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PublishedbyMILLION DOLLAR PRODUCTIONS

NewYork, NewYork

( MilliONDOllARCARDSECRETS

.rby

FRANKGARCIA

Edited.by GeorgeSchindler

Illustrationsby Al Cooper

CoverDesignby Paul Flayer

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Copyright@1972by Frank GarciaID

Affectionate/y dedicated to my

13 year o/d son, Frank Nico/as,who makesit a// worthwhi/e.

All RightsReserved:No partof thisbook,textor

illustrationsmay be reproducedin any formwithoutpermissionin writingfromthepublisher.

FIRST EDITION

Fromthemanwhogaveyou:

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JGARCIA ON SPONGEBALLS

GARCIA ON BILLIARD BALLS

WILD CARD

MARKED CARDS AND LOADED DICE

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CONTENTS

CHOICE OPENERS

ChicagoOpener ..,... ,.. , ..,.........Double Lift .,.........Double Cut ... , .,.........

Eye-Mazing ...... ..., ,.Perplexing. , .......Cut the Kings "

STARTUNG EFFECTSWildCards ,..., .............................DanburyDelight , ,........ImpromptuCardRise ................................................Three in a Million ',"""""""""""""""""""""""""'"Switchcraft ','" .".......Million DollarTransposition ,........................Eight Card Brain-Wave "............................Razzle Dazzle """""""""'" , ......

21 Force ,........

Control Knockout ,. "...""""'" .............

THE AMBITIOUS CARD(FiveSelectMoves). ...................

FOUR ACE EFFECTSEasyAces , ...........AnytimeFourAces ...................................................Hide& SeekKings :,.............................TV Aces... ,. ......

SELECT DISCOVERIESQuasi-Mental ...........DualDiscovery... , ......ClearVoyant """",,"""""""""""""""" .....................UncannyRevelation...................................................

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PeekabooRevelationMiracleStab ...............Stab-Mental ,.........OnceIn aKnife-time...................................................CaseCard ,..........................................................

GAMBLING PLOYS & POKER DEALSHeadto HeadPoker ...................................................Shoot-OutPoker "Swift PokerDeal.........................................................Poker Dream ........................Just a "Second" .........................................................

WinnipegFalseCut ...................................................Cooper'sCut ... ...Affas-GaffasFalseCut ................................................Gambler'sCut ...

7173757779

828486889193959799

FRANK GARCIA'S NOTEBOOKCullingtheAces 102WinningAces 104AddingaCard """"""... 1,05Secret-Reversal lOS

Puzzling Color Change """"""""""""""""""""1"" 106CoughCover 106PeekKeyControl 107NotesontheZarrowShuffle lOHZarrowShuffle(Method2) 109

CARD PRODUCTIONSMillion Dollar Production 11'

EclipseProduction 11()

DOING CLOSE-UP MAGIC ..........................................

MAGICIAN'S RECIPE , ......

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FOREWORD

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The essentialingredient of successfulmagie issimplicity.Bearin mind thatanythingyou do mustbeneatlyexecutedandappearimportant!It is mycontentionthat all tricksshouldbepresentedin themostdirectandsimplemannerpossible.The averagepersonenjoysbeingentertainedby magie,but if theroutinesarecomplicated,the tricks will becomeproblemsinsteadof magie.Aroutine shouldneverbe clutteredwith technique.As amatterof fact,if atrickrequiresfOUTmovesit maybetooinvolvedand"sleighty"for it to bepracticalandeffective.If you cantakeawayoneof themovesit will belesstopheavy.Eliminateanothermoveby somecleversubtletytomake it only two movesand you enterthe realmofpracticability.Add somemisdirectionandmoresubtletyandeliminatethelastmove,andyouhaveamiracle!

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;jThisbookisprimarilyabookof subtletyandsleightof

hand.Themoveshavebeen.cutdownto abareminimum.In mostof theeffectsI strivedfor the"no-move"miracleeffect suggestedabove.Someof the tricksareoriginal.Someareadaptationsof old ideasor newapplicationsofold principles.I do not alwaysclaimoriginalityfor thebasicideasinvolved,butdofor thefinaldressin whiehthetricksarepresented.In buyingthisbookyou canbesureto find severalideas,tricksor routineswhichyouwill use.Even if you find only one,your investmentis justified.Thesetricksaresuttablefor stagepresentation,someforsmallaudiences,somefor thedrawingroom,andotherstobe done seatedat a tablewith a few friends.It is mysincerehopethattheeffects,ideasandroutinesdescribedherewill pleasethemanycardbuffsthroughouttheworldwho,likemyself,haveadeeplovefor thepaste-boards.

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I wouldlike to thankper~onallyGeorgeSchindier,towhomI owea heavydebtof gratitudefor hismanyfinesuggestions,ideasand the editingthat makysthisa clearand morecomprehensivework. I alsowantto thankAlCooper,withoutwhomthis bookwouldhavebeensadlyincomplete.His expressiveanddearillustrationswill makeYOUflearninga greatdealeasier.AI's techniealabilitywithadeckof cardsisrapidlybecomingrecognized.

Thebeliefthatarduouspractieeandexceptionalskillisnecessaryin the performanceof dose-up magie iserroneous.In fact, some of the deverestand mostbewilderingtricks are madepossiblethroughtheuseofsubtleprinciplesanduniquemethodsthatcaneasilybelearnedbyanyonewithafairamountof practice.Sucharethemethodsin thisbook.

FrankGarciaFebruary,1972

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INTRODUCTION

I am proud to say that Frank Gareiahasbeenmyfriendfor morethantwentyyears.Weoriginallymetand1aterworkedtogetherat MaxHo1den'smagieshopin NewYork around1950.It wastherethatI first sawthetalentof themanwho 1aterbeeamethe"Manwith theMillion

Dollar Hands."He is probablybestknownasa GamblingExpert. I preferto think of hitp asan entertainer.Hissparklingsenseof humorand eherubiesmile enhaneeeverythinghetouches.Frank'sgeniusforanalyzingmovesand ereatingsubtletieshas nevereeasedto amazeme.From stagemanipulatorto close-upperformer,hisversa-tility seemsend1ess.I amgratefulfar theeneouragementandadvieehegavemewhenI neededthegent1e"push"intherightdireetionasI wentintoshowbusiness.

In editingthis book I foundout whatmakeshirnsosueeessful.He is eommercialandentertainingat thesametime.Everymoveis an importantone.Everytrickhasapowerfuleffeeton theaudienee.I'm sureyou'llagreethatthisbookisava1uab1eadditionto yourlibrary.

GeorgeSehindler

In all my yearsin Magie,I h~venevermetanyonewhoeou1dpresentall phasesof magiewith the ability andingenuityof FrankGarcia.

In writingthisbookGardahasletusin onhiscloselyguardedpetseerets.I amsurethattheloversof eardmagiewill find thisaninva1uab1eeornueopiaof sleights,routinesandtricksfor hiscollection.Not on1ydoI reeommendthebook,butI findit aMUSTforallmagieians.

MikeTannenFebruary,1972

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.u ChicagoOpener.~

lEf.3 This is oneof myfavoriteopeners.I learnedthismanyyearsago in Chicago.It is a strongeffectandone thatalwaysleavestheaudiencebewitchedandbewildered.Theaction is fast and it will establishyou as a greatcardmanipulator...' fa

I

.. ~'!IAll you'll needis a "stranger"cardwitha contrasting

back(redcardin abluedeck,etc.).I alwayspreferto useacourtcardsuchas the King of Diam.onds.PlacetherealKing of Diamondson the bottomof thedeck.Now addthe "stranger"underneaththe realKing. (You nowhavethetwo Kingson thebottom.)Ask thespectatorto takeacard from the centerof the pack.He doesso andyoubeginto "hindushuffle"asyou talk.Theselectedcardisnow placedon top of the lefthandgroupof cards.Addtherighthand"stranger"pack.Merelydropit ontopandsquarethe deck.This insuresthatthe"stranger"goesontop of theselectedcard.Botharenowin thecenterof thedeck.

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CHOICE

OPENERS

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~-"Your cardis themostinterestingcardin thedeck."

As you patter,looselyspreadthecardssothatthe"odd"backedcardis visiblein thecenter.Cut thedeck.atthat

point so that the "odd" cardis on top of thedeck.Thisbringsthe duplicateKing to thebottomandtheselectedcardsecondfromthetop.

'Tm not goingto askyou to nameyour card,but ifthis were your card, would you agreethat this is a

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miracle.. .?Doublelift andturnthetwotopcardsfaceupon the deckasone."Is thisyourcard?"After heagrees,turnbothfacedownanddealoff the"stranger,"leavingitfacedownon thetable."Let'sseei[ wecanaccomplishadouble miracle!" Begin to hindu shuffleand ask thespectatorto say "stop"at any time.Whenhedoesthis,you turnup thebottomcardof therighthandstack.Thiswill be theduplicateKing of Diamonds."Westoppedatthiscard, theKingo[Diamonds.I[ mymiracleworkedtorthe(namethefirstcardselected),it shouldalsoworktortheKing." Drop thefaceup Kingon thetable.Useit toscoopup thetabledcard.Neatlysquarebothof them,rubthemtogetherandveryslowlyexposebothcards,showingthemto bethesame.

Re-readthis effect with a deckin handandyou'll findthat onceyou try it, it will becomeyour favoritetoo.

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Double

LiftTherearemanyvariationsof thissleight.I feelthatI

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shouldinc1udethismethodsinceit is usedinmanyof theeffectsin this book.The Double-Liftallowsyou to turntwo cardsfaceup on top of thedeckasthoughtheywereonlyasinglecard.Themostimportantpartof theactionisin keepingthetwocardsaligned.

Hold the packin the left hand,neatlysquared.Therighthandliftsthebackof thetoptwocardswiththeedgeof the thumb.The left pinky keepsa smallbreakunderboth cards.This is a set-upmotion.Pauseto talkbeforedoingtherestof themove.

Therightforefingergoesinto thebreakunderthetwocards,atthe right inner cornerof the pack.The rightthumbgripsthetwo cardsand,exertinga bit of pressure,theybendslightlyupward.Slidethetwocardstogethertotherightof thedeckin a gentlesweepingmotion.Asyoureachthe edgeof the deck,bringthema bit towardthebodyandallowbothto fall face-upontopof thedeck.Afractionof the two cardswill protrudefromthebackofthedeck.

To turn the cardsface-downagainmerelygrip theprotrudingedgeandsweepbothcardsto therightagainasbefore.Turnthemfacedown.

Themoveis reallyquitesimpleandshouldbedoneinan offhandor "matter-of-fact"wayso asnot to createsuspidon.

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DoubleCut

Dai VernonintroducedtheDoub1e-Cutto the magiefraternityin the1ateforties.Themoveissova1uab1ethatithas madethe use of the classie"pass"practicallyout-moded.Sinceit is usedin manyof my favoriteeffects,Ihavedecidedto describemyownhandling.

A cardhasbeense1ected.The cards are now spreadbetween both hands forrep1acement.Whenit hasbeeninsertedin the deck,the1eftpinkytakesa breakon top ofthe se1ectedcard.Thedeckissquaredandthebreakis held.(This has been exaggeratedhere.)

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The righthandcomesoverto thepackwiththethumbinthe backandfingersin frontof thedeck.At thispointthebreakis transferredandheldby the right thumb. Bothpacketsarenow in therighthand.

The 1efthandnowcutsoffhalf of the bottomsectionintherighthand.

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The 1eftthumbclips theinner1eftcornerof thepacketandaddsit to the topof thedeck.

The bottom sectionbeneaththe break is nowdroppedinto the 1eft handwhere it is thumb grippedagainandcutto thetop.

This brings the se1ectedcard to the top of thepack.The actioncuts two sectionsfrom the bottomto the top

,and is done naturally as'thoughyou werejust cuttingto losethecard.

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Eye-MazingThis particularroutineis an eye-popperanda good

introductiontoaseriesof cardtricks.

Preparation:Stackthe deckas follows,fromthetopcarddown.Any IndifferentCard;FourKings;theFour ofClubs, face up; the Ace of Spades.Placethe Four ofSpadeson thebottomof thedeck.InserttheotherthreeAcesin variouspartsof thedeckabouttencardsapart.

Performance:Explainthatyouaregoingto doatrickwith thefourAces.Startspreadingthecardsinyourhandsandslowlyrun throughthedeckfaceup lookingfor theAces.Whenyoucometo thefirstAce,pushit upsothatitjuts out of thedeckabouthalfway.Continuerunningthecardsuntil you cometo thesecondAce.Pushthisoneupin the samemanneranddothesamewiththethirdAce.Continueslowlyuntil you reachtheAceof Spades.

Pushup the entireblockof sevencardsasthoughitwereon~cardandmoveit up behindtheotherAces.Atthe sametime,"buckle"the lastcardof theblockandbringit downbehindtheAce.Holdthedecktightlyin theleft hand.TherighthandnowcomesupandtakesthefourAces(alongwith therestof theblockbehindtheSpadcAce).Pinchthemtogether,pull themoutof thedeckandturn thema!lfacedownon thefaceof thepack.(Thisisall done with one move.)The bottom card (FOUTofSpades)is now covered.Squarethe packanddealfourcards onto the table. (Theseare actuallyKings--thcbottomcardnowshowingis a Four of Clubs-whichhidosfourreversedAces.)

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Cut thedeck,completethecutandsetit onthetableaway from the four cards.Now movethe four cardsaroundon thetable.Askthespectatortoguesswhichcardis theAceof Spades.No matterwhatheguesses,youturnup thecardto exposea King.Turn uptheothersto showfour Kings.RibbonspreadthecardsonthetableandshowthefourAcesreversedin thecenterof thedeck.

This is a deceptiveand startlingchangesettingthemoodfor tricksto come.

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Perplexing .ra

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I wouldhighlyrecommendthisperplexingeffectasan"opener." It is particularlystrongandrequiresa simpleset-up.

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Setup the stackfromleft to rightasfollows(top tobottom):Ace of Spadesfaceup, followedby threeAces;oneindifferentcardfaceup;fourKingsbeginningwiththeKing of Spades,facedown.Thestackisnowplacedof thedeckwiththeKingstopmost.

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YouarenowstackedandreadyforacomedyofTo starttheroutine,removethecardsfromtheca'holdingthe deckin dealingposition.Approachthspectator,askinghimto say"stop"asyourifflethof thecardsin anupwarddirectionwithyourrighWhenhe has called"stop" turn the packetin thhandfaceup andlayit flushontopof thebottomof cardsin the left hand.Spreadingthefaceup c:your right,drop a few onto the table,facedownthatyou will usethefirst "face-down"cardyoucoAs you reachthis card, set it down in frontspectator(facedown).Pickupthediscardsandpiaciunderthecardsin yourleft hand.Youhavejust "f,the Ace of Spades.Don't showthisjust yet.

Squarethe deckandrepeattheriffle motion,thesecondspectatorto call"stop."Repeatthefirstof turningthe riffled pack face up on the decremovingthefaceupcardsand.droppingthemto thefacedown.Whenyou cometo thefacedownport:the deckyou announce,"We'll use thefirst thre,down cardswe cometo." Placethesecardson the

(still facedown)dir~ct1ybehindthe singlecardon thetable.Patter: "If aUfour cardsmatched,it wouldbeaterrifictrick, wouldn'tit?" Slowlyturn overoneof thethreefacedowncardsand'showit to beaKing.Placethisfaceup on thedeckyou areholding,callingthenameasyou do so.Repeattheactionwiththenexttwocards.Thethreecardsarenowfaceup onthedeckasin Illustration1.'

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PushtheKingstogether.As you squarethemup,pickup theblockbelow(comprisedof threefaceup Acesandthe indifferentcardwith theKingof Spadesfacedown).

Y ou will notethatyouha.vea naturalbreakenablingyou to dothisneatlyandquitecasually.Holdingtheblockof eightcards;you nowturnit overfacedownon top ofthe deck. Deal off the threetop cards,callingthem"Kings" - "/'veshownyou theKingof Hearts,Diamondsand Clubs,so logicallythis cardshouldbe theKing ofSpades"- Point to the tabledcard.Turn thisoverandrevealtheAceof Spades.Act a bit surprisedandplaceitfaceup on top of the deckin your lefthand.TripieHftandpickupthethreecards.

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The leftthumbpuBsoff thefaceupAceontothedeckandtherighthandis left holdingtwo cardswhich appearto beone(thesearefaceto face).Pushthefacedowncardin therighthandontothefaceupAceandin acontinuingactionpuB back the actualtop card.This will effectavisualchangefromAce to King of Spades.Burytheextracardin the deck.Doublelift andturnthetop cardsfacedown.Slidethe topmostcardoff thedeckand,usingit asapointer, explain,"Thiscardnow matchesthose." Dropthe pointercardand turn theothersfaceup to exposeAces.The surpriseusuallygetsa laugh.Turnup thelastcard and show the Ace of Spades.After the effecthasregistered,pickup thefour cardsandcasuallydropthemon top of the deck facedown.You arenow readyforphasetwo of this routine.The effectactuallyendshere,but you cankeepthe momentumby proceedingto thenexttrick.

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Cut

the

KingsThe deckis now setwith fourAceson topandfour

Kingsbeneaththem.Falseshufflethedeck,makingsurethatthetop stockis not disturbed.Handthedeckto thespectatorandinstructhim to begindealingthecardsintotwopilesof cardsonthetable.Whenhegetsto almosthalfof thedeck,suggestthathestopwheneverhewishes.Eachpile now has two Aces and two Kings on thebottom.Instructthespectatorto pickup oneof thepilesanddealthatoneinto twoevenpiles.Hedoesthisandyouaskhimto repeatwith thelastpileso thatyou endup with fourpackets.Pick up thepacketatyourleftanddoublelift toshow a King. Turn it down and deal it onto the table(actuallydealingout an Ace).Pick up thesecondpacketandaddit to thecardsin yourhand.Nowagaindoubleliftand showthesecondKing.Turn it facedownandtossitontothetable(actuallythetopmostcardwhichisanAce).Repeattheactionuntil thefourKingshavebeenshown.The spectatoris commendedfor findingtheKingsin sounusualamanner.Afterhisbow,ask.himto placehishandon the cards.Make a pass,and mysteriouslyhe haschangedtheKingsto Aces.Havehirntakeanotherbow.

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STARTUNG

EFFECTS

WildCards

I knowthisbookwouldbeincompletewithoutatleastoneroutineon the "Wild Cards."I hadno ideabackin1962thatthiswouldtakeoff asit didtOIbecomethe"bestclose-upcardtrick" for thatyear.I know that it is stillsellingquiteweHin one formor anotherthroughouttheworld.Hereis my own routine,onethat I favoron mytradeshows.

I first showeight(8) blankfacedcardsandI do theregularopeningof placingthemfaceup andfacedown.The lastcard(ninth)hasmy signatureon its face.I handthis out for examination.I thenpatterabouthowI havedevelopeda newelectro-staticprintingprocesswhichwillput Xerox out of business.The printingis done by"magie." I then proceedto print duplicatesof mysignaturecardOntheblankcards.Uponcompletionof thetriek,I handoutafewassouvenirs.

Handling:Four of theninecardsareblankononesidewith yoursignatureornameimprintedonthereverseside.The remainingfive cardsall havebackdesignswithyourimprinton thefacesideof thecard.

To Prepare:Take the five regularcardswith yourimprint and spreadthemfaceup in front of you. Nexttakethe four doubleblanksandinterspersethem(everyothercard)into thefiveon thetable.Makesurethattheimprintportion is on the underside.The topmostcardshould be blank, with an extra "backedcard" on thebottom.Whensquared,thepackis set.Thecardsareheldin "glide"position.

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Showthefirstblankcard,turnthedeckfacedownand"glide," pullingthe secondcardout andplacingit facedown on the table.Turn up the left packetand~showanotherblank.This timeslideit off thefaceof thedeckandplaceit on top of the facedown cardon thetable.Turn thedeckfacedownagainandrepeattheactionuntilfour setsareonthetable.Turneachfaceupcardsidewaysto form an "X" or "cross"design.This leavestheninthcardin yourhandfaceup.So farthespectatorshaveseenonly blanks.The onewith your imprintis your "wild"card.Pickupanyfacedowncard,placeit faceto facewiththe "wild" cardandexplainthatyou arenow magicallyprintinga duplicate.Showbothprintedcards.Takeeithercardandscoopup theblankcard.Turnbothof themoverandleavethemonthetab1e.Repeattheprintingprocedurewiththeremainingthreesets,doingexact1yasbefore.

Whenall four facedowncardshavebeenprinted,takethe"wild" cardin yourrighthandandholdingit faceup,scoopup thefirstsetof twocardson thetable.Squarethecardsand turn themaver,endfor endon theleft hand.You.arenow holdingtheblock of threecardsin dealingposition.Apply pressurewith theleftthumbandpushoffthe twotop cardsas"one"(thisactionwill happenalmostautomatically).Turn thesetwo cardsasone,faceupontothe cardin theleft hand(alsofaceup). Casuallytossthetop card (double-facer)onto the table(imprintis up).Showandturn thenext cardandtossit ontothetable.The lastcardis shownandisusedto scoopupthenextsetof twocards.

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.-Thl.!Iautionisrepeateduntil all theremainingpackets

IIIIVl1hc,unpl"inted.You haveapparentlyshownall the111l'~Hlind 1111thebacksof eachcard.Uponcompletionofthc'1'011tinu,handout oneor twoof the"backed"cardsasMOIlVl\nirs.Just rememberto replenishyour supply.ForC'OI\lIIwl'ciu1 use, you can haveyour sponsor'sproductpktlll'ccIon the cardsor his advertisingmessage.ThisI'olilinuhasgottenmerepeatbusiness.

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DanburyDelight

Therehavebeenmanyversionsof this.now"c1assic"effect. I prefer this methodbecauseof the easeinhandling.

Beginby placingany "three-spot"cardto the thirdpositionfrom the top of the deck.Havea cardselectedand,asit is beingshown,undercutthebottomhalfof thedeck.The selectedcardis replacedon top Qfthepacketcoritainingthe "three-spot."Now coverthiswith thetoppacket,butretaina break.Double-Cutthedeck,bringingtheselectedcardbackto thetop.(The"three-spot"isnowthreecardsawayfrom theselectedtopcard.)Explainthatyou will givethedecktwo shuffles.Beginby runningsixcardsfromthetop in overhandshufflefashion.Thesearethenplacedbackon top of thedeck.Now shuffleagain,this timerunningonlylive cardsinto theleft hand.Dropthe rest of the deckon top of these,but keepa breakabovethefivecards.Transferthedeckto therighthand,butmaintainthe"break."

The left handnow cutsa portionof thetop stocktotheleft.(Therightindexfingercanpeeloff asmallsectionand tossit to theleft hand.)The left thumbnowpushesthetopcardof itspackto theright.Therighthandusesitspacketto helpturn thecardfaceup.Thiscardwill betheselectedcard.00 notcallattentionto this,butcontinuetoturn it facedownon theleft packet,still usingtherightpacketto assist.As it is beingturnedfacedown,therightthumbreleasesthepressureanddropsthefivecardsunderthe break.(Thesecardsfall on top of theselectedcard.)

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Usingtheleft thumb,slidethetop cardof theleftpacketonto the table.Turn up thenext cardof the left handpacket,usingall the samemovesasbefore.Turn it facedownandtopit ontothetablenextto thefirstcard.

Now placetherighthandpacketunderthelefthandstock.Explainthatyou haveinventeda systemto disc1osetheselectedcardin aninterestingmanner.(Thespectatorbelieveshiscardis on thetable.)Givethedeckafalsecut.Turn up thetop cardandshowthe"three.""Thiscardisan indicator.It tellsus thatyour cardis threecards[romthetop." Dealthreecardsandsetasidethethirdcard.Thespectatorwill be smilingat thispoint,butyou nowturnthe two othercardsfaceup.Thesmilebecomessurprise.Now allowthespectatorto turnup thelastcard,andyoutakeyourbow.Thisisa cutesuckereffect.

NOTE: To useanindicatorotherthanathreespot,hereistheforinula.The indicatormustalwaysbethirdfromthetop.

Example1: A "Five-Spot"- Placeit third from thetop. Add 3 to thenumbero[ spots.(3+5=8)Shufflethisamount(8)andplacebackontop.Nowshuffleonecardless(7),dropthetopstockandkeepthebottombreak.

Example2: "Four-Spot" placedthird from top ofdeck.(3+4=7)Shuffle7 cardsandadd to the top.Nowshufflesixcardsandkeepunderbreakonbottom,etc.

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ImpromptuCardRise

Hereis my ownhandlingof the"Plunger"cardrise.Itisalwaysamysteriousinterludefor thelayman.

The selectedcardis broughtto thetopof thedeck.Doa "triple-lift"andshowthecard."Is thisyourcard?No?"Turn thethreecardsfacedownon thepack.Lift thetopcardby thelowerrighthandcorner,pul1it backanduseitto helpturnthenextcardfaceup.(Donotexposeit sinceit is the selectedcard.)"Whataboutthisnextcard?Notyours?"Now casual1ytossthetwo cardsfacedownontothetable.Plungethefingerintothecenterof thepackandtakeout anyrandomcard."Howaboutthisone?"Tossitfacedownontopof theothertwocardsonthetable.Youhave now sandwichedthe selectedcard betweentwoothers.

Makeapressurefan andinsertthe topcardinto thefan, al1owingit to protrudefrom the deck.Pick up themiddlecardand setit a cardapartasyou wouldfor theregular"plunger"method.Thethirdcardis placeda cardawayfromthatandthefanisclosed.

. 1 SELEOlONIN CENTER

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Three cards now protrude. Square them neatly.Borrowa handkerchiefor clothnapkinandwrapthefrontof thedeck(bottomportion).Thiswill hidetheactionstofollow.

Hold thedeckin thelefthandandpushtheprotrudingcardsinto thedeck.This actionforcestwocardsto comeout fromthebottom.Transferthedeckto therighthand.The thumbisononeside,thefingersontheother,andtherightpinkyunderneaththetwoextendedcards.Thedeckis heldsothatthefacesareseenby thespectator.Slowlystartliftingthepinkyand,asyoupushupward,askfor thenameof theselectedcard.It is seento riseslowlyfromthedeck.Whenit hasrisenaboutaninchanda half,gripthedeck tightlywith the right hand.The left indexfingerpushesinto the deckagainstthe risingcard.Showthespectatorthatthecardis actual1ycomingfromthecenterof thepack.As you do this,therighthandshouldgentlystripout thetwoprotrudingcardsfromthebottomof thedeck.Youwill heara slight"click" astheydisengagetheselectedcard.

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onecard twocards.\.I -'...

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Keepingthecardsheldin thelefthand,therightpinkyagainpushesupwardsandtheselectedcardwill coritinueto riseandcomeout of thedeckcompletely.It is nowbeingpushedbythetwo"stripped"cards.Thecardfinal1yfal1soutof thedeck- afeatwhichalsoamazesthefel1ows"in theknow."

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Three.Ina

MillionThetitlehereis justified.I'vebeendoingit for thirty

yearsand it neverfails to confoundboth laymenandmagicians.Saveit for that"special"occasion.

Use.two ordinarydecksof contrastingbacks.Thedecksarebroughtforthandthespectatoraskedto selectonepack.He is now told to pick up hiscardsandfollowthe sameactionsasthemagician.Shuffleyourpack.(Hedoesthesame.)Asyoudothis,glimpsethebottomcardofyour ownpack.Shuffleit to thetop.Now you exchangepackswith thespectator.(Yourkeyis nowhis top card.)Pul1a card from the centerof the pack, look at it,rememberit, andplaceit on topof thedeck.Cutthedeckin half and completethe cut. (You neednot actual1yrememberyourchosencard.)"Justlook throughthedeckto makesureyour cardis still there."Bothof you lookthroughyour cards.Themagicianlooksfar theduplicateof the"key" cardandgetsit to thetop of hispack.(Letus say it is the Two of Clubs. You then will find amatchingcard (Deuceof Spades)and placeit on thebottomof yourpack.)You bothascertainthatyourcardsarestill in thedeck.

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Now you exchangepacksagain.Ask thespectatortofan thecardsandpull out onlyhiscard.He is to placeiton the table.Whileheis doingthis,you fUn throughthecardshejust gaveyou andlook for your"key" (DeuceofClubs).Thecardto theleft of it will betheselectedcard.Pull this out and placeit on thetable,onlyafterleavingtheClubDeuce(key)on topandfindingtheSpadeDeuceandplacingthaton thebottom.You haveplentyof timeto dothisopenlyasyoupretendto lookfor yourcard.

Now you havetwo cardson thetable(hisandyours).Ask him to cut a smal1packetfrom the top. Try toestimatehow manycardshecutandcutthesameamount."Let's seei[ we both havethesameamounto[ cards."Havehirncountthemonto thetable,reversingtheorder.

You do the same.(lf you havethesameamount,it's anextraplus; if you estimateda cardmoreor less,eitherdiscardthe top cardor addone from thedeck.)Leaveboth smallpac~son the tablenext to theselectedcard.The balanceof the deckis setdownnext to the otherpiles.You havethreepiles- a full pack,a smallerpackand a singlecard.Beginby explainingthatit wouldbeone-in-a-millionif the bottom cards of both decksmatched.Turn bothlargerstacksfaceupto showthatthishas happened.Now do the samewith thesmallerpacksand again they match. "And, o[ course,it's nearlyimpossib(etor therandomcardsto match,isn'tit?" Turnup the selectedcardsfor a tripie mirac1e.Threein amillion.

33

SwitchcraftThe followingis a goodexampleof anexcellentcard

trick that can be done undertest conditions.While itappearsto utilize difficult sleight-of-hand,it is a verydirect effect and easy to do. This is a variationof atranspositiondone by Ted Annemanwho nevertookchances.Hiseffectshadto befoolproof.

You will needone duplicatecard. I usean Ace ofSpadesfor dramaticeffect.The deckis setwitha picturecardbetweenthetwo duplicateAceson topof thepack.Picturewill be secondfrom the top. You arereadytobegin.

False shufflethe deckretainingthe threetop cards.Doublelift thetop card,showingit to bethepicturecard.Turn it facedownagainanddealit on thetable.Placeadrinking glassover it. Call it. "This is the King 01Diamonds."You haveactuallyplacedan Ace. Y ou canfalseshuffleagain(keepingthetoptwocards).Doubleliftagain,this timeshowa faceup Ace. "Hereis theAce 01Spades."Turn it face downandplaceit on top of theglass."Ace on top, King on bottom... Watch!"Snapyour fingersand revealthe two cardswhich havenowchangedplaces.'Theduplicatecardcanbepalmedoff thetop asthespectatoris askedto turnupthecardundertheglass.

Thisoneisareputationbuilder.

34

ltf8

D:8

lIC=8

....

-=-

MillionDollar

TranspositionEllect: A wallet is borrowed.A deck of cardsis

introduced.The top card is shownandplacedinto thewallet.An envelopeis borrowed.The deckis cut whilefaceup. The cardat the cut is placedinto theenvelope.Magicianand spectatorboth initial the envelope.Theenvelopeis openedto revealthatthecardshavechangedplaces.The cardin thewallethasbeentransposedwiththeonein theenvelope.

Method: The secret agent is our old triend theDOUBLE-FACER. Use two cardsof contrastingnature,eitherblackandred,pictureor spotcard,etc.

Removethetwo cardsfromthedeckwhichmatchthegimmick.(Example:A SevenandanAce)TheSevenisontop of thedeckwith theacebeingthesecondcardofthedeck.TheDouble-Faceris placedwiththeSevensideFaceUp in theFaceup pack.(Abouthalfwayinto thepack.)

Deckis in its case.Borrowa wallet.Openit andleaveit in full viewonthetable.

Removethecardsfromthecase.Falsecutor shuffleif

you like,andexecuteadoublelift (pickingupthetwotopcardsasone).ShowtheAce.Turnthecardsoveragainontop of the packandslidethetop cardinto thecenteroftheopenwallet.(Thisis actuallytheSeven.)

35

Borrowanenvelope.Haveit examinedandplaceit onthe table,with theflapsideup.Turnthedeckfaceuponthetable.

From left to rightyou nowhavea walletwithcardinit, deckfaceup,envelopewithopenflap.

elose thewalletandsetit asideor havethespectatorput it in hispocket.Call thenameof thecardagam,"Aceis in theWallet."

Cut the deck, approximatelyhalf way down. Youshouldcutto theDoubleFacersincea "stranger"cardwillforma natural"air break"in anordinarydeck.Youhavecut to theSeven.Havethespectatorfeelthecardasyoupick it off the deck. "To makesurewe haveonly onecard." 00 notexpose'theunderside.

Slip thecardinto theopenenvelope.Leavemorethanhalf the cardprotrudingto makesureheremembersthiscard.

Pushthecardinto theenvelopeandsealit. Initialtheflap. Turn the envelopeoverandhavethespectatoralsoinitia~theback.Reiteratewhathashappened.

1

4

36

~

8=8

a:a

c:8

-" -

"WeplacedanAce in yourwallet.WehaveaSeveninthisenvelope."

Now you open the envelopewith the sideshowingthespectator'sinitials. Tear the end off and allow the cardto

slide onto the table. Since thls is the underside,the Acewill show.

Handtheenvelopeto thespectatorfor hirntokeepasa souvenir.Take theAce of Clubsandplaceit on topofthe faceup deckyou arenowholdingin yourlefthand.Requestthat the spectatorremovethe cardfrom thewallet.Muchto hisamazement,hewill findtheSeven!

Whilethespectatoris busyremovingthecardfromthewallet,youhaveperfectmisdirection.Youslipthebottomcardto the top of the deck,usinga c1assic.colorchangemove.No changeis realizedsinceboth cardsarealike.Turn thedeckfacedownandfromthebottompeeloff theAce.Throwit on thetablefor examination.Bottompalmthe gimmick,reachinto your pocketfor a cigaretteandloseit.

Practicetheroutine,for it iswellworththytime.

37

EightCardBrain-Wave

Here'safuntrickusingonlyeightcards(fourredback,four bluebacks).ThesearethecardsI use.TheRedbacksareTenof Diamonds,Joker,Kingof DiamondsandAceofSpades.The Bluebackedcardsarethe Sevenof Spades,Deuceof Spades,Four of Clubsand Queenof Clubs.Alternatethe cardsso that red and blue backs areinterspersed.'Also,teara smallpiecefromtheedgeof theQueen.You arereadyto begin.Placethe cardsin yourpocketor in a small coinenvelope.

Removethe cardsfrom your pocketor envelopewithout exposingthe backs."Thesecardsareusedin apsychologicalexperiment.They have been selectedspeciallyas you will see.Pleaselook themover andcarefullydedeon onecard.You maychangeyourmindasmanytimesasyou wish."

Spreadthecardsfaceuponthetablewithoutchangingthe orderandallowhirnto think of anyonecard.Now

pickthemupagainandholdthemin thelefthandfaceup.Removethe cardsfrom the faceoneat a time,placingthemto thebottomof thepack.

'~s wego throughthesecards,pleasestopmewhenwegettoyour chosencard."

38

..D:8E.;:8

a=tI

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~.---..:~,--

Whenthespectator calls"stop", placehiscardfaceupon tho table.Now thelefthandpushesthetop facecardinto tho right hand.This exposestwo cards.Turn bothhandsoverandyou haveshowntwo backs.Do not callattentionto theircolorasyet.Now dealthetop cardofthe left handpacketonto the table,at the sametimedroppingthecardin therighthand.

1

Repeatthemovewith thenexttwo cards,eachtimeturningthehandoversothatthespectatorseesthebacks.Youareactuallyshowingthesamebackall thetimeonthelefthandpacket.

Whenall the cardshavebeenshown,you pointoutthat you knewthe spectatorwouldselecthis particularcard becauseit was the only one in the deckwith a

differentcolorback.Thismiracleworksbeston theladies,who claima specialintuitionof theirown.If you'dliketoexplainit psychologically,you canpatteraboutwhytheydidn't selectthecardsyouareshowing.Eachcardwastooobvious.Ace of Spades,{'everyonepicks",Queenhasapiecemissing,Deucethelowestcard,Four theonlyClub,etc. You can make up a reasonablestory with thisarrangement.

IMPORTANT NOTE: SincetheQueenhasapiecemissing,it mustnotbeplacedat thebottomof thelefthandset.Merelycutthepackif it happenstobe{here.

39

...

HazzleDazzle

The plot is simpleandtheworkingeasy,makingthisastartlingeffect.Thegimmickis aningeniousonemadeupasfollows:

Cut a holein thefaceof anycourtcardthesizeof ahalf dollar.Usea halfdollarfor a guideandcuttheholeexactlywitha razorblade.Makesureit isasharpandneatcut sothatthehalfdollarwill passthroughtheholeeasily.You will alsoneeda "short"card.Shaveafractionofthe

top edgeof any cardandroundthe cornerswith a nailclipperor scissor.

I

Set-Upo[ thePack: Holdingthe packof cardsfacedown,thecardsread:Top Cardof theDeck-Any card;2ndCardof theDeck-The "Holed"card;3rdCard-The"Short"Card;thentherestof thepack.You arenowsetto performthemirac1e.

anyCim)------

~~~~~~ /Shortcord

1 eC:DOO

thebottomcard.Whatreallyhappensis thatyouactuallyplaceyour fingerthroughtheholeanddrawout thecardunderneath.Showthis(supposedlythebottomcard)andpushit anywhereinto thecenterof thedeck.

Theaboveactionwill automaticallybringtheselectedcarddirectlyabovetheonewith the hole in it (bottomcard).Cardsarestillfacedownin thelefthand;positionofthe hole is nearestthepalm.Withtherighthandpickupthecoinagain,callingattentionto thefactthatit hasbeenborrowedandmarked.Bringtheleft handandpackupatthesametime,righthandholdingthecoin,movingit overto meetthe packandplacethe coin into thehole.Themomentthatyou havedonethis,dropthepositionof thele(thand,sothatthepackis faceup beforeyouwiththecoin on the face card (Court Card) (actuallyoverthe"hole"). Now you mustcall attentionto the position,namethecardon thefaceuponwhichthecoinrestsandlet it beclearlyseen.

You now cut thepackso that the coin goesto thecenterof thedeckasit is cut.It isveryimportantthatthefingerstakethecorrectpositionfor thecut.

Reachoverwith therighthand.Thetip of theindexfingerpresseslightlyon theface"holed"card,just abovethecoin.The thumbis at therearof thepack.Theotherthreefingersareat thefar end.Now: You mustkeeptheface cardwhile thecut is made.Cut thepackabouthalf

42

8=11

-=-

&::8

way tlndlift the cardsin thelefthandupwardandplacethemontopof thosethatremainin therightfingers.Keeppressureon until the coin is coveredand keepthe packlevelsothatthecoinwill not slipoutof position.

Now squarethepackneatlyandasksomeoneto namethc selectedcard.Hold thepackin therighthandandgiveit a slightshake.Cut thepackat thebreakcausedby thecoin.This cut will beautomatie,asyouwill seewhenyoutry it with thecardsin yourhand.This actionwill causethecoin to go throughthe"holed"cardandcometoreston thefaceof theselect((dcard.Callattentionto it andtothemarkedcoin.Thisoneisarealpuzzier.

Hereis an alternatemethodfor discoveringthecard.Insteadof cuttingthedeckin yourhands,p!aceit on thetable.Thepa~kis faceupwiththecoinrestingin theholeon top. You mustbeseatedfor thismethod.Bothhandsapproachthedeckandcoverit momentarily.Theactionisrepeatedthreetimes.At theendgf thesecondapproach,the spectatbris askedto namehis card.At thattimetheright handpicks up the "Holed" card in the "Tenkai"palmposition,thusleavingtheselectedcardnow faceupon thedeck.Thepalmedcardis "lapped"andbothhandsshownempty.The left handalwaysgivestherighthandtheshadefor the"palrn."

43

-

-

I.

,"

-- -

21

Force

Here's an interestingidea for a force or a cardrevelation.The forcecardis thetwenty-firstcardfromthetop of thedeck.Falseshuffleandcutsothatyoumaintaintheupperhalf of thedeck.Allow thespectatorto cutoffabouta quarterof thetopsection.Heholdsthesecardsasyou startto dealthe cardsonto the tablefrom righttoleft. Eachcardoverlapsthenext oneso thathalfof thecardisshowing.Dealtwentycardsontothetable.Nowaskthe spectatorto countthe numberof cardsin hishand.(Example:He cut 12cardsfromthetop.)Beginningfromthe left sideof thespread,counttwelvecardsto theright.Tht;:cardyoustopatwill betheforcecard.

To use this as a revelation,just makesurethat theselectedcardis replacedat the21st positionin thedeck.Thesystemworksallby itself.

44

ControlKnockout

The followingis a newmethodfor controllinga cardafterit hasbeenreplaced.This is a novelroutineandhasbeentestedbyexpertswhogaveit unanimousapproval.

Havea cardselected.Spreadthedeckwithbothhandsandhavetheselectedcardreplacedbutmaintaina"break"with the left "pinky" abovethe selectedcard.Closethespread."Yourcardishopelesslylostinthepack." Asyousaythis,spreadthecardsagain'(youstillhavea "break").As you spreadthecardsfromleft to right,you addthreecardsto the top of the selectedcardand 0btaina new"break"abovethethreecards.Thiswill bringtheselectedcardto thefourthpositionbeneaththe"break."

..

Useeithera passor a "DoubleCut" to bringthefourcardsto the top. Turn thetopcardfaceup andshowit."This isn'tyour card,is it?" Whileit is faceupspreadthecardsslightlyandobtaina breakbeneaththefourthcard(this is the selectedcard).Squareall thecardsabovethebreak.Now'the right handholds the lower right handcornerof theblockandliftsit asonecard.Watchtheangleand makesurethecardf>areperfectlysquared.The leftthumbpushesoff the top cardandyou usetheblocktohelpturnit faceup. "Thisisn'tit either?"

You now get a breakunderthis fifth card,addtheblockto it andturnthewholepacketfacedowpontopofthedeck.Youarehandlingthefivecardsastwocards.

45

Y ou are now ready for some surprises.Ask thespectatorto namehis card.He doesso.Slipcut thetopcard.Theselectedcardis nowfaceupontopof thedeck.Thisis thefirstsurprise.

Two other cardslie faceup beneaththiscard.The

right handdoublelifts only the two top cards,grippingthemat thelowerrighthandcorner.Bringthetwocardsawayto yourrightat thesametimeturningthelefthandoversothatyou don'texposeor "flash"thefaceupcardstill on top of the deck.The selectedcard(reallytwocards)is placedfacedownon top of thereversedcardontop of the deck.You do this by bringingboth handstogetherand placingthe left packonto therighthandcard.Squarethe cards,removethe top card(supposedlythe selectedcard)and insertit into the centerof thedeck. After ,doingthis, the'right handapproachesthedeckandyou "triple-lift",turningall threecardsoverasone on top of the deck.Showthe top card."It 'snothere.. . ." Slideit off andburyit facedownin thecenter

of th~pack.Slipcut to showtheselectedcardfaceupontop.forthesecondsurprise.

Trusis anexcellentwayto beginan"AmbitiousCardRoutine."

46

I

8zII

THE

AMBITIOUS

CARO

FiveSelectMovesThe AmbitiousCard, probablyone of the strongest

effectsin cardmagie,is alwaysinc1udedin my c1ose-upperformances.The triek alwaysbringsforth laughsandamazement.Therearesomanyvariationsandroutinesonthetrick, I neednotgointothebasies.Herearefiveof myown.

The AmbitiousCardshouldalwaysbeperformedin anextemporaneousmanner.I neverdo the sameroutinetwiee.I try to makeit spontaneousby goinginto mymentalfile of movesandvaryingthem.I alwayshavethecardsignedby thespectatorsoasto negatetheideathatI'm usinganyduplicatecards.This is avaluablepointandmakesfor astrongerreaction.

1. Bringthe,AmbitiousCardsecondfromthetop.Dothedoublelift andshowthecard.Turnit (twocards)facedown, removethe actualtp cardand slip it into thecenterof thepack.Nowdoadoublelift andshowthetwocardsasone.Holdingthemfaceup,usethemto flip overthethirdcard(topcardof deck).Pushoff thistopcardsothatit goesundertheface-upcardsintherighthand.Turnall three down on top of the deck.Squarethemanddoublelift. TheAmbitiousCardisbackontop.

In effectyou haveplacedthecardin thecenterof thepack.You'veshownthatthetop two cardsaredifferent,andyet theAmbitiousCardcomesbackagain.From thisfinal positionyou arereadyto repeatthemoveasmanytimesasyoulike.But,nottaomany,please!

2. Givethedeckseveralpressurefanssothatthecardswill havea slightconvexbend.Doyourdoublelift, callingattentionto thecardontop(reallytwocards).Squarethefaceup cards,leavingthemon top of thedeck.Openthe

48

left handcompletelysothatthedeckliesin themiddleofyour palm.Jigglethehandgentlyandyou will notethatthe two cardsstaytogether,butjut towardsthebackofthedeckslightly.

1WOCARDSA~ONE

------..

~~1

Whenthishappens,therightindexfingergentlystrikesthetwo cards,causingthemto spintogetherontopof thedeckin ac1ockwisedirection.

CAAIJSPlNNINGINClOCKWISEDIRECTION

~ .--r-

~,(j~

spreadand get a pinky "break"abovethe addedcard.Double-Cutboth to thetop.Squarethepackanddoublelift, but do not showthetop card."We'll usethesecondcard[or thisexperiment." Usingthedoubletop card,flipthesecondcardfaceupwhereit remains.Addthetopcard(twocardsheldasone)sothatit coversthefaceupcard.Now merelypull back the actual top card and theAmbitiousCardis seenon top.Thisgivesyoua lightningcolor-changeeffect.Turn the two top cardsoverasone.TheAmbitiousCardis secondfromthetopat thispoint.Youcannowaddthenextmoveif youlike.

4. Removethe top cardof the deck.Placeit in thecenterof the deck,but at the backenddosestto yourbody.Allow thecardto protrudeaboutaninchandahalffromtheback.Placeyourrightthumbat thebackendofthecard.Yourrightmiddlefingerrestsat thetopsectionof thetopcardstilIonthedeck(AmbitiousCard).

1

This is thecrucialpartof,the sleightandshouldbedone as one move. Raise both handsin an upwarddirectionsothatyourhandsareparallelto thespectator'seyes.Now therightthumbpushestheextendedcardflushinto the deck,whileat thesametimetherightmiddlefingerpulls down the top cardso that it now extendsaboutaninchandahalfoff thetopof thedeck.

50

2

If donecorrectly,thespectatorassurnesthathe'sstilllookingat thefirstjuttipgcard.As thehandsarelowered,therightthumbpushesthetopcardbackontop.Nowyoucan turn up the top card,againshowingthe AmbitiousCard.

5.Thislastideaisfor "fun." I personallyenjoyplayingwith it. It's a naturalfor a TV shotor whenyou wanttofool theboysdownatthemagieshop.Usea double-backerandhavei'ton topof thedeck.Haveaselectedcardsignedandplaceit faceup ontopof thedeck.Doublelift asyouturn it facedown.Removethetop cardandopenlyplaceit secondfromthetop. Snapthefingersandturntherealtop card faceup, showingthe signature.Turn it downagainwithanotherdoublelift andyou'resetto doit again.Do it a few timesbefore you go onto somethingelse-And rememberto palmoff thedouble-backerwhenyou'rethrough.

51

EasyAces

FOUR

ACE

EFFECTS

Here's an easyvariationon the cuttingof Aces.Removethe four Acesfromthedeck,droppingthemonthetable.Whileyou do this,placea sevenspotcard(anysuit)on thebottomof thepack.ArrangetheAcesonthetablesothat theyreadfromleft to right,two RedAces,theAce of ClubsandtheAceof Spades.Thedeckisheldin thelefthandfaceup.AddthefaceupAcesto thepack.

Fan thecardsfromrightto left,showingthatthereareonly fourAces.Asyoudothis,mentallycountsevencardsbeginningwith the sevenspot.The Sevenis countedas

52

"one". Geta breakbeneaththeseventhcard.Theblockisnow cut awayto the bottomwith a Double-Cut."TheAcesarenowlost in thedeck." Turn thedeckfacedownandshowno Aceson thetop.Riffle thedeckwithyourthumbandannouncethatyouhavejustplacedtheAcesinvariouspartsof thedecksothatyoucanfindthemeasily.

'TU spelZthefirst one." Proceedto speIltheA-C-E-O-F-C-L-U-B-Sby dealingonecardfor eachletter.Turnupthecardthatfallson the letter"S". It will betheAceofClubs.Pick up thestackonthetableandplacethisontopof the-deck.Leavethe Ace on the table.You nowhavetwoAcesontop,followedbyasevenspot,andsevencardsawayis thelastAce.Double-Cutonly thetop cardto thebottomandshowthesecondAceon thebottom.Dropitontothetable.

Holding the deck face-up,begina "hindu shuffle"allowingthe spectatorto stopyou at anytime.Whenhecalls"stop" turntheleft handpacketfacedownandthenplacetherighthandpacketon top. Squarethestackandturnupthetopcard.RemovethisthirdAce.

At this pointgivethe decka fewfalseshufflesor anAffas-Gaffasfalsecut and finally turn up the top carddramatically. It is thesevenspot.Feignsurprise,but savethesituationby countingoff sevencards.ThelastcardwillbethelastAce.

53

--

AnytimeFourAces

Thisunusualeffecthasbeenwithmefor a longtime.It is one of my pet effectsand requiresno difficultsleights.But the instructionsmustbe followedcarefullyandthedeckhandledveryneatly.

Borrowa,deck,haveit shuffledand,takingthecardsback,youannouncethatyou will needfourAcesfor thistrick.Hold thedeckfaceup in thelefthand.As youlookfor theAces,removethecardsfromtheboHomoneat atime, reversingtheir order and counting,so that yourememberthe tenthcard.Continueto peelcardsoff thedeckuntil all four acesareremoved.The deckis placedface downon the table.Your noted"key" is the tenthcardfromthetop.

ShowtheAces,arrangingthemfaceuponthetableinthe followingorderfromleft to right:Aceof Diamonds,Ace of Clubs,Ace of Hearts;Ace of Spades.Ask thespectatortoremembertheorder.Cutoff thetopfifteenorsixteencardsandplacethembehindtheAceof Diamondsonthetable.Cutanothersmallpacket(abit less)placingitbehindthe secondAce. Do thesamewith theothertwoAces.

Pick up the first packet,turn the cardsfaceup andpressurefanthem.PlacetheAceof Diamondsto therightof yourkey(tenth)card.PushtheAce intothedeckandelosethefan.Pick up thesecond Ace(Clubs),turnit face

54

8=11

~-

cIJ.1"

1"

downanduseit to scoopupthesecondpile.Thispacketisaddedto thefaceuppackin thehand.TheAceof Clubsisnow topmost card. Get a break uilder the Ace anddouble-cutit to thebottomof thestack(a la "Cutting-the-Aces"). Repeat the procedurewith the next stack,double-cuttingthethirdandfourthAcesto thetopof thedeck. Now turn the deck facedown in the left hand.(ThreeAcesarenow on top with theAce of Diamondselevencardsbeneaththem.)We'renowsetfor themiraele.

The first Ace is spelledout, onecardsetdownonthetable for'eachletter:A-C-E-O-F-D-I-A-M-Q-N-D-S. Thenext cardis turnedfaceup. It is the Ace of Diamonds.Leavingit faceup,useit td scoopup theothercardsandpIacethe wholepacketon top of thedeck."RememberthattheAceofDiamondsisfaceup."

Now speIlto the next Ace (Ace of Clubs).SpeIlthesameway,placingonecarddownforeachletter.Thenextcardwill be theAce of Clubs.Turnit facedown.Useit asa scoopandscoopup thetabledcards,puttingthembackon the top of the deck,but maintaina breakunderthisstack. "For the Ace of Hearts,we'll cut the deck."Double-cutthetop stockto thebottom.Turnup thetopcardslowly,showingtheAceof Hearts.Takecarenot toexposethe faceup cardsecondfrom thetop.LeavetheAce faceup on topof thedeckfor amoment.Getabreakunderthe third card,tripie lift andturn the threecardsoverasone.You have&pparentlyturnedthetopcardfacedown and have reversedthe Ace of Spadessecretly."Which Ace is left?" The spectatornamesthe Ace ofSpades.

Y ou now geta breakunderthe top cardandin theactionof a double-cut,you producethe Ace of Spadesfaceupontopof thedeck.Turnit facedownonthedeck.Pausefor a few secondsasthoughthe trick wereover.

55

1-

..8

Holdingthe deckfacedownin theleft hand,pressdownwith thethumbandliterallythrowthepackintotherighthand, retainingthe top and bottom cardsin the leftfingers.In a continuousaction,throwthecardsfromtheright handonto the table,retainingthe top andbottomcardsagain.Slowlyturnbothhandsoverto exposeall fOUfAces.

.~ "',

This last actionis a topperto the effectandfellowcompereswill giveyou cred~tfor handlingthatwasneverreallydone.

56

--

HideandSeek

KingsThis one is goodvisualfrickeryat its best.In this

routine,nobody"picks" a card.The audiencesitsbackandwatchesmagic.

Set-Up:Stackthe deckasfollowsfromthetop carddown: Any indifferentcard followedby theQueensofSpades,Hearts,Diamonds,Clubs.The Queenof Clubs

shouldbe fifth from thetop. Now distributetheKin!?sanywherein thepack.

Performance:"We needfour Kingsfor this trick."Openly find the Kings by runningthroughthe faceupcards.Placethemfaceup on thetableasyou find them.The deckisheldfacedownin dealingposition.PickupthefOUfKingsoneat a time,placingeachcnefaceupontopof thedeckin thefollowingorder:Kingof Spades,Hearts,Diamonds,Clubs.

Spreadthe top cardsto show them face up, butcontinuethespreadbeyondtheKings.Mentallycountfivecardsandgeta "break"underthe fifth card,c1osingthespreadand squaringthe pack.Lift the entireblock (9cards)neatlysquared.Y OUfrightthumbholdstheblockintherearwiththeotherfOUffingersin front.

57

The right handnow approachesthe left handdeck.The left thumbslidesonly thefaceupKingof Clubsontothedeck.It isstillfaceupasyouplacetheentireblockontop of it from therighthand.Now you announce,"TheKing of Clubs has vanished!"Spreadthe top cardscarefully,showingthreeKings.Continueto spreadfourmore cards.Get a "break"underthe fourth facedowncard.The fifth cardmustnotmove,asit hidestheKingofClubs.Squarethe packagainandlift theblockof sevencardsasbefore.

The left thumbnowtakestheKingof Diamonds.Theright hand block is added.Announce,"The King ofDiamondsisgone."ThistimeyoushowthetwotopKings,but spreadonlythreemorecards,gettinga "break"underthethirdfacedowncard.Squarethepack,liftingthefivecardblock.SlidetheKingof Heartsto theleft.TheKingof Spadesandthe blockbeneathit areheldasonecardandaddedtotheKingof Hearts."TheKingof Heartsisnomore."SpreadtwocardsbelowtheKingandgeta "break"underthesecondfacedowncard.Lift theblockagainandpull off the King. It appearsas thoughyou arenowcoveringit with the "second"card.Thefacedowncardsare heldas "one." Snapyour fingers,pull backthe topcard,showit andburyit in thecenterof thepack."WhereistheKingof Spades?"

Cut theentirepackin halfandcompletethecut.Nowspreadthe cardsfacedownon the table.The Kingsareseenreversedin the center.Thereis a facedowncardbetweeneachof them.Pull outall thecardsfromthefaceup Kingof Clubsandinc1udethecardto therightof theKing of Spades.Showthefacedowncardsto beQueensmatchingeach of the Kings. "Whereare the Kings?They'vegonetofind theirladies!"

Editor's Note: If you wish to follow with a Four Aceroutine,youcansubstitutetheAcesfor theQueens.

58

8=11

TV

AcesWhenI wasa youngboy first startingin magic,my

dreamwasto beableto havetheabilityto cuttheFourAcesout of thedeck.In theensuingyears,I foundmanymethods.The one I describehereis oneof my favorites.It's simpleto do andwill fool theboys"in theknow."Ihavedonethismanytimeswhenbeinginterviewedby thepressor whenI appearon TV. Do it anywhere,anytime,andwithanyborroweddeck.

\\

1

Remove the four Acesfrom thedeckandtossthemfaceup onto the table.Hold-ingthedeckfaceupin dealingposition,riffle theouteredgeof the cards with the left

thumb. When you've riffledabout forty cards,peek thecardat thatposition,remem-berit, andat thatpointin thedeck,placeyourfirstAce.

It is now protrudinghalfwayasyou continueto riffleabout ten morecardswhereyou placeyoursecondAce(infront of the first one).ThethirdAceisplacedin thesamemanner,but only abouteightcardsaway,whilethelastcardis insertedaboutsix cardsin

frontof thepreviousAce.

59

"""-

The deck is now faceupwith thefourAcesprotruding.Movethepositionof yourleftthumb from the sideof thedeck to the top of the deck.Apply pressureon the facecard. The left index fingerpushestheAcesintothedeck.

You haveactuallypushedthe Aces into the deck,butyou havealsoforcedout theextraneouscardsin betweenthem.

This is the crucialpartoftheeffect.As youfinishpush-ing the Acesin, you striptheextracardsout of thebottomand continue by "hindu-shuffling"themonto thefaceup cards.This is anEd Marlomove and a very convincingone. The Aces are nowtogether in front of your"key."

3

4

Squarethe pack and turn it face down.Showthatthereareno Aceson thebottomby fanningafewbottomcards.Now show,thatthereareno Acesnearthetop.Dothisby fanningafewcardsandturningthemfaceup.Takea fewmore,oneat a time,until youseeyourkey.Keepabreakbetweenthekeyandthenextfourcards.Double-cutandyou now havetheAceson top of thedeck.Shufflethemto thebottomof thepackwithanoverhandshuffle.

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When the Ace is three-quartersof thewayout,pushupwardwith the thumb.Th~face up Ace will flop overonto thetopof thedeck.Thisis the methodfor producingeachAce.

ShowtheAceanddropitonto the table.Now takethedeck with facesaway fromyou andshuffleoff fiveorsixcards.Throwthedeckon topof thesecardsandproceedtocut to thenextAceasbefore.For the third Ace shufflethefiveor sixcardsbackfromthe -bottomto thetop.Theideaisto createtheillusionthatyoushuffle after each Ace. TheAceswill remainin thecenterof thepack.Producethe lastAce.

9

Before using the deckagain,springthe cardsfromhandto handto takeout anycrimpsstillin thedeck.

62

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SELECT

DISCOVERIES

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Quasi-Mental

Here'sa nice"bold" quickieto inc1udein anevening'sentertainment.It's easyto do andwill establishyou asa"superstar"withthepasteboards.

As you'reshufflingthecards,glimpsethebottomcardandshuffleit to thetopof thedeck.Placethedeckonthepalmof youroutstretchedlefthand,sothatit is c1osetothebaseof thethumb.

The spectatoris requestedto cutthedeckin halfandplacehis stockadjoiningthe others.You now havetwohalveson your palm.The half c1osestto the spectatorcontainsthe glimpsedcard. "By lookingat this card(nearestto you),I cantellyouIhe nameo[ thecardontheotherpile." (Look at thisandrememberit, but caUthenameof theglimpsedcard.)Turnup histopcardto showit. Dropit onto thetableandput thetwohalvestogetherso that the newglimpsedcardis on top. Y ou cannowrepeatthetrick.Do it oncemore.

The last time you do it, shufflethe "key" to thebottomot your pile andagainhavethespectatorcuthishalf.This timeyu caUthenamesof thebottomcardsofeachpack.Call your "key" cardfirst, but puUout thebottomcardof the spectator'spile.Do not showit, butlift it up in a fancygestureandglimpseit asyourdropitonto the table.Call thenameof thiscardandslideyourown bottomcardto the table.Turn both cardsfaceuptogether.

You will bepleasantly surprisedat thereactionyou'Ugetto thissimpleeffect.

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Dual

DiscoveryThis routineis idealfor thelivingroomor smallgroup.

It requires"neat"handling.

Two cardsareselectedandreturnedto thepack.Theyarebothcontrolledto thetopof thedeck.Givethedeckafewfalseshufflesandcuts.'Tm goingto usetwo cards."As yousaythis,removethreecardsfromthetop.Placethedeckon thetableandhandlethethreecardsastWO.Sincethefirstspectatorreplacedhiscardfirst,it willbesecondfrom the top of the three card stack. The secondspectator'scardis on top. An indifferentcardis on thebottom.

Approachthe first spectatorand spreadthe cards,showingthemastwoby movingthetopcardto theright.Keepthebottomcardstogether,squaredasone."Doyouseeyour cardhere?"He will answer"No." Now movetothe secondspectator.Squarethe cardsasyou approachhirn.Bucklethebottomcardto theleft asyou showtwocards.(The topmostcardsheldsquaredasone.J "Isyourcardhere?"Thesecondspectatoralsowill say"No."

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3 2

65

3~r~

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Squarethecardsandturnthemoverin YOUflefthandsotheyarefaceup.Usingthe"color-change"move,palmthebottom-mosteardin therighthand.

Passthe handoverthe faceup eardsanddrop thepalmedeardon top of the indifferenteard.By bucklingthe bottomeard,you now showthemastwo.This timebothspectatorswillaeknowledgetheircards.

You haveereatedthe illusion that two indifferentcardshavechangedto the seleetedcards.Aetuallyeachspectatorhasseentheother'seard.

66

Clear

VoyantOverthe yearsI've had fun fooling"the boys"with

this one. In the layman'slivingroom it is a veritable"miracle"!Theprincipleis old, but thepresentationhere,with theproperaetingability.on thepartof themagician,will makeit amystery.

YOUfdeckis setupin aSi Stebbinsarrangement.*Thesuitsfollow Clubs-Hearts-Spades-Diamonds.Eachcardiq sequencehasa valueof threemoretha'nthepreviouscard.An Ace followsa Jack, Deucesfollow the Queen,Trey followstheKing,etc.An easywayto rememberthesuitsis with a mneumonic.Remembertheword"C-H-a-S-e-D."Clubs-Hearts-Spades-Diamonds.

Presentation:Removethe deck from its c.aseandcasuallycutit a fewtimesasyoupatter.Y ouwill handthedeck to the spectatorandaskhim to stepinto thenextroomwherehecannotbeseen.He canlckhimselfin formoredramaticeffect.Heis to followyourinstructions.

Oncein theroom,withinearshot,heis toldto shufflethe deckin an overhand.fashion.Now he mustgivethedecka simplecut.He will squarethepackandremovethetop cardof thedeckwithoutlookingat i(. He placesthiscardin his pocket,and bringsthe deckout of theroomwithhim.

Oncein YOUfpresence,he is askedto turn thedeckfaceup and spreadit until he finds the first Queen.Hehandsyouthiscard.And nowfor thebuild-up:

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11

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Once you seethe bottom card of the deck, you add

three,and you now know the card in his pocket.!It is thenext card in the Si Stebbins set-up.The shuffle and cutwill generallynot affect the sequence.Pick up the Queenthat you havebeengiven.Hold it to your earandpretendthat you are getting messagesor whisperedinformation.Dramatically announce the name of the selectedcard.Have the spectatorremoveit from his pocket andshowitaround.

The odds of destroyingthe set~upon a singleshuffleare negligible.Y ou can evenrepeattheeffect two or threetimes. I have done it as many as eight timeswithout thelossof theset-up.This oneis a reputationbuilder.

Fr thosenot familiarwiththeSi Stebbins,hereis theset-up:

68

UncannyRevelation

I find thistrickmostappealingto thewomenin theaudience.It is a bit offbeatandI alwaysuseit whentheconversationgetsaroundto "mentalism"or "intuition."

The preparationissimple.In shuffling,getaglimpseofthebottomcardandrememberit (keycard).

Ribbon spreadthe deck face down on the table.Requestthatyour spectatorremoveonecardbut not tolook at it. Havehersignhern~mealongthewhiteborderso asto markthisonecard.Whilesheis doingthis,pickupthedeck,squareit andcutthetophalfontothetable.Askthat the initialedcardbereplacedon top of thispacke~.Completethecutsothatyour "key" now fallson top oftheselectedcard.

After a few falseshufflesand cuts,ribbonspreadthecardsface up on the table.Locatethekey.The selectedcardwill bethecardto therightof thekey.

So far it soundslike aroutinetrick.Here'swhereabitof actingabilitycomesin!Borrowapenand,startingfromyour left to yourright,skimthepenabovethecards.Thisis doneslowly.Asyoubeginto approachtheselectedcard,youask,"Pleasetellmewhentostop." If thepenisheldaboutsix inchesabovethedeck,youcantimethissothatyou will comedownright on hercard.Timingis criticalhere.After a few tries,you'll find it secondnatureandthat you'll be ableto comedownon the setectedcardnaturally.Pull the cardfromthedeckandslowlyturnitoverto verifythesignature.

69

*SI STEBBINSSET.UP

K-Clubs K-H K-S K-D3-Hearts 3-S 3-D 3-C

6-Spades 6-D 6-C 6-H9-Diamonds 9-C 9-H 9-Sn"'-c n-H n-s n-D2-H 2-S 2-D 2-C5-S 5-D 5-C 5-H8-D 8-C 8-H 8-SJ-C J-H J-S J-DA-H A-S A-D A-C4-S 4-D 4-C 4-H7-D 7-C 7-H 7-S10-C. 10-H 10-S 10-D

KingofHeartsfollowsTenofClubs,etc.

If you miss,donot panic.You alwayshavehundredsof "outs" if you'requick-witted.Youcanalwayscounttothe card.For example,if you'refivecardsawayyou canalwaysspeil"b-I-a-c-k",spe-ll"S-p-a-d-e",or countin onedirectionor theother.Onceyou'vemasteredthetiming,you'll find you won't need'.the "outs." This is anexceptionallystrongeffect.

70

..8b8Peekaboo

RevelationThis particulareffectwasoncepresentedto measa

card problem.Here's the problem: A card is freely"peeked."The deckis cut a few timesand the selectedcardis revealedfacedownin the centerof fOUffaceupAces.Hereis myhandlingon this.I havekeptthemovesto aminimum.

To setup, reversethe four Aces-blackAces on topand bottom,red Acesin the center.Thesefaceup cardsareplacedon top of the deckcoveredby a single"facedown"cardto hidethem.

Hold thedeckin "peek"position.Riffle thetopmostright corner with your right index fingerand ask thespectatorto stopat anytime.Whenhecalls"stop"heisaskedto rememberthecardhejust saw.As youbringthedeckdownward,lethis carddropandmaintaina "pinky"breakon top of it. LoweringYOUflefthand,youholdthedeck in dealingposition(still holdingthe break).Get asecondbreakwith theright thumb,underthethirdcardfromthetop.ThiscardisaredAce.

Double-cuthiscardto thetopof thedeck,keepingtheright handbreakwhiohis now in thecenterof thedeck.The right handnow cuts the deckas follows: the leftthumbpullsthetop cardto theleft in "slip-cut"fashion.Therighthandpullsawaythecardsabovethebreak.Thetop card will coverthe faceup card in the left handsection.This isto bedonein acontinuousmotionsotherewill beno "flash"of thefaceup card.Thehandlingmustbeveryneat.

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The righthandpacketis nowdroppedon top of the1efthand packet.The "peek" cardwill b6 sandwichedbetweentheaces.The spectatornameshiscardandyouribbonspreadthedeckfacedownonthetab1efor thefinaldisclosure.

This will become your favoritereve1ationandit's anaturalfor leadingintoaFourAceroutine.

11

72

MiracleStab

Here'sonethatI'vekeptunderwrapsfor someyears.Manyof thekeenestmindsin magiehavebe~nfoo1edbythis.The germof theideacamefroma meetingwith thelateBert Allertonsomeeighteenyearsago.Bertdid thiseffect by committingthe entiredeck to memory.I'veeliminatedthat.The secondpartof thetrickdependsonyourabilityto estimatecardsaccurate1y.A bit of practicewill giveyouthefee1of thecards.

The 1aymanis askedto nameanycardin thedeck.Hemay changehis mind to insurea free selection.Themagiciannowremovesthedeckfromthecardcase,insertsa knneinto thepackanddisclosesthecardnamed.Here'show.

Preparation:Use a brandnew deck and shuffleitsevera1timesto thorough1ymixit sothatthereisnoorderto the cards.Next, you takea smallindexcard,cut to2-1/8" x 2-1/2".Type or print theorderof thecardsasperthesamp1ebe10w.

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73 ~Ii~

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