PaulRosini

ByJohnBraun

JohnNorthernHilliardsaidofhim"....oneofthenaturalmagicianswhoplaybyear,andhenevermakesawrongmove—agreatshowman."

PaulRosiniWASagreatshowman.Hehadperfectedhismethodsofpresentationtoadegreethatseemedunbelievable.Isayhismethodsofpresentation,forthoughhewasanunusuallyskillfulsleightofhandartist,itwasnotsleightofhandartistrythathesoldtoaudiences.Hehadmasteredagreaterart—thatofblendingdexterityandpsychologywithapricelessingredientthatwashisbybirthright—PERSONALITY—andtheresultwasalwaysentertainment—unalloyed,unadulteratedentertainment.

Ihaveseenhimstepintothespotlightinanoisynightclub,theclosingactofanexcellentbill,hisentireapparatusinasmallvelvetbag.Fromthemomenthebeganhisfirsttrick,theeggbag,untilheclosed35minuteslater,theaudiencegavehimundividedattentionandenjoyedassistinginthetricks.Hisactwasfilledwithlittlelaughs,surprises,changesoftempo,slyinnuendosandtongue-in-cheekimpudence.Hehimselfwassuaveandpolished,asimmaculateasAdolphMenjou,andtherewassomethingofthecontinentalabouthim,too,whichheplayedupforeffect.Helikedpeople,soheperformedFORthem,notATthem,andhealwayswonthemover.

Shyandunassumingoffstage,onstagehewasanactorgiftedwithararesenseofthecomic.Thecharacterheplayedwasthatofadelightfulmountebank—atoncedisreputableandelegant,waggishyetserious.Allhisartwasutilizedinbuildingintomiraclesthetrickshepresented.Andtheywerealloldtricks.Nothingneworcomplicated,justtheoldtricks.Theeggbag,thethumbtie,thecardincigarette,thestabbingtrick,thecupsandballs,thevanishingbirdcage,thebillinlemon,EverywhereandNowhere,variouscardlocations—buthecouldholdanoisynightclubaudienceinsuspensewhilehepaused,lookedquizzicallyatthepack,andslowlyturnedoveracard!

Paultalkedbutlittleofearlylifeandfamily,butwehaveitongoodauthoritythathewasborninTriesteonSeptember29,1902,(thefamilynamewasVucci)andcametothiscountrywithhisparentsin1912.Fatehadmarkedhimformagiceventhen.ThefamilysettledinChicago,andoneoftheboy’smostthrillingdiscoveriestherewasthemagicshopofA.Roterberg.Bythetimehewasthirteenhisheartwassetonacareerinmagic,andhestuckatituntilheattainedhisgoal.

InJanuary,1919,TheoBamberg(OKITO)taughthimthecupsandballsinNewYorkCity,

andrecognizedthentheboy’sgiftformagic.ItwasatBamberg’sthatPaulmetJuliusZanzig,withwhomhesubsequentlybecameassociated.LaterheworkedasanassistanttoGroverGeorge,andalsotoCarlRosini.AtonetimeheteamedwithMartinSunshineinanact.HefirstattractedindividualattentionwhenheopenedinChicago’sfamousCollegeInn(HotelSherman)inthe20’s.HisactualrisetoprominenceintheentertainmentworldbeganinPhiladelphia,wherehefrequentedthemagicshopofMikeKanter.KanterintroducedhimtoJackLynch,aleadingnightcluboperator.ThisintroductionresultedinabookingforRosiniinthecluboftheAdelphiaHotel.Fromtherehewentintothebestnightclubsandhotelsthroughoutthecountry,playingmanyspotsmagicianshadneverplayedbefore.ThefamousEmpireRoomofthePalmerHouse,Chicago,oncebilledhimas"TheWorld’sGreatestMagician,"andhecarriedthetitlewithhonors,forhesetarecordbyplayingtherefor28consecutiveweeks!Chicago,sceneofmanyofhistriumphs,wasthecityinwhichhediedonSeptember,19,1948,inhis46thyear.

Nothingeverwentintohisactthatwasnot"right"fromeveryangle.Hissleightsandsecretmoveswerealwaysexecutedatjusttherightmoment;thelittledetailsthatweremeanttomisleadtheaudiencewerechosenwithcareandsubtlyaccentuatedbywordandgesture.Littlemannerisms,aquizzicalorreproachfullook,orapause,countedformuch.Everythingwasplannedandcarefullyspotted—includinghisrecurringrequestforthat"tinylettlewaltz,please,"andthatslyquery,"Didyouseemedosomething?Ididsomething!"Thetricks,alwayssmalltricks,werenevercomplicated;asatrickunfolded,eachstepwasclearandeasytofollow,andtheclimaxreachedwasalwaysastounding.Whateverhedidwasalwaysmagic,beautifultosee!

Paulwasatrueartist,alwaysseekingperfection.Hisstockoftablemagicwasasartisticallypresentedashisstagerepertoire,andhelovedthemagicofcards.HismagicalidolwasMaxMalini,fromwhosepresentationheadaptedseveraleffectivetouches.

"Everymagicianwhohasseenhisact,"wroteRobertParrishinTheLinkingRing,"haslearnedsomethingaboutmagicalshowmanship.Rosini’sactwillnotbeduplicated,butitsimpactontheartofmagicwillcontinuetobefelt,evenwhereitmaynotbeacknowledged."

THELIFESAVERTRICK

Afavoriteclose-uptrickofRosini’swasgiventhefollowingpresentation.RosiniopenedafreshpackageofLifeSaversanddistributedthemtothepartyaroundthetable.Lateracardwasselected.HetookaLifeSaverandshoweditfreely.ThenheinsertedaswizzlestickthroughtheholeinthepieceofcandyandspuntheLifeSaveronthestick,watchingit

carefullyasthoughforsomesortofclue.Fortheclimax,thenameofthecardwasfoundtobeprintedonthesurfaceofthecandy.

Rosinicarriedastackoffivecardsinhispocket.TheinitialsofthecardswereprintedboldlyonfiveLifeSavers.Itiseasytowritewithapencilonthesmoothsideofawhite,peppermintLifeSaver.TheLifeSaverswerearrangedsothathecouldsecurewhicheveroneheneededintherighthand.

Beforedoingthetrick,hebroughtoutafreshpackageofLifeSavers,openedit,andshookthecontentsoutontothetable,offeringthemtothepeoplearoundthetable.Thenhewentaheadwiththemagic.Afterthespectatorshadshuffledandcutthecards,hepalmedthestackoffivecardsontothedeck.Hedealtoffonlyasmanycardsastherewerepeopleatthetable.Heaskedoneofthepeopletotouchacardandlookatit.Hemadeapretenseofturninghisheadwhilethiswasdone,butmanagedtoglimpsewhichcardwaschosen.Themomentheknewwhichcardwastobeused,hesecuredtheappropriateLifeSaverinhisrightfingers,grippingitwiththethirdfingercurledaroundtheedgeofthedisk.

Hegatheredupthecardsandlaidthemontopofthedeck,keepingtrackofthechosenone.Thenheshuffledthecards,reversingtheselectedcardandleavingitinthemiddleofthedeck.

HeaskedsomeonetogivehimaLifeSaverandputitonthestick,whichheheldinhisrighthand.Thestickhadbeenlaiddownwithoneendprotrudingovertheedgeofthetable,permittingtherighthandtoslipthepalmedLifeSaverontotheendofthestickintheactofpickingupthestick.TheunpreparedLifeSaverhavingbeenputonthestick,hegavethediskaspinwiththeleftforefinger.Thenhetippedthesticktowardtheleft,graspedtheendofthestickinthelefthand,thelefthandcoveringtheunpreparedLifeSaver,andreleasedtherighthand,leavingthepalmedLifeSaverspinningonthestick.Theshiftingofthestickfromhandtohandwasverymuchinthemanneroftheclassicalswitchofaringonawand.

AslongasthepreparedLifeSaverwaskeptspinning,thepenciledprintingcouldnotbeseen.RosiniaskedforthenameofthecardandatthesametimeraisedthestickasthoughtolettheLifeSaverslideoffintohismouth.Themomentthecardwasnamed,Rosinistoppedthisactionand,registeringsurprise,remarked,"Icameneareatingit!"HelettheinscribedLifeSaverslideoffthestickintoaspectator’shand.

Forasecondsurprise,hespreadthedeckfacedownonthetablerevealingthechosencardfaceupinthecenterofthedeck.

WASITTHERE?

Rosiniconsideredthisoneofhisbestcardtricks.

Effect:Fivecardsarelaidfaceuponthetable.Aspectatorisaskedtonameanycardinthisgroup.Thecardsarenowpickedupandplacedfacedownontheleftpalm.Theperformersays,"Look!"anddealsthecardsfaceuponthetable.Onlyfourcardsremain,andthemissingcardistheonethespectatorindicated.

Thecardsarepickedupandturnedfacedowninthepalmoftheperformer’slefthand.Thetopcardofthepacketisturnedfaceupontopofthepacket.Thiscardisthentransferred,stillfaceup,tothebottomofthepacket.Therestofthecardsareshowninthesameway,resultinginafaceuppacketofcardsinthelefthand.Thepacketisnowturnedfacedownandthespectatoraskedtonamehischosencard.Thecardsarespreadfacedownonthetableandtheselectedcardappearsfaceupinthecenterofthefourfacedowncards.

Thesamefivecardsareagainlaidfaceuponthetableandthespectatorallowedtoindicateanothercard.Theperformerpicksupthecardsoneatatimeandplacestheminhislefthandinafaceupfan.Thepacketisturnedfacedown,closed,andsquared.Thepacketisthenpassedtothespectatortohold.Theperformergoesthroughthemotionsoftakingacardfromthepacketandthrowingitintotheair.

Takingthepacketfromthespectator,theperformerdealsthecardsfaceuponthetable.Againthereareonlyfourcardsandthechosencardismissing.Theperformerthenproducesthiscardfromhispocket.

Method:Thecardsarepickedupsothatthechosencardisthethirdormiddlecardofthepacket.Thecardsareturnedfacedownandsquared,thencountedfaceuponthetableinanatural,easymanner.Whentheperformercomestotakethethirdcard,hetakestwocardsasone.Thisisdonebysqueezingthebottomcardwiththeleftfingers,causingittobuckle.Thisallowstheperformertograspthethirdandfourthcardstogetherbytheindexcornersandturnthemfaceupasonecarduponthetwotabledcards.Thelastcardistakenfromthelefthand,givenasnap,andplacedontopofthefaceuppacket.

Thepacketisplacedfacedowninthepalmofthelefthand.Thetopcardisturnedfaceuponthepacket.Theperformergoesthroughthemotionsofsquaringthepacket.Thenhetransfersthecard,stillfaceup,tothebottomofthepacket.Thesecondcardishandledin

thesameway,butafteritisturnedfaceup,thecardbeneathitisstolenalongwithitbyadoubleliftandthesetwocardsplacedasonebeneaththepacket.Theoperationmaybeaidedbyslippingtheleftlittlefingerundercardnumberthreeascardnumbertwoisturnedup.Theremainingtwocardsarehandledinexactlythesamefashion,butwithoutanysleight.Thespectatorgetstheimpressionthathehasbeenshownfourcardssingly.Whenhenameshisselectedcard,theperformerturnsthepacketfacedownandspreadsitonthetable,showingthiscardfaceupinthecenterofthepacket.

Thecardsareagainturnedfaceupandthespectatorchoosesone.Whilethespectatorismakinghischoice,theperformerallowshisrighthandtogotohislips,wherehesecuresagenerousbitofsalivaonthetipofhismiddlefinger.Rosinioftenusedhiscigarasanexcuseforthismove.

Theselectedcardisagainpickedupthird.Thefirstcardispickedfromthetablewiththerightfirstfingerandthumbandlaidfaceuponthepalmofthelefthand.Thesecondcardishandledinthesameway.Theselectedcardisthenpickedupusingthemiddlefinger.Thisfingerisallowedtorestonthecenteroftheselectedcardandthendrawnslowlydownacrossthelowerhalfofthefaceofthecard.Thisdistributesenoughsalivaonthecardtocauseittoadheretothebackofthecardwhichwillbeplacedaboveit.Thecardsareplacedinthelefthandinasortoffan,theselectedcardprotrudingoverthecardbeneathitbyabouthalfitswidth.Astheselectedcardisplacedontheothertwocards,thelefthandisslowlyturnedoversothatthecardsarefacedown.Thispreventsthespectatorsfromcatchingaglintofthesaliva.

Thelasttwocardsareplacedonthebottomofthefaninthesamefashionasthefirsttwo.

Turningthecardsinafaceupfan,theperformerasks,"Isyourcardstillthere?"Atthesametime,heallowshisrighthandtodroptohisside,wherehewipesthesalivaoffhisfingertip.

Thepacketisnowturnedoverandsquared.Thespectatorgraspsoneendofthepacketandtheperformertheother.Theperformertakestheendatwhichthecardhasbeenmoistened.Inthecourseofthebusinessaboutextractingtheselectedcardandthrowingitintothinair,heappliespressuretothepackettoassuretheadherenceofthecards.

Thecardsarenowdealtsinglyonthetableinacarelessmanner.Whenhefinishesdealing,theperformerasksthenameofthecard.Thenhesays,"Oh,Ihavethatcardhereinmypocket!"Forthisfinishitisnecessarytohaveduplicatesofthefivecardsuseddistributedindifferentpockets.Iftheperformerisnotsettousethisfinish,hemaysimplythrowthetabledcardsbackontothedeckanduseanyothermeansofreproducingthecard,suchasreversingitandbringingittothecenterofthedeck.

Whenhewaspreparedforthetrick,Rosiniusedasolutionofglycerinandrosewaterinsteadofsaliva.Hehadasmallsponge,moistenedwiththesolution,attachednearthebottomedgeofhiscoat.Hethenhadonlytodrophisarmandcurlthesecondfingerundertheedgeofthecoatforamoment.

SOMEWHEREINTHEDECK

Rosinifooledmanyofthebestcardmenwiththistrick.Itisnotdifficulttodo,butitmustbepracticeduntilonecanperformtheshufflesatafairlyrapidpace.

Effect:Anyninecardsareselectedbythespectatorfromthedeckandlaidfaceuponthetable.Heisaskedtoselectmentallyanyoneoftheninecards.

Thecardsaregatheredupandplacedontopofthedeck,facedown.

Theperformersays,"IfIshouldremovethecardyouthoughtoffrommypocket,wouldthatbeagoodtrick?"Thespectatorusuallyagreesthatitwouldbe.

Theperformergivesthecardsanoverhandshuffle,thensays,

"Yourcardissomewhereinthisdeck.BeforeIperformthismiracle,doyouwanttobesureitisthere?"Thecardsarefannedbeforethespectator,andifheseeshiscard,hetellstheperformer.Ifhedoesn’tseethecardthefirsttime,heisgivenanotherchance.Ifhedoesn’tseeitthistime,theperformeraskshimtonamehiscard.Inanycase,thecardisimmediatelyproduced.

Method:Anyninecardsareselected,butinordertomaketheactioneasytofollow,letususeKS-JH-10S-10D-7S-5H-2H-3S-2C.Rememberthesixthcard—5H,whichwilllateractasakey.

Theninecardsareplacedontopofthedeck.Thedeckisundercutabouthalfwaydown,foranoverhandshuffle.Asyoudrawoffthetopcardoftheundercutportion,injogitaboutaninch(thiswillplaceaninjoggedcardonecardabovetheKingofSpades).Thebalanceofthecardscanbedistributedinanyway.Nowwhenyoubeginasecondoverhandshuffle,allow

yourrightthumbtocomeunderneaththedeck,locatetheinjoggedcard,andremovethecardsbelowit.Younowhaveinyourrighthandabouthalfofthedeckandontopofitisyourninecardstack.Yourunoffsixcardsfromyourstack,whichautomaticallyreversestheirorder(leavingtheFiveofHeartsontopofthedeck).Whenyoucometotheseventhcard(TwoofHearts),injogthatcardaboutaninchandruntwomorecardsontopofit.Throwthebalanceofthecardsintherighthandontopoftheselasttwocards.Nowundercuttotheinjoggedcard(TwoofHearts)andrunthreecardsoff(5H,7S,and10D).ThrowthebalanceofthecardsontopoftheTenofDiamonds.

Theoriginalninecardsarenowdividedintothreesetsofthreecardseach:ontopofthedeck,10S-JH-KS;inthemiddleofthedeck,10D-7S-5H;andonthebottomofthedeck,2C-3S-2H.

Atthispoint,askthespectatorifhewouldliketoseeifhiscardisstillinthedeck.Turnthecardsfaceupsothatthespectatorcangetagoodviewofthethreebottomcards—2H-3S-2C.Runthroughthebalanceofthedecksoquicklythathecan’tgetaflashofanyoftheothercardswhichhemayhavechosen.Ifhedidnotseehiscard,runthroughthedeckasecondtimeandallowhimtoseethethreecentercards—10D-7S-5H.TheFiveofHeartsisyourindextothisgroup.Ifhestilldoesnotseehiscard,youknowthatitisoneofthethreetopcards:10S-JH-KS.

Whenyouknowwhichgroupcontainsthespectator’scard,notethenamesofthesecards,cut(ifnecessary)tobringthemtothetoporbottomofthedeck,andpalmthemoff.Askforthecardtobenamedandreachintoyourpocket,bringingoutthepropercardandleavingtheothertwobehind.

Analternateendingistolayoneofthethreecardsonthetableandleavetheothertwoonthetopandbottomofthedeck.Ifthetabledcardistheoneselected,turnitover.Ifnot,pushitintothedeckandshowthetopcardorthebottomcardasthecasemaybe.OruseaMexicanTurnoverwithoneofthesecardstoshowthetabledcardcorrect.

HOLDMYWRIST

(DescribedbyAlLeech)

OneofRosini’sstrikingcoinmovesinvolvedthecompletedisappearanceofahalfdollarwhileaspectatorheldtheperformer’swrist.Aftershowingbothhandsempty,Rosiniapparentlyreproducedthecoinfromthespectator’sshoulder.

Thecoinwasapparentlyplacedinthelefthandbutactuallyfingerpalmedintheright.Anymovewhichaccomplishesthisissatisfactoryaslongasitisanaturalonefortheperformer.Rosini’susualprocedurewastodropthecoinfromhandtohand,thehandsbeingheldonlyafewinchesapart,andfinallyretainthecoinintherighthandwhilesimulatingtheactionofdroppingitintotheleft.Theleftfingersimmediatelyclosed,thefistbeingheldwithfingertipsuppermost.

Rosiniimmediatelysaid,"Holdmywrist,"and,indemonstration,grippedthewristwiththerighthand,exactlyasinthepositionfortakingone’spulse.Thecoin,lyingonthefingersoftherighthandagainstthebackoftheleftwrist,wasshotupthesleeve.Averyeasyandsurewayofaccomplishingthesleevingistoraisetheleftforearmupwardatthemomentofgraspingthewrist,thecoinbeingallowedtoslideofftherightfingersanddropstraightdownthesleevealongthebackoftheleftwrist.Allofthishappensinaninstant,andbythetimethespectatorcangrasptheperformer’swrist,bothofthemagician’shandsarequiteempty.

Aftershowingthatthecoinhadvanishedfromtheclosedfist,Rosiniaskedthespectatorifheknewwherethecoinhadgone,holdingbothhandssothattheycouldclearlybeseenempty.Nomatterwhatthespectator’sreplywas,Rosinipointedtotheman’sleftshoulderandreachedupwiththerighthandasthoughtoremovesomethingfromthetopoftheshoulder(performerandmagiciandirectlyfacingeachother).

Atpreciselythesamemomentthattherighthandwenttothespectator’sshoulder,thelefthandwasloweredjustenoughtoallowthecointodropfromthesleeveintothefingersofthelefthand,whichcuppedbeneaththeopeningofthecuff.Themoredramaticactionoftherighthandcompletelycoveredthesimultaneousmovementoftheleft.

Withouthesitation,Rosini’srighthandcamedownfromthespectator’sshoulderandhislefthandcameuptomeetwiththeright.Asthetwohandscametogether,Rosinisaid,"Hereitis,"andshowedthecoinintheopenpalmofthelefthand.Theactionsimulatedperfectlythedepositingintothelefthandofsomethingjustgraspedintheright.

Theclosequartersatwhichthetrickwasperformednotonlymadeitveryeffective,butalsomadethefeigninginthereproductionofthecoinundetectable.

ACARDINFLIGHT

Rosiniconsideredthisanexcellentmysterytopresentbeforealargeaudience.

Effect:Aspectatorselectseitheroneoftwopilesoftencardsandplaceshishandonit.Fromtheotherpile,heselectsacard,looksatit,andreturnsit.Thispileisimmediatelyturnedfaceupandcounted.Thereareonlyninecardsinit,andtheselectedcardisnotamongthem.Thespectatorhimselfcountsthecardsunderhishand.Thereareelevencards.Apparentlytheselectedcardhasflownover.Forgoodmeasure,theperformercausestheselectedcardtoreverseitselfinthepacket.

Method:Countofforremoveinabunchfromthetopofthedecktwenty-onecards,butrepresentthemastwenty.Agoodwaytodothisistosliptheleftlittlefingerunderthetwotopcardsofthedeckandtakethesetwocardsasoneasthefirstcardofyourcount.Laytheremainderofthedeckaside.Takethecardsyouremovedandcountthemintotwopilesapparentlycontainingtencardseach.Actuallyoneofthemisprovidedwithelevencardsthroughafalsecount.(Analternateprocedureistodealthetwenty-onecardsastwenty,thenstatethatyouwilldividethemintotwoequalpiles.Countofftencardsandlaythemonthetable.Laytheothercards,presumablytenalso,facedownbesidethem).

Askthespectatortochooseeitherpile.Ifhechoosesthepilecontainingelevencards,askhimtoplacehishandonthem.Ifhechoosesthepilecontainingtencards,tellhimyouwillhavehimselectacardfromhischosenpile,butbeforedoingsoyouwouldlikehimtoplacehishandontopoftheotherpile.

Withhisfreehandthespectatorchoosesacardfromthetenpile.Askhimtoplacethecardbackinthemiddleofthefannedpile.Ashedoesso,slipyourleftlittlefingerabovethecardthatisontopoftheselectedcard.Squarethecardsandcutthemattheplaceyouareholdingwiththetipofthelittlefinger.Thisbringstheselectedcardtothepositionofsecondfromthetopofthepile.

Turnthepilefaceup.Placeitinthelefthand.Takethefaceupcardsoneatatimewiththerighthandandcountthemfacedownontothetable.Whenyoureachtheeighthcard,theleftforefingersqueezesthebottomcardabit,causingittobuckle.Thisenablesyoutograsptheeighthandninthcardsasone,layingthemfacedownonthecardsonthetabletothecountofeight.Countthelastcardasnine,butinsteadoflayingitdown,snapitandaskthespectatorifhehasseenhiscard.Pickupthecountedpacketandplacetheninthcardonthebottomofit.Theselectedcardisnowontopofthepacket.

Say,"WoulditsurpriseyouifImadeyourcardpassrightthroughyourhandandintothepacketyourhandison?Well,thatisjustwhatIintendtodo."Palmoffthetopcardinyourrighthandandholdthebalanceofthecardsbetweenthefirsttwofingers,atoneendofthe

packet,andthethumb,ontheotherend.Askthespectatortocounthiscardsintoyourlefthand,facedownward.Hecountselevencards.Apparentlythemissingcardhasflownover.

Theelevencardsnowlieinyourlefthand.Passthespectatortheninecardpackettocounthimself.Thepositioninwhichyourrighthandholdsthispacketmakesiteasyforyoutoplacethecardsinhishandwhileretainingthepalmedcard.Whilethespectatoriscountingthispacket,allowyourrighthandtocomeincontactwiththeelevencardpacketinyourlefthandandplacethepalmedcardonthebottomofthepacket.Cutthepacket,leavingtheselectedcardreversedinthecenter.Say,"Yourcardmusthavepassedintothepacketyouhadyourhandon.Whatwasyourcard?"Thenspreadyourcards.Apparentlyyouhavecausedthiscardtoturnfaceup.

Naturallythereisnocausetocountthecardsagain.Itappearsasthoughoneoftheelevencardshasmagicallyreverseditself.

THECARDUNDERTHEHAND

Inthisbitofbusiness,aselectedcardisrevealedbymeansofitssuddenappearanceatanunexpectedmoment.Itisavaluableadditiontotherathersmalllistofquickandunusualcarddiscoveries.

Rosinibroughttheselectedcardtothebottomofthedeck.Hesaidthathewasgoingtocuttotheselectedcard.Whiledirectingthisremarktothespectator,heexecutedtheErdnaselefthandbottompalm.Helaidhislefthandpalmdownuponthetable,allowingthecardtolieflatbeneathit.ThespectatorwasaskedtoplacehishanddirectlyontopofRosini’shand.Thisgavetheeffectofimmobilizingthelefthandoftheperformer"topreventtrickery."Withhisrighthand,Rosinilaidthedeckfacedownuponthespectator’sengagedhandandcutoffthetophalfofthedeck,askingthespectatorifthebottomcardofthishalfwashis.IIwasn’t.Heturnedupthetopcardofthebottomhalfandaskedifthiswasthecard.Wrongagain.Rosiniaskedthespectatortotakethedeckhimself,requestinghimtolookthroughthecardsandfindhiscard.Rosinisteppedback,takinghislefthandoffthetableandleavingthecardinfullview.

Suddenly,uponfailingtofindthecardinthedeck,thespectatorsawhiscardlyingfaceuponthetable.

Theeffectivenessofthetrickliesinthefactthatthecardisrevealedatamomentwhenthe

spectatorisunpreparedforanythingtohappen.

YOUPUTITIN

Nearlyeverymagicianwhodoesclose-upmagicoccasionallyusestheoldtrickofdroppingapackofcardsonthetable,causingtheselectedcardtoflipfaceupontopofthedeck.Itisacarddiscoverywhichalwaysamuses,eventhoughagreatmanypeopleknowthesecret—i.e.,pushingthetopcardslightlytothesidesothatairpressurecatchestheprotrudingcardandturnsitover.

Rosiniusedarusewhichpersuadedpeoplethatthecardhadleapedfromthecenterofthedeck.Hehadacardselectedandtookitbackfacedownintherighthand."IfIpushedthiscardbackintothedeck,"hesaid,feigningtodoso,"youwouldthinkImightknowwhereitwas."Undercoverofthismovementandtheremark,hetopchangedthecard.Thenatoncehehandedthe(changed)cardtothespectator,saying,"Sopushitinyourself."

Thisnervymethodofgettingaselectedcardontopofthedeckbeforeitsapparentreturntothepackcanbeappliedtovariousothercardtricks.

CHANGEINHAND

Devicessuchasallowingaspectatortoholdacardwhichhasalreadybeenchanged,undertheassumptionthathewillnotturnitoverandrevealthetrick,areregardedbysomemagiciansasoverlydaring.AcertainamountofaudacitycontributedtotheeffectivenessofRosini’swork,butitwasbackedbyverysoundreasoning.Intheruseinwhichtheselectedcardistopchangedandthiscardhandedtothespectatorforinsertioninthedeck,itishighlyunlikelythataspectatorwouldturnthecardoversinceheissupposedtobeconcealingitsidentityfromtheperformer.

Again,Rosinireasonedthatifacardwasshownnottobeaselectedcardandifthiscardwasthenhandedtoaspectatorsimplyasaninstrumentforanotheroperation,therewouldbenoinclinationonthespectator’sparttolookagainatthecard.Heusedthisprincipletoproduceaverystrikingeffect.

Rosinibroughtapeeked-atcardtothetopofthedeck.Hedidadoubleliftandshowedthatthetopcardwasapparentlynotthechosencard.Heturnedthecard(s)facedown,thentookofftheactualtopcardfacedownandhandedittothespectator,saying,"Youfindthecard.Pushthiscardintothedeckwhereyouthinkitmightbe."

Thepsychologicalsuccessoftherusedependedinpartuponcreatingashortstallpriortohandingthecardtothespectator.Thiswasdonebyholdingthedeckfacedowninthelefthandandrifflingtheedgeofthedeckwiththeleftthumbandsaying,"Stopmeatanyplace.Usethiscardasabookmarktomarktheplace.Whateverplaceyoumark,thatiswhereyoucardwillbe."Theuseofthefacedowncardasa"bookmark"wasdemonstratedseveraltimes.Thecasualreferencetothecardandthetimelapseservedtoreducethespectator’sinterestinthecarditself.

Whereverthecardwasinserted,Rosinicutthepackandshowedthefacecardatthecut.Itwaswrong.Heshowedthecardbeneaththespectator’sinsertion.Alsowrong.Heaskedwhatthecardwas.Withthehelpofatinywaltzthemagictookplace,andthespectatorfoundhimselftobeholdingtheverycardhehadnamed.

Thisisalmosttheperfectexampleofanelementarytricktransformedintoamasterfuleffect.

THEFAIRCOUNT

ThisisaneffectwhichRosinidemonstratedtoJoeBerg,thewell-knownChicagomagicdealer.ItisanothercaseinwhichRosiniutilizedthemechanicalnecessitiesofhistricktobuilduptheeffect.

Afteracardhasbeenselectedandreturnedtothedeck,theperformerasksforanumber.Hecountsdownfromthetopofthedeckandpushesforwardthecardattherequestednumber.Atthismoment,heappearstodetectsomeskepticismaboutthefairnessofthecount.Hesquaresthecardscarefullyandcountsdownagainverydeliberately.Theselectedcardisnotonlythere—itisfaceup!

Thetrickisbegunwithonecardsecretlyreversedonthebottomofthedeck.Theselectedcardisbroughttothebottomofthedeck,thenonemorecardisbroughtreversedtothebottom.Thisplacestheselectedcardsecondfromthebottom,sandwichedbetweentworeversedcards.Itisuptotheindividualperformertoworkouthispersonalwayofbringingaboutthisarrangement.

Nowanumberisaskedfor.Theperformercountsdowntothisnumber,pushingthecardsfromthelefthandintotherightwithoutchangingtheorderofthecards.Inthecourseofthecount,twocardsarefalsecounted.Inotherwords,theperformercountsdowntwolessthanheappearsto.Forthepurposesofthistrick,noharmisdoneifthespectatorisleftdubiousaboutthefairnessofthecount.

Theperformerpushesforwardthelastcardofthecountandsays,‘Thisisyourcard."Undercoverofthisactionandthemoreorlessfannedpositionofthecountedcardsheldintherighthand,thelefthandreversestheremainderofthedeck.Thefactthatthisactionoccursatthemomentwhenthetrickappearstobecompletedprovidesthepsychologicalmisdirectionforthemove.

Squaringthecardstogetherwithwhatispresumablytheselectedcardprotruding,theperformerlooksquestioninglyatthespectatorandadds,"Wait,maybeyoudon’tthinkIcountedfairly.Whatwasyourcard?I’llcountdownagain,veryslowly,andnotonlyfindyourcard,butmakeitturnfaceup!"

Theperformercountsthecardsoffontothetableand,sureenough,theselectedcardshowsupreversedattheselectednumber.Thereisgoodreasonforcountingcarefullyatthispoint,asthebottomhalfofthedeckisnowfaceup.

Astheselectedcardisdealtoff,thelefthanddropstotheside.Theleftfingersturnoverthereversedcardwhichservedtomasktheotherfaceupcards,usingthetrouserlegtoassisttheaction.Whenthecardsarebroughtupforthereassemblyofthedeck,theyareallfacingthesameway.

TWODECKS—REDANDBLUE

Becauseofitsbeautyandsimplicity,Rosiniregardedthisasoneofthebestofalltwo-deckeffects.

Effect:Ared-backeddeckandablue-backeddeckarebroughtout.Takingthereddeckfromitscase,theperformerallowsafreeselectionofacardbyanassistingspectator.Asecondspectatorselectsacardfromthebluedeck.Theperformerthenremovesasmallgroupofcardsfromthereddeckandplacesthefirstspectator’sred-backedcardamongthem.He

cutsthepacketseveraltimes,thenplacesitinthespectator’sbreastpocket.Heburiestheotherspectator’sblue-backedcardamongagroupofcardsfromthebluedeckanddepositstheminthisspectator’sbreastpocket.Afterdoingthis,hesays,"SothatIshallbeabletorememberwhatcoloryourcardsare,Ishallallowyoutoholdoneofthecardswithbothhandsbeforeyou,inplainsight—soIcan’tgetmixedup."Hehaseachspectatorholdoneofhiscardsinfrontofhiminthisfashion.

Speakingtoeachofthespectatorsinturn,hesays,"IfIweretoremovethecardyouselectedfromyourpocketandsenditovertheretoourfriend’spocket,wouldthatbeagoodtrick?Itwould?I’lldoabetterone.WhatIproposetodoistotransposeallofthecardsinyourpocket,exceptthecardyouselected.And(speakingtotheotherspectator)Ishalltakeallofthecardsoutofyourpocketandplacetheminmyfriend’spockethere—exceptyourselectedcard."

Anumberoffancifulpassesarenowindulgedintoapparentlyeffectthetranspositionofthetwopacketsofcards.Thepacketsarethenremovedfromthespectators’pockets.Themanholdingtheredcardbeforehimisfoundtohaveapacketconsistingentirelyofblue-backedcards,exceptforoneredcard—hisselectedcard.Themanholdingthebluecardsimilarlyhasapacketofredcardswithjustonebluecardamongthem—theoneheselected.

Method:Themethodisbaseduponatrick,whichhasseveraltimesappearedinprint,inwhichasinglecardisapparentlypassedoverfromeachoftwopackets.Rosinialteredthehandlingtogetanoppositeeffect—andincidentally,bysodoing,removedtheonebadmoveintheprevioustrick.

Abouttwelvecardsarestolenfromthebluedeckandplacedonthebottomofthereddeck.Asimilarnumberofredcardsareplacedonthebottomofthebluedeck.Thedecksarethenreplacedintheirpropercases.

Theperformerbeginsbytakingoutthereddeckandhavingacardselected.Whenthecardsarespreadfortheselection,thesmallgroupofbluecardsiskeptsquaredatthebottomofthedecksothatthebacksdonotshow.Thesameprocedureisfollowedinhavingacardselectedfromthebluedeck.

Theperformernowtakesthereddeckandsays,"Iamgoingtotakeafewcardsfromthisdeck."Hefansthecardswiththeirfacestowardthespectatorsandremovesthebottomstackofbluecards,plusthefirstred-backedcardfromthefaceofthedeck.Thebalanceofthecardsareputbackintheircase.Theperformerisnowholdingapacketoftwelvebluecardswithoneredcardontop.Heturnstotheassistantwhohasselectedaredcardandplacesthatcardinthecenterofthepacket.Thenheturnsthepacketfaceupandgivesit

severalcuts,simplydrawinggroupsofcardsoutofthemiddleofthepacketandthrowingthemonthefaceofthepacket.Theredcardatthetopofthepacketremainsinplace.Thecardsarethenplacedintheassistant’sbreastpocket.Asanafterthought,theperformerremarksthathehadbetterhaveasignpostbeforeeachpackettopreventgettingmixedupinthecolors.Withthathereachesintheassistant’spocketandremovesthetopcard—theredone.Heaskstheassistanttoholditinfrontofhim,withonehandateachendofthecard.Analternateprocedureistoplacethecardunderthespectator’scoatlapelorontheedgeofhiscollar.

Thesameactionsarerepeatedwiththebluedeck,thegroupoftwelveredcardsandonebluecardbeingremovedfromthefaceofthisdeckandthespectator’sbluecardbeinginsertedamongthem.Theidenticalactionistakeninhavinghimholdamarkercardbeforehim,andthetrickisnowreadytobeterminatedasdescribed.

IMPOSSIBLE

Whenworkingforprivate,informalparties,Rosinisometimesperformedacardtrickwhichappearedabsolutelyimpossible.Heaskedsomeonetotakethecardsandgointoanadjoiningroom.Whenthespectatorwasoutofsight,heinstructedhimtocutthecards,lookatthefacecardofthecut,rifflethetwohalvestogether,shufflethecardsanyadditionalnumberoftimes,andbringthemback.Rosinilookedthroughthedeckandlaidonecardfacedownonthetable.Heaskedwhatcardwaslookedat.Whenturnedup,thecardonthetableprovedtobethiscard.

Nearlyeverymagicianisfamiliarwiththemethod,butfewhavehadthecouragetoemployitinsuchadramaticway.Onceagain,however,daringisoflittleavailunlessonediscoversthelittleangleswhichhelptoinsuresuccess.

Tobeginwith,abellycrimpisputinthedeck,thetwobenthalvesofthedeckmeetinglikeclosedparentheses:~.Thefacecardoftheupperhalfisnoted.Now,ifthedeckiscasuallycutbyplacingthethumbandfingersatthelongedgesofthecardstomakethecut,onewillnormallycutatthisnotedcard.

Itis,therefore,importanttobeginbyplacingthedeckinthespectator’shandintheproperway.Layitfacedowninhislefthand,thelongedgesparallelwiththefingers.Havehimclosethetipsofhisfingersovertheendofthedeck.Thepositionismuchasthoughthespectatorwereabouttopalmthewholedeck.Itprecludeslikelihoodofacutfromtheshortedgesof

thepack.

Tellthespectatortodonothinguntilyouinstructhim,andsendhimfromtheroom.

Say,"DowhatItellyoutodo.Givethecardsonecut.Lookatthecardyouhavecutandrememberit.Shufflethetwohalvesofthedecktogether.Nowshuffleandcutthecardssomemore.Comeinandbringthedecktome."

Gothroughthecardsandlayonthetablethecardwhichthespectatorshouldhavecutto.Askthenameofthecard.Ifthespectatorhascutcorrectly,theeffectismiraculous.Ifnot,younowknowthenameofthecardandcanfinishthetrickwithaMexicanTurnoveroranyotheroutwhichyoumayprefer.

Otherrulesforsuccessare:Don’tbuildthetrickupbeforeyoudoit.Don’ttellwhatyouaregoingtohavedone.Don’thaveamagiciancutthecards.Thistrickisdesignedstrictlyfortheamazementoflaymen.

REFLECTION

Asimilarmiraclewasperformedbyamoreesotericmeans.Aspectatorsimplyfannedapackofcardsbeforehimself,removedanycard,concentratedonit,andshuffledthecardbackintothedeck.Rosinithenfoundthecard.

Manymagiciansthoughtthisfeatinvolvedsomeunusualhandlingofaone-waydeck.Actually,nopreparationwasnecessary.Theuseofthisparticularroutinedependedentirelyupontakingadvantageofafavorablecircumstancewhenitarose.

Thecircumstancewasthepresenceofaspectatorwearingglasses.Thespectatorhadeithertobeseatedwherelightfelloverhisshoulderorhadtobemaneuveredintosuchaposition.Experimentwillshowthatifsuchapersonholdsacardbeforehisfacetolookatit,thecardwillbereflectedclearlyinthelensesofhisspectacles.

Lightmustfalluponthecardandnotdirectlyupontheglasses.Thetrickisnotlikelytoworkwellwithbifocals.Also,thereisapossibilitythatthespectatorwillnotholdthecardhighenoughtoproduceareflection.However,occasionalfailuremeansnothinginafeatof

apparentlypsychiccharacterandcan,infact,builduptheeventualsuccessofthetest.

POKERPREDICTIONANDAPRINCIPLE

(ByEdMario)

PaulRosiniwasoneofthoseraremagiciansinwhosehandsadeckofcardsseemednaturallytobelong.Hiscardtricksappearedmuchmoremagicalthanthoseofotherperformersofequalorevengreatermanualskill.

Somecardtrickslookutterlyimpossible,iftheyaredonewell,whethertheperformerisaRosiniornot.IthinkIhavesuchatrickhere.Itutilizesaprinciplewhichcanbeemployedtocreateother"impossible"tricks.

Effect:Aspectatorshufflesthedeck.Whileheisdoingthis,theperformerwritesaprediction.Thespectatorcutsthecardsand,afterthecompletionofthecut,countsoff25cards.Afterthecounthasbeenverified,hedealsfivepokerhands.Thepredictionisthenread:"Youwilldealfivepokerhandsandgiveyourselfthefouraces."Thespectatorturnsoverhisownhandandfindsthistobethecase.

Method:Atthebeginningofthetrick,theperformerhasthefouracesinhispocket,alongwithapencil.Whilethespectatorisshufflingthedeck,hetakesoutthepencilandwritestheprediction.Thenhereturnsthepenciltohispocketandpalmstheaces.Heasksthespectatortocutthecardsandreachesoutandcompletesthecut,addingtheacestothetopofthedeck.Hetellsthespectatorthatheisgoingtohavefivepokerhandsdealtandaskshimtodealoff25cards,facedownonthetable,forthispurpose.

Whenthecardshavebeendealt,theperformerpicksthemupandcountsthemfromthelefthandintotherightwithoutreversingtheirorder,countingaloud.Insodoing,hesetsthefouracesinpositionforthesubsequentdeal.Thisisdonebymeansofasleightwhichmightbecalled"TheBottomDealCount."ItisacombinationoftheErdnasebottomdealandthestandardfalsecount.

Inperformance,thecardsareheldinthelefthandintheusual"mechanic’sgrip"andthumbedofftotherighthand.Therighthandmovesovertothelefteachtimetotakeacardandseizesitwiththerightsecondfingerunderthefaceofthecard.Astherighthandiswithdrawn,thecardistransferredtobegrippedbetweentherightforefingerandthumb.The

countislegitimateuptothecountoften.Atten,theleftthirdfingerpressesdownwardonthebottomcardofthelefthandpacket(anace),causingittobucklealittle,thenpushesthecardofftotheright,whereitisseizedbytherightsecondfinger—inotherwords,abottomdeal.However,thecardsheldintherighthandcoverthemovementoftheleftthirdfinger(theweakpointofthebottomdealassuch)andthestealingofthecard.Atthesametime,althoughnocardistakenfromthetopoftheleftpacket,thecombinationofsoundandmovementcreatestheillusionthatoneistaken—justastheregularfalsecountdoes.Asinallfalsecounts,itisabsolutelynecessarytoperfecttheactiontothepointwherethereisnointerruptionintheregularrhythmofthecount.

"TheBottomDealCount"isexecutedat10,15,and20tosettheaces.Afterthecount,thespectatorishandedbackthecardsandtoldtodealfivepokerhands,fromlefttoright,thelasthandtobehis.Thishandcontainsoneoddcardandthefouraces.

NotebyRufusSteele:Magicianswhocannotalreadydoabottomdealmayfindthataneasierwaytodothecountistoholdthepacketinthelefthandwiththelowerrighthandcornerofthedeckrestingontheleftlittlefinger.Thepacketissupportedonthisfinger,permittingtheleftfirstandsecondfingerstopushthebottomcardsoverforthestealswithoutanynecessityofabucklingaction.Ifthemagicianalsopalmsoutpriortothetrickthe10,J,Q,Kofspades,hecanperformarepeattrickwiththediscardedhalfofthedeck.Palmthestolenspadesandaddthemtothetopofthelowerhalfofthedeckwhenthespectatoristurningoverhishandofaces.Keepabreakundertheaddedcards.Askfortheaceofspadesandsayyouwilltrysomethingwiththeotherhalf.Laytheaceontopofthepacketanddoadoublecut,bringingthefivespadestothebottomofthepacket.Countthecards,stealingat5,10,15,20,and25.Discardthecardsleftbeyond25andhandthepacketof25cardstothespectatortodealagain.Say,"Turnoveryourhandandseeifyougottheaceofspades."Hedoes,andfindsaRoyalFlush.

THECARDTHATWENTTOPIECES

(BillSimon)

Thiseffect,recentlycreatedbyBillSimon,hasalltheappearanceofamiracle.ItisthetypeoftrickPaulRosiniwouldhaveliked.

Acardisfreelyselectedandshown.Theperformerstatesthathewishesthecardmarkedforidentification."Toreallymarkthecard,willyoupleasetearoffaquarterofit—oneofthequarterswhichhasthevalueofthecardimprinteduponit?"Aspectatortearsoffanindexcornerasindicatedbytheperformer.Thecardislaidfacedownonthetable.Thedeckis

laidfaceupontopofit.Theperformersaysthatthecardwilljumpthroughthedeck.Tomakeitevenmoreremarkable,however,hewillgivesomeoneelseapieceofidentification.Hepicksupthedeckandcarefullyremovesthechosencardandendeavorstotearoffacornerdiagonallyoppositethetearalreadymade.However,hetearsabittoodeepandthecardpracticallyfallsintothreepieces.Thisspoilsthetrick,sotheperformertearsupwhatremainsofthecard.Then,pullinghimselftogether,hedecidestodoatrickanyhow.Herollsthepiecesintoalittlecylinderandwrapsarubberbandaroundthem.Heplacesthebandedpiecesinthelefthand.Theyvanish,leavingnothingbehindinthehandexcepttherubberband.Hespreadsthedeck,andthere,reversed,istheselectedcard—completelyrestoredexceptforthecornerwhichthespectatortoreoffandretained.

Aborroweddeckmaybeused.Ifso,itisadvisabletotellthelenderthatsometimesyouarealittlehardonthecards.Priortodoingthistrick,dooneinwhichyouplacethecardsbehindyourback,givingyouanopportunitytotearoffthetoplefthandquarterofthetopcardofthedeck.Placethetorncardfaceupontopofthedeckandbringthedeckoutfaceup.Disposeofthetornquarterandconcludeyourprevioustrick.

Shufflethedeckfaceupwithoutdisturbingthereversedandtornbottomcard.Spreadthecardsfaceupforaselection.Proceedtohavethecardselectedmarkedasdescribed.Notethatwhiletheselectedcardisnowlackinganindexcorner,thetearinthecardlyingbeneaththefaceupdeckisfromablankcorner.

Laytheselectedcardfacedownonthetableandplacethedeckontopofitfaceup.Thendecidetoremovethecardandtakeanothertearoutofit.Liftthedeckupbyitsendswiththelefthandandreachunderneaththedeckwithyourrightfingerstothepositionwhereyouknowthequartertobemissingfromtheselectedcard.Drawoutthecardthatyourrightfingerstouchatthispoint,performingwhatmightbetermedan"automaticglide."Thefactthatthecornermissingfromthefacedownextracardistornoutatadifferentquarterisnotapparenttotheaudience.The"automaticglide"canbeperformedveryslowlyandconvincingly.Casuallygivethedeckacutandlayitaside,faceup.

Fromhereon,thetabledcardishandledfacedownforobviousreasons.Afterthe"mistaken"tearandthecompletedestructionofthecard,thepiecesarerolledtogetherintoasmalltube.Withthepacketheldattheextremerightfingertips,yourlefthandgoestoyourleftpocketinsearchofarubberband.Thereitpalmstworubberbandswhichhavepreviouslybeentwistedtogetherintoalittleballandpocketed.Transfertherolledcardtoyourleftfingertipsandbringouttwolooserubberbandsfromtherightpocketwiththerighthand.Bindupthepiecesofcardwiththem,stillsecretingthesmallballofrubberbandsinyourlefthand.Showtheboundpiecesintherighthand.Pretendtoplacethemintheleft,butpalmthemintheright.Holdthelefthandasthoughitcontainedtherolledcard.Bringitoverthedeck,tapthebackoftheclosedlefthandwiththerightforefinger,thenspringthelefthandopen,allowingtherubberbandballtoboundout.Immediatelyfanoutthefaceup

deckrevealingthereversedcardinthecenter.Itturnsouttobetheselectedcard,restoredexceptfortheidentifyingcorner,whichisshowntofititexactly.

NotebyRufusSteele:Toassuresimilaritybetweenthetwotorncornercardsused,askthespectatortofoldthecardbothwaysbeforetearingoutaquarter.Thedummycardshouldhavebeensimilarlyfoldedandopenedoutagain.

COINANDPENCIL

(DescribedbyTheoBamberg)

PaulRosinishowedacoinandperformedseveralmoveswithit.Finallyhepretendedtoplaceitinthelefthand,butretaineditfingerpalmedintherighthand.

Hesaid,"Ihavehereinmypocketapencil,"andreachedforit.Thepencilwasintheleftshirtpocketoruppervestpocket.Intheactofgettingthepencil,therighthandquicklydroppedthecoindowntheleftsleeveattheshoulderopening.Itwasabsolutelynecessarytomaketheremarkaboutthepencilbeforegoingtothepocket—otherwisethespectators’suspicionswouldbearoused.

Bringingforththepencil,hesaid,"Bytouchingmyfistwiththispencil,thecoinwilldisappear."Thelittlestallatthispointwasalsonecessarytoallaysuspicion.

Hetouchedthelefthandwiththepencil,openedthehand,andshowedthatthecoinwasgone.Bothhandswereshownempty,thecoinofcourseremainingintheupperarmoftheleftsleeve.

"Youdon’tseethecoin?Look—itisinthetipofthispencil."Heraisedhisrighthand,holdingthepencilquitehigh,andmakingaslightturntotheleft.Atthemomentwhenattentionwasfocusedonthetipoftheupraisedpencil,hislefthanddroppedenoughtoallowthecointofallintothecuppedfingers.

"Itwillappearagain—byjusttapping!"Hetappedtheclosedlefthandandopenedthefingerstoshowthecoin.

CARDTHROUGHHANDKERCHIEF

Inthisquickandsurprisingeffect,adeckcontainingaselectedcardiswrappedtightlyinahandkerchief.Theperformersays,"Look,Ishallknockyourselectedcardrightthroughthehandkerchief."Hehitsthedeckagainsthishandoragainstthetable,thendrawstheselectedcardrightoutthroughthehandkerchief,leavingthebalanceofthecardsstillwithinthehandkerchief.

TheselectedcardispalmedintherighthandandthedeckplacedfacedowninthelefthandinpositionfortheCharlierPassorone-handedcut.Aspectatorisaskedtospreadthehandkerchiefoverthedeck,allowingthehandkerchieftodrapeoverallsides.Whenthedeckiscovered,thelefthandbeginstheCharlierPass.Atthehalf-waypointintheactionofthepass,therighthandreachesovertotakethecovereddeckanddepositsthepalmedcardonthehandkerchiefoverthetopofthedeck.Withtherighthandstillinposition,thelefthandimmediatelycompletesthepass.Thissandwichesthecardinthemiddleofthedeckwithintwofoldsofhandkerchiefwhichformasortofopenenvelope.Therighthandholdsthedeckthroughthehandkerchiefwhilethelefthandtwiststheendsofthehandkerchieftotightenthingsupabit.Thenthelefthandtakesit.Afterthedeckhasbeenstruck,theperformersays,"Whatwasthenameofyourcard?"Asthenameisbeinggiven,hepullsthecardoutsidewaysthroughthehandkerchief.

DAUB

Rosinihadvariousmethodsofgettingabitofdaubonaspectator’sthumbsothatwhenthespectatorselectedacardhisownthumbleftafaintmarkonthefaceofthecard.SeveralofhisdevicesareexplainedinGreaterMagic.

Hiseasiestmethod,however,wasthefollowing.Hesecuredalittledaubonhisrightfingers—usuallyfromasmallboxconcealedundertheedgeofhiscoat.Hetransferredthedaubtothespectator’sthumbbythesimpleexpedientofseizinghishandtobringhimupbeforetheaudience.Themantookacard,leavingdaubonthefaceofit.Afterthecardwasreturnedtothedeck,Rosinihandedthedecktothespectatorforshuffling.Thediscoveryofthecardundersuchcircumstancesseemedmiraculous.

COMPLETECOVER

Thisbafflingmentalcardfeat,attributedtoDaiVernon,isagoodexampleofthetypeoftrickRosinilikedforintimatework.Theeffectseemscompletelyimpossibleandthemethodiscoveredbytheveryprocedureswhichbuildupthetrick.

Aborrowed,shuffleddeckwasplacedfacedownintheperformer’slefthand,thehandbeingheldbehindtheback.Obviouslytheperformerwasunawareofthepositionofasinglecardandthecardsweregivenacuttokeepthespectatorinthedark,too.Tomaketheconditionsevenmorestringent,ahandkerchiefwasplacedoverthedeckandhand.Theperformeraskedthespectatortonameanynumber.Assoonasthenumberwasnamed,theperformerbroughtforwardthedeck,entirelywrappedinthehandkerchief,andhandedittothespectator.Themanopenedthehandkerchiefandcounteddowninthedecktohischosennumber.Theperformerwasabletonamethecardlyingatthatposition.

Method:Afterthehandkerchiefislaidoverthedeckbehindthemagician’sback,coveringthewristandhand,theperformerfacestheaudience.Hislefthand,stillbehindhisback,turnsthepackfaceupandthumbcountstencardsfromthefaceofthedeck.Heasksforanumberbetween10and20,andthumbcountstheadditionalcardstothisnumber,holdingalargebreakwiththethumb.Thenhebringsthelefthandforwardandcompletesthewrappingofthehandkerchiefaroundthedeck.Inthisaction,hefirstpullsthehandkerchieftightagainstthefaceofthedecksohecanseethefaceofthebottomcardthroughthefabric.ThenhedoesaCharlierpassbeneaththehandkerchief,cuttingthedeckatthebreak,andhandsthewrappeddecktothespectator.Theglimpsedcardisnowattheselectednumber.

Thehandkerchiefprovidescompletecoverforalloftheactionofthetrick.However,thereisnecessarilysomestallingwhilethemagiciandoestherequiredthumbcounting.ThisiswhereRosini’scarefullyplannedpresentationwassoimportant.Hethumbcountedthecardsinseriesofthreeandhadanappropriateremarktomakebetweeneachcount.Thus,themomenthefacedtheaudience,hemightsay,"Ishouldlikesomeonetogiveanumber."(Countthree)."Nottoobiganumber."(Countthree)."Anumber,say,betweentenandtwenty."(Countfour).Thespectatornamesanumber."DidIdoanythingtomakeyoutakethatparticularnumber?"(Countadditionalrequiredcardsbeyondten).Naturallytheexactremarksdependupontheindividualperformer,buttheimportantthingisthattheymustbeplannedinadvance.

AlthoughRosiniusedaCharlierpassafterglimpsingthefacecardthroughthehandkerchief,someperformersprefertodoaregulartwo-handedpass,whichinvolveslessmovementofthecards.Itisperfectlyeasytodothisthroughthehandkerchiefastherighthandaidsinwrappingthecardsup.

INDICATORCARD

Thisfinementalcardtrick,attributedtoS.LeoHorowitz,wasdescribedinTheJinx,No.105,theRosini,Jarrow,Horowitz,VernonissueofTheo.Annemann’spublication.Rosiniemployeditwithcertainminormodificationswhichmadeitmorepracticalandeffective.Itwasastrongfavoritewithhim.

Effect:Thedeckisshuffledandspreadfacedownonthetable.Aspectatorselectsfourcardsfromanypartofthedeck.Theseareplacedfaceuponthetable.Thespectatoristoldtoselectmentallyanyoneofthefaceupcardswhiletheperformer’sbackisturned.Thefourfaceupcardsarenowturnedfacedownandshuffled.Theperformertakesthefourcardsandplacesthemfaceupontopofthepack.Theyareturnedoveraltogetherandinsertedinfourdifferentpartsofthedeck.Thefourprotrudingcardsarethenpushedsquarewiththepack.Theperformersays,"Iwillnowplacethedeckbehindmybackandselectacard."Letussaythatthecardhebringsoutisthethreeofspades.Hesays,"Ishallusethiscardasmyindicator."Hespreadsthedeckonthetableandshowsallcardstobefacedown.Holdingthethreeofspadesfaceupinhisrighthandhesays,"Iamgoingtoinsertthisthreeofspadessomewhereinthedeck,faceup,anditshouldindicatethecardyoumentallyselected."Hepicksupthedeckwithhislefthandandplacesitbehindhisbackfortheinsertionofthethreeofspades.Bringingthedeckforward,hesays,"Let’sseewhereIputthethreeofspades."Findingthereversedcardinthecenterofthedeck,heremovesthecardsaboveitandlaysthemaside.Thespectatorisnowaskedtonamethementallychosencard.Whenhedoesso,the"indicatorcard"locatesthecardchosen.

Method:Bringthethreeofspadestothebottomofthedeckbeforestartingthetrick.Whilethespectatorismentallyselectingoneoffourcards,say,"IwillturnmybacktoshowthatIamnotwatchingyoureyes."Whileyourbackisturned,secretlyreversefivecardsontopofthedeckandplacethethreeofspadesfacedownontopofthefivereversedcards.Holdabreakunderthesixcardswithyourleftlittlefinger.Whenyoutakethefourcardsbackfromthespectator,remembertheminorder.Supposetheyare2H,SD,2C,and8C.Justremember2-5-2-8,notingthattheseconddeuceisaclub.Placethemfaceupontopofthepack.Squarethecardsandturnoveralltencardsabovethelittlefinger.Say,"Ishallplaceyourfourcardsindifferentpartsofthedeck."Dosowithoutshowingtheirfaces.Allowthemtoprotrudeforamomentsothespectatorcanseethattheyareseparatedinthedeck.Squarethedeck,placeitbehindyourback,removethetopcardandburyitsomewhereinthedeck.Thethreeofspadesisnowfaceupontopofthedeck.Bringitforwardandsay,"Ishallusethiscardasanindicator."Proceedasdescribed.Oncethedeckisbehindyourbackagain,placethethreeofspadesfaceupontopofthedeckandgivethecardsasquarecut.Bringthedeckforwardandrunthroughtothereversedthreeofspades.

Layasidethecardsaboveit.Withtheremainderofthedeckbeforeyouwiththethreeof.spadesfaceupontop,askthespectatortonamehiscard.Ifhesays,"Twoofhearts,"yousay,"Look!Iplacedtheindicatorontopofit."Shouldhesay,"Fiveofdiamonds,"say,"Look!Howmanyspotsareonthiscard?"Hewillsay,"Three,"andyoucountdownthreetohiscard,countingthethreeofspadesasone.Ifheshouldsay,"Twoofclubs,"justpushthethreeofspadesasideandcounttwocardsoff,withoutlookingatthem,andturnoverhistwoofclubs.Ifhesays,"Eightofclubs,"pushasidetheindicatorcard,countoffthreecards,andturnthefourthcardover.

ACOMEDYCARDTRICK

Atrickwhichproducesspontaneousgalesoflaughterfromanaudienceisworthmanydollarstothemagicalshowman.ThiswasoneofRosini’sfunniestroutines.IthasalsobeenusedtofineadvantagebyTommyMartin.

Acardwasselectedandthedeckshuffled.Rosinisaidthattheideawasforhimtofindthecardandthathecoulddosointhreeguesses.Theattempts,however,resultedincompletefailure.

"Wehavetohavethatcard,"Rosinisaid."Youfindit."

Thespectatorlookedthroughthedeck,butcouldnotfindthecard.Rosini,standingattheman’sleft,hadpalmeditoffandinthebusinessofhandlingthespectatorhadextendedhisrighthandbehindtheman’sbackandstuckthecardinfullviewunderthevictim’srightcoatcollarjustabovethelapel.Theamusementofspectatorswhocaughtsightofthecardwasinterpretedbytheassistantasbeingduetothefailureofthetrick.

Thebuild-upnowmountedhilariously."Look,"saidRosini,we'reinthemiddleofatrick.Wecan’tstopnow.We’vegottofindthatcard.Youcan’tfindit?Let’sprayforit."

Performerandspectatorthenwentthroughvariousgesturestoenticeforththecard—holdingtheirhandsclaspedinsupplication,placingtheirhandsontheirheads,etc.—theassistantduplicatingthegesturesoftheperformer.Rosinifinallydirectedthemantoextendbothpalmsandstrikethemonhisshoulders.Theexpressionofthespectatoruponsensingthepresenceofthecardbeneathhisfingersprovidedtheclimaxofthetrick.

THECARDTHROUGHTHECASE

Thisquickandeffectivetrickhaspreviouslybeendescribedincorrectlyinprint.

Acardwasselectedbyapeekandpalmedbytheside-steal.Thedeckwasplacedinthecaseandtheflapofthecaseclosed.BicycleCardsandnumerousotherbrandscomeincasesbearingtheimprintofthebackofthecards.Whensuchacasewasemployedandthepalmedcardwasaddedtothematchingbackofthecase,bothsidesofthecardcasecouldbeshown.

Thespectatorwasaskedtoextendhisforefingerandgriptheendofthecasewiththethumbabovetheextendedfinger.Now,atinylittlewaltz,andRosinistruckthecaseasharpdownwardblowwhichknockedtheencasedcardsfromthespectator’shand.Theselectedcardremained,faceup,betweentheassistant’sthumbandfinger.Thecardhadapparentlybeenknockedoutofthedeckandthroughthecase.

Ifthecardisbroughttothebottomofthedeckafteritsselection,itispossibletoperformthetrickwithoutsleight-of-hand.Thethumbandfingersofthelefthand,projectingfromthesidesofthecase,cangripthebottomcardastherighthandbringsthefaceofthedeckagainstthecasepriortoinsertingthecards.Thispermitsstealingthecardwithoutpalming.

YOURNUMBER—YOURCARD

ThiseffectwasgiventomebyPaulRosiniafterhehadfooledagroupofmagicianswithitupinmyroom.

Effect:Thedeckisgiventoaspectatortoshuffle.Thenthespectatorisinstructedtodividethedeckintothreeapproximatelyequalpiles.Heisnowtoldtoselectanyoneofthepiles,lookthroughit,mentallyselectonecard,andthenshufflethepilesothatevenhedoesnotknowthelocationofthecard.Theothertwopilesareshuffledtogetherandagaincutintoequalhalvessothattheperformercannotknowthelocationofanyofthecards.Theselectedpileiscountedsothatthespectatorcannotethelocationofhiscardinit,thenthispileisburiedbetweentheotherpilesandthecardsgivenseveralsquarecuts.Theperformertakesthedeckandproducesthementallyselectedcardinanywayheseesfit.

Method:Afterthechosencardhasbeenshuffledintheselectedheap,theperformerasksthespectatorifheknowshowmanycardshehasinhisheap.Sincehedoesnotknowexactly,theperformeraskshimtocounthiscardsfaceuponeatatimeslowly,whiletheperformer’sbackisturned,andnotejusthowfardowninthepilehiscardis.Theperformerwaitsuntilthefirstcardisdealtbeforeheturnshisback.Assoonasheglimpsesit,hewalksaway,rememberingthiskeycard.Whentheperformerrunsthroughthedeck,hecutsthekeytoapositionsixthfromthebottomofthedeck.Thisplacesthesixthcardoftheoriginalpileonthebottomofthedeckandtheseventhcardofthepileontopofthedeck.Theperformerasksthespectatoratwhatnumberhiscardappearedwhenhispilewascounted.Ifthenumberwasbetweenoneandsix,theperformerknowsitspositionfromthebottomofthedeck.Ifitwasmorethansix,heknowsitspositionfromthetopofthedeck.Hecaneasilyshuffletoitandpalmitoff,orproduceitinanyothermannerhewishes.

Whenevertheselectedcardistheseventhcard(topcardofdeck),agoodwaytorevealitistosay,"Youdidn’treverseyourcarddidyou?"anddropthedeckonthetable,showingtheselectedcardfaceupontopofthedeck.

Note:Ifthedeckisdividedintofourpilesinsteadofthreeatthebeginningofthetrickthelikelihoodofthespectatorthinkingofacardatapositionsixorsevenfromthetopofthepileisincreased.Performedinthismanner,thetrickconcludesmoreoftenthannotwiththethoughtofcardatthetoporbottomofthedeck.

ROSINI’SFAVORITETRICK

Amonghisintimatecardtricks,PaulRosiniratedthisashisfavorite.Heproducedaremarkableeffectwithit.

Aspectatorshuffledthecardsandlaidthemfacedownonthetable.Assumingthatthepackhadredbacks,Rosinisaid,"Ihavesomeextracardshereinmypocket.Noticethattheyallhavebluebacks.Ishallremoveoneofthesecards."Heremovedonecardfromamongthebluecardsandshowedit.Perhapsitwasthetwoofclubs.Heplacedthecardinthecenterofthedeckandspreadthedeckfaceuponthetable,sayingthatheproposedtohavetheassistanttouchanyoneofthefaceupcardsandthecardbetouchedwouldbetheblue-backedcardwhichhehadjustplacedinthedeck."Iknowthatyoudon’tbelievethispossible,"hesaid,"buttheproofofthepuddingisintheeating.However,IcouldnotdothistrickwiththetwoofclubsIjustshowedyou,becausemyassistantisfamiliarwiththiscardandwouldavoidtouchingit.ThereforeIshalluseanotherblue-backedcard.Ishallplacethis

cardinthepackbehindmybackoutofhissight."Rosinithendidthis."NowIamsurethatmyfriendheredoesnotknowthelocationoftheblue-backedcard."

Rosinibroughtthedeckforwardandspreadthecardsfaceupinhishands,askingtheassistingspectatortotouchanycard."Thatisyourfreechoice?"heasked."Wouldyouliketochangeyourmind?"Heremovedfromthedeckthecardwhichtheassistanttouchedandsetthedeckaside."WhatcolorbackdidthecardIputinthepackhave?Blue.Whatcolorcardsdoesthepackconsistof?Red."Withthatheturnedoverthetabledcardandshowedittobeablue-backedcard.

Method:InhispocketRosinicarriedseveraloddred-andblue-backedcardssothathewaspreparedtodothetrickusingadeckwithanycolorofbacks.Amongthecardsweretwopreparedeight-spots,onewitharedbackandonewithablueback.Alittlewaxhadbeenplacedonthefouroutsidepipsandalittleononeofthecenterpipsofeachofthetwocards.Whenhewasnotpreparedwithagimmickcard,heemployedanyoddcardsandusedsaliva.However,waxmadeforbetterhandling.

Afterthedemonstrationwithoneoftheoddcards,Rosinisaidhewouldhavetouseadifferentcardandtookapreparedeight-spot.Heplaceditfacedownontopofthedeckwithoutshowingit.Alltheaudiencesawwasaredpackwithabluecardontopofit.Heplacedthepackbehindhimorunderthetable.Whilethedeckwasoutofsight,hearrangedthegimmickcardinproperpositioninhisrighthandandcovereditwiththedeck,whichhebroughtforwardfaceup.

Thecardwasnotpalmed,butwaslaiddiagonallyacrosstherightpalm,faceup.Thecardlayflat,withtheleft-handindexcornerrestingbetweenjointsofthefirstandsecondfingers.Therighthandindexcornerrestedatthelowerbaseofthethumb.Thecardwasthusgrippedsecurely,butwasnotbentoractuallyconcealedinthehand(thecornersofthecardwithoutindexesprojectedbeyondeithersideofthehand).Thedeckisthenplacedfaceupintherighthandinsuchawayastocoverthegimmickcard.

Therighthandnowbringsthecardsforwardandtheassistantisaskedtotouchanycardasthecardsarespreadbeforehim.Thelefthandgraspsthedeck,thethumbbeingplacedonthefaceofthedeckandthefingersgoingbeneaththedeck,betweenthedeckandthegimmickcard.Thehandsseparateafewinches,theleftthumbpushingthecardsintotherighthandfromthefaceofthedeck.Thusasthecardsarespread,thetopfacecardsofthedeckremaininpositionintherighthandcoveringthegimmickcard.Theleftthumbcontinuestospreadthecards.Whentheassistanttouchesacard,themiddlefingerofthelefthandslidesunderthegimmickcardandpullsitbeneaththespreadovertoapositionundertheselectedcard.Theselectedcardandthecardsspreadaboveitareliftedjustabit,andthismomentarypullingapartofthedeckmakesitpossibletosliptheblue-backedcard

underneaththeselectedcard.Allthatremainsistosquarethedeck,addingalittlepressuretothepacktocausethegimmickcardtosticktothebackofthecardselected.

WhenRosiniremovedtheselectedcard,hetosseditfaceuponthetablesofreelythatnoonewouldguessittobeadoublecard.

DOATRICK

Whenhewasaskedtodoatrick,Rosinifrequentlyusedthisquickandstartlingeffect.

Effect:Youaskforadeckofcardsand,whenyoureceiveit,lookthroughthepacktoseeifallthecardsarethere.Thenyouspreadthecardsfacedownonthetableandaskaspectatortoremoveanycard,rememberit,andplaceitontopofthedeckandcutthedeck.

Nowyoupickupthedeckandsay,"Let’sseewhatyou’vedone:youspreadthecardsandthenyouremovedacardandplaceditontopofthedeck.Thenyougavethedeckacutlikethis."Asyousaythis,youdemonstratewiththeactualactions."Bytheway,"youadd,"Whatwasthenameoftheyourcard?"Supposethespectatorsays,"QueenofClubs."YouimmediatelyspellthenameofthechosencardwithacardatatimefromthetopofthedeckandwiththelastletteryoudealfaceuptheQueenofClubs.

Secret:Whenthedeckispassedtoyouandyouaskifthecardsareallthere,youcounttwelvecardsatthebottomofthedeckandcrimpthesecardsattheendtowardyousotheywillbellyjustabit.Thiscanbedonebysimplysqueezingthemwiththeleftfingers.

Youspreadthecardsonthetable,withtheendofthedeckatwhichthecrimpshowsfacingyouandnotthespectators.Acardiswithdrawnfromthespreadandplacedontopofthedeckandthecardsaregivenasquarecut.Thisplacesyourtwelvecrimpedcardsontopoftheselectedcard.Nowyourepeatthesameactionsthatwerefollowedbythespectator,asthoughyouwerereviewingwhathadbeendone.Whenyoucometocuttingthedeck,youcutitatthecrimp,whichplacesthetwelvecardsontopofthedeck,withthechosencardjustbeneaththem.

Whenthespectatornameshiscard,youknowjusthowmanylettersitsnamecontains.Youcanmakeaquickcountonyourfingersifnecessary.Somecardshaveelevenletters,sometwelve,andsomethirteen.Shouldtherebethirteenletters,everythingisperfect.Shouldit

spellwithtwelve,justspellthecardandturnoverthenextcard.Shoulditspellwitheleven,justshuffleofftwocardsbeforeyoustartcounting.Youcanusetheword"of"oryoucanleaveitouttosuityourspelling.

THEONE-ARMEDMAGICIAN

(ByJackChanin)

IknewPaulRosiniformany,manyyearsandwewerefriendsenoughformetodedicatemybookontheShellGametohim.IhaveknownmanyofPaul’stricks,forIusedtohelphimpractice.Ihavetiedhisthumbsforthethumbtiehundredsoftimes.IalsohadsomeofthebuttonsonmyjacketrippedoffbyPaul’spracticingthe"tearingthebuttonoff"trick.

ThemiracleIamdescribinghereisonePaulshowedmein1931.Helikedthistrickbecauseitgavehimachancetoshowhowcleverlyhishandsweretrained.Theentireoperationwasdonewithonehand.

Effect:Afterhavingsomeonelookatacard,Paulimmediatelyplacedthepackbehindhisback.Therewasabsolutelynochanceforhimtoseewhattheselectedcardwas.Yethewouldannouncethenameofthecardbylookingintothespectator’seyes.Toaddtothismiracle,hewouldcausetheselectedcardtoturnitselfoverinthepack.

Method:Paulusedhisfavoritelocater,the"peek."Heheldthepackinthelefthandasshowninfigure1.Heaskedsomeonetopeekatacardbyopeningupthepackatthesideindicatedbythearrow.Heimmediatelydroppedhislefthandandputitbehindhisback.Thesecondandthirdfingersofhislefthandwentinsidethebreakheldbeneaththepeeked-atcardandpushedtheselectedcardoutasshowninfigure2.Thecardwaspushedoutuntilitstoodalongsidetheedgeofthepackasinfigure3.

Fig.1Fig.2Fig.3

Theleftthumbnowpushedthetopcardovertheselectedcard,asshowninfigure3.Thefingersofthelefthandhelpedtopresstheselectedcardontothepack.Thecardheldwiththethumbnowfellontheselectedcard.Theentireoperationtookbutafewseconds.ThetimewouldbetakenupbyPaulexplainingtothespectatorthatitwouldbeimpossibletoknowwhatthecardwaswiththedeckbehindhisback."Ifyouconcentrateonthecard,Iwilllookinyoureyesandseeanimageofthecardyouselected.Yes,Igetanimage.Thecardisatenofdiamonds."Ashesaidthis,hislefthandcameoutandpointedtothespectator’s

eyes.Duringthisoperation,thethumbpushedthetopcardtowardsthefingers,asshowninfigure4,providingaglimpseoftheindexoftheselectedcard.

Fig.4

Thepackwasnowcut.Withthelefthand,thecardswereplacedintothespectator’slefthandfaceup.NamingthecardwasMiracleNo.1.Hewouldnowannouncethathewoulddosomethingevenbetter."Whilethecardsareinthespectator’shand,Ishallcausetheselectedcardtoturnitselfover."Andnow,withabitofhisinimitableshowmanship,hewouldaskthespectatortospreadthecardsfromhandtohandandonecardwouldbefacedown.Thatcardwasremovedanditwastheselectedcard.TherewasMiracleNo.2.

THECOINSTAR

(DescribedbyAlLeech)

InPaulRosini’shands,thecoinstarwasoneofthemostbeautifulsleight-of-handeffectsconceivable.

Heusedthesleightforthesimultaneousreproductionoffivecoins,whichhepreviouslyhadvanishedoneatatime.Rosiniwouldplacehishandstogetherandinasinglemotionproducethefivecoinsinasparklingdisplayathisfingertips.

Detailsofthesleighthaveseldomappearedinprint,andmostofthepublisheddescriptionsinvolvetheuseofthefingerpalm,amethoddefinitelyinferiortothatusedbyRosini.

Inhismethod,thecoinswerepalmedinthehollowofthehandinapositionknownastheobliquepalm.Inthisgrip,thestackofcoinsisbeveledandprotrudesfromthepalmatanangle.Thereisaspacebetweenthepalmandtheinnermostcoinattheedgeofthecoinnearesttherootsofthefingers.Thispalmisdescribedandillustratedonpages251and252ofMagicWithoutApparatusbyCamilleGaultierandonpages8and9ofTheModernMagicManualbyJeanHugard.

Toexecutethesleight,Rosiniwouldstandwithhisleftsidetowardtheaudienceandplacethefingertipsofbothhandstogether,almostasifinprayer,exceptthatthefingerswerespreadmorewidely.Thehandswereheldaboutwaisthighwiththelittlefingerspointingtowardthefloor.Thecoinswereconcealedfromtheaudiencebythebackofthelefthand.

Keepingthefingertipstogether,Rosinithenwouldrevolvebothhandssothatthefingerspointeddirectlyupward.Undercoverofthismovementthefirstfingerandthumboftherighthandwerewithdrawnandseizedthestackofcoins(whichwaspalmedinthelefthand),thethumbontheoutermostcoinandthefirstfingeronthecoinnearestthepalm.

Theleftthumbandfirstfingerretainedtheirspreadposition,andthewithdrawalofthecorrespondingdigitsoftherighthandwentunnoticed.

Withthelefthandheldstationary,therighthandwasrevolveddownwardtoitsoriginalposition,exceptthatthefingerswereheldcuppedtogetherandnotspread.Theleftfingersatthesametimeweredrawntogethertocoverthismotion.

Atthispoint,thefirstjointoftheleftthumbrestedlightlyontherightthumbbetweenitsfirstandsecondjoints.Inthisposition,thethumbsandpalmswerecrosswise,therighthandcuppedpalmupwardbeneaththelefthand,whichwascuppedpalmdownward.Thus,theleftlittlefingerwasbroughtintodirectcontactwiththeuppermostofthecoinsinthestack,whichwasheldtightlyinitsstill-beveledcondition.

Thelefthandthenwasrotateddownwardwhiletherightmovedslightlyupwardagain,orclockwise.Thusthecoinswerespreadbetweenthefingertipsinapeeling-offmotion.

Thefirstcoindetachedfromthestackwasgrippedbetweenthetipsofthelittlefingers,thesecondbetweenthetipsofthethirdfingers,andsoon,tothethumbs.

Rosiniexecutedallthenecessarymovementsinasingle,continuousflourish,andhehadawayoftiltinghishandsbackwardtocoverthespreadingofthecoinssothattheyappearedatthefingertipscompletelyspread.

Itwilltakemanymonthsfortheneophytetoacquirethesleight,andeventhenitisdoubtfulthathewillexecuteitwiththeconsummateskillandpresentitwiththedramaticflairthatmadeitajewelinthehandsofPaulRosini.

ACEDELUSION

(ByPaulLePaul)

Thislittletrickcanbeusedtoadvantagewhenasuckergagisinorder.Theplotisaswitchontheoldtrickofcoveringthecenterpipoftheaceofheartswithtwoothercardsinsuchafashionastomakeitlookliketheaceofdiamonds.Inthisversion,threeacesareshown:aredaceandtwoblackaces.Theperformerremarksthattheredaceistheaceofdiamonds.However,asheshowsthemtothespectator,theperformerallowsoneoftheblackacestoslipalittle,revealingthattheredaceisreallytheaceofhearts.Apparentlyunawarethathistrickhasbecometransparent,heturnsthecardsfacedownandlaystheredaceonthetable.Heshowsthetwoblackacessinglyandplacestheminthedeck,remarkingthattheaceofdiamondsnowliesonthetable.Thespectator,thinkingthathehascaughtthissimpleoldtrick,callstheperformer.Theperformerexpressessurprisethatanyonewouldaccusehimofmisrepresentingandturnsoverthecardonthetable.Itactuallyistheaceofdiamonds.

Themethodisverysimple,thewholethingdependinguponmakingthespectatorthinkthatheisseeingthroughthetrick.Theaceofheartsisheldwiththeaceofdiamondssquaredbehindit.ThetwoblackacesarefannedinfrontoftheaceofheartssothattheyformaV.TheapexoftheVblocksouttheroundedportionsoftheheartpip,producingagoodillusionofadiamond.Theperformer’scarefularrangementoftheapparentthreecardstoproducethiseffectisallpartofthebuilduptoarousethespectator’ssuspicions.

Thefacesofthecardsarenowshowntothespectatorandoneofthecoveringcardsmovedalittletogivehimthecomeon.Thecardsarethensquaredupfacedownandthetopcarddealtoff,theperformercallingittheaceofdiamonds,whichiswhatItactuallyis.Theperformerthendoesadoubleliftandshowsthenextcardasablackaceandthenshowstheremainingblackace.Theseacesarediscardedandtheperformerisreadytobechallengedandvindicated.Hemaythengointoanothertrick,statingthathehopesthathisspectatorswillhavealittlemoreconfidenceinhisveracity.

SKIDOO

ThisisavariationofatrickwhichRosiniusedtodoemployingaduplicatecard.InRosini’strick,theduplicateofaforcedcardappearedatadeterminednumber,whichhappenedtobe28.

Effect:Aspectatorisaskedtocutthedeckinhalf,thenbringoutahandfulofchange,chooseanycoin,andnoteitsdate.Heistoaddtogetherthedigitsinthedateandcountdownthatnumberinonehalfofthedeck,removingthecardfromthatpositionandlayingit

downwithoutlookingatit.Theotherhalfofthedeckisspreadfaceup.Theperformeraskswhatthenumberwas.Hetakesthetabledcardand,usingitasapointer,countsthatnumberfromthefaceofthespread.Thenheturnsthepointercardfaceupandcountsasmanymorecardsastherearepipsonthepointer.Thecardsoarrivedatinthefaceupspreadispushedout.Thespectatorisaskedtolookatthebackofthecard.Onitsbackarewrittentheperformer’sinitials.Noothercardinthedeckbearsanyinitialsoranywrittenmarkingswhatsoever.

Method:Thedeckissetuppriortothetrick.Thecardwiththeinitialedbackisplacedtwenty-thirdfromthefaceofthedeck.Ontopofthedeckarenineindifferentcards,followedbythirteencardsofanysuitssetindescendingnumericalsequencefromking(18)toace(1).Thespectatorisaskedtocutthedeckintotwoasnearlyequalhalvesaspossible.Heistoldtochooseeitherhalf,andpromisedthatwhicheverhalfisindicated,thathalfwillbeused.Ifhechoosesthetophalf,theperformersays,Weshallcountdowninthishalf.Haveyougotsomechangeinyourpocket?"Ifhechoosesthebottomhalf,theperformerspreadsthishalffaceuponthetableandsays,"Youwillchooseacardinthishalf.First,however,takesomecoinsoutofyourpocketandselectoneofthem.Lookatitsdate.Addthedigitsinthedatetogetherandcountdownthatnumberinthisother(top)halfofthedeck.Removethecardatthatnumberandlayitfacedownonthetable.Itisnotthecardyouaregoingtoselect.Itisjustapointer.Nowtellmeyournumber.Ishallcounttoitinyourchosenhalf.Nowlet’sseehowmanyspotshappentobeonthispointercard.Ishallcountthatmanymorecards.Hereisyourcard—pleasepushitoutofthespread.Youknow,strangelyenough,alittleearlierintheeveningIhadapremonitionaboutthatcardandwrotemyinitialsonthebackofitincaseanythinglikethisshouldhappen.Willyouturnthecardoverandseeifmyinitialsarethere?Mypremonitionwasright.Youmightturntheothercardsover,too,tomakesurethatIhadonlyonepremonition."

Aslongasthespectatorcutsthedecknofartherdownthanthe28thcard,thetrickworksautomaticallywithanycoindatedbetween1900and1948,inclusive.Toavoidacoinofmorerecentdate,askthespectatornottouseafreshlymintedcoinasyoucanguessitsdatewithoutmuchtrouble.

ASURETHING

Thisisagoodstunttodowhenyouarethirstyorwantafreecigar.

Youlaysomecardsinthreefacedownrows:sixcardsinthetoprow,fiveinthesecondrow,andfourinthethirdrow.

Younowinvitethespectatortoagameofpickingupthecardsinwhichthepersonwhopicksupthelastcardlosesthewager.Eitherofyoumaypickupasmanyorasfewcardsasyouwishineachturn,butcardscanbepickedupfromonlyonerowinanygiventurn.Althoughthespectatorisallowedthechoiceofstartingthegameorfollowingtheperformer,thegamealwaysendswithonecardleftwhichthespectatormustpickup.Thesuckerjustcan’twin.

Method:Youkeeptrackofthenumberofcardsleftintherowsafterthespectator’spick-upsandcalculateyourownpick-upssothatthespectatorisleftwithtwoevennumberedrowstotakecardsfrom.

THEBESTPREDICTION

Rosiniratedthishighestamongthepredictioncardtricksinhisrepertoire.

Effect:Apredictionofacardiswrittenonapieceofpaper.Aspectatorisaskedtogiveanumberbetweenfiveandtwenty-five.Theperformercountsdowntothisnumber,pullsforwardthecardatthatlocation,andbendsdownthecornerofthecard.Thespectatorisallowedtochangehismindabouthisnumberuptothepointthatthecardiscrimped.Thecardsaresquaredandthespectatorisshownthecrimpedcardinthedeck.Heisaskedtorepeatthenumberheselected.Theperformercountsdownslowlytothenumberandlaysthecardwiththecrimpedcornerfacedownonthetable.Thepredictionisreadandthecardisturnedfaceup.Predictionandcardcorrespond.

Method:Withthedeckofcardslyingfacedownonthetable,theperformerbeginsbysaying,"Ineedapencilandapieceofpaper."Whilewaitingforthesetobeprovided,hepicksupthepackwiththerighthandandstealsaglimpseofthebottomcard.Now,withthelefthandunderneaththedeck,theleftlittlefingerbendsdowntherighthandlowercornerofthebottomcard.

Afterwritingtheprediction,theperformerasksforanumberbetweenfiveandtwenty-five.Hepicksupthepackand,holdingitinthelefthand,beginscountingcardsoffthetopofthedeckbyslidingthemintotherighthandwithoutremovingthemorchangingtheirpositionsinthedeck.Whenhecomestotheselectednumber,hepushesitforwardoverthetopedgeofthedeck.Asthisisdone,thefingersbeneaththedeckslidethebottomcardovertoapositionbelowthecountedcards,whicharethenlaidbackontheprojectingcard,addingthe

stolencardaboveit.Theperformersays,"Iwillbendthecornerofthiscardsoyouwillnotlosetrackofit."Hecrimpsdowntheupperlefthandcorneroftheprojectingcardandpushesthecardbackintothedeck.Duetotheadditionofthestolencardaboveit,itisnowlocatedonecardfartherdowninthedeckthantheselectednumber.

Afterthepackissquared,theedgeofthedeckisshowntothespectatorsothathecanseethebentcornerofhiscardinthedeck.Thedeckisthenlaidfiatinthelefthand,theperformersaying,"Idon’tusethetopcard."Thetopcardisturnedfaceup,shown,andturneddownagain."NordoIusethisbottomcard."Thedeckisturnedoverendforendtoshowthebottomcard.Thisbringsthecrimpedendofthespectator’scardtowardtheperformerandthecrimpedendofthestolencardtowardthespectator.Theperformerturnsthedecksidewisetoshowthecrimpinthislattercard,saying,"Butwedousethiscardwhosecornerwebentdown.Bytheway,whatwasthenumberyougaveme?"

Theperformercountsoffthecardsfromthetopofthedeckuntilhecomestothegivennumber,looksatthespectatorandsays,"Remember,wemarkedthiscardatthelocationyougaveme.WillyoulookatwhatIwroteonthatpieceofpaper?"

Theperformerthenhandsthecardtothespectator.Whileitisbeinglookedat,theperformerstraightensoutthecrimpintheothercard,whichisnowatthetopofthedeck,thecrimpbeingattherighthandlowercornerofthecard.

PREDICTIONVARIATION

(By"Chic"Schoke)

IalwayslikedPaulRosini’spresentationofthispredictioncardtrick,buttherewereseveralfeaturesofthemethodwhichdidnotappealtome.Ihavethereforeworkedoutmyownhandlingofthetrick.Theeffectisexactlyasdescribedinthisbookunderthetitle,"TheBestPrediction."However,themethodpermitsfreerhandlingofthecards,thereisnostealfromthebottom,andtheendsofthedeckarereversedinadifferentfashion.

Method:Glimpsethebottomcard,benddownthecornerofthecard,cutthedeck,andhandthecardsoutforshuffling.Whilethespectatorismixingthecards,writethenameoftheglimpsedcardonaslipofpaper.

Takebackthedeckinthelefthandandcutthecardabove~thebentcornertothetopof

thedeck.Askforanumberbetweenfiveandtwentyandmakeadoublelift,takingthetoptwocardsasoneintherightasthoughtostartcounting.Countdowntothenumbergiven,takingthecardsoneatatimeintherighthand,thusreversingtheorderofthecards.Pushforwardthecardcountedto,benddownitscorner,replaceontopofitthecardsheldintherighthand,andsquarethedeck.Laythedeckdowninfrontofyouwiththelongedgeofthedeckfacingyou.Handsomeonetheprediction.Pickupthedecksothattheendofthedeckatwhichthecorneroftheglimpsedcardisbentnowfacestheaudience.Thisglimpsedcardnowliesattheselectednumber.Countdowntoitslowly,layitonthetable,andhavethepredictionreadbeforethecardisturnedover.Straightenouttheotherbentcardwhileattentioniscenteredontheprediction.

THECIGARETTETRICK

OneofthefeaturesofPaulRosini’snightclubactwashispresentationoftheCardintheCigarette.Nowrittendescriptioncanconveyhisclevershowmanshiporthelittlewaysinwhichhepointedupeverythingthathappened.Butadescriptionofhismethodwillgivesomeideaofthecarefulattentiontodetailwhichdistinguishedhiswork.

Hepreparedforthetrickwhiledressingfortheshowbydampeningaduplicateofthecardwhichhewastoforce,placingthecardwithinthefoldsofadampenedTurkishtowel.Whenhewasthroughdressing,thecardwasjustproperlydamp.Hecouldrollitoveraleadpencilandformitintoasmallcylinder.Hetoreacornerfromthecardafteritwasdamp,sothatthefinishonthecornerwouldmatchthefinishofthe"restored"card.

Afterrollingthecigaretteinhishandtoloosenthetobacco,hepushedtherolledcardintothecigarette,tornendfirst,andpushedthecardinuntiltheotherendofthecardwasevenwiththeendofthecigarette.Hethenclippedoffthepushed-outtobaccoatthetopofthecigarette.

Rosinialsohadapreparedpadofpaper.Aduplicate,foldedpieceofpaperwasgluedtotheundersideofthecenterofthefirstsheetinthemannerof"BuddhaPapers."Thefoldedpiececontainedtheloosetobaccoremovedfromthecigarette.Sometimesthepreparationwasmadeonthesecondsheet.Inthiscase,thefirstsheetofthepadwas"accidentally"rippedalittleinbeingtornoff.Thistornsheetwastossedasideandthepreparedsheettornoffandused.Thetrickcouldalsobedonewithasmallpieceofnewspaper,similarlyprepared.

Inperformance,Rosiniapproachedaspectatorandsaid,

"Wouldyoutakeacard?"Heforcedthecard."Showittoyourfriends."Hethenhadthespectatortearthecardbyfoldingitinthecenterandtearingalongthefold.Whenthespectatorhadtornthecardintwo,Rosinisaid,"Twobits.Let’shavesomeloosechange.Makeitfourbits."

Rosinithenextendedthesheetofpaperinhislefthandandaskedthespectatortoputthepiecesinapileonthecenterofthepaper,keepingthepiecesfacedownsoRosiniwouldnotknowwhatthecardwas.Hehadobtainedthetorncorner(matchingtheloadedcard)inhisrightfingers,andwhenthepieceswerelaidfacedownonthepaper,hebroughthisrighthandoverandpretendedtopushoneofthepiecesforwardonthepaper.Actually,itwasthepalmedcornerwhichwaspushedforward,withtheremark,"I’mgenerous—keepabitforyourtrouble."

Rosinithenfoldedovertheedgesofthepapertoformasquarepackageexactlymatchingtheduplicatepackagegluedbeneath.Heturnedthepackageover,bringingthetobaccosideup,andthrewitonthefloor.Thenhewalkedawayfromit,saying,"Wouldsomeoneletmehaveacigarette?"

Rosinihadnotedthebrandsofcigarettesbeingsmokedwherehewasworkingandtriedtoarrangetoborrowacigarettethatmatchedhisloadedcigarette,whichhenowobtainedinhisleftfingers.However,ifadifferentbrandwaspresseduponhim,hetookitanyway.Hestartedtoturnaway,thensaid,"Youdon’tmindifIlightit,doyou?"Atthismoment,hepretendedtopassthecigaretteintothelefthandandswitchedthecigarettes,retainingtheborrowedoneconcealedinhisrightfingers.Hisrighthandwenttohispocketforamatchorlighterandlefttheborrowedcigaretteinthepocket.

Ifthespectatorgavehimthecorrectkind,Rosinicalledattentiontothenameofthecigarettebrand.Helitthecigarette.

"Doyoulikethisbrandofcigarette?Idon’tlikethem.Alittlecigarettemusic,please.That’senough."Hetorethecigarettedownthesideandextractedthecard.Hethrewthecigarettepaperonthefloor,beingcarefultowaditupifthebrandwaswrong.

Thespectatornamedhiscard.Rosiniunrolledthecardfoundinthecigarette,anditwasthesamecard,withacornermissingwhichthespectator’sretainedpieceexactlyfitted.Almostasanafterthought,Rosinipickedupthepaperpackagefromthefloorandletthedisplacedcigarettetobaccopouroutinastream.Hishandlingofthepackagehadbeensocasualthat

thisextraclimaxcameasastunningsurprise.

IMPRESSIVECARD

AmongthemorefancifuldevicesemployedbyRosiniwasamethodforproducingtheinitialsofaselectedcarduponablankpieceofpaper.

Apieceofpaperwasshownblankonbothsidesandperhapsinitialed.Acardwasselected.Thentheinitialsofthecardwerefoundtobeinscribedonthepaper.

Thetrickdependeduponspecialpreparationofoneoftheperformer’sshoes.Thesurfaceoftherubberheeloftheshoewasshavedsmooth.Thentheinitialsofthecardwhichwouldbeforcedwereincisedinreverseintotheheel.Thecutsweremadeatanangle,sothattheyreallyproducedlittleflaps.Priortoperformance,coloredchalkwasworkedintotheseslitsintherubber.

Afterthepaperhadbeenshownandinitialed,itwasdroppedontothefloor.Inthecourseofthecardselectionandbusiness,Rosinisimplysteppedonthepaperandpressedhisheeldown.Thisproducedaclearimpressiononthepaper,thechalkdustliterallybeingsqueezedout.

Rosinisometimesusedthisinconnectionwithhis"CardintheCigarette."Hetoreasheetoffatabletforthereturnofthepiecesofcard,butthroughapparentaccidentmadeatearinthemiddleofthesheet.Hedroppeditonthefloor,whereitremaineduntilhegotaroundtothistrickatalaterpointintheprogram.

TheperformerwhoattemptsthisfeatanddiscoversthatheleaveschalkimpressionsaroundonthefloorshouldbetoldthatRosinicharacteristicallywalkedontheballsofhisfeet.

THEPEEKTRICK

Rosini’sfavoritemethodofhavingacardchosenwasfroma"tinylittlepeek."Ofthevarious

printedexplanationsoftheuseofthepeek,followedbyaside-steal,thatgiveninTheCardMagicofLePaulisprobablythemostcomplete.

OneofRosini’sfinestaudienceeffectswasbuiltentirelyaroundthepeek.Hegotaladytoassisthimandaskedhertopeekatoneofthecards.Whenshedidso,hesaid,"Didyouseeone?Thatwasastingypeek.You’resureyousawacard?"Thisconversationgavehimampleopportunitytobringthecardtothetopofthedeck.Italsoforcedtheassistanttofixthenameofthecardinhermemory.

Stillexpressingdisbeliefthattheladyhadreallyseenacard(and,ofcourse,givingtheaudiencetheideathatthemagicianhadfailedwiththefirstselection),Rosinisaid,"Takeanotherpeek.You’resureyouseethisone?Rememberit."Whiletalking,hegotthesecondselectiontothetop.Thetrick,hesaid,wouldbetocausethecardjustpeekedattocometothetopofthedeck.Hemadeitseemasthoughthiswerereallyagreattrick.Withattentionnowcenteredonthedeck,hepretendedtocausethemiracletotakeplace."Didyouseemedosomething?—Ididsomething!Whatwasyourcard?"Heshowedthetopcard,anditwasthecardnamed.

Atthemomentwhenthetrickseemedconcluded,Rosinitopchangedthecardwhichhehadjustproducedandthrewthe(changed)cardfacedownonthetable.Then,asthoughpleasedwithhissuccessandwillingtoundertakesomethingmoredifficult,hesaid,"Doyourememberthatfirstcardyoupeekedat?Whatwas,it?"Supposetheladysaid,"Thejackofspades."Rosinisaid,"Willyousay,‘Jackofspades,cometome!"’Shedid."Yousaythatsocute,sayitagain."Sherepeatedtherequest.ThenRosinipointedtothecardlyingfacedownonthetableandsaid,"Showittothepeople."Itwasthejackofspades.

ACEO-CHANGEO

Effect:Thefouracesareshownandplacedontopofthedeck.Thetworedacesaredealtfacedowntotherightandthetwoblackacesaredealtfacedowntotheleft.Themagicwords,"Aceo-Changeo,"arenowsaid,andthecardsareshowntohavechangedplaces—theredcardsnowbeingontheleftandtheblackcardsontheright.Thetrickisdonewithoutsleight-of-handandmayberepeated.

Method:Thetrickdependsuponadouble-backedcardwhichisplacedsecondfromthetopofthedeck.Thefouracesareremovedandplacedfaceuponthetable.Thedeckisheldfacedownintheleft.Aredaceispickedupandplacedfaceupontopofthedeck.Thena

blackaceisplacedontopoftheredace.Thesecondredaceisplacedontopoftheblackaceandthelastblackaceisplacedontopofthese.Theperformercallsattentiontothepictureoffourfaceupaces,alternatingred,black,red,black.Hefansthefouracessothespectatorcanreviewthesituation,thenclosesthefanandturnstheacesovertogetherontopofthedeck.

Theperformerdealsthefirstcardtotheright,saying,"Redace."Hedealsthenextcardabouttwelveinchestotheleft,saying,"Blackace."Thethirdace,aredace,isdealtalongsidethefirstredace.Thelastaceisdealtalongsidetheotherblackace.Theperformer’sstatementsashehasdealtthecardsaretrue.Henowasks,"Whicharetheredaces?"Thespectatornaturallypointstothetwocardsontheperformer’sright.Usingthetopcardofthedeckasapointer,theperformerflipsthetwoacesoveroneatatime,showingthespectatorthathisguesswascorrect.Heturnsovertheblackacesinthesameway.

Theperformersaysthathewillrepeattheprocedure.Atthesametime,heplacestheindifferentcardwhichheholdsinhishandonthebottomofthedeck.Thisleavesthedouble-backedcardontopofthedeck.Theacesareagainplacedbackontopofthedeckoneatatime—"Red,black,red,black"—faceupasbefore.However,asthefanisclosed,theleftlittlefingerholdsabreakunderthedouble-backedcard.Allfivecardsarenowturnedovertogether.Whenfourcardsaredealtfacedownonthetableexactlyasbefore,thetwocardsontheleftarenowredacesandthetwoontherightareablackaceandthedouble-backedcard.

Whenthespectatormakeshisguessastothepositionoftheredaces,theperformersays,"Aceo-Changeo."Takingthetopcard(anace)offthedeck,heturnsupthetwocardsontheleft,showingthemtobetheredonesthistime.Thecardsareturnedoverasbeforebyinsertingthecardheldintherightunderneaththemandflippingthemover.Thefirstblackace,ontheright,isalsoturnedupinthisfashion.Butwhentheperformerslipshispointercardunderthelastcard(double-backed),heturnsoverbothcardstogether.Duringthegeneralsurprise,thedouble-backedcardisreplacedontopofthedeck.

ACARDTURNSOVER

Twopencildotsaremadeonthefaceoftheaceofclubspriortothetrick.Thedotsareplacedoneateachblankcornerofthecard(nottheindexcorners).Thiscardisthenreversedatthebottomofthedeck.Anycardisselectedfromthepack.Whilethecardisbeinglookedat,thepackiscutandareversefanismadeforthereturnofthecard.

Becausethefanismadebackwards,thereisnodangerofshowingpartofanindexofthereversedcardinthefacedownfan.However,thepencildotwilldistinguishthepresenceofthiscardamongthewhitemarginsoftheothercards.

Theselectedcardisreplacedabovethedottedcardandthefanisclosed.Thecardsarelaidonthetableandthehandsshownempty—apparentlythereisnocontrol.Thedeckispickedup,facedown,andtheendriffledupwardsuntilthefaceupcardappearstotheperformer’sview.Twomorecardsarereleasedontopofthefaceupcardandthedeckgivenasquarecutatthispoint.Thetopcardisnowturnedoverwiththequestion,"Isthisyourcard?"Thecardisturneddown,butactuallyatripleturnoverisperformed,thethreetopcardsbeingturnedoverasone.Thedeckisgivenacutandthenameoftheselectedcardrequested.Thedeckisspreadandthiscardisseentobefaceup.

FOLLOWYOURCARD

Thisquickandbeautifultrickrequiresonlyneatnessofhandling.

Secretlyreversethesecondcardfromthetopofthedeck.Fanthedeckfortheselectionofacard,beingcarefulnottoexposethereversedcard.Whiletheselectedcardisbeinglookedat,getthetipofyourleftlittlefingerunderthetwotopcards.Takethespectator’scardandsay,"Iwantyoutoseeifyoucanfollowyourcard.Iwilldothisveryslowly."Placeitdeliberatelyontopofthedeck,facedown.Thenpushitbacktowardyouaninchandpointtothecardbelowit,saying,"Ishallusethissecondcard."Pushthiscardforwardsoitisprotrudinganinch.Pushthespectator’scardevenwiththedeck.Takeyourcard,whichisprotrudingfromthepack,andturnitfaceupontopofthepack.Nowturnoverasoneallthreecardsthatareabovethelittlefinger.Apparentlyyouhavejustturnedyourcardbackfacedownontopofthespectator’scard.Takethetoptwocardsasonebyadoubleliftandpushthisdoublecardintothemiddleofthedeck.Askthespectatorwherehiscardisnow.Hewillsay,"Ontop."Youcorrecthim,saying,"No,mycardisontop.Andyourcardisinthecenterofthedeck.Notonlythat,butalsoitisreversed."Showthetopcardtobeyoursandspreadthedeckrevealingthespectator’scardreversed.

OKITOCARDCONTROL

(andaTrick)

(ByTheoBamberg)

OneofmymoveswhichPaulRosiniadmiredwasamethodofcontrollingacard.Idevisedthissimplifiedpassmanyyearsago,butithasneverbeendescribedfullyinprint.

Aselectedcardisreturnedtothecenterofthedeck.Thedeckisheldfacedowninthelefthand.Theperformerpushesthecardinhimself.Indoingso,hisrightforefingerpushestheouterleftcornerofthecardtotheleft.Thisforcesthediagonallyoppositecornerofthecardtoprojectfromtheinnerrightedgeofthedeck.Theleftlittlefingerisslippedintothedeckabovethiscornerandthecardsaresquared.

Thelefthandisnowopenedflat,withfingersextended(exceptforthelittlefinger,whichretainsthebreak).Therighthandremainsinposition,grippingthedeckfromabovewiththetipsofthefourfingersatthefrontedgeofthedeckandthethumbattherearedge.Therighthandthusmaskstheabsenceoftheleftlittlefinger.Therightfingersnowsqueezethecardsandallowthemtospring(without,however,separatingthehands).Theflatpositionofthelefthandandthespringingofthecardsseemtoobviatethepossibilityofanycontrol.

Theleftthumbpushesthetopcardalittletotheright.Therightfingers(atthefrontedge)andthumb(attherearedge)gripthecard,whilecontinuingtoshieldthedeck.Theperformersays,"Yourcardisnotontop."Bothhandsareturnedover,rotatingrightwardsimultaneously,andtheleftindexfingerispointedatthefaceofthecard."Yousee,thisisnotyourcard."

Themovementisexactlyreversedandthecardputbackontopofthedeck.Therightsecondandthirdfingersnowgripthelowerhalfofthedeck.Theturnoverofthetwohandsisrepeated,butitisthegroupbelowtheleftlittlefingerwhichiscarriedawaybytherighthand(betweenthesecondandthirdfingersattheouteredgeandthethumbattheinneredge).Theactionispreciselythesameasthetwo-handedpassexceptfortheturnoverandseparationofthehands.Theleftforefingeragainpointsatthefacecardoftherighthand,theperformersaying,"Yourcardisnotatthecenter."

Themovementofthehandsisreversedonceagain,buttherighthandcardsaredroppedontopofthoseintheleft,totheremark,"Iputthecardsbackinplace."Theselectedcardisthuscuttothetopofthedeckinanundetectablefashion.

Therighthandnowseizesthewholedeckandturnsovertoshowthefacecard.Theleftforefingerpointsatthiscardastheperformersays,"Andyourcardisnotunderneath."

Thecardsarereplacedinthelefthand,theperformerremarking,"Itmustbesomewhere

elseinthedeck."

ThiscompletestheOkitopass.However,Ihaveaninterestingmannerofreproducingthecardwhichfollowsveryappropriately.

Theperformersays,"Iamgoingtohaveyoulocateyourcardunconsciously.Ishouldlikeyoutodrawyourowncard.Justdrawacard,andthecardyoudrawwillbethecardyoupreviouslyselected."Theendofthedeckisriffledforaselection."Takeanyoneyouplease.Don’tlookatit.Putitontopofthedeck."

Thisprocedureisrepeatedoncemore,havingthedrawncardplacedthistimeonthebottomofthedeck."Thatgivesmeasecondchance.Iamsureoneofthetwomustbeyourcard."

Theperformertakesthetopcardbetweentherightthumbandforefinger,inthemannercustomarypriortoatopchange,andshowsit.Itisnottheselectedcard.Helowersthecarduntilitisparallelwiththetopofthedeckandsays,"Ifthisisnotyourcard,thenthismustbeyourcard."Atthismoment,thetopchangeisexecuted,and,withoutamoment’shesitation,thelefthandisturnedovertoshowthebottomcardofthedeck.Thismovementcoverstheactionofthechange.Thecardintherighthandisusedtopointatthecardonthefaceofthedeckastheperformerinquiresifitistheselectedone.

Bothcardshavingprovedwrong,theperformerhasonlytoaskwhatcardwasoriginallytakenandtransformthecardheldbytherighthandintothatverycard.

KINGSANDQUEENS

PaulRosinifooledmanymagicianswiththistrick.Whatevertheoryoneheldaboutitalwaysseemedtobeexplodedinthecourseoftheroutine.

Effect:Aspectatorisaskedtoremovefourkingsandfourqueensfromhisowndeckandplacetherestofthecardsaside.Theperformertakesthepacketofeightcards,placesthembehindhisback,andbringsforththecardsapairatatime.Eachpairconsistsofakingandaqueenofthesamesuit.

Thecardsaregatheredintoapileandaspectatorisaskedtogivethecardsasmanysquare

cutsashedesires.Thecardsareagainplacedbehindtheperformer’sback.Heasksthespectator,"Whatdoyoulike,kingsorqueens?"Whateverisaskedforispromptlyproduced,theperformersaying,"Iknewthatwaswhatyouweregoingtoaskfor."

Thecardsareagaingatheredtogetherandthespectatorisaskedtocutthem.Theperformerstartstotakethecards,butsays,"Givethemalittleshuffle,please."Afterthisisdone,heplacesthembehindhisbackandbringsthecardsoutoneatatime,layingthemintwofacedownpiles.Ashebringseachcardout,withoutshowingit,hesays,"Thisisaking,Ihope,"or"Thisisaqueen."Whentwopilesoffourcardshavethusbeenformedonthetable,theperformersays,"Look!"andturnsoverthecardsinthefirstpacket,onecardatatime.Theyareallqueens.Allfourcardsintheotherpacketareturnedoveratonceandseentobekings.

Method:Theperformerpicksupfirstthefourkings,thenthefourqueens.Indoingso,hemakessurethatthesuitorderofthequeensisthesameasthatofthekings.Withthecardsbehindhisback,hecountsoffthetopfourcardsandmovesthemtowardhisbodysothattheyprotrudeatleastaninchormoreoverthelowerhalfofthepacket.Thismakesiteasytopullacardoffthetopofeachpacketsimultaneously.Drawingoffthecardsinthiswayresultsinproducingpairsconsistingofkingsandqueensofsimilarsuits.

Thecardsarethencollectedwithoutbreakingupthepairs.Afteraspectatorcutsthem,theperformerplacesthecardsagainbehindhisback.Thistimethecardsarerunfromthelefthandintotheright,therighthandpushingthefirstcardupbyabouthalfitslength,thesecondcarddown,thethirdcardup,etc.,sothatthecardsareinterlacedalternately,fourprojectingupandfourdown.Thetwogroupsarestrippedapartandheldoneineachhand.Therightthumbandforefingercrimpthelowerlefthandcornersupwardsofthecardsheldinthelefthand.Thelefthandthenbringsthesecardsforward.Atthispoint,theperformerdoesnotknowwhichhandholdskingsorqueens.However,heglimpsesthelefthand’scardsastheyarebroughtout.Iftheyarequeensandthespectatorhasaskedforqueens,goodenough.Ifheaskedforkings,theperformersimplylaysthequeensfacedownonthetableandsays,"Iknewyouwouldaskforkings."Thenhebringsthekingsforwardinafaceupfan.

Thetwopacketsareplacedtogetherandthespectatorcutsandshufflesthemabit.Theperformertakesbackthepacket,notingwhichendthecrimpison.Withthecardsbehindhisback,hecantellthekingsfromthequeensbythecrimportheabsenceofacrimp.Aseachcrimpedcardisbroughtout,thefingersstraightenoutthecrimp.

Whenusinghisowncards,Rosiniintroducedanadditionaleffectthroughtheuseofaduplicatesetofkingsandqueenshiddeninhishippocket.Theywerestackedinamemorizedorder.Hewouldswitchforthissetbehindhisbackandwasnowablenotonlyto

separatethekingsandqueens,butalsocallthembytheirsuits.Analternateeffectwastohaveaspectatorcallforanyparticularkingorqueen.Withthecardsbehindhisback,Rosinicouldbringforwardthecardnamed.

DOUBLEREVERSE

Effect:Thespectatorisaskedtocutoffabouthalfthecards,fanthemfacedownbeforehimself,withdrawonecard,andlaythecardfacedownonthetable.Theperformerdoesthesamethingwiththeremaininghalfofthedeck.Thespectatorisaskedtotakeapeekathiscardandrememberit.Theperformerdoeslikewisewithhisowncard.Thespectatorthenplacestheperformer’scardsomewhereamongthecardsheholds,whiletheperformertakesthespectator’scardandplacesitinhishalfofthedeck.Thespectatorisaskedtocuthispacketintotwoparts.Oneheapisplacedfaceupontopoftheperformer’spacketandtheotherheapisplacedfaceupbeneaththeperformer’scards.Theperformer’scardsarethussandwichedfacedownbetweentwogroupsoffaceupcards.Spectatorandperformernamethecardstheylookedat.Whenthedeckisspreadonthetable,allcardsareseentohaverightedthemselvesexceptthetwoselectedcards,whicharenowreversedinthepack.

Method:Atthebeginningofthetrick,thebottomcardofthedeckisreversed(saythetenofclubs).Atthemomentwhenthespectatorpeeksathistabledcard,theperformerturnsoverhishalfofthedeck.Thisleavesthetenofclubsfacedownontopofthefaceuphalf.Theperformertakesthespectator’scardandinsertsitfacedownintohissecretlyreversedhalf.Thishalfisthensandwichedbetweenthefaceupcardsofthespectator’sheap.Theperformerasksthenameofthespectator’scardandremarksthathisowncardwasthetenofclubs.Thetwocardsnamedarenowtheonlyreversedcardsinthedeck.Thebusinessoftheperformerlayingdownacardandthespectatorplacingthiscardinhishalfis,ofcourse,onlyaruse—theperformerpaysnoattentiontothiscard.

PURELYMENTAL

Fewmagiciansusethistrick,foritseemstorequiresomenerve.Actuallyitisquiteeasytohandle,andtheeffectisverygreat.

Aspectator,placedatsomedistancefromboththeperformerandthecompany,isaskedtoshuffleadeckandthenlookthroughitandcenterhisthoughtsupononeparticularcard.He

isthenaskedtoplacethedeckaside,writetheinitialsofthecardonaslipofpaper,andpocketthepaper.Thespectatorthenreturnstohisformerplaceandthemagiciangoesoverandlooksthroughthedeck.Thenhetakesapieceofpaperandwritestheinitialsofacardonit.Hehandsittoaspectatorandasksthefirstspectatortoproducetheslipuponwhichhewrotethenameofhiscardandreaditaloud.Thespectatorholdingtheperformer’sslipnowreadsthenameofthecardwrittenonit.Thetwoslipstally.

Thesecretisthattheslipofpaperuponwhichthespectatorwriteshasbeentreatedwithtalcumpowder.Apieceofthewhiteborderofanewspaperisprobablybesttouse.Theperformercanpreparethecornerofanewspaperandtakethepaperalongwithhim,leavingitinaconvenientplacepriortotheperformance.Then,whenapieceofpaperisneeded,hesimplytearsoffthiscornerandlaysitinfrontofthespectator.Itisadvisabletocoatthepaperonbothsideswithpowder,rubbingitinverywellsothatthereisnosurpluspowderonthesurfaceofthepaper.Or,ifhetakesalittleboxofpowderalongwithhim,hecanprepareapaperquicklyattheplaceofperformance.

Thesuccessofthetrickdependsentirelyuponforcingthespectatortowritewiththepaperlyingonasmooth,hardsurface.Aglass-toppedtableisexcellent,butanypolishedsurfacewilldo—evenablackpatentleatherhandbag.Evenifthewritingisdonewithaverylighttouch,theinitialsofthecardwillbetransferredtothesurfacebeneaththeslip.

Assoonasthespectatorhasfinishedwriting,heisaskedtopockettheslipandreturntohisseat.Theperformergoestothetableandlooksfortheimpressionwhilescanningthecards.Thenhetearsapiecefromthesamenewspaperandwritestheinitialsofthecardonit,atthesametimewipingoffthetalcummarksonthetable.Aftertherevelationofthewritings,theperformermayretainbothslips.Noevidenceofthemethodremains.

Theentirebuildupshouldbecenteredaroundthedeckofcards,theperformerinsisting,ifpossible,uponbeingprovidedwithanewunopenedpack.

Theperformershouldnotbeupsetifanoccasionalspectatordeclinestowriteuponthecarefullychosensurface,possiblyoutoffearthatsomeonecanseewhatheiswriting.Failureinamentaltestcanbeexcusedandthereisalwaysanothertesttofollowupwith.

WHILEITURNMYBACK

Thistrickwasshowntometwenty-fiveyearsagobyPaulRosini.Itisajewelincardwork.A

descriptionofitistobefoundinJohnNorthernHilliard’sGreaterMagicwhichdiffersinseveraldetailsfromthepresentationoutlinedhere.

Effect:Thedeckisshuffledbyaspectator.Heisaskedtothinkofanynumber,countdowninthedecktothatnumber,andrememberthecardatthatposition.Theperformerturnshisbackwhilethisisbeingdone.Whenthespectatorcallshimback,theperformerremovesonecardfromthedeck,saying,"Youmightnotbelieveit,butIthinkthisisyourcard."Withthatheasksthespectatortodealthecardsoneatatimefaceuponthetableinaneatpile.Shouldheseehiscard,heisnottostopdealing,butistogorightonthroughthedeck.Whenthishasbeendone,theperformeraskshimifhiscardisstillinthedeck.Itis,sothespectatorisaskedtoshufflethedeckagain.Theperformerthenrunsthroughthecardsandlaystheselectedcardonthetable.

Method:Thecardtheperformerremovesfromthedeckthefirsttimeistakenfromapointwelldowninthedeckandthisactionservesonlyasarusetoleadthespectatortogothroughthedeck.Inexplainingtothespectatorhowhewantsthecardsdealtfaceuponthetable,theperformerdealsthetopcard,thenreplacesitasthoughhehadmadeamistake,saying,"Oh,Ididn’tmeantodothat,"andimmediatelygivingthedeckafaircut.Thecutshouldbemadeabouttwo-thirdsdownthedeck,sothatsomefifteencardswillbeplacedabovethetopcardofthedeck.Letussaythatthisexposedcardwasthekingofclubs.Theperformerwalksawayorturnsandlooksoutawindow.Heestimatesthetimeittakesthespectatortodealthecardswhichareontopofthekeycard.Whenhesensesthatthisnumberofcardshasjustaboutbeendealt,heturnsandasks,"Haveyoucometoyourcardyet?"Thespectatorhasnot."Thengoondealing."Asthespectatorbeginstodealagain,heaskssuddenly,"Whatwasthenumberyouthoughtof?"Supposetheansweris,"Ten.Theperformersays,"Goondealing.Seeifyourcardisinthedeck."Henowwatchesforthekingofclubs.Whenheseesitfall,hecountsuntilthetenthcardbeyonditisturnedupandremembersthiscard,whichistheonethespectatorselected.Thenheturnsawayagain,directingthespectatortokeepondealing.Whenthedealisfinished,theperformersays,"Isyourcardstillinthepack?Itis?That’sfunny,IthoughtIhadyourcardhereinmypocket.Pleaseshufflethecardsagain.

Theperformernowtakesthedeckandrevealsthecardasdramaticallyaspossible.

EASYENIGMA

(ByHarryBlackstone)

Tothelayman,oneofthemostamazingfeatsofthecardexpertsisthatofallowingoneor

morespectatorstoselectandreturnacardwhilethedeckisspreadinaribbononthetable,theselectedcardsthenbeinglocatedbytheperformer.ThesimplemethodwhichIoftenadoptforthiseffectyieldsexcellentresults.

Effect:Theperformershufflesthedeck,showsthecardswell-mixed,andspreadsthemfacedownonthetable.Twospectatorsremovecardsfromdifferentpartsofthespreadandlookatthem.Theyarethenaskedtoexchangetheircardssothateachwillknowwhattheotherselected.Theypushthecardsbackintothespreadthemselves,gatherupthecards,cutthem,andhandthemtotheperformer.Theperformerrunsthroughthecards,removesone,andlaysitfacedownbeforeoneofthespectators.Hegoesthroughthecardsagainandplacesanothercardbeforetheotherspectator.Thespectatorsnametheircards.Thetwocardsonthetableareturnedup—theperformerhassuccessfullyreturnedtoeachspectatorthecardhetook.

Method:Dividethepackintooddandevencards.Spreadthepacksothatthetwospectatorswillfinditconvenienttoremovecardsfromoppositepartsofthedeck.Youknowwhichspectatortookanoddcardandwhichtookanevencard.Havingthemexchangetheircardsbeforetheyarereplacedinthedeckresultsintheevencardgoingbackinamongoddcardsandtheoddcardgoingamongevencards.Themisplacedcardsstandoutsharplytotheeyesoftheperformer.

Afewfalseshuffleshelptheeffect.Anoddandevenset-upcanbehandledveryfreelyasallthatisnecessaryistoavoidgettingthetwohalvesofthedeckintermixed.

THETENOFDIAMONDS

ThisisanoldtrickwhichRosinivaluedbecauseofitseffectivenessandsimplicity.

Thespectatorselectsanyninecardsandwritesdowntheirnamesinacolumn.Youassemblethecardsashedoesthissothattheylieinthesameorderfromtoptobottomastheyarelisted..Thereisnosecrecyaboutthenamesofthecards.Thecardsaredroppedontopofthedeckandthedeckcutseveraltimes.

Unknowntothespectator,youhavepreviouslyreversedthetenofdiamondsinninthpositionfromthebottomofthedeck.Younowplacethedeckbehindyourbackandremoveacard(thetopone)andbringitforwardandlookatitwithoutshowingittoanyone.Placethecardbackbehindyouandsay,"Thetenofdiamonds.I’llreverseitandputitsomewhere

inthedeck."Bringthedeckoutandspreadit.Sureenough,thereisthetenofdiamondsreversedinthedeck.Thespectatorhasbeenaskedtosecretlycircleoneofthecardsonhislist.Henowshowsyouthelist.Youimmediatelycountdownfromthetenofdiamondsandturnupthecircledcard.

Ifthecircledcardisoneofthefirstthreecardsonthelist,yousay,"Well,myreversedcardisatenspot.We’llcountclowntencards."

Ifthecardisfourth,fifthorsixthonthelist,youspell"Tenofdiamonds."

Ifitisoneofthelastthreeonthelist,youspell"Thetenofdiamonds."

Thusyouconsiderthelistasgroupsofthreecardsandhaveadifferentmodeofcountingfromthereversedcardtoreacheachgroup.

Ineachcase,ifthecardisthefirstcardinitsgroup,youstartthecountwiththereversedcard.Ifthecardissecondinitsgroup,youlaythereversedcardasideandstartcountingfromthecardthatwasbelowit.Ifthecardisthirdinitsgroup,youdothesamething,butinsteadofturningoverthecarduponwhichyourspellorcountends,youturnoverthecardfollowing.

WITHASHORTCARD

Rosinifeltthattheuseofashortcouldmakesometricksappearmarveloustolaymen.Hedidnothesitatetoemploythisdevicewhentheopportunityarose.Thefollowingwasaverysuccessfulpresentation.

Effect:Adeckofcardsisshuffledandacardremovedbyaspectator,whoisaskedtoshowitaroundandthenplaceitontopofthedeckandcutthedeck.Theperformertakesthedeckfromthespectatorandsays,"Ishalltrytofindyourcardwiththedeckbehindme."Hebringsthedeckforwardafterashorttrialandsays,"IguessIhavefailed.Youlocateyourcardandhandittome."Thespectatordoesnotfindhiscardinthedeck,whereupontheperformeraskswhatthecardwasandproducesitfromhisinsidecoatpocket.

Method:Afterthecardshavebeenshuffled,theperformerdemonstrateswhathewants

done.Indoingso,hegetstheshortcardtothetopofthedeck.Thespectatornowtakesthepackinhisownhandsandfollowstheinstructionsgivenbytheperformer.Theperformerplacesthepackbehindhisbackandrifflesuptotheshortcard.Hecutsthepackatthatpoint,bringingtheshortcardtothetopandleavingtheselectedcardonthebottomofthedeck.Hetakesthedeckintherighthand,leavingtheselectedcardinthelefthand.Thelefthandreachesupunderthebackofthecoatandpushesthecardundertherightarmpit.Hethenbringsthepackforwardandasksthespectatortoremovehiscard,pretendingtohavebeenunabletofindit.Asthespectatorisgiventhepack,theperformershowsbothhandsempty.Whenthespectatorfindshiscardtobemissingandnamesthecard,theperformersays,"Why!Thatcardishereinmyinsidecoatpocket!"Hereachesunderhiscoatandtakesthecardfromundertherightarmpit,imitatingthemotionsofremovingitfromtheinsidepocket.

ACESRUNNINGWILD

ThisdeceptiveacetrickwasapetofRosini’sformanyyears.

Thefouracesarelaidfaceuponthetable.Theperformerexplainswhatheisgoingtodo,thenturnsthemfacedowninarow.Heremovesthreecardsfacedownfromthetopofthedeckandplacesthemontheacetohisleft.Heremovesthreemorecardsandplacesthemonthenextace.Heapparentlyrepeatsthisprocedurewiththethirdandfourthaces.However,insquaringthethreecardstoputonthethirdace,heleavesonecardbehindonthedeckandplacesonthisaceonlytwocards.

Theperformerpicksupthefourthpile(righthandpile)andcallsattentiontotheaceonthebottomofit.Hedropsthispileonthethirdpile,picksthetwopilesuptogethershowingtheaceonthefaceofthethirdpileanddropsthemonthesecondpile.Thethreepilesarepickedup,showingtheaceonthebottomofnumbertwopile,anddroppedtogetheronthefirstpile.Theassembledpilesarenowplacedontopofthedeck,attentionbeingcalledtotheideathateveryfourthcardisanace.

Nowthefourtopcardsaredealtoutfromlefttorightandthefourthcardshowntobeanace.Twelvemorecardsaredealtfromlefttorightontothesefour,buttheperformerdoesnotbothertoshowthefacesofanyofthem.Toallappearances,thisactiondepositsthefouracesintherighthandpile.Actually,thefirstandsecondpilesfromtheleftcontainfourindifferentcardseach,thethirdpilecontainsthreeacesandanindifferentcardonthebottom,andthelastpilecontainsthreeindifferentcardsandanaceonthebottom.

Thelefthandpacketoffourcardsisnowpickedup,showinganindifferentcardontheface,andthepacketplacedinthemiddleofthedeck.Thesamethingisdonewiththesecondpile.Thethirdpileissimilarlyshown,butwhenitisinsertedintothedeck,itmustbebroughttothetopbyapasswhichshouldbeinvisible.

Thelastpacketispickedupwiththeaceshowingonitsfaceandplacedontopofthedeck.Theperformerstatesthatinordertomakethetrickjustalittlemoredifficult,hewillseparatetheacesbyplacingtheminfourdifferentpartsofthedeck.Thefirstthreecardsaredistributedatintervalsinthebodyofthedeck,butthelastcardisinsertedthirdorfourthfromthetop.Thisleavesfouracesontopofthedeck.Theymaynowbeproducedastheperformerseesfit.

SECRETWRITING

Rosiniconsideredthisquicktrickasure-firefooler.

Effect:Thetopcardofthedeckisturnedfaceupwardsafterthespectatorhasfinishedshufflingthedeck.Asyouturnthiscardup,youremark,"Iamgoingtowritesomethingonthefaceofthiscard."Youdoso,thenturnthedeckoverinyourlefthandandpullthecardyouhavewrittenonofftheundersideofthedeck.Say,"See,Ihavewrittensomethingonthiscard,"andshowittothespectatorbyshakingthecardbeforehiseyessothathecanseethewritingbutcannotreadit.Thedeckisgivenasquarecutandthewritten-oncardinsertedsomewhereinthedeck.Thecardsarespreadfacedownonthetableandamongthemisonefaceupcard.Supposethatitisthekingofhearts.Thisfaceupwardcardisslidoutofthedeck.Thespectatorisaskedtoremovethecardonwhichyouwroteatthebeginningofthetrick.Thewritingonthecardsays,"Kingofhearts."

Method:Assoonastheshuffleddeckishandedtoyou,youapparentlyturnoverthetopcardbutactuallydoadoubleturnover.Turnthedeckupsidewaysandsqueezethetopcardabitattheindexcornersoyoucanglimpsetheindexofthecardbelowit.Writethenameofthiscardonthetopfaceupcard.Turnthedeckfaceupwardandslideoutthereversedcardfrombeneaththedeckwiththerightfingersandshowitasdescribed.Theglimpsedcardleftreversedunderthedeckisnowbroughttothecenterwithacut.

Thetrickisnowconcludedasdescribed.Theperformermighthandthedecktothespectatorwhoshuffledthedeckandaskhimtoreverseacardinthedeckmagically.Theperformercouldthenspreadthedeckandsay,"See,youdidit.Andnotonlythat,Iguessed

whatcardyouweregoingtoreversebeforeyoueverreversedit.LookthroughthedeckandfindthatcardIwroteon."

AGUESSTHATISRIGHT

Effect:Aspectatorisaskedtoshufflethecardsandremovetwelvecardsfromthepack.Whilethisisbeingdone,theperformerwritesthenameofacardonapieceofpaper,foldsthepaper,andgivesittosomeonetohold.Hethenasksthespectatorwhoshuffledthedecktomixhistwelvecardssothathedoesnotknowthelocationofanycardinthepacket.Heisthenaskedtopushoutfourcardsfacedownonthetableandlayasidetheremainingcards.Thefourselectedcardsareplacedinafacedownrowabouttwoinchesapart.Thespectatorisaskedtopickupthebalanceofthedeck,peekatthefaceofeachofthefourfacedowncards,anddealfaceupontoeachofthesecardsenoughcardstomakeatotaloften.Thus,ifthereisafivespotonthetable,fivecardsshouldbedealtonit.Ifthereisanace,ninecardsaretobeaddedtoit.Nothingisaddedtoatenspot.Facecardsareallcountedasten.

Whenthishasbeendone,theperformerplacesthebalanceofthedeckupontheeightcardsoriginallydiscardedandsays,"ThefourcardslyingfacedownonthetablewilltellmewhatkindofaguesserIam."Heasksthespectatortoturnoverthefourpackets.Thisplacestheselectedfourcardsfaceup.Thespectatorisaskedtototalthespotsontheoriginalfourselectedcards,thencountdowntothatnumberinthedeckandturnthatcardfaceuponthedeck.Thisbeingdone,theperformernowasksthespectatorholdingthepapertoreadtheguesswhichhewroteatthebeginning.Thenamereadisthenameofthecardthespectatorhasjustcountedtoandturnedover.

Secret:Itisonlynecessaryfortheperformertospotthebottomcardofthedeck.Thebeautifulpartofthistrickisthattheperformerhasnothingtodoexceptwritethenameofthiscardonapieceofpaper.However,itisimportanttoremembertoplacethedeckontopoftheeightdiscardedcards,astheymaskthefactthattheoriginalbottomcardisinevitablythecardcountedto.Theremustbe52cardsinthepack.

REPEATINGAGOODGUESS

Ifyouwishtorepeat"AGuessThatIsRight"andatthesametimethrowthespectatorsoff

thescentastothemethod,youmayemploythefollowingprocedure.

Palmoffacard,firstgettingaglimpseofit,andgotoyourpocketforapencil.Leavethecardinthepocketandwritedownthenameofthiscardasyourprediction.Haveaspectatorshufflethecards,particularlycautioninghimnottoletyouseeanyofthem.Askhimtoremoveanynumberofcards,choosefour,andlaythefourfacedowninarowasbefore.Thediscardedcardsgobackonthedeck.Askhimtopeekateachfacedowncardanddealfacedownontoeachcardthedifferencebetweenthenumberofspotsonthecardandtwelve.Facecards,asbefore,countasten.Whileheisdoingthis,palmthecardfromyourpocketinyourrighthand.

Askthespectatortolookatthebottomcardsofhisfourpacketsandtotalthem.Demonstratethisbypickingupthefirstpacketandindicatingthebottomcard,andleavethepalmedcardontopofthispacket.Tellthespectatortocollectthepackets,oneontopoftheother,fromlefttoright.Theaddedcardthusbecomesthetopcardoftheassembledpacket.Droptherestofthepackonthispacket.Askthespectatortocountdowninthedecktohistotal.Thecardhearrivesatistheoneyoupredicted.

THEHOMINGACES

(ByArthurBuckley)

Thisacetrickisoneofmybesteffects.ItwaspublishedintheApril,1949,issueofTheLinkingRingandisreprintedherewithpermission.However,Ihaveaddedafewimprovementsinthehandlingofthecardswhichareplacedontheaces.

Effect:Afterthoroughlyshufflingandcuttingthepack,thetopcardisshowntobetheAceofHearts,whichisplacedfacedownonthetable.TheshuffleandcuttingarerepeatedandthetopcardisturnedoverandshowntobetheAceofClubs.Thiscardisplacedfacedowntotherightofthefirstace.Againthepackisshuffledandcut,andthetopcardisturnedoverandshowntobetheAceofDiamonds.Thiscardisplacedfacedowntotherightofthetwopreviouslydealt.Onceagainthecardsareshuffledandcut,andthetopcardisshowntobetheAceofSpades—whichisplacedfacedownonthetablealongsidethelastacedealt.

Againthepackisshuffled,andtwelvecardsarethenunmistakablycountedoffthetopofthepackontothetable,andthepackislaidaside.Thetwelvecardsaregatheredupandheldinthehandswhilethreeofthecardsarepushedoffthepacketwiththeleftthumb,andthese

arelaidonthefirstaceontheleft.Threemorearelikewiseplacedonthesecond,third,andfourthaces.

Threepacketsarepickedupandplacedinthepackafterthebottomcardofeachpacketisshowntobeanace.Eachpacketoffourcardsiscarefullyinsertedintothepackandthepackmeticulouslysquared.Thefourcardsremainingareturnedoverandspreadoutsotheymaybeseenunmistakablytobeonlyfourcards,andeachcardisanace.Impossible!Itdoesseemso!

Arrangement:Commencewithfouracesandoneindifferentcardontopofthepackasfollows:AceofHearts,top;secondtop,anindifferentcard;thirdtop,AceofClubs;fourthtop,AceofDiamonds;fifthtop,AceofSpades.

Sleights:TheHinduShuffle,Buckley’sThrowCut,DoubleLift,thePalm,theBreak.

HinduShuffle:Holdthepackfacedowninthelefthand;thesecondfingersupportsthepackononesideneartheindexcorner;thethumbsupportsthepackontheoppositeside.Withtherighthanddrawawaythelowerhalfofthepackandlayitsquarelyonthetopace;butasyoudoso,secretlyinserttheleftfourthfingerbetweenthepackets.Therighthanddrawsawaywithhalfofthetophalfofthecards,thesecondfingerandthumbofthelefthandretainingtheothers.Repeatthemovesofplacingtherighthandpacketontopofthepackinthelefthandanddrawingawayhalfofthemuntilonlyafewcardsremainintherighthand.Thesecardsareplacedonthepack.ThatisessentiallytheHinduShufflerequiredhere,andatthecompletiontheleftlittlefingerretainsthebreak,restingabovetheoriginaltopstock.

Buckley’sthrowcut:FromthepositioninwhichthepackofcardsliesinthelefthandatthecompletionoftheHinduShufflewithabreak,liftthepackbetweenthesecondfingerandthumboftherighthandbytherighthandcorners.Thepacketabovethebreakisnotheldbytherightthumbatall.Thebottompacketisheldby,andthetoppacketonlyrestson,therightthumb.Thatisveryimportant.Ashortupwardmovementoftherighthandwillcausethefreetoppackettobetossedafewinchesofftheunderpacketintotheair,andthelefthandcatchesit,andthepacketremainingintherighthandisinstantlydroppedontopofit.Themoveisaveryprettycutandlooksquitefair.Noonecanatanytimeseethebreak.Themovesshouldbecarriedoutwithacareless,dexterousprecision.Thetopstockisnowbackontopofthepack.

TheDoubleLift:ForthiseffectIpreferthefollowingmethod.Severalcardsarepushedacrossthepackbytheleftthumbsothatthefourtopcardsofthepackheldindealingpositionbythelefthandarespreadaboutaquarterofaninch,oneoverlappingtheother,andinstantlypushedbacksquarewiththepack,butnotbeforethefourthfingeroftheleft

handhasbeeninsertedtoseparatethecardstobeliftedoffthepack.

Thesecardsarethenliftedoffthepackbetweenthesecondfingerandthumboftherighthandbytheoppositeendcorners,whichpermitsthecardsbeingkeptsquaredperfectlyandallowsthemtobeeasilyandsurelyrotatedwhendesirable.

ThePalm:Severalofthetopcardsarepushedpartwayoffthepackasexplainedforthelift,andthefourthfingerinsertedbetweenthepackandthetwotopcards,andthecardssquaredexceptingforthebreak.Theleftthumbnowmovestothesideofthepackandprotrudesalittlebeyondtheendofthepack.Therightthumbisatthemiddleoftheendofthepack,andthefirstjointsofthefirst,second,andthirdfingersareattheotherendofthepack.Thetwotopcardsareraisedalittlebythesideofthetipofthefourthfingeroftherighthandwhichpressesthetwotopcardsagainsttheballoftheleftthumb.Inthismannerthetwotopcardsarepivotedintotherightpalm.Therighthandwiththecardspalmedslidesoffthesideofthepack,andassoonasthepackisclear,thetopcardofthepackiskickedoverbytherightthumb.Thepackisseizedbyitstwoendsbetweenthefingersandthumboftherighthand,andplacedonthetable.Thustherighthandwiththecardspalmedhasonlyaveryshortdistancetotraveltolaythetwocardsontheacesonthetable,butthatispartoftheworking,sohereitis.

TheWorking:Withthefouracesandanindifferentcardontopofthepack,theindifferentcardsecondposition,thepackisHinduShuffledasexplainedandthethrowcutcompleted;thepack,apparentlythoroughlyandquicklymixedinthemostcarelessandhaphazardmanner,stillhasthefivetopcardsintheiroriginalorder.Thetopaceisturnedoverandplaced,fairly,facedownonthetable.TheHinduShuffleandthrowcutarerepeated,andthistimethetwotopcardsareturnedoverandbackasone,concealingtheindifferentcardandshowinganace.Theindifferentcardisthenplacedalongsidethefirstace,andthethreeacesonthetopofthepackareshuffledoffthepackintothelefthand,oneatatime,andplacedonthepackagain.

TheHinduShuffleandthrowcutarerepeated.ThetopcardisnowtheAceofSpades.Thisisturnedover,thentakenandplacedfacedownalongsidetheindifferentcard.TheHinduShuffleandthrowcutareexecutedagain,andthetopcardofthepackistheAceofDiamonds.ThisisshownandplacedalongsidetheAceofSpades.

Thefourcardsonthetableare,fromlefttoright,theAceofover;theAceofDiamondsisseenforthesecondtime,butnooneevernoticesthisifyoudothingssmoothly.Thepacketofsixisturnedfacedown,andfourcardsarepushedoffandplacedinthemiddleofthepack.

Nowcomesthemostdifficultmaneuver,whereinyoupalmoffthetwoaces,thetoptwocardsofthepack.FollowtheinstructionsforthePalmimplicitlyandyoushouldhavenotrouble.Asyouplacethepackonthetable,therighthandwiththecardsleavesthepackandmovestothepacketoftwoaces,placesthehandflatupontheaces,addingthetwofromthehand,casuallypicksthemup,andcountsthem,backsdown,andthenturnsthemover.

Ifyouoncelearntodothiseffectasitshouldbeperformed,youwillhaveasneartoamiraclewithanordinarypackofcardsasyouwillrunacrossinalong,longtime.

TAP

Afterdoingseveralcardtricks,Rosinidealtasquareof16cards,consistingoffourrowsoffourcardseach.Hehandedthebalanceofthedecktoaspectatorandaskedhimtoremovesecretlyanynumberofcardsuptotenandpocketthem.RosinithentookoutapencilandaskedthespectatortodealacardatatimefromthedeckwhileRosinitappedthecardsinthesquarewiththetipofhispencil.Whenthespectatordealtthelastcardinthedeckontothetable,hewastosay,"Stop."Rosinithenturnedoverthecardhispencilwasrestingon,andtheindexnumberonthatcardtoldthenumberofcardsinthespectator’spocket.

Method:The16cardsdealtontothetablearesetupbeforehandsothatwhentheyaredealtoutintoasquare,thedenominationsofthecardswillbe:

10A23

X94X

X58X

6XX7

Each"X"indicatesanindifferentcard.Thesecardsarearrangedinorderfordealingontopofthedeck.

Aftertheperformerdealsthetop16cardsontothetable,hehandstheremaining36cardsofthedecktothespectator,whoistoldtoshufflethem.Ifthetrickisbeingdonewherepeopleareseatedatatable,thespectatorisaskedtokeepthecardsbelowthetopofthetablesotheperformercannotseethem.Thespectatoristoldtoremoveanynumberof

cardsuptotenandputtheminhispocketorsitonthem.Orhemayjustcutoffafew,ashedoesnothavetoknowhowmanyhehas.

Afterthishasbeendone,theperformerasksthespectatortoplaceacardfacedownonthetablefromtheremainderofthedeckeverytimetheperformertapsacardinthesquare.Thetappingisdoneslowlysothespectatorcankeepintimewiththeperformer,andalsotoallowtheperformertokeeptrackofthecardslaidonthetablebycountingsilently.Hetapsthecardsinanyorderwhateveruntilthe26thcardisdealtfromthedeck.Whenthe27thcardisdealt,theperformertapsthe10spotinthesquare.Whenthe28thcardisdealt,hetapsthe9spot,onthe29ththe8spot,andsoonindescendingorderofthenumberofspots.Atanytimethatheisstoppedbytheendingofthespectator’sdeal,thenumberofspotsonthecardheistappingisthesameasthenumberofcardsthespectatorhastakenfromthedeck.

Note,however,howthisishandled:iftherewere33cardsleftinthedeckforthespectatortodealout,theperformerisstoppednotonthe33rd,butonthe34thtap.Inotherwords,heapparentlydoesnotpayattentiontothespectator’sdealing,butgoesonandtapsanothercardafterthelastcarddealt,sothespectatormustsay,"Stop,"or"Ihavedealtallmycards."Thus,if34cardsweredealt,theperformerisstoppedonthe35thtap,a2spot,indicatingthatthespectatorhadremovedtwocards.

Fewperformershaveusedthistrick,butitwassensationalforRosiniandwasoneofhisfavoritetabletricks.Theimportantpointisthatthedeckshouldbesetupearlyandseveraltricksthatwillnotdisarrangetheset-upshouldbeperformedfirst.Agoodpreliminarytrickistheimproved"JackJackJack"effectdescribedinmybook,50TricksYouCanDo.Doingafewtricksbeforedealingthe16setupcardsoffthedeckgivesamuchmoreconvincingimpressionthatthecardsarewellmixedthananynumberoffalseshuffles.Rosinifrequentlyrepeatedthetappingeffect—itseemedevenmoreamazingwhenitwasdoneasecondtime.