eck is
narrower th an t he othe r. Consequently, Consequently, with with all all the cards one way and o ne card
reversed in the d eck, eck, the reversed card is easily easily located
located as then the wide end of
the card is at the narrow end of the deck and it protrudes.
A crudely
crudely cut deck is n ot practical. practical. The taper sho uld
b e s li l i gh
g h t a n d s o g r a d u al a l t h a t e veve n t h e p e r fo fo r m e r s h o u l d
have to look closel closely y to notice it. it. You
You m ay, however however,, us e a
c r u d e ly ly c u t d e c k t o i ni ni ti
t i a te
t e y o u i n t o t h e m y s t e ri ri e s o f t h e
s t ri
r i p pe
p e r,
r, t h e n u s e a f i ne n e r c u t w he h e n y ou o u h ava v e b e co
co m e
proficient.
proficient. Your Your success with the stripper depen ds wholly wholly
u p o n y o u r h a n d l i ng n g o f t h e p a c k, k, a n a t u r a l n ese s s i n w o r ki
ki n g
with it. You must be able to strip cards from the pack
e as
a s il
il y a n d s wi wi ft
ft l y, y et et d o i t a s i f y ou o u w er er e h a n dld l i ng
ng
n o t h i n g m o r e t h a n a n o r d i n a ry ry p a c k o f c a r d s .
D o n o t r u n y o u r f in i n g er
er s a l o n g t h e e d g e o f t h e d e c k
to de tect reverses cards; just lightly lightly touch the sides of the
deck at both e nds. Your Your hand s are un der consta nt scrutiny. Fumbling Fumbling the edges
of the deck is a sure giveaway; it is an unnatural movement and will arouse
suspicion.
W h e n a c a rd r d h a s b ee e e n s el el ec
ec te
t e d t h e d ec e c k m u s t h e r ev ev e rs
r s ed
e d , b u t t he he
r ev
e v e rs
r s al
a l s h o u l d n o t b e o bv b v i o usu s . F an
a n ni
n i n g t h e d e ck c k a n d c llo o si
si n g i t i s t h e m o s t
practical
practical way of reversing reversing the deck. Hold Hold the deck face down in your left ha nd,
t h u m b o n t o p , f in i n g er
er s b e n e a t h . T h e r i gh g h t f o r e fifi n ge
g e r h i t s t h e t o p l efef t h a n d e d g e
o f t h e p a c k,k, m o v e s f r o m l ef ef t t o r igi g h t,
t , s p r e a d i n g t h e c a r d s i n t o a f a n. n. A c a r d i s
s e le
le c te
te d , r i g h t f o r e fi
fi n ge
g e r c l o se s e s t h e f a n f r o m l ef ef t t o r igi g h t r e ve
ve r si
s i n g t h e d e c k.k.

The selected
selected card is replaced
replaced in the deck and can be strippe d when de sired.
N ot
ot ee:: I n t h e p a g es
e s t h a t f ol
ol l ow
ow , t h e t e r m " r ev
ev er
e r s e d"
d" w i l l b e u s e d t o
designate the t urning of a card (or the deck) end for end.

12
 T o b e co c o m e p r o fi
fi ccii een
n t w i t h t h e s t ri r i p p e r i t i s m o s t i m p o r t a n t t h a t y ou ou
develop
develop ease in the han dling dling of th e deck. Practic Practice, e, opening and closing closing fans of
cards, and stripping one or mo re cards tha t have been reversed reversed in the deck.
Handle the deck lightl lightly. y. You do not need sup ersensitive ersensitive fingers
fingers to han dle
this deck. It It is easier
easier to locate a reversed card by u sing a light light touc h rat her t han
squeezing the sides of the deck. If stripping a reversed card from the deck
s e e m s o b v ioi o u s t o y o u a t f i r st s t , s t ri
ri p t h e c a r d o r c a r d s n o t o f t h e d e c k w it it h t h e
d e ck
c k b e hi
h i n d y o uru r b a ck
ck . T hi h i s w i ll , i n f aca c tt,, a d d t o t h e m y s t er
e r y i n s of
of a r a s t h e
spectator is concerned.
concerned.
Eventually you will will att ain the ability ability to strip n ot o ne or m ore car ds in full
v i ew
ew o f t h e s p e c t a t o r a n d p l ac a c e t h e m o n t o p o r b o t t o m o f t h e d e c k w it it h o u t i t
being n oticeable.
oticeable.
Make
Make it a habit to look directly directly at t he s pectator whe n s tripping a card. In
t h e s e c on
o n d h e r e t u r n s y o u r l oo o o k y ou o u c a n h a ve ve t h e c a r d o u t a n d o n t o p o f t h e
deck.
A l i tt
t t le
le s t o ry
r y w i t h e ac a c h e ff f f ec
ec t i s a llss o d e s ir
ir a bl
bl e f or
o r p a t t e r i s i n i ts
t s el
el f
misdirection. Pick out, a half dozen of the effects in this book, try them on
so meo ne. You You wil willl not only sur prise th em, you will will surp rise yourself.

******************

13
 #1
THE COINCIDENCE

Have a card selected and (without allowing its face to he seen) initialed
on t he back by a s pectator. Rev Reverse
erse the deck and have the card inserted. Shuff Shufflele
a n d l aay y d e c k f ac
a c e d o w n o n t h e t a bl
bl ee.. C u t t o r ev
e v er
e r s e d c ar
a r d , h a ve
v e t h is
i s p a ck
ck e t
tur ned face op and ask th e spectator to m ark th e face face - op card. He He is is, of
of course,
unaware that it is the same one he previously initialed on the back. Shuffle
a ga
g a iin
n . Lo c at
a t e t h e m a r k e d c ar
a r d i n a n y w ayay y ouo u w i s h,
h, t h e n s h o w t h e a m a z i ng ng
coincidenc
coincidencee of the s pectator m arking the sa me card twice twice..

#2
THE PERFECT COUNT

R eev
v e rs
r s e t h e t w e n t y si
s i xt
x t h c a r d i n t h e p a c k.
k. R e m a rkrk t o t h e s p e c t a t o r s t h a t
y o u h a vev e , t h r o u g h y ea
ea r s o f e xp x p e ri
ri e nc
nc e,
e, d e ve
ve llo
o p e d t h e a bi b i l i ty
ty t o j u d ge
ge t h e
amount of cards in any packet by its thickness. Cut the deck at the reversed
c a r d a n d h a n d t h e p a c k e t y o u h a v e r e m o v ed e d t o a s p e c t a t o r t e ll
l l in
in g h i m t h a t y o n
have judge d exactly half the p ack.

#3
THE SHUFFLED SETUP

M a nyny e ffff ec
ec t s a r e p o s s ibi b le
le w i t h a p r e - a r r an
a n g e d d e ck c k . N at
at u r al
al ly
ly, y o u
cannot offer a set - up deck for sh uffling uffling.. Howev
However, er, if you have a stripper set u p
in a certain order simply reverse half the pack and place it in the card case.
W h e n r ea e a d y t o p e rfr f or
o r m , r e m ov
o v e t h e p a ck
c k f ro
r o m t h e c a se se a n d h a n d i t t o t h e
spectator for one riffle shuffle, then take the deck and strip not the reversed
c ar
a r d s . Yo
Y o u w ilil l n o w h a ve ve t h e s e t - u p i n t w o p a c ke k e t s.
s. Pl aacc e t h e t wo
w o p a c keke t s
t o g e t h e r i n t h e ir
ir p r o p e r o r d e r a n d t h e d e c k i s a g ai
a i n s e t u p i n t h e o r i gigi n al
al p r e -
arranged order.

#4
MIXED UP MIRACLE

Divide the deck into two equal piles, reverse one pile and place the two
piles face to face. Now, Now, thoro ughly shuffle the d eck. Place Place the deck be hind your
back, strip the entire deck, torn one half over and place it upon the other half,
t h e n b r in
i n g t h e d e ck
c k f or
o r w ar
a r d . Ri
Ri bb
bb o n - s p r e a d t h e c ar
a r d s a n d s h o w t h e y a r e a ll
ll
one way.
way.

#5

14
 ODDS AND EVENS

Bef o re
r e h a n d h a v e t h e d e c k s e p a r a t e d i n t o t w o p i l es e s , o n e p i l e a ll
ll t h e o d d
numbers, the other pile, all even numbers. Reverse one pile and shuffle in the
n o r m a l m a n n e r.
r . A f te
t e r s h u f fl
fl i ng
n g , s t r i p t h e e n ti
t i r e d e c k b e h i n d y o uru r b a ck
ck a n d
s h o w y o u h av
av e s e p a r a t e d o d d n u m b e r s f r o m e v e n n u m b e r s .

#6
A SIMPLE FORCE

H av
av e t h e c ar
a r d y ou
o u w a nt n t t o f o r ce
c e r e ve
v e r se
s e d o n t h e b o t t o m o f t h e p a c k. k.
Shuffl
Shuffle, e, place the deck face down on the ta ble and casu ally ally cut to the reversed
c a r d.
d. S h ow
ow i t t o t h e s p e c t a t o r.
r. D o n o t g i ve
ve t h e i m p r e s s i on
o n y o n a r e c u t t i ng
ng t o a
certain card, cut th e deck casu ally. ally.

#7
THE POKER HAND

Have a straight flush reversed in the deck. Shuffle and strip the flush to
t h e t o p . D e al
al o u t f iv
iv e p o k e r h a n d s a r o u n d t h e t a b le l e (f i v e c a r d s e a c h ).
). Pi
P i ck
ck u p
e a c h h a n d , s h o w i t b rir i e fl
fl y,
y, d o n o t d i s t u r b i t s o r d e r , a n d p l ac
ac e e a c h h a n d b a c k
on top of the d eck. Deal Deal out five five hands again of fiv fivee cards each, then show t hat
y o u h a v e d e a l t y o u r s el
e l f a s t r a ig
ig h t f lu
l u s h . U n kn
k n o w n t o t h e s p e c t a t o r e ve ve r y f if
if t h
card on t op of the deck is part of the flush.

#8
READING THE DECK

Memorize five
five cards an d reverse the m in t he deck. Tell
Tell the spectator that
you can read th e backs of the cards. Shuff
S huffle
le and st rip the five
five me morized cards
to the top of the deck. Remove
Remove the top card face down, callcall not t he na me of one
of the five you have memorized, and place it face down no the table. Repeat
this un til you have the five
five top cards face down on t he table. Mix the m u p, then
tur n t hem over and s how you have called
called the five
five cards
cards correctly
correctly..

#9
COLOR SEPARATION

This is a real eye eye pop per. Bef Before

ore star ting your perfor mance, separate the
reds and blacks and reverse one color. To begin, shuffle the entire deck and
d i s p la
la y t h e f a c e s o f t h e c a r d s s h o w i ng
ng t h e m t o b e t h o r o u g h ly
l y m i x e d.
d. F a n t h e
deck withwith the backs toward you an d have a red card selected. selected. Ask Ask the spectat or
t o r e m e m b e r h i s c a r d . Re
R e v e rs
r s e t h e d e c k a n d h a v e t h e c a r d r e p l a ce
ce d . Fa
F a n a g ai
ai n
an d have a black card selected. Reverse Reverse and replace.
Now, shuffle thoroughly. Put the deck behind your back and completely
strip out the entire deck. Bring h forward holding the two packets and show

15
t h a t y o u h av
a v e n o t o nl
n l y c o m pl
pl et
e t el
el y s e pa
p a r at
a t e d r e ds
d s f ro
r o m b la
la ck
ck s b u t t h e r e d
selected
selected card is among the black, black, and the black selected selected cart! amo ng the red.

#10
THE INDIAN GIVER

Break
reak the deck into two piles.
piles. Giv
Givee one to a s pectator, reversing his pile
as you ha nd it to him. Ask
A sk him to look at any card in his pile
pile and insert it face
down into your pile.
pile. Shuff
Shuffle
le your pile,
pile, strip o ut the card he gave
gave yon an d place
it face down in his pile. Ask him to na me his card. Show it is not in your pile as
he thought. Tell him he is an "Indian Giver" and influenced you into giving him
back the sa me card he gave von.von.
#11
AN ODDITY

S e p a ra
r a t e t h e r e eell f r o m t h e b l acac k c a r d s i n t o t w o p il il e s.
s. R e ve ve r s e o n e p il il e
a n d t h e n m a k e a s i n gl g l e p i le
le b y a l t e r n a ti
ti n g r e d a n d b la l a c k.
k. H ol o l d t h e d e c k w it it h
b o t h h a n d s b y t h e e d g e s a n d s t r i p t h e e n t i re r e d e c k j u s t t h e s lili g ht
h t e s t f r a c ti
ti o n.
n . If
If
you n ow riffle
riffle the cards in one direction, direction, you wil will see o nly red cards; riff rifflele in
the o the r direction an d you will will see only black cards.

#12
THE SMART SMELLER

La y s e ve
ve n c a r d s i n a r o w o n t h e t a b le
le , t h e m i d d l e c a r d r e ve
ve r s e d.
d . H a ve
ve a
spectator write the aromas you call out, one each, on the backs of the cards,
left to righ t. Turn your back if you wish. Call ou t, Rose, Rose, Violet
Violet,, Jasmin e, Lil Lilli
lies,
es,
Pine, Hemlock,
Hemlock, Cedar. The r eversed card will will be Li Lillies,
lies, the four th card called. called.
Have
Have the cards mixed an d han ded to you; you; strip Lillies llies to t op. Smell
Smell each card,
face toward you, remarking that you will find your favorite aroma: Lillies. You
may do this with drinks or s pices. pices.

#13
POCKET LOCATION

T h e s e le
l e c te
te d c a r d i s r e v e rs r s e d i n t h e d e c k a n d t h e d e c k i s s h u f f l e d.
d. D r o p
t h e d e c k i n t o a s p e ctc t a t or
o r ' s s h i r t p o c ke
k e t T h e e n d o f t h e d e ckc k f r o m w hi h i cch
h the
reversed card protr udes s hould be u p, that is: is: nearest to t he edge of the pocket.
T or
o r n y ou
o u r h e a d a ssii d e,
e, r e a c h i n t o p o c k et e t w i t h t h u m b a n d m i d d lele f i ng
n g er
er a n d
remove selected card.

#14
POCKET PUZZLER
PUZZLER

Have selected card reversed in the deck. Shuffle. D rop deck, protruding
end of selected
selected card up per most, into spectator's shirt pocket. Ask for a num ber

16
between 1 and 20. Reach into spectator's pocket and remove and show cards
one at a time. We will presume the number called was 14. Remove 13 cards
from t he top o r the bot tom of the deck; show the fourt eenth (the (the reversed)
reversed) card
t o b e t h e o n e s el
el ec
ec te
t e d b y s p e c ta
t a t or
o r . U s e t h u m b a n d m i d dl
dl e f i ng
ng er
e r w he
he n
reaching into
into the spectator's pocket.

#15
A WEIRD REVERSAL

Take all all the cards of one suit (spades, for example), example), reverse reverse the m, insert
the m in t he deck, shuffle thoroughly and place the deck hack in its case. When When
y o u a r e g o in i n g t o p e r f o r m , r e m o v e t h e p a c k f r o m y o u r p o c k et e t a n d o f fefe r i t t o b e
shuffled. As As the deck is being shuffled patt er to t he effect effect that thirteen is your
l u ck
ck y n u m b e r a n d y o u a r e g oi o i n g t o t r y a n e x p er e r i m e n t w iti t h t h a t n u m b e r . Ta Ta k e
t h e d ec e c k f ro
r o m t h e s p ec e c ta
t a t or
o r a n d p la l a ce
ce i t b e hi h i n d y ou o u r b ac a c k.
k. S t ri
ri p n o t t h e
t h ir
i r t ee
e e n s p a d e s,
s , t u r n t h e m o ve ve r a n d i n se s e r t t h e m t o ge g e t h e r b a c k i n to
t o t h e p a c k.k.
Br i ng
ng t h e d ec e c k f or
o r wa
w a r d,
d, f aca c e u p; p ; s p r ea
e a d t h e d e ck ck a n d s h ow o w t h a t t h e re re a re
re
thirteen card s face down, together, a remar kable coinc coincidence.
idence. Now Now,, square the
p ac
a c k,
k, m e n i t f ac ac e c l o w n, n, s p re r e ad
a d t he
h e c ar ar d s a n d - a n o th t h er
e r c oi
oi nc
n c i de
d e nc
nc e h a s
occurred: the t hirteen cards are all all spad es!

#16
THE STABBED DECK

This is a remarkable effect and never fails

t o m y s ti t i ffy
y. H av av e a c ar a r d s ele l eecc t e d a n d i n se se r t e d
a ga
g a iin
n i n t h e r ev e v er
e r s e d d e ck c k . S ho ho w a n o r d in i n a ry
ry
p a p e r n a p k in i n . W rar a p t h e d e ck c k i n t h e n a p k in i n b u t, t,
t e s t e d a s y o n s t a r t t o w r a p, p, p u l l o u t t h e r e ve ve r s e d
card slightl
slightly y - a quarter of an inch will will do.
H ol
ol d t h e d e c k f i r ml ml y a s y ou o u w r ap
ap s o t h a t
t h e p r o t r u d in i n g c a r d d o e s n o t s li li d e b a ck
c k i n to
to t h e
deck with the h andling. andling.
When the deck is wrapped, tuck under the ends of the napkin, again
b e in
i n g c a r efef u l n o t t o m o v e t h e p r o t r u d i n g c a r d. d . H olol d t h e w r a p p e d d e c k f a c e u p
in your right hand and, with the left, push the tip of a knife blade into the
n a p k i n a t t h e e n d o f t h e d e c k w h e r e t h e c a r d i s p a r t l y s t ri ri p p e d o u t . Pu
P u s h k n i fe
fe
blade into the na pkin from a slightly slightly angled position, position, downward, so t hat t he tip
of the knife hits hits p rotr uding card; then, leve levell the knife and pu sh it all all the way in. in.
T he
h e k nin i ffee b la
la d e i s n o w r e s t i ng ng o n t h e s t ri r i p p e d c ar a r d . P u sh s h t h e k n ifif e i n t o t h e
d e ck
c k u p t o t h e h a n d le l e , t h e r e by
b y p u s h i ngng t h e s t ri r i p p e d c ar a r d b a ck
c k i n t o t h e d e ck ck
and even even with the ot hers. Ask Ask that the selected card be na med. Lea Leaveve the knife
i n p l a ce
ce a n d r i p o f f t h e n a p k i n s h o w i n g t h e k n i f e r e s ti t i n g o n t h e s e le le c te
t e d c a r d.
d.
This is not an effect in be done hurriedly. Make a big thing of it and, when
abo ut t o reveal th at t he knife is resting on t he selected eas e!, do it slowly. slowly.

17
 #17
THE GAMBLER'S ACES

Have
Have the four aces reversed in the deck. Tel Telll those watching that you are
g oi
oi ng
n g t o p r o ve
ve t h a t i t i s n o t s m a r t t o p la l a y c a r d s w i t h s t r a n g er
e r s.
s . S h uf
u f fl
fl e t h e
deck, place it it face
face down on the ta ble and cut t o an ace. Do Do not s how the ace but
r e m o ve
ve i t f r o m t h e p a c ke k e t a n d p la
l a ce
ce i t f a c e d o w n t o o n e s i d e. e. D o t h i s t h r e e
m o r e t i m e s u n t i l y ou
o u h a v e c u t a n d r e m o v e d a ll
ll o f t h e a c eess . T ur
u r n o veve r t h e f o u r
cards an d show th at you cut to an ace each ea ch time.

#18
THE THUMB COUNT

R eem
m a r k t h a t y o u h a v e s u p e r s e n s i ti
ti ve
ve f i ng
n g e r s a n d c a n c o u n t c a r d s w h il
il e
riffl
riffling
ing them withwith your th um b. Be Beforehand, have the fifteenth fifteenth card reversed in
the d eck. Be sore th at you riffle riffle the corner of th e deck where the reversed card
prot rude s. Rif
Riffl
flee this corner o nce or twice, twice, break the deck at the reversed card
and han d the p acket to the sp ectator to be count ed. You You,, of
of course, have stated
in advance how ma ny cards you are going going to thu mb coun t,

#19
OUT OF THE HAT

Sele
Selected
cted card is stripped to to p of deck, Borrow Borrow a felt felt hat, crease the top
a n d h o l d h a t h ig i g h . Dr
Dr o p t h e d e c k i n t o t h e h a t , d e c k o n o n e s i d e o f t h e c r e a s e, e,
s t r i p p e d c a r d o n t h e o t h e r . Sn
Sn a p t h e o u t s i d e b o t t o m o f t h e h a t , b e lo
lo w s t r i p p e d
card. It will will ju mp out of the h at.

#20
ALL CALL IT

Have a card reversed in the deck, King of Spades, f or example. Shuffle,

c u t t o t h e k i n g a n d s h o w i t t o o n e p e r s o n p r e s e n t o n lyl y. Re
R e s h u ff
f f le
le , d o t h e s a m e
t o a n o t h e r p e r s o n.
n . D o t h i s f o u r t i me
m e ss,, e a c h t i m e s h o wi
w i ng
n g t h e s a m e c a rd rd b u t
without
without letting
letting any of the four s pectators know tha t they have all all looked
looked at t he
King of of Spades. Tell Tell the fou r s pectators to call call out their card when you count to
t h r e e . T h e y w il
ill l oo
o o k a n d f e eell r a t h e r f o ol
ol i s h w h e n t h e y a ll
ll c alal l o u t "Ki ngng o f
Spades."

#21
THE FOUR ROBBERS

Remove
Remove the lone aces from the deck and lay lay them lace lace down o n the table. table.
R e ve
ve r s e t h e d e c k a n d l ay
ay i t o n t h e t a b le
l e . T el
el l t h e s t o r y o f f o u r r o b b e r s i n t e n t
upo n rob bing a house. Insert one ace low in the pack, face face down; this robber is
in the cellar. Another ace is inserted a bit higher in the pack, the first floor; a

18
third ace stillstill higher
higher in the p ack, the secon d floor, floor, and the last ace near the t op
of the pack. As you now shuffle the pack re mark tha t one of the robbers looked
out of the window an d s aw the p olice olice app roaching.
roaching. The only only way of escape was
t h r o u g h t h e r o of
o f . S tr
t r ip
i p t h e a ce
c e s t o t h e t o p , p l a ce
ce t h e d e ck
c k f ac
ac e d o w n o n t h e
table and slowlyslowly remove the four to p cards, one at a time. The four robbers are
all on t he roof.

#22
THE NEXT ONE IS IT

Have
Have a card selected an d re placed placed in t he reversed d eck. Hold Hold t he deck in
your left hand, lightly feeling the selected card. Deal out one card at a time
f r o m t h e f a c e - d o w n p a c k , s h o wi
wi n g t h e c a r d e a c h t i m e,
e, a n d m a k i n g a n e a t p il il e
f ac
a c e d o w n o n t h e t a blb l ee.. C o n ti
ti n u e d e a li
li ng
n g p a s t t h e c h o se
s e n c ar
ar d , t h e n r e m a r k
that the next card you s how will will he t he selected card. Surprise Surprise them all all by not
s h o w in
in g t h e n e x t c a r d t o b e d e a l t b u t b y c u t t i n g t o t h e r e veve r s e d c a r d t o b e i n
the pile on t he table.

#23
WITHOUT THE REVERSE

This will
will fool a m agician.
agician. HaveHave the entire lower h alf of th e d eck reverse d.
A sk
s k s o m e o n e t o s e lele c t a c ar
a r d f r o m t h e u p p e r h a l f  of   of the deck. Slow Slowly ly riffle
riffle th e
c a r d s s o t h a t t h e c h o s e n c a r d i s i n se
s e r t e d i n t h e lower  half
  half of the deck. Break Break the
d e c k a t t h e c e n t e r a n d g i ve
ve t h e t o p h a lf l f t o t h e s p e c t a t o r f o r s h u f fl
f l in
in g.
g. S h uf
uf fl
fl e
the b otto m half yourself yourself.. YouYou can now strip out the selected selected card in your half. half .

#24
AN EYE POPPER

Have the deck in the case with all the red cards reversed. Remove the
d e c k f r o m t h e c a s e a n d s h u f f le
le t h o r o u g h l y.
y. St
S t ri
ri p t h e d e c k c o m p l e te
t e ly
ly a n d p u t
the two packets together. You You now have tics deck half red and half black black.. Hold
Hold
t h e d e c k f a ce
c e d o w n i n y o u r r ig
i g h t h a n d , l e ft
ft t h u m b c o m e s o v erer t o t h e t o p o f t h e
deck, leftleft fingers
fingers und erneat h t he deck. With With your left left han d, remove the top and
b o t t o m c ar
a r d s o f t h e d e ck
c k t o ge
g e t h e r,
r, p l a ci
ci ng
n g t h e t w o c a r d s f a ce
ce d o w n o n t h e
table.
table. Continue
Continue d oing this un til the entire pack is on the table, table, face down. Turn
the cards over, spread them, and show a perfect alternation of red and black
throughout the deck.

#25
COIN-INCIDENCE

Reverse
Reverse a deuce, trey,
trey, four an d nine in your deck. Bef
Beforehand
orehand gather a nd

19
put in your trouser pocket a quantity of coins, all of different dates, but all
d a t e s t o t a li
li n g e i g ht
h t e e n ( 1 9 3 5,
5, 1 9 2 6 , 1 9 0 8 , 1 9 4 4 , 1 9 5 3 , e t c.
c . ). C u t d e c k a t t h e
four reversed cards, making four piles, with one of the reversed cards at the
botto m of each pile, pile, the four piles face down on the table. table. Casuall
Casually y remove the
coins from your pocket and have one selected. Ask the spectator to total the
f o u r d i gi
g i t s o n h i s s e l ec ec t e d c o i n.
n. W he
h e n h e a n n o u n c e s t h e t o t a l (w
(w hi
hi c h m o s t b e
eighteen)
eighteen),, turn over each pile pile on the table and s how that t he four cards you cut
to also tot al eighteen.
eighteen.

#26
THE PREDICTION

Before performing, reverse and note three cards in your deck. Tell your
audience th at you are feeli feeling ng particularly
particularly clairv clairvoyant
oyant an d you would like them
to hel p you in testing t he validity validity of your feelings. feelings. Take a piece piece of pape r an d on
i t w ri r i t e t h e n a m e s o f t h e t h r e e c a r d s y ou o u h a veve p r e vi
vi o usu s ly
ly r e ve
ve r se
se d i n y o u r
s t r i p p e r d e c k. k . R e m ar a r k i ng
ng t h a t y o n h a v e m a d e a p r e d i c ti t i o n,
n, f o ld
ld t h e p a p e r a n d
p l ac
ac e i t i n a s p e c ta t a t o r'
r ' s p o c ke
ke tt.. S hu
hu ff
f f le
le y ouo u r d e ck
c k a n d p l ac ac e i t i n y o u r,
r, o r
another spectator's pocket. Tell your audience that yon are going to remove
cards, one at a time, from the pack and that anyone should call out "Now!"
w h ilil e y o u r h a n d i s s t il il l inin t h e p o c k e t.
t. P r oco c e eed
d t o t a k e c a r d s o u t a s d e s c riri b e d
placing the m in a face - op pile to one side. Whenever Whenever so meo ne calls "No "Noww!" stri p
o n e o f t h e r e ve v e r s e d c a r d s a n d p o t i t f ac ac e d o w n o n t h e o t h e r s i d e o f t h e t a b l e. e.
Continue until you have stripped out the t hree cards you have "predicted "predicted." ." Ask
the Spectator in whose pocket you h ave placed placed your p rediction
rediction to read it aloud.
Turn over the three cards you have placed singly and face down to one side of
y o ur
u r t a bl b l ee.. Pi c k t h e m u p , o n e a t a t i me m e , a n d c al al l t h ei
e i r n a m e s d r a m a t ic
ic al
al l y
holding them op for all all to see t hat your feelings feelings did no t deceive deceive you. you.

 N O TE: W h e n pl ac i n g t h e d ec k in t h e p ac k et b e s u re t h a t t h e e n d w h e r e t h e c ar ds p ro t r u d e
is up.

#27
THE GIMMICKED CASE

I n a n o l d e f fe
fe c t u s e d w i t h t h e s t r i p p e r d e c k t h e c a r d c a s e isis s a n d p a p e r e d
t h i n a t e a c h s i d e , n ea
e a r t h e b o t t o m . W h en
e n t h e d e c k, k, w it
it h t h e p r o t r u d i n g c a r d o r
c a r d s d o w n , i s i n s er
e r t e d i n t o t h e c a s e t h e f ini n ge
ge r s c a n f e e l t h e s e c a r d s t h r o u g h
t h e t h in
i n , s a n d p a pe
p e r ed
e d s id
i d es
e s o f t h e c as
a s e.
e. H ol ol d t h e c asa s e o p e n e n d d o wn wn a n d
allow
allow all all the car ds except t he reversed one s to fall out.

#28
THE FLIP OVER REVELATION

Bring reversed card to top. Push top card so that it projects an inch to
o n e s i d e o f t h e p a c k . D roro p e n t ir
i r e p a c k f r o m a b o u t a f o o t o v e r y o u r t a b l e.e. T h e
t o p c a r d w il
il l f li
li p o v e r f a ce
c e u p , d u e t o t h e d r a f t h i t t i n g t h e p r o j e ct
c t i ng
ng e d g e o f

20
the card.

#29
ANY CARD OP ANY SUIT

I n a dv
d v a n ce
ce o f y o u r p e r f o r m a n c e,
e , t a k e a n e n t i r e s u i t - s a y,
y, t h e h e a r t s - o u t
of your deck. Put Put the m in or der from ace to king, king, reverse
reverse the p acket, pu t it back
o n t he
h e t o p o f y ou o u r d ec
e c k a n d p u t t h e d e ck c k i n i t s c a se se . W h e n y o u s t a rt rt t o
perfor m, say that you have an affinity affinity for hearts a nd you would like like to prove it.
Take the deck ou t of its case and riffl rifflee shuffle once. Put the deck be hind
your back and as k som eone to call any card of the heart suit. As you you pat ter an d
while you wait for t he s election, election, strip out the entire s oil (it wil willl still
still be in or der)
and pot t he packet on t op of the deck. It It is,
is, of course, an easy matte r for you to
count down t o whatever card is call called
ed for an d t hus prove you are "in "in tune" with with
the hearts.
D ep
e p e n di
d i n g o n y ouo u r m e m o r y - a n d a bi b i l i ty
ty - y o u m a y r e p ea e a t will s o n e o r
t w o o t h e r c a r d s.
s. B ut
ut d o n ' t d o m o r e t h a n t h r e e. e. O n e c o u l d b e a n a cc c c id
i d e n t , t wo
wo
might b e coincidence,
coincidence, three is incontrovertible proof, four is bored om.

#30
USING A CONFEDERATE

M a ny
ny a p p a r e n t c a rd r d m i rar a cl
cl eess c a n b e a cc cc o m p lili s he
he d wi t h t h e u s e o f a n
assistant for, if you have a confederate to han dle the deck while while you are out of
t h e r o o m,m, y ou o u c an a n d o t h e s ee e e m ini n gl
gl y i m po
p o s si
s i bl
bl e.
e. Yo u c an a n b e a b se
s e n t,
t, y ou
ou r
c o n fe
f e d e r a t e c a n h a v e a c a r d s e l ec ec t e d a n d r e ve
ve r s e t h e d e c k.k. Y ou
ou c a n t h e n e n t e r
t h e r o o m a n d f in i n d t h e s e le
le c te
te d c a r d . ItIt i s i m p o r t a n t t h a t n o o n e k n o w s y o u a r e
working with an assistant. Brief someone in the audience as to what to do is
han dling
dling the deck. Do Do not overdo the u se of the assistant.

#31
ACE THE HARD WAY

R eev
v e rs
r s e a n a c e i n t h e d e c k.
k. H av
a v e t h e d e c k s h u f f le
le d a n d t h e n l ai
ai d o n t h e
table,
table, face
face down. Pla Place
ce a silk
silk over
over the d eck and cut t hrough the silk to show t he
ace.

#32
A GAG BIT

This is a comedy bit that always gets a good laugh. Occasionally strip not
the selected card while yon are shuffling and say, "Please don't forget your card
while I am shuffling." Show the card, put it hack in the deck and go on with
whatever effect
effect you had planned.
#33

21
 WHICH POCKET?

Have
Have a card selected
selected and reverse it in the deck. Shuff Shuffle le.. Ask a sp ectator
to empty both left and right jacket pockets. Drop the deck in his left jacket
pocket ma king sure that the edge with the pr otru ding card is up. Br Bring out half
t h e d e ckc k a n d p la
l a ce
c e i t i n t h e s p e ct
c t a t or
o r ' s r i gh
g h t j aacc ke
k e t p o c ke
k e tt,, m a k inin g s u r e t h e
r ev
ev er
e r se
s e d c ar
a r d r e m aiai n s i n t h e left  p o c ke k e tt.. N ow
o w a s k t h e s p e ct ct a t o r t o n a m e a
pocket, right or left... If he says "right," tell him to discard the portion of the
deck in his right right pocket a nd you reach into the left and remove selected selected card.

#34
IN TRIPLICATE

H av
av e a c ar a r d s el
e l ec
ec te
t e d.
d . A s k a s p ec e c ta
t a t or
o r t o w ri ri te
t e h is
is
initials on the back of the card. Reverse the deck and insert
t h e c ara r d . S h uf
uf fl
fl e t h e d e ckc k , b r in i n g t h e s el
e l eecc ttee d c ar
ar d t o t h e
b o t t o m a n d q u ic ic kl
kl y t u r n t h e d e ck c k f ac
a c e d o w n i n y o u r r i gh gh t
h a n d . H o l d t h e d e c k w it it h f o u r f i n ge ge r s c u r l e d o v e r o n e s i d e
and the thumb over the other. See illustration. The fingers
p u l l b a c k t h e b o t t o m (i ni ni ti
t i al
al e d)
d) c a r d . A sks k t h e s p e c t a t o r w h a t h i s n a m e i s.
s. A s
you spell out his na me, keep holding back the bot tom card. You You always
always pull out
o n e c a r d a b o v e  this card. When When you come to the last letter of his nam e; pull out
t h e c ara r d y ou
o u h ava v e b e e n h ol o l di
d i ng
n g b ac
a c k,
k, t u r n i t o ve ve r a n d s h o w i t i s t h e o n e
initialed by the spectator.

#35
LUCKY THIRTEEN

Beforehand have all all the s pade s reversed in th e lower portion of t he deck.
H av
av e a c ar a r d s el
e l eecc ttee d f r o m t h e t o p p o r ti
t i o n o f t h e d e ck
c k , r e vev e r se
s e t h e d e ck ck a n d
have the selectedsele cted card inserted. Remark to the s pectators t hat you have a lucky luck y
s u i t:
t: s p a d e s a n d y ou o u a llss o h a ve
ve a l uc
u c ky
ky n u m b e r s:s : t h ir
i r t ee
e e n.
n . S h ufu f fl
fl e t h e d e ck
ck ,
place it behind behind your back an d tell the au dience you you are going going to use your lucky lucky
suit an d also the lucky lucky nu mber to find t he selected selected card. Come forward with all al l
o f t h e s t r i p p e d c a r d s f a ccee d o w n . C ou o u n t t h e m o n t o t h e t a b l e, e , f ac
a c e d o w n . T hehe r e
will
will be fourteen cards. Turn the m over and sprea d t hem out. Spectator Spectator will will see
t h e t h i r t e e n s p a d e s a n d t h e c a r d h e s e lele c te
te d .

#36
TWO BLACK ACES

This trick
trick consist of a simple setup of the to p eighteen cards in the deck.
D ec
ec k f a ccee d o w n , t h e s e t u p i s a s f ol o l lo
lo w s:
s: t o p c a r d,
d, a n y " si
si x"
x"; n e x t, t, a n y f i ve
ve
indifferent cards; the n, a black ace; ace; next, any "ten" "ten";; the n, nine indifferent card s,
a n d t h e o t he h e r b l ac
a c k a ce
ce . T heh e se
s e t o p e i g h te
t e en
e n c ar
a r d s a re
r e r ev
e v e r se
s e d.
d. Tell t h e
s p ec
e c t at
a t o rs
r s t h a t y ou
o u w i l l l oc
oc at
a t e t h e t wo
w o b lala ck
ck a ce
c e s i n a n u n u s u al a l m a n n e r.
r.

22
R e m o ve
v e t h e p a c k f r o m t h e c a s e,
e, r i ff
ff le
le s h u f fl
fl e o n c e,
e, f a c e d o w n , a n d s t r i p t h e
eighteen
eighteen card s to the top of the deck. Show Show the top card, the "six "s ix.." Count
Count down
to t he sixth card an d tu rn it over. It will will be the first ace. ace. Show
Show the next car d, the
" te
te n.
n ." Co
Co u n t d o w n t o t h e t e n t h c a r d , t u r n i t ov
ov e r a n d s h o w i t t o b e t h e s e c o n d
black ace.
#37
LUCKY SEVEN

H av
av e t h e d ec ec k i n y o u r p o c k e t   w i t h t h e s e v e n o f s p a d e s r e v e r s e d . T a l k
a b o u t s ev
e v e n b e i ng
ng a m y s ti t i c n u m b e r i n m a g ic ic . R e m ar
a r k a ga
g a iin
n that spades are
your lucky
lucky soilsoil and take cards o u t o f y o u r p o c k e t o n e a t a t i m e , a card for each
letter.
letter. As you withdraw t he card s, spell note "S - e - v - e - n o - f S - p - a - d - e - s" show  
t h a t t h e l a st
s t c a r d r e m o v e d f r o m t h e p o c k e t i s t h e Se v en e n o f S p a ded e s . Pl
Pl ac
ac e t h i s
f ac
a c e d o w n o n t h e c a rd r d s a llrr ea
e a d y o n t h e t a bl
b l ee.. T a ke
k e t h e r e m ai ai n d e r o f t h e p a c k
out of your pocket an d place it to one side. Pic Pick k up the "spelled
"spelled out" cards an d
shuffle them, face down. The Seven of Spades is still reversed. Place this small
packet in your pocket. Once again s pell out "Seven Seven of Spades.
Spades." Again Again,, t he last
card re moved is the Seven Seven of Spades. Spades. Turn it face up as you take it out of your
pocket.

#38
KINGS AND QUEENS

I n a dvd v an
a n ce
ce , p u t t heh e f ou o u r k i ng ng s o n t o p o f t h e d ec e c k.
k. T o b eg eg i n y o ur ur
performance, remove the four queens and reverse the deck. Patter about the
four ladies who wanted escorts for a dance and visited an escort bureau (the
deck).
deck). InsertInsert the q ueens hap haz ardly into the deck an d riffle riffle shuffle
shuffle thoro ughly
b u t m a k i ng n g s u r e t h a t t h e f o u r k i ng ng s r e m a i n a t t h e t o p . St St ri
ri p t h e q u e e n s t o t h e
t o p o f t h e d e c k . Re Re m o veve t h e t o p e ig ig h t c a r d s ( t h e kiki n g s a n d q u e e n s ) a n d s q u a r e
t h e m u p . H ol ol d t h e p a c kek e t f a ce
ce d o w n i n o n e h a n d , t h u m b b e n t u n d e r o n e l o n g
edge, the four fingers fingers curled un der t he other edge. Now, Now, with
with the thu mp of the
o t h e r h a n d o n l o p a n d t h e f i ng ng e r s b e n e a t h, h, p u l l o u t t o g e t h e r o n e c a r d f r o m t h e
t op
o p a nd n d o ne n e f r om
o m t he h e b ot o t to
t o m o f t he h e p ac a c ke
ke t a nd
n d p l a c e b ot o t h c a rd
r d s - s ti
ti l l
t o ge
g e t h er
e r - f ac
a c e d o w n o n y ou o u r t a bl b l ee.. D o t h i s t h r e e t i me
m e s l eeaa vi
vi ng
ng t w o o r t h r e e
inches of space be tween pairs. When When you have only two cards left in your ha nd,
t u r n t h e m o ve ve r s h o wi
w i n g t h a t a t l e as a s t o n e l a dyd y f o u n d a n e s c o r t.t. P a t t e ri
ri n g o n ,
t u r n t h e c a r d s o n t h e t a bl bl e ovo v er
e r - o n e p ai a i r a t a t i m e - a n d r e m ar a r k t h a t al l   t h e
l aad
d ie
ie s h a d b e e n l u ck c k y a n d w er e r e n o w r ec e c o m m e n d i ngn g t h e e s co
co r t b u r e a u t o a ll ll
their friends. If you have followed the directions correctly, yon should have the
four queen s paired up with with the kings.

#39
THE LOST ACE

State
State tha t t he aces have an affinit affinity y for each other - which which you wil will prove.
R un
u n t h r o u g h t h e d e ck
c k , r e m o ve
v e t h e f o ur
u r a ce
c e s a n d p la
l a ce
ce t h e m f ac
a c e u p o n y ou
ou r

23
table. Ask a spectator to choose any one of the ace s and insert it back into the
deck (whi (which ch - as yon p atter - yon have reversed). reversed). ShufflShuffle. e. Tell
Tell the spectator that
the ot her th ree aces are going going to find the lost o ne. Pic Pick k up the t hree tabled aces,
i n s er
e r t t h e m i n t h e d e c k a n d s h u f f lele . N ow
ow s t r i p t h e f o u r a c e s t o t h e t o p , c u t t h e
d e c k a n d c o m p l e tet e t h e c u t.
t . S pr
pr e a d t h e d e c k f ac
ac e o p a n d s h o w t h e f o u r a c e s a r e
together.

#40
THE EYES HAVE IT

H av
av e a c a r d s e l ec ec t e d a n d p o t h a ck c k i n to
t o t h e r ev e v er
e r s e d d e ck
c k . S h u ff
ff l e t h e
deck and, if possible,
possible, control the reversed reversed card to eighth or ten th fro m th e top.
H ow
o w ev
ev e r,
r, i t i s n o t a b s o l u t el
el y e s s e n tit i al
a l t h a t t h e s e le le c te
te d c a r d b e n e a r t h e t o p ;
b u t t h e e ff ff ec
ec t w i l l b e m o r e o f a " q ui ui c ki
ki e" i f t h e s el el ec
ec te
t e d c ar
ar d i s i n t h e
u p p e r m o s t p o r tit i o n o f t h e d e c k.k . H olo l d t h e d e c k f ac a c e d o w n i n y ou o u r r ig
ig h t h a n d ,
w i t h t he
h e p r ot
o t r u didi ng
n g e dg
d g e o f r ev ev e rs
r s ed
e d c a rdr d  fo
 f o r w a r d . T h e r i g ht h t t hu
hu m b a n d
m i d d l e f i ng
ng e r t i p s g e n tl
t l y t o u c h in
i n g b o t h f o r wa wa r d s i d e s o f t h e d e c k a n d f e eell i n g
the prot ruding, selected selected card. Tell Tell the s pectators that their eyes wil willl giv
givee the m
a wa
w a y o n t h i s o n e . Re R e m ov
ov e t h e t o p c ar a r d f r o m t h e f ac a c e - d o w n p a c k a n d h o ld ld i t
face towards
towards the s pectators. Tell Tell the m n ot to give give any sign sign when they see their
c a r d.
d. R e m ovov e c a r d s f r o m t h e t o p o f t h e d e c k, k, o n e a t a t i m e . Yo Yo u r r ig
ig h t t h u m b
a n d m i d d l e f i ng
n g e r t i p s w i llll t e ll
l l y o u w h e n y o u a r e s h o w i ng ng t h e s e lele c te
t e d c a r d.
d.
Stop ther e, look intently at th e sp ectat ors' eyes (as you you have bee n doing with all
p r e vi
vi o u sl
sl y s h o w n c a r d s) s), t h e n d e c la la r e t h a t t h e y d i d   give themselves away and
the card you are now holding is the selected sele cted card.

#41
FINGERPRINTS

Fan the deck and have a red card selected. selected. Re Reverse the deck and have the
r e d c a r d r e p l a ce
ce d . As
As k t h e s p e c t a t o r t o p i ck
ck a black   c a r d a n d r e ve
ve r s e t h e d e c k
again before the card is replaced. replaced. Now, Now, shu ffle ffle the deck, giv givee it to him, and tell tell
him t o rem ove one of the two selected selected cards, either the black black or t he red. He is
to do this with his back towards you. Take T ake the deck back, strip the one reversed
c ar
a r d t o t h e t o p. p. F a n t h e d ec
e c k f acac e t o w ar
a r d s y ou
o u a n d t al
a l k a b o u t l oo
oo ki
ki ng
n g f or
or
fingerprints. Naturally, you will see the color of the top card. You then name
the color he removed, the oppo site color color to the top card.

#42
FACE UP OR FACE DOWN

Have
Have a card selected.
selected. Rev Reverse
erse the pack an d have the card retur ned to the
pack. HoldHold the deck be hind your back, back, remove the selected
selected card and replace it it
in the deck, but t u r n e d o v e r .  Ask Ask the spectator if he would like like his card face up
or face down. If he says, "fa "facece up,"
up," bring the deck forward and sprea d it on the
t a b le
l e w i t h a ll
ll t h e c a r d s f a c e d o w n . If
If h e s a y s h e w a n t s t h e s e le
le c te
te d c a r d f a c e

24
d o w n , s p r e a d t h e d e c k f ac
ac e u p . Either
Either way his selection
selection s hows up imme diately diately
a s y o u h a v e t u r n e d t h e s e le
le c te
t e d c a r d w it
it h i t s f a c e i n t h e o p p o s i t e d i r ec
ec t io
io n t o
the rest of the deck.

#43
MATHEMAGICAL

Reverse
Reverse any twenty cards in the deck. Shuff Shuffle le.. Strip
Strip the twen ty to t he to p
o f t h e d e c k . Ha
Ha n d t h e d e c k , fa f a ce
ce d o w n , t o a s p e c t a t or
or a n d a s k h i m t o c o u n t o f f
a s m a n y c a r d s a s h e w i s he h e s , u p t o 2 0 , a n d p u t t h e m i n h i s p o c k e t. t. S hu
h u f fl
fl e t h e
d e ck
c k a g ai
ai n,
n, p l ac
ac e i t b e hi hi n d y ou o u r b a ckck a n d s t ri
r i p o u t t h e r e m aia i ni
n i n g r e v er
er s e d
c a r d s.
s . C ou
o u n t t h e s e c a r d s b e h i n d y o u r b a c k,
k, s u b t r a c t t h e n u m b e r t h u s o b t a i n e d
f ro
r o m t wew e n ty
t y . A nnn n o u nc
n c e t h e r es e s ul
u l t.
t. I t should  b e t h e n u m be b e r o f c a rd r d s t he
he
spectator h as in his pocket. pocket .

#44
COLOR TELEPATHY

In advance,
advance, separ ate the red a nd black black cards, reverse reverse all the card s of one
c ol
ol o r a n d s h u f fl fl e t h e e n tit i rree d e ck
c k t o ge
g e t h e r.
r. Pl aacc e t h e d e ck c k i n i t s c as a s e.
e. T o
perfor m, remove the deck from the case and have it thoro ughly shuffled. Then,
q u i ck
ck ly
ly, s t r i p t h e w h olo l e d e c k s o t h a t y o u h a v e t h e t o p h a l f e n t ir ir el
e l y o n e c o l or
or
a n d t h e b o t t o m h a lfl f t h e o t h e r . Ho
Ho l d t h e d e c k fa f a ce
c e d o w n a n d s p r e a d o u t t h e top
h a lf
l f o f t h e d e c k f o r t w o c a r d s t o b e s e le le c te
te d . R if if fl
fl e t h e d e c k a n d a s k t h a t t h e
t w o c ar
a r d s b e r e t u r n e d,
d, b u t m a k e o n c e t h e t w o c a r d s a r e p l a ce ce d i n t h e b o t t o m
half of the deck. Break reak the deck at the reversed cards, han d one half of the deck
t o a s p e c t a t o r t o s h u f f le
le. Yo
Yo u s h u f f l e t h e o t h e r h a l f. f . If
If t h e c a r d s a r e r e d , t h e y
will
will be in the black pa rt of t he deck. After both h alves have been sh uffled, place
t h e m t o g e t h e r,
r, f a n t h e d e c k f a c e t o w a r d y o u , a n d l oo oo k o v e r t h e c a r d s . A sksk t h e
spectator to concent rate on the two cards he selected. You You will
will be able to locate
the m because t hey are the op posite color color of the cards o n each side of them. Do
this effect slowlslowly y to give
give the impression of great concentration on your pa rt.

#45
PURELY MENTAL

This mental effect with the stripper is a stunner. It is easy in execution and
b a f fl
fl in
in g t o t h e l a y m a n.n. H ava v e t h e t o p t h r e e c a r d s r e ve
ve r s e d o n t o p o f t h e f a ccee -
d o w n d e c k.k. L et et u s s a y t h a t t h e y a r e t h e K in in g o f H e ar a r t s , t h e Ac e o f C lulu b s,
s, a n d
the Three of Diamonds. Display the top three cards fanned in your hand and
ask a spectator to concentrate on o ne of them. Do Do not disturb th eir order which
we will
will pre su me t o be: king, ace, th ree. When When a card has been m en tally selected,
p l ac
a c e t h e t h r e e c a r d s h a c k o n t o p o f t h e f a cec e - d o w n d e c k a n d g i ve ve t h e d e c k o n e
thorough riffle shuffle. Place the deck behind your back, strip out the three
cards together and replace them on top of the deck. You You will will still
still have the king,
a ce
c e a n d t h r e e i n t h a t o r d e r. r. P u t t h e t o p c ar a r d ( t he
h e k ini n g)
g) i n y o u r r e a r t r o u s e r

25
pocket, the next card (the ace) on the bottom of the deck and, the remaining
c a r d ( t h e t h r e e ),
), o n t o p o f t h e d e c k.
k. B ri ri n g t h e d e c k f o r w ar a r d a n d p l ac
ac e i t f a c e
d o wn
w n o n y ou o u r t a bl
bl e.
e. A s k t h e s p ece c t at
a t o r t o n a m e h is i s t h o ug
u g h t - o f c ar
a r d.
d . If h e
names the king, slowly turn around and have him remove the card from your
p o c k e t.
t. I f h e n a m e s t h e a c e , sisi m p l y t u r n o veve r t h e d e c k o n t h e t a b l e o r , b e t t e r
still: have h i m  t urn it over. over. The
The ace will will be revealed
revealed on the botto m of the deck.
I f h e m e n t i o ns
n s t h e t h r e e a s t h e t h o u g h t - o f c ara r d , t el
el l h i m t o t u r n o ve ve r t h e t o p
c a r d o f t h e p a c k o n t h e t a b l e.e. P u t a l it it tl
tl e p r e s e n t a t i o n i n t o t h i s a n d i t c a n b e
b u il
il t u p i n t o a s t r o n g m e n t a l e f f ec
ec t.
t. T h e s p e c t a t oro r w i ll ll n e v er
er b e a w a r e o f t h e
fact that whicheve
whicheverr of the three cards he na mes is of no importa nce: nce: You
You have
arranged a place for each card and so t here are three places where the th ought -
of card could  b e!

#46
AN UNUSUAL VANISH

H av
av en
e n c ar a r d s el
e l ec
ec te
t e d a n d r ev ev er
e r se
s e t h e d ec e c k.k. H av av e t h e s el el ec
ec te
t e d c ar ar d
returned to the deck. While shuffling, bring the selected card to the top of the
d e c k.
k. P la
la ce
ce t h e d e c k f a c e d o w n o n t h e t a b le l e . W hi h i l e t a lk
l k in
in g o r b y u s e o f s o m e
misdirection,
misdirection, moisten t he back of your right han d with your lips or tongue. Tell Tell
t h e s p e ct
c t a t o r y o u a r e g oi oi n g t o s h o w h o w t o m a k e a c ar a r d v an
a n is
i s h.
h . P la
la ce
ce y o u r
r ig
ig h t h a n d b a c k d o w n, n , o n t o p o f t h e t o p c a r d o f t h e p a c k. k. D o t h i s t o i ll ll u s t r a t e
t o t h e s p e ct
c t a t or
o r w h a t i s y o u w a n t h i m t o d o . W h en e n y o u t a k e y o ur u r h a n d a wa wa y
f ro
r o m t h e p a ck ck , t h e t o p ( s e l ec
ec te
t e d)
d) c ar
ar d s h o ul u l d b e s ti t i ck
ck i ng
ng t o i t d u e t o t h e
mois tu re on its back. Get Get tha t ha nd below table level level quickly.
quickly. The spectat or will will
du plicate
plicate your actions.actions. Then request t hat h e look through the deck for his card.
It wil
willl he gone! By then you will will have
have ha d am ple time t o get the card into your
pocket or wherever you want it to ap pear.
#47
THE TRIPLE COINCIDENCE

In advance, reverse the Ace of Spades on top of the facedown deck. Tell the
s p e c ta
t a t o r s y o u a r e g oi oi n g t o c o n d uc u c t i n e xpx p e ri
ri m e n t i n c oi
oi nc
n c i d e nc
nc e.
e. A t r i pl
pl e
c oi
oi n ci
ci d e n cec e . In
In s t r u c t o n e o f t h e m t o c o u n t o f f - wi t h o u t l o o ki ki n g a t t h e m - a n y
n u m b e r o f c a r d s b e t we w e e n e ig ig h t a n d t we
w e n t y a f t e r y o u le a v e t h e r o o m . H e i s t o
deal off the cards face down o n t he t able. able. Tell
Tell him, also,also, that the Ace of Spades Spades
is going
going to play an imp ortan t p art in the triple coincid coi ncidence.
ence. He is is to pick up the
p a c k e t o f c a r d s h e d e a l t o ff f f a n d r e p l ac
ac e i t,
t, f a ce
ce d o w n , o n t h e f a ccee - d o w n d e c k ,
r e m e m b e ri ri n g t h e n u m b e r o f c a r d s h e c o un u n t e d.
d . O n y ouo u r r e t u r n,
n, t a k e t h e d e c k
and break off the top portion (at (at the reversed ace, ace, nat urally
urally!) behind your back.
T hi
h i s w ilil l g iv
iv e y o u t h e a m o u n t o f c a r d s d e a lt l t o u t . N o w,
w, t a k e t h e r e ve ve r s e d a c e
and insert it back into the same packet, but with face in the direction opposite
t o t h e r e s t o f t h e c ar a r d s . Br
Bri ng
n g t h i s s m a ll
ll p a c k et
e t f o rw
rw a r d a n d a s k h o w m a n y
c ar
a r d s w er e r e c o u n t e d.
d. S h ow ow t h a t t h e p a c k e t y o u a r e h o l di di n g o u t h a s t h e s a m e
amo unt. Coincidence
Coincidence #2: The The ace you men tioned is in this packet. Coinc Coincidence
idence
#3: The ace is face face up, the rest of the card s face down.

26
 #48
THE MAD MAGICIAN

Pre- arrange your deck with all all the re d card s reversed. Spread Spread it, face face up,
o n t h e t a b lel e b u t d o n o t c o m m e n t o n c ol ol o r.
r. J u s t m e n t i o n t h a t t h e d e c k h a s b e e n
thor oughly shuffled.shuffled .
Pi ck
ck u p t h e c a r d s a n d s t r i p t h e m s o t h e t o p h a lf l f o f t h e d e c k i s bl
bl a ck
ck a n d
the lower half, red.
Relate the following story:
"O ncnc e u p o n a t i m e t h e r e w a s a m a d m a n w h o t h o u g h t h r w a s a m a gi g i ci
ci a n -
o r a m a gi gi c i a n w hoh o t h o ug u g h t h e w as a s a m a d m a n ... I d o n ' t r e me m e m b er
e r w hi hi ch
ch .
H owow e v erer , l e t'
t' s j u st
s t s aya y t h a t a ll ll m a gigi c i an
a n s a re r e m a d .... . o r a l l m a d m e n a r e
magicians.
magicians. Any Anyhow,how, the reason he was driven ma d was t hat every time time he took
a card from the deck it was a red card." Remove and show a card from the
botto m h alf of the deck you are h olding face face down. Repla Replace ce the card.
"Even when hr cut the deck hr always got a red card ." Cut the deck into
the red half. "He even took a card from behind his back and, sure enough, it
was a red card!" Place the deck behind your back and take a card from the
lower (red) half.
"O u r m a g ic ic ia
ia n t r ie
ie d p u t t i n g t h e c a r d s i n h i s p o c k e t a n d - g u e s s w h a t ?. ?...
S ur
ur e e n o u g h, h , h e c o ul ul d o n lyl y p u l l o u t a r e d c a r d! d! I t e v en
e n b e ca
c a m e c o n t a gi
gi o u s.
s...
When
When his friends to uched one of his cards it turne d red!" red!" HaveHave someone touch
the back of a (red) (red) card and then show it. *

"Fi n al
al ly
ly , i n d e s p e r a t i o n,n, o u r m a d m a g ic i c i a n d e ci
ci d e d t h e r e w a s o n ly ly o n e
thing to do..." Shuffle the deck and strip it once more so you again have all
b l ac
ac k o n t o p a n d a ll ll r e d s o n t h e b o t t o m . ". " ... H e w asa s n o t s o d u m b . H e c le le ve
ve rlrl y
ded uced th at if he separate d half the pack a nd touched it it it would be all all red ... ..."
Di vivi d e t h e d e c k i n t o t w o p il il e s a n d p l ac
ac e t h e m w id i d el
el y s e p a r a t e d o n t h e t a b lele.
"...and
..and sur e eno ugh, all all red…”
red…” Spread th e red half face up on the t able. "Our no -
l o ng
n g e r - m a d m a g ic ic i a n f in
i n a ll
ll y f o u n d a w a y t o g e t a b l ac ac k c a r d - j u s t t u r n o ve ve r
the o ther h alf of of the d eck."eck." Turn over the second half of your your deck an d s how it
consist s of all black cards.
*
 A n ex ce lle n t g a g h e r e is to h a v e a r e d Kin
Ki n g of S p a d es ~ o b t ai n a bl e f ro m y o u r m a gi c d e al er - in
 yo
 y o u r p oc k e t, re a d y to b e h a n d e d o u t to be to uc h e d.

#49
THE ALLOWANCE

"Once
Once up on a time, a magicianmagician ha d a stu pid wife wife -in fact, a n y  w o m a n w h o
would ma rry a m agici agician
an is stu pid. Howe
However ver,, that's beside the point. He had he r
believing that playing cards were money and he always gave her an allowance
o f 6 5 c en
e n t s a w ee
e e k.
k. H e re
r e i s h o w h e d i d i t.
t." T h e m a g ic
ic iiaa n t h r o w s a b u n c h o f
cards on t he table,
table, they are tur ned face up an d the tot al of the spot s equals 65.

27
 Method: Reverse
Reverse two tens, t hree fives fives,, one four, two sixes, sixes, one trey, one
d e u c e,
e, o n e e ig
i g h t a n d o n e a c e.
e. St
St ri
ri p t h e m o u t a n d t h r o w t h e m o n t h e t a b l e f ac
ac e
down.

#50
THE STRANGER

In this effect
effect one of the cards in your d eck is of the op posite color; color; let us
say you have a blue b lue - backed card in a red - backed deck. Rev Reversed,
ersed, of course.course.
S pr
p r e a d t h e d e c k f a ce
ce d o w n a n d r e m a r k t h a t s o m e o n e m a d e a m i s t a k e i n
packing the deck. deck. pro perties. Now, Now, using the strippe r principle principle you you can cut to
this "stranger"
"stranger" card, or find find it behind your back, do the stabbe d deck t rick rick with
the k nife
nife blade finding the od d card, etc.
For
For a finish,
finish, drop the deck into your coat pocket an d bring ou t a deck of
b l ue
u e - b a ck
c k ed
e d c ara r d s i n to
t o w hi hi c h y o u h av a v e i nsns er
e r te
t e d t h e r ev
ev e rs
r s ed
e d r ed
e d - b ac
ac k
du plicate
plicate of the one you've you've been using. Bring the deck out face up an d s pread it
o n t h e t a b l e.
e. P at
at t e r a b i t a b o u t t h e m y s t e r i e s o f c ol
ol o r a n d s p r e a d t h e d e c k f a c e
d o wn
w n t o s h o w t h e s t ra r a n ge
g e r c a rd
r d h a s t u r n e d c olol or
or a n d s o h a s t h e r e s t o f t h e
pack.

#51
THE RELUCTANT CARDS

EFFECT: T h r e e c a r d s a r e s e le le c te
te d , r e p l ac
ac e d i n t h e d e c k a n d t h e d e c k
s h u f f le
le d t h o r o u g h l y.
y. Pe
Pe rfr f o r m e r t a k e s t h e d e c k a n d d r o p s i t i nt nt o t h e o p e n e n d
of a wooden case. The selected selected card refu se to d rop in with with the others.
Yo u wiwi llll n e e d a c a se s e t o h o l d y o u r d e c k b u t t a p e r e d j u s t a s t h e c a r d s a r ee..
I t c a n b e e a si si ly
ly c o n sts t r u c te
t e d f r o m h e ava v y c a r d b oa o a r d o r c i ga
ga r - b o x w o o d.
d. T h e
b r o a d e n d o f t h e c a se s e i s l efe f t o p e n . W he
h e n d r o p p i n g t h e s h u f f le
le d d e c k b a c k i n t o
the case, be sure to do so with t h e t a p e r e d e n d d o w n . The selected car ds will will be
f or
o r c ed
e d u p b y t h e t a pe p e riri ng
n g o f t h e c as a s e.
e. P a tt
t t er
e r a bob o u t h ow
o w s o mem e c a rd
r d s a re
re
reluctant to mi ngle ngle with
with the others.

#52
WORLD'S FASTEST COUNT

Set
Set up you r stri ppe r deck as follows: follows:
About ten cards from t he top of the deck, reverse reverse the next six. six. About
About ten
cards fro m t he bott om of the deck, reverse reverse the n ext ten. So So youyou will
will have a deck
with
with top cards nor mal, six reversed, mor e nor mal cards and then ten reversed.
Pl aacc e a j ok
o k e r b e tw
t w ee
e e n t h e 2 7 t h a n d t h e 2 8 t h c ar
a r d s a n d t h e o t h e r j o ke
ke r
s o m e w h e r e n e a r t h e t o p o r b o t t o m o f t h e d e c k.
k.
When
When about to perfor m take the deck out of its case and, saying saying that you won't
use t he jokers for this effect, effect, take the m o ut a nd lay lay then on t he table. Howeve However, r,
i t i s i m p o r t a n t t h a t y o u h o l d t h e p l ac
ac e w h e re
r e t h e j o ke
ke r w as a s m a r k in
in g o f f t h e
2 7t
7 t h a n d t h e 2 8t 8 t h c a rd
r d s.
s . Br e ak
ak t he
h e d ec
e c k a t t h at
a t p oi
o i nt
n t , h a n d t h e t o p h al al f

28
(containing 27 cards, 6 of which are reversed) to one spectator and the bottom
h a lf
l f ( wi
wi t h 2 5 c a r d s, s , 1 0 r e ve ve r s e d)
d) t o a n o t h e r . A s k e a c h t o s h u f f le le t h e ir
i r h a lf
lf
thoroughly.
Now,
Now, take the half which which was originaloriginally ly at t he to p a nd pu t it behind your
b a c k.
k. I m m e d ia
i a t el
el y,
y, b r i n g y o u r h a n d s f o r wa w a r d e a c h h o l d i n g a p ilil e a n d s a y:y: "I
"I
h a v e 2 1 c a r d s i n o n e h a n d a n d s ix ix i n t h e o t h e r ."
." T he
he n , t a k e t h e s e c o n d h a l f of
of
t h e d e c k a n d r e p ea e a t t h e s a m e p r o ce c e d u r e b u t - w i t h t h i s h a lf
lf - s a y:
y: "I
"I ha
h a ve
ve 1 5
c a r d s i n o n e h a n d a n d t e n i n t h e o t h e r ." ."
Wh hee n t h e f o ur u r p il
il eess a r e c o u n t e d,
d , i t w il
il l a p p e a r a s i f y o u h a veve d o n e a
lightning count behind your back.

#54
JUST FOR LAUGHS

Have
Have a Fortune
Fortune TellTellinging Deck
Deck strip ped. Reverse Reverse the cards you wish t o jibe jibe
w it
it h a f o r t u n e y o u w i l l p r e d i ct
c t f o r s o m e o n e . A s k s o m e o n e t o s h u f f le
le t h e d e c k
f o r y o u.
u. T a ke
ke i t b a c k a n d b r i ng ng t h e r e ve
ve r s e d c a r d s t o t h e t o p . T u r n t h e m o ve
ve r
and show that the fortune you have predicted in advance, by reading (?) the
spectator’s palm, is is confirmed by t he card s.

#53
SUPER STRIPPER

T ak
a k e t w o s t ri
r i p p e r d e ck
c k s,
s , o n e b l u e - b a ck
c k e d a n d o n e r e d - b a ck
c k e d.
d. F r o m
t h e s e t w o d e c k s y o u c a n m a k e t w o u n u s u a l d e c k s - w i t h i n f in
in i te
te p o s s i bi
bi li
li ti
ti e s.
s.
Make
Make two two strippers t hat consist of half half red - backed and half blue- backed cards.
Not only can you use this as a regular stripper deck, you can now do effects
invol
involv ving color.
color. For
For example:
example: Separating
Separating red - backed fro m blue- backed card s by
reversing
reversing one color; color; cutting to a de sired color back with with th e deck face down on
the table (selected
(selected color reversed), etc.

END STRIPPERS
You can purchase cards stripped at the ends instead of the sides of the
deck. These,These, too, have m any uses and will will fool
fool even t he fellow
fellow who is familiarfamiliar
with
with the StripperStripper p rinciple
rinciple.. Howeve
However, r, many more effectseffects are pos sible sible with side
s t r ip
i p p e r s t h a n w i t h e n d s t ri
r i p p e r s,
s, s o t h is
i s b o o k i s d e v o te
t e d s o le
le l y t o t h e s i de
de
stripper.

BLANK STRIPPER
Have
Have your favorite
favorit e m agic
agic dealer st rip a deck of blank cards for you. With
With
this deck, you
you can do ama zing "l "living
iving and dea d" tests and ma ny other "mentor'
routines.

MAKING YOUR OWN

Clamp an o rdinary deck in a vise
vise and, with fine sandp aper, you can wear
away one corner of the entire deck. Howe
However
ver,, professionally
professionally stripped decks are

29
so easily
easily and economicall
economically y avail
available
able from any m agic
agic sh op that it is impr actical
actical
t o g o t o t h a t m u c h t r o u b l e.
e.

ALPHABET CARDS
M a ny
n y e ff
f f ec
e c t s a r e p o s s i bl
b l e w i t h a s t r i p p e d d e c k o f Al p h a b e t C aarr d s . Y ou
ou
may p urchase t hese cards fro m any magic dealer dealer and he will will also strip the m for
you.

ESP CARDS
A d e c k o f E xt
xt r a S e n so
s o r y P e rc
rc e p ti
t i o n c a r d s h a s s y m b o l s,
s, i n s t e a d o f s u i t s
and nu mbers, on the faces. faces. These symbols are Triangles Triangles,, Squares, Circ Circles
les etc.,
etc.,
such as are used in telepathy experiments. A stripped deck of such symbols
offers many p ossibili
ossibilitities
es for ps eud o min d rea ding effects effects..

30
 FOR THE CARD MEN

For
For those with a good working
working knowledge of of sleight
sleight of han d t he strippe r
can p rove invaluab
invaluable
le in many effects.
effects. Those listed
listed below are a few you can use
in conjunction with
with sta nd ard effects.
effects.

#55
TAP IT OFF

This is a weirdweird effect. Have Have two cards reversed in the d eck.
S hu
h u f fl
fl e a n d b r i ngn g t h e m t o t h e t o p . H o ld
ld t h e d e c k f a c e d o w n i n
your left hand. With With your right t hu mb and middle finger, finger, lightl
lightly y
p i ck
c k u p t h e t w o t o p c a r d s b y t h e p r o t r u d i n g e d ge
ge s a n d s h o w t h e
two cards as one card. Repla Replacece the two cards on to p of the d eck. eck.
A s k a s p ec e c ta
t a t or
o r t o t a p t h e b a ck
c k o f t h e t o p c ar a r d o n t h e p a c k. k.
S ho
ho w i t. t. Be
B e c au
a u s e h e p r e s u m e d t h a t b e t a p p e d t h e c ara r d w hi
h i cch
h
was shown him, he will will be ama zed when you tur n the card over and it proves to
have changed to a different different o ne.

#56
THE AUTOMATIC RISE

As in
in the pr evious
evious effect
effect reverse two two cards, strip the m an d bring the m to
t h e t o p . Wi
W i th
t h y o u r r i g ht
h t t h u m b a n d m i d d lele f i n ge
ge r s h o w t h e t w o t o p c ar
ar d s a s
one. Place the double back on top of the deck. Hold the deck face down and
b u r y t h e t o p c ar
a r d i n t h e d e ckc k. T a p t h e t o p o f t h e d e c k a n d s h o w t h a t t h e c ar
ar d
you "buried
"buried"" has retur ned t o the to p.

#57
THE PAPER CLIP

Have two card s reversed in the deck. Shuffle. Shuffle. Strip Strip the two reversed ca rds
t o t h e t o p a n d s h o w a s o n e c a r d . Re Re p la
la ce
ce t h e t w o c a r d s o n t o p o f t h e d e c k a n d
f a s t e n a p a p e r c li
li p t o t h e t o p c a r d.
d. T h e s p e c t a t o r w il
il l p r e s u m e t h a t t h e c li
li p i s
o n t h e c a r d y ou o u s h o we
w e d h i m.
m. La
L ay t h e t h r e e t o p c ar a r d s f ac
ac e d o w n o n t h e t a b l e
and tell tell the s pectator t o na me t he card with with t he clip clip on it. it. Of
Of course, he won't! won't!

#58
THE FLYING CARD

Reverse
Reverse two aces in t he dec k. Let
Let us u se t he Ace of Spades
Spades an d t he Ace of
of

31
Di a m o n d s f o r i ll ll u s t r a ti
ti o n.
n . S h uf
u f fl
fl e t h e d e c k a n d s t r i p t h e t w o a c e s t o t h e t o p .
G ra
ra s p t h e p r o t r u d i n g e d ge ge s o f t h e r e v erer s e d c a r d s a n d s h o w t h e d o u b l e c a r d a s
one card. Let Let us say the spectator s see t he Ace of Spades (the Ace Ace of Diamond
Diamond s
i s h i d d e n b e h i n d i t)t ). Pl
Pl ac
ac e t h e t w o c a r d s b a c k o n t o p o f t h e d e c k, k, r e m o v e t h e
f ac
a c e - d o w n t o p c ar a r d a n d l aay y i t o n t h e t a bl bl ee.. T h e s p e ct
c t a t or
o r w i l l p r e s u m e t h is
is
c a r d t o b e t h e A c e of o f S p a ded e s . Re
Re m o ve ve t h e s e c o n d a c e f r o m t h e t o p o f t h e d e c k
and hold it face down over the card o n th e table. The ace in your hand (Ace of of
Spades)
Spades) is is held about a foot over the face- down card on t he table. table. Tap the back
of the facedown card in your hand and show it to be the Ace of Spades, turn
over the card on the t able and sh ow it to be the Ace of Diamond Diamond s.

#59
ONE HAND LOCATION

R eeq
q u e s t t h a t a c a r d b e s e le
le c te
te d . Re
Re ve
ve r s e t h e d e c k , a s k t h a t t h e c a r d b e
r e pl
p l aacc e d a n d t h e n t h a t t h e d e ck c k b e s h u f flfl e d.
d. R e m a rkr k in
i n g t h a t , " Th
Th e h a n d i s
q u i ck
ck e r t h a n t h e e y e, e," s h o w t h a t t h e s e le
le c te
te d c a r d i s n o t o n t h e b o t t o m n o r o n
t h e t o p o f t h e d e ck c k . Ho
Ho ld
l d t h e d e ck
c k i n t h e r igig h t h a n d i n p o s it i t io
io n f o r t h e o n e
han d cut. When your right right t hu mb feelsfeels the reversed card, allo alloww the cards below below
it to fall into your right palm; complete the cut, then show that the selected
card is on the botto m of the deck.

#60
THE BAD PENNY

Reverse three aces in the deck and shuffle. Strip the aces to the top.
Execute
xecute a triple lif liftt (showing
(showing the three cards as one). one). LetLet us say that when you
s h o w t h e s p e ct c t a t or
o r s t h e ( a p p a re
r e n t ly
ly o n e)
e) c a r d , t h e y s e e t h e A c e o f H e ar a r t s.
s.
Remark that the Ace of of Hearts is a bad pen ny and always always keeps t urning up. Lay Lay
t h e t h r e e c a r d s f a ce
c e d o w n o n t o p o f t h e d e c k . R eem m o ve
v e t h e t o p c a r d a n d p l a ce
ce i t
in the center of t he deck, face fa ce down. The spectators will will presu me t hat you have
buried th e Ace Ace of Hearts.Hearts. NowNow,, do a d ouble lift lift with
with the two cards o n to p of the
d e ck
c k a n d s h o w t h a t t h e Ac e o f H ea ea r t s h a s r e t u r ne
n e d t o t h e t o p . P lala ce
ce t h e t w o
c a r d s f a c e d o w n o n t o p o f t h e d e c k a n d , a g ai a i n,
n , b u r y t h e t o p c a r d.
d. O n c e a ga
ga i n
show t he to p card, The Ace Ace of Hearts
Hearts is back! back! Throw up your ha nds in disgust
and remar k you give give up.

#61
THREE CARD MONTE

A good sucker effect., Have two cards previously reversed in the deck.
Shuffl
Shufflee and bring them to th e top. Li Lift the two cards as in effect effect #55, and show
t o t h e s p e c t a t o r s . Pl
Pl ac
ac e t h e t w o c a r d s b a c k o n t o p o f t h e d e c k , t h e n b e n d b a c k
t h e c o r n e r o f t h e t o p c a r d a n d p l ac a c e i t f ac
ac e d o w n o n t h e t a b l e.
e. T h e s p e c t a t o r s
w i l l p r e s u m e t h a t t h e c ar a r d w i th
t h t h e b e ntn t c or
o r n er
e r i s t h e s a m e o n e y o u h av av e
shown. La Lay two more car ds face down alongside alongside the bent one.  Do n o t s h o w t h e

32
 f a c es . Mov
Movee the th ree cards aro und. Ask the spectato r to pick out t he card first
shown hi m, he wil willl of course tur n over - the card with bent corner.

#62
PASSE PASSE

Proceed exactly as in effect #58 (Flying Card) until after you show the
d o u b l e c a r d a n d r e p l ac ac e t h e t w o o n t o p o f t h e d e c k . T h e n o p e n ly ly t a k e t h e t o p
card an d place it face f ace unseen, in a spectator's pocket. The ace a ce left
left on to p of the
deck is shuffled into the deck. Now Now, "comman
"comman d" the two aces to cha nge places. places.
T h e s p e c t a t o r wi
w i l l fi
fi n d t h a t t h e a c e i n h i s p o c k e t i s t h e o n e h e p r e s u m e d t o b e
in the deck and the one in the deck the ace he tho ught you ha d given given him.

#63
INKREDIBLE

Prepare an ordinary, u n s t r i p p e d ,  Ac Ac e o f He He a r t s b y p u t t i n g a d r o p o f b l u e
ink near the center of the large pip and allow allow it it to dry. Insert
Insert this pre pared ace
in your stripper.
F o rc
rc e t h e u n p r e pa p a r ed
e d , s t ri p p e d , A c e o f H e a r t s f r o m y o u r s tr t r i pp
p p er
er o n a
s p ec
e c t at
a t o r;
r; o r,r, c ut
u t t o i t a n d s h ow o w i t t o y ou o u r a u d ieie nc
n c e b u t d o n 't ' t l oo
oo k a t i t
yours elf.elf. Shuffle
Shuffle the deck an d palm o ut this ta pere d ace (leaving leaving,, of course, the
prep ared un prep ared ace in the p ack) ack). Insert
Insert the d eck face face down into its case.
P aatt t e r a b o u t m a g ic ic ia
ia n s ' b l o o d h a vi
vi n g m a g icic al
al p r o p e r t i es
e s a n d - a s e ve ve r y
magician
magician has magic in his his veins- his blood can locate the de sired card.
F ro
ro m y o u r p o c k e t, t , t a k e o u t a f o u n t a i n p e n w h ic ic h y o u h a v e f il il l e d w it
it h
vanishing ink * and rema rk tha t this effect requires requires blood, blue blue magicians'
magicians' blond
a n d y ou o u h a ve ve f i l l e d t h e p e n w i t h y o u r o w n. n. Le t o n e d r o p o f i n k f a ll ll o n t h e
o u t s i d e o f t h e c a r d - c a s e, e, n e a r t h e c e n t e r.
r. Wi
W i t h y o u r f o r ef
ef i ng
ng e r,
r, g e n t ly
ly r u b t h e
dro p of ink. It It wil
willl vanish
vanish co mpletely in a second o r two. Remove Remove t he deck fr om
the case, spre ad it face face up a nd show the selected card has an ink spot on it.

*
This ink is sold
sold at m ost no velty and m agic shops.

#64
THE JACKS' PERSISTENCY
(Orig
(Originally
inally pu blishe d in Hug ard 's MAGIC Monthly)

EFFECT: Mag Magic ician

ian ribbo ns prea ds a d eck of card s, faces u p, an d slides t he
four jacks clear of the s pread. Lea Leavi vingng the jacks face up on t he ta ble, ble, he gathers
up the deck, squares it and invites any spectator to shuffle it. Taking the deck
b a ck
ck h e a s k s f o u r d if i f fe
f e re
r e n t s p e ct
c t a t o rs
r s e a ch
c h t o i nsn s e r t o n e o f t h e j aacc k s a t a n y
p oi
o i n t t h ey
e y p le
l e as
a s e i n t h e d e ck ck . W h e n t hi h i s h a s b ee e e n d o n e, e, p e r fo
f o r m er
e r a ga
ga i n
r e q u es
e s t s s o m e o n e t o s h u f fl fl e t h e c ar a r d s t h o r o u gh
g h ly
ly . P er
e r fo
f o r m e r t h e n t a ke
ke s t h e
d e c k a n d m a k e s i t i n t o f o u r s e p a r a t e p i le le s o n t h e t a b l e b e f o re re h i m . W he he n t o p
c ar
a r d o f e a c h p i lele i s t u r n e d o ve ve r,
r, s p e c t a to
t o r s a r e s u r p r i s ed
e d t o f i n d t h a t a llll t h e

33
 ja
 j a c k s h a v e ri s e n t o t h e t o p.
METHOD HOD: When When deck is retu rne d, riffle riffle shu ffle once, strip t he jacks to the
top and riff riffle
le shuffle once more retaining the jacks in position.
Now:
1. Hold
Hold deck in your left left han d, right right e dge parallel
parallel to floor and resting on
the lower joints of middle, ring and little fingers with thumb lying across left
edge and forefinger
forefinger curled against against face of botto m card.
2. With tip of left thumb, riffle upper left corner of deck until you have
about ¼ of the deck left to go.
3 . Gr
Gr a s p t h e t o p 3 / 4 p o r t i o n o f t h e d e ck c k b e t w ee
ee n y o u r r ig
ig h t t h u m b a t t h e
inner end and your fingers at the outer end and lift packet clear of bottom
p o r t i o n .  A t t h e s a m e ti m e , left middle, ring and little fingers curl up and press
a g ai
ai n s t t o p c a r d ( jaja ck
c k) r e t a in
i n i ng
ng i t a g ai ai n s t t o p o f b o t t o m p a c k ete t r e m a i n i ng
ng i n
left
left ha nd.
4 . Pl
Pl ac
ac e t h i s p a c k e t o n t h e t a b l e a n d r e p e a t s t e p s 2 a n d 3 u n t il il y o u h a v e
four packets on t he table each with with a jack on Sop. Sop.
SUGG
SUGGE ESTED
STED PRE PRESENTAT
ENTATION ION AND PATTER PATTER:: Idly s h uf flin g yo ur de ck, as k: "Have
a ny
n y o f y o u e v e r n o ti ti c e d h ow o w s o me m e d ec e c ks
k s h av
a v e c a rd
r d s w hi hi c h a re r e r eae a ll y
obnoxious?.
obnoxious?.., No matt er where you put the m, they keep tur ning up!. up!... I' I'll show
y o u w h a t I m e a n - .. I n t h i s p a r t i c ul u l a r d e c k , t h e j a ckck s a r e t h e s o cici al
al c lili m b e r s.
s.
Let's take the m out.,, out.,," (R (Ribbonspread the deck an d slide slide jacks out; pick up the
sprea d, square it up, sh uffle. uffle.))
..S o me
me o f y o u m a y t h i n k t h a t t h e j a ck ck s t u r n u p o n ly l y f o r m e .... . t h a t t h e y
have an 'affinity' for me.., Well I'll ask four of you gentlemen to pick up one
 ja
 j a c k e a c h a n d i n s e r t i t w h e r ev e r y o u lik li k e i n t h e d e c k… No w, s i r, will wi ll y o u p l e a s e
shuffle the deck? Thank you.. you... Whil Whilee our cooperative
cooperative friend m akes sure that the
 ja
 j a c k s a r e r e a lly
ll y b u r i e d, le t' s r e vi ew w h a t h a s h a p p e n e d. .." (Us e i n d e x fi n g e r s o f
right han d t o coun t off left left fingers
fingers t hus casually casually showing your your h and s are clean. clean.))
O n e,
e, w e s e p a r a t e d t h e j a c k s f r o m t h e r e s t o f t h e c a r d s a n d l ef ef t t h e m f a ccee
u p o n t h e t a b le le i n o r d e r t o m a k e c e r t ai ai n t h a t t h e y w e r e n o t i n s o m e s o r t o f p e e -
a r r a n g e d s e q u e n c e . T wo w o , f o u r d i ffff e rree n t p e r s o n s r e p l ac
ac e d a j a ck
ck a t a d i f fe fe r e n t
spo t in t he deck. Three, Three, another perso n is now s huffling huffling the deck - ,. Wi Will you,
you,
sir," (to the shuffler) "please make sure that there are no jacks at the top or
b o tt
t t o m o f t h e d e c k a n d t h e n g iv iv e i t b a ck ck t o m e ? T h a nk n k y ou
o u - - - Le t u s n o w
squa re t he d eck., eck.,, divide
divide it into four parts … like like so….
so…. and now… we we tu rn over
the top card of each pile .. ...and… we find… find… that you can't keep the jacks d own.
No mat ter w h e r e  you p ut the m, they persist in climbing climbing to the top!" top!"

WARNING
WARNING: Don't let
let more th an o ne spectator
spectator at a time pick up a jack and keep your eyes
on him! He may inadvertently turn his jack end for end.

#65
ELUSIVE CARD

An elusive
elusive card routine is always
always entertaining a nd mystifying
mystifying.. However
However,,

34
by having
having a card previously
previously reversed
reversed in t he deck you can a dd a great deal to t he
effect, for during the routine you can have a spectator shuffle the cards and
imm ediat ely go into the elu sive
sive card again.

#66

I f a c ar
a r d i s p r o t r u d i ng
ng a t e n d " a" o f t h e d e ck c k , t h a t s a m e c a rd
r d will b e
i n d e n t e d a t e n d “ b”
b” o f t h e d e c k . Th
T h is
i s i n d e n t a t i on
o n m a y b e u s e d a s a s h o r t c a r d.
d.
There is a definite click click when th e deck is riffled riffled at this e nd.

#67

U se
se t h e r e ve
ve r s e d c a r d a s a " k ey
ey" c a r d.
d . Y ou
ou c a n c u t t o t h e r e ve
ve r s e d c a r d
easily
easily after
after each s huffle and have the selected selected card placed next to it. it.

#68

Card on ceil
ceiling
ing,, using the s tripper to bring the selected
selected card to po sition.
sition.

#69

If you do "Out Of This Wor

World"
ld" - and you proba bly
bly do - using the stripper
makes it all the more of a miracle. Simply have the cards set up its the case
with one color reversed, hand the deck to the spectator to be shuffled, quickly
separa te site colors
colors and you are set to perform.

#70

For a gambling routine you can have site desired cards reversed, then
shuffle,
shuffle, and bring the entire setu p to site top of the deck.

#71

N ee
ee d le
l e s s t o s a y,
y, b r i ng
ng i ng
ng a c a r d t o t h e t o p f o r p a l m i n g i s a n e a s y m a t t e r
w it
it h t h e s t r i p p e r . Af
Af t er
e r s i t e c a r d i s p a l m e d a n d t h e d e c k s h u f fl
fl e d y o u c a n a d d
t h e p a l me
m e d c ar a r d t o t h e d e c k, k , s t il
il l r e ve
ve r se
s e d , a n d b e a b le
le t o d o m a n y u n u s u a l
effects.

#72

You will
will find
find that, with a little
little experimenta
experimenta tion,
tion, th e s tripper can be very
very
useful in your work. For
F or example:
example: without
without any false shuffles
shuffle s or passe s you can
force the sam e card several times,
times, simply by
by bringing
bringing the st ripped card you are
forcing
forcing to the top of the deck.

#73

35
 THE GIANT FAN

If every
every other card in the deck is reversed, it it is an easy mat ter to get into
p o s it
i t io
io n f o r t h e g i aan
n t f a n w i t ho
h o u t i n te
te r we
w e av
av i ng
n g t h e t w o h a lv lv es
e s o f t h e d e ck
ck.
Si m pl
pl y s t r i p o u t h a lflf t h e c a rd
r d s a l mo
m o s t t o t h e ir ir f ul
u l l l e n gt
g t h , g iv
iv i ng
n g t h e p a ck
ck
nearly dou ble the length length an d the n go right right into the fan, The stripping should be
done quickly
quickly and sm oothly.

***********

The two effects which follow were devised by my good friend, John V, Hope. A
past president of New York's F.A.M.E., Mr. Hope is a versatile magician with a
particular bent for coin m agic.
agic. However
However,, the follow
following
ing sa mples will
will prove tha t
he is no "slouch"
"slouch" with
with car ds!

#74
BOOKED DECK DISCOVERY

EFFECT: A card is selected and returned to the deck. During the shuffle,
some cards become reversed in the deck. On sprea ding the cards it is is seen that
the d eck is pretty well we ll mixed up with cards face up an d face down. The The deck is
shuffled som e mor e and cut once. Spreading Spreading the cards again it is is seen that they
have all all righted
righted the mselves, except for th e selected card.
METH OD: H av av e a c ar a r d s ele l eecc ttee d a n d r e t u r ne n e d a s y ou o u u s u a ll ll y d o f o r
c o n tr
t r ol
o l l i ng
n g t h e c ar a r d . S t aarr t s h u f flfl i ng
n g a n d , a ft f t e r o n e o r t w o r eg e g u la
la r s h u f fl fl eess ,
reverse o n e h a l f  t   t he d eck an d tur n it face face u p. Continue sh uffling uffling.. This wil willl give
give
y o u w h a t g a m b le l e r s c alal l a " b oo o o k e d"
d" d e c k, k , t h a t i s:s: a d e c k w i t h t h e c a r d s m i xe xe s
f ac
a c e u p a n d f ac a c e d o w n. n . T h is i s t u r n i ng
ng o f t h e c a rd r d s f aca c e u p i s i m p o r ta t a n t . T hehe
s im
i m p lele s t w ay a y i s t o o p e n t h e d ec e c k l ik ik e a b o ok o k , u s i ng ng o n e o f t h e e n d s a s a n
i m a gi
gi n a ry r y h i n ge
ge . C o n ti ti n u e o p e n i n g t h i s i m a gi gi n a ryry b o o k u n t i l b o t h p a c k e t s
touch the ta ble. ble. You
You now have one packet face up and one face down. Without Without
changing the relationship of the packets, shuffle them into each other. Show
the cards t o be all all messed u p.
After showing the cards to be hopelessly mixed, strip out all projecting
c a r d s a n d p l ac a c e t h e m o n t o p o f t h e d e c k . Wh Wh e n a ll ll t h e p r o j e c ti
ti n g c a r d s a r e o n
t o p o f t h e d e c k, k, t u r n t h e s e c a r d s o ve v e r s o t h a t b o t h p a c k e t s a r e f a ci ci n g t h e s a m e
w aya y . S p re re a d t h e c a r d s a n d a ll ll o f t h e m w i l l b e f a c in in g t h e s a m e w ay ay e x ce ce p t t h e
selected card.

 N O TE: If t h e d ec k h a s b ee n u s e d a bi t, sp re a d it o u t f ac e u p. T h e r e is a t e n d e n c y fo r t h e
reversed card to stick stick toto the others and not show itse itself.
lf. If this happens, don't say an ything about
the selected
selected card.
card. Square the deck and m ak e a m agical gesture gesture towards it. Now, spread the cards
 f a ce do w n a n d t h e sele
se le ct e d ca r d w ill b e t h e o nl y o n e f ac e u p.
#75

36
 AGAIN THE BOOKED DECK

EFFECT: The deck is sh uffled uffled with abou t half the cards face up and half
f a ccee d o w n . S pr pr e a di
di n g t h e c a r d s i n y o u r h a n d s , e x pl pl ai
ai n t o a s p e c t a t o r: r: "R
"R u n
thro ugh the cards as I'm doing and if you see a card you don't like, ike, turn it face
down, if you see a card t hat is face down an d you want to know what card it is, is,
t u r n i t f a ce
ce u p . Re R e m e m b e r w h ic ic h c a r d s y o u t u r n e it
i t h e r f a c e u p o r f a c e d o w n ." ."
After
After the sp ectator has done this, take the d eck from him, shuffle it i t and cu t it a
few times.
times. Spread
Spread t he deck an d s how that all all the cards h ave righted righted t hem selves, selves,
except
except t he cards reversed by the s pectator.
METHOD: Shuffle about half the deck face up into the other face-down
half as explained
explained in the previous effect. effect. Ex Explain to t he s pectator, what you want
him to do, ill illustrating
ustrating with with th e cards in your ha nd s. When When turning cards face up
o r f aca c e d o w n , d o s o w i t h a r ig ig h t t o l ef
ef t o r v i ce
ce v e r s a m o t i o n .  Do n o t r e v e r s e
t h e m b y t u r n i n g t h e c a r ds d s o v e r e n d f o r e n d.  ReRe t u r n a n y c a r d s t h a t y o u r e ve ve r s e
t o t h eie i r o r ig
i g i n al
al p o s it
i t io
io n,
n , i m p r e s s u p o n y ouo u r s p e c ta
t a t o r t h a t y ou ou w a n t h i m t o
t u r n h i s c a r d s o v er er a s y o u d i d , t h e n h a n d h i m t h e d e c k. k. Af
A f t erer h e h a s r e v e r sese d
h i s s e l ec
ec t e d c a r d s , t a k e t h e d e c k f r o m h i m a n d s h u f fl f l e a b i t. t. S t ri
ri p a l l t h e f ac
ac e
u p o r f a ce c e d o w n c a rd r d s t o t h e t o p o f t h e p a c k. k. ByBy r ev ev er
e r si
s i n g o r t u r n inin g t h i s
packet so t hat t he cards in it are facing facing in the same direction as the faces of the
o t h e r p a c kek e tt,, y o u h a v e a r ra r a n ge
g e d t h e d e ck
c k s o t h a t a ll t h e c ar a r d s h a ve
ve r igig h te
te d
themselves except the spectator's spectator's cards.

****************

A SHORT STRIPPER ROUTINE

A r o u t i n e,
e, o r " acac t"
t" w it
i t h t h e s t r i p p e r s h o u l d n o t b e o f l o ng
ng d u r a t i o n,
n, f o r
even good card tricks can become boring. If you use this routine, practice it
o ve
v e r a n d o ve
v e r a g a in
i n . Kn
Kn o w t h e s e q u e n c e o f t h e t r ic i c k s s o w el
el l t h a t y o u a l m o s t
auto maticall
matically y go from one effect effect to the next. Most Most import ant of all: all: Be
Be sure you

37
k n o w h o w t o " h a n d le l e" t h e s t r i p p e r p r o p e r l y so
so t h a t i t i s n o t a p p a r e n t t h a t y o u
a r e u s i n g a t rrii cck
k d e ck
c k . Wh
W h en
e n s e a tet e d w i t h a g r o u p o f s p e ct c t a t or
or s s t a r t o u t b y
h a vi
vi n g t h e d e c k s h u f f le
l e d b y s e v ere r a l p e r s o n s . W at
at c h f o r t h e o n e w h o s h u f f le le s
the deck p ro perly, i.e. .e.: no revers als as he s huffles. When When you have n oticed th ose
t h a t s h u f f le
le " yo
yo u r"
r" w a y,y, p i c k o n t h e m   w h e n t h e e f f e c t y o u w a n t t o p r e s e n t
requires that the deck be sh uffled uffled by a spectator.

PATTER & ROUTINE

"Ladies
adies and Gentlemen:
Gentlemen: The secret of card ma nipulation is control. By By
control   I m e a n t h e s h u f f li li n g o f t h e d e c k a n d a p p a r e n t l y lo l o si
s i n g o f t h e s e le
le c te
te d
card or cards d uring the shuffle when actually actually the perfor mer has cont rol of of the
selected
selected cards whenever he wishes. wishes. I would
would like to give give you so me examples of
card cont rol. First, the sim plest: control of a single card." card."
Have
Have a card selected,
selected, reversereverse the deck, have have card inserted in the deck a nd
the n located quickly by you.
"Now,
Now, for a multiple contr ol. We shall have four per son s select a card an d
end eavor to locate all all four of the m." m."
H avav e f o u r c a r d s s e l ec
e c t e d a n d i n s er
e r t e d i n t h e r e ve
ve r s e d d e c k.
k. S h uf
u f fl
fl e a n d
find the four cards, preferably preferably by bringin bringing g them to the top.
"Now I wish to s how you tw o of the mo st difficult difficult types of card location." location."
Find two selected
selected card s, one behind your back, the other un der a silk silk..
"Now
Now, here is an example of a s pectator unwittingly unwittingly controllin
controlling g his own
card."
Perfor m "The "The Coincide nce" (#1). (#1).
"And now for the impossible! impossible! The mo st unu sual card trick trick you have ever ever
seen…and do n't try to figure figure it out - it is impossible.
impossible.""
Finish
Finish u p by p erf or ming "The Indian Giver" Giver" (#10).
(#10).
It is wise
wise to learn a few simple simple card tricks that you can d o without u sing
the s tripper p rinciple
rinciple.. YourYour magic dealer has a vast n um ber of books on sim ple
card tricks and sleight sleight of han d. It It is also
also a good idea to have in your pocket, an
o r d i n a ry
r y d e c k o f c a r d s,
s, w i t h b a c k s t o m a t c h t h e s t r i p p e r y o u a r e u s i n g. g. W he he n
finished
finished with the st ripper rou tine, drop the trick deck into into your pocket the n, as
an afterth ought, bring out the or dinary deck and sh ow a few simple card tricks. tricks.
This is the easiest of "switches. "switches.""

38
39