The Encyclopedia of Card Tricks-Cover - Umclidet

ecause you can palm strip the card with the left-hand movement
while facing the audience and while the right hand remains
stationary until the palmed card is added to the top of the pack by
the left-hand movement.
Chapter Contents
Reversible Cards
WITH the stripper pack in order, take the pack face downwards
in the left hand with the wide ends pointing outwards. Deal the
first card face down, the next face up turning it over lengthwise
and laying it down so that it overlaps the first card. Continue in
the same way making a line of face-down, face-up cards, which
overlap one another, so that everyone can see the condition of the
cards. Gather them up as they lie. Show the faces by fanning the
cards. Square the pack but hold the cards loosely, do not squeeze
them. Put right hand at the outer end above the pack, thumb at
one side, little finger on the other, three fingers over the end of
the pack. Left hand holds the rear end of the pack between the
thumb and first and second fingers. Gently pull back the left hand
to start the separation of the two packets, and strip the left-hand
packet out, covering the action with the right hand, and then turn
the faced cards over and put the packets together again. Ruffle
and show all the faces the one way.
Chapter Contents
The Shuffled Speller
A CARD having been freely selected, returned and the pack
shuffled, take the pack back and hold it in the left hand, narrow
ends outwards, in about the position for dealing, but about an inch
farther forward. Note the position of the reversed card by its
projecting sides. Bring the right hand to the pack with thumb
above the cards and fingers below, so that the first and little
fingers are against the sides of the pack near the ends and can
feel the reversed card. Have the card named. Deal off a card for
each letter by drawing it off the pack with the thumb and turning it
face upwards. When you reach the last letter do not exert any
pressure with the thumb but grip the sides of the reversed card
between the sides of the first and little fingers, draw it clear, drop
the thumb on it and deal it face up just as the other cards were
dealt. The position of the right hand gives excellent cover for the
sleight which is not difficult but requires a little practice.
Chapter Contents
Like Thoughts
TWO packs are required. One the regular stripper pack, the other
a 'reader' pack, that is, one by which you can read the cards by
the backs. In the usual way have a card selected freely from the
stripper pack and control it. After the pack has been shuffled, take
it back and hold it in the left hand, faces towards you, thumb at
the upper left corner and forefinger curled against the back. Feel
the projecting edge of the reversed card and as you raise the pack
to your forehead make a break with the left thumb and quickly
note the index of the reversed card. Lay the pack aside.
Hand the reader pack to be thoroughly shuffled then deal it in
rows face downwards. Pass your hand slowly over the cards,
hesitate, let it be drawn to one card, which is, of course, the
duplicate of the card you sighted. Hold it face down, have the
chosen card named, then turn it over.
Chapter Contents
Three Card Reverse
THREE cards are selected and treated one by one in the usual
fashion, so that when you receive the pack after the final shuffle
the three cards are in various parts of the pack. Strip them to the
bottom in executing an end overhand shuffle. Hold the pack face
down on the left hand as for dealing. Bring the right hand over the
pack, with thumb at the rear end. Bend the ends up slightly, let
the three bottom cards slip away and insert the tip of the left little
finger between them and the rest of the pack. Now push all the
cards above these three about an inch forward in the left hand.
Take off several of the top cards and spread them to show that
none of the chosen cards is amongst them. Replace these, and
taking hold of the protruding packet with thumb on the back and
fingers below, quickly turn them lengthwise, bringing them face up
on top of the three cards, separated at the bottom. Spread a few
and show that none of the chosen cards is amongst them either.
Cut the pack while it is still face up bringing the three chosen
cards, now reversed, to the middle. Execute several riffle shuffles
covering the cards well with your hands to avoid any exposure of
the reversed cards. Order all three to turn over and fan the pack
outwards showing the three face-up cards.
Chapter Contents
Finding Three Cards
HAVE three cards selected and deal with them singly in the
approved method so that they are reversed in different parts of
the pack. Strip them to the top in shuffling end fashion. Sight the
two top cards and put the pack behind your back. Have a card
named. If it is not one of the two you know, bring out the third
card. A second card is called for. Ask at what number you shall
produce it. Bring forward cards from the bottom to a number one
less than that chosen then produce the top card, or the second, as
the case may be. Slip the remaining card second from the bottom
and bring the pack forward. Ask the drawer of that card at what
number he would like it to appear from the bottom. Show the
bottom card, turn the pack face down and deal it face up. Pull the
next card back a little with the left finger and deal the one above
it. Continue in the same way till the number is reached, draw out
the chosen card and put it face down on the table. Have the card
named and turn it over.
Chapter Contents
Card Divination
AS USUAL a card is selected, returned and pack shuffled. Strip it
to the top and square the pack with your right hand, thumb at
bottom, fingers at the top. Lift the pack to your forehead, at the
same time turning up the lower index corner with your right
thumb and sighting it. Now announce the name of the card in the
mind-reading fashion. Color first, then suit, finally the value.
Chapter Contents
Lifting Any Number Of Cards
Called For
No. 1
BEFOREHAND reverse-end every tenth card. With very little
practice you can divide the pack at the round numbers and run off
backwards or forwards to make up the number called for. In
counting the cards do not reverse them, but replace them on the
pack in the same order.
Chapter Contents
Lifting Any Number Of Cards
Called For
No. 2
IN THIS method the cards are reverse-ended in alternate packets
of four. The cards may now be counted rapidly with the left thumb
in packets of four or eight; the odd cards being arrived at by
adding a card or two, or discarding them as may be required to
make the exact number. You can also pretend to judge the
number of cards, apparently cut at random, by their weight. The
counting by the left thumb at the rear of the pack is hidden by the
right hand which is lifting the cards for the cut. After the
demonstration make a strip cut pulling the reversed packets apart,
turn one packet and riffle shuffle thus putting it in order for the
regular stripper effects.
Chapter Contents
A Divination Effect
AN EFFECTIVE use may be made of the stripper pack in
conjunction with the Si Stebbins system or any other full pack
prearrangement.
For instance, the performer invites someone to take a batch of
cards, put their names down on a piece of paper, then cut the
pack and place it in his pocket after returning the chosen packet to
the middle. The performer, by simply gazing into the person's
eyes, reads the names of the cards and actually removes them
from the pocket as he names them.
The effect is mysterious but the means of accomplishment are
very simple. You have merely to reverse the top card and the
bottom of the pack, so that when the cards are returned to the
middle by cutting the pack one reversed card is brought above the
packet and one below. You already know the first card of the batch
by having sighted the card above it when the packet was
removed. When the pack has been put in the pocket you find the
card to begin at by feeling the first reversed card. Continue in the
same way until you come to the second reversed card.
Chapter Contents
Sympathetic Numbers
Jordan
METHOD. A pack is shuffled and cut by the performer who then
takes off a small packet and seals it in an envelope which is placed
on an easel. A sealed envelope containing a prediction is also put
on the easel. The remainder of the pack is cut into four equal
portions and the top cards of each are placed on the easel without
their faces being seen. A choice is then given of the four remaining
top cards or the four bottom cards. Whichever may be chosen the
cards are taken, their values are added together giving a total of
ten. In the envelope is found a slip bearing the written number
TEN; the packet of cards in the envelope is counted ten again; and
finally the cards on the easel are turned, they are all tens.
WORKING. Arrange a stripper pack as follows- Any nine cards,
any one reversed, a 10, a 4, any seven cards, a 4 reversed, a 10,
an A, any eight cards, an A reversed, a 10, a 3, any seven cards, a
3 reversed, a 10, a 2, any eight cards and a 2 reversed. This last
must be a long card.
To perform the trick, cut the pack several times and finally at the
long card, bringing it back to its original order. Cut at the first
reversed card which gives you ten cards, put these in the envelope
and close it. Divide the pack into four packets by cutting at the
reversed cards. The four top cards all tens, are removed and put
on the easel faces inwards. Either the four top cards or the four
bottom cards of the packets will now add ten. Whichever is chosen
remove the cards add the spots and conclude the trick as given
above.
Chapter Contents
The Advantages of the
Stripper Pack
IN HIS book Mr. Gravatt writes as follows:
'It is sometimes desirable to get rid of certain selected cards
entirely so that at the conclusion of the effect the reproduced
cards may be shown to have actually left the pack. This can only
be achieved with an ordinary pack by dint of considerable skill and
maneuvering and keeping track of the cards by means of the pass,
-slip, false shuffling, etc., all of which call for no common degree
of skill in card manipulation. With the aid of a stripper pack the
thing becomes a simple job, it being perfectly easy to extract say
half a dozen cards with one swift movement and either dispose of
them entirely, or else bring them all together at the top or bottom
of the pack for future manipulation. Since this can be
accomplished even after a genuine shuffle, it serves the purpose
better than the elaborate methods. Especially until the performer's
skill will permit him to be clever for the somewhat dubious
satisfaction of being clever.
'When it is a case of forcing a card, or several cards, it is a matter
of anxiety to many to be able to handle the pack naturally and yet
not lose sight of their force cards whilst casually shuffling the
pack. More than one ambitious but nervous amateur have
accidentally shuffled in the very cards they intended to force, and
must restore matters as best they can. The stripper pack always
allows you to do a perfectly genuine overhand shuffle, or, for that
matter any other kind, yet you have your forcing cards ready at
any time.
'To the performer to whom neat handling of cards is not second
nature, it is not so easy to raise two or more cards together and
handle as one card, a thing which is often necessary in certain
kinds of tricks. There are innumerable performers who can silently
and quickly count with accuracy any desired number of cards by
merely running the thumb over the end of the pack. There are, on
the other hand, any number to whom such a feat would present
insuperable difficulties and who, faced with such a proposition
before an actual audience, would end up by balling up the entire
trick from sheer nervousness. If the required cards are counted off
and reversed in one clump to start with, they may be found and
brought to the top at any time and the projecting edge allows the
performer to lift the desired number whether it be 2, or 20,
without a glance at the cards.
'One reversed card in the pack will form a key at which, after a
series of cuts, the pack may be given a final cut to restore it to the
original condition before it was cut at all. A reversed card serves
also to mark off any desired number of cards to be palmed off the
pack and added to others, such as the cards to the pocket, etc.
The performer is able to secure the exact number quite
automatically.'
It has been my experience gained through a long period of
intimate connection with magic and magicians, professional,
amateur and would-be, that without a certain degree of mastery of
the fundamental sleights no one can present even the simplest of
the so-called self-working feats with any degree of satisfaction to
himself or his audience. Tricks do not work themselves and there
is practically not a trick in the whole range of magic that does not
depend upon the performer to be really effective. This is especially
the case with card tricks. There are, of course, numerous tricks
which are really only puzzles, such as those depending on
numerical calculations. The interminable counting and dealing in
such tricks make them utterly useless for these days. Any
performer attempting the presentation of such feats would find his
audience bored to tears before he was through with the first one
and if he attempted to continue with others would find himself
playing to empty benches.
On the other hand with a fair degree of skill the most banal effect
can be transformed into a striking feat. With regard to the use of
strippers it is easy to say that 'with one swift movement' any
number of cards can be extracted from the pack and disposed of,
but that does not help the would-be magician towards his one end,
the deception of his audience, since that 'swift movement' and the
disposal of the cards would be perfectly palpable to onlookers. My
conclusion is this, to anyone with the few indispensable sleights at
command the stripper pack is a very valuable accessory but to
attempt to depend upon it solely will lead to disaster.
To acquire the necessary degree of skill does not require any great
amount of application. In the older textbooks great stress was laid
upon the Pass. One hour a day for a period of three months was
said to be necessary to get a working acquaintance with it. Modern
ingenuity has devised other methods of attaining the result in far
easier ways and the same thing applies to the other necessary
sleights. I will undertake to teach any person who can handle
cards sufficiently well to shuffle a pack overhand fashion neatly,
the half-dozen indispensable sleights in five lessons of an hour's
duration each.
I do not mean that in that time anyone could become a skilled
sleight-of-hand performer, but I do maintain that sufficient skill
would be acquired to enable one to present card tricks capably and
with the necessary confidence.
Chapter Contents
End Strippers
WHILE the principle of stripping the ends of cards has been
known and used by gamblers for generations and was certainly
originated for the purpose of cheating at cards it has remained
practically unknown to magicians generally speaking. This is rather
a curious fact since there are many fine effects possible only with
end strippers while everything that can be done with the side
strippers can also be done with the end variety. Again the cards
can be so finely cut that detection is practically impossible and
such cards can be freely used even with those that know all about
side strippers without arousing suspicion.
With the cards all set the one way the various methods for getting
a chosen card reversed in the pack which have already been
explained for the side strippers, can be brought into play. When
the card has been reversed, or the pack reversed, which comes to
the same thing, the projecting edge can be detected instantly in
the mere act of squaring the pack with the thumb on one end and
the fingers on the other. It is an easy matter then to make a break
under the card and make the pass bringing it to the bottom, or to
break the pack at that point and execute a riffle shuffle bringing
the card to the bottom; or again to secure the card in the right
hand by means of the side palm; or simplest of all to make a
regular overhand shuffle, the projecting edge making the reversed
card cling to the fingers so that it can be put at the top or bottom
as the last movement in the shuffle.
All the tricks for which side strippers are generally used can be
done with the end strippers. As for the special effects which can
only be done with the end strippers space will permit of the
explanation of but a few of them. The reader will no doubt find out
novel applications of the principle for himself.
Chapter Contents
A 'Stop' Discovery
AFTER the pack has been shuffled by a spectator, secretly
reverse one card and have it near the middle. Allow the free
selection of a card. After the spectator has noted it cut the pack by
the ends at the reversed card and have the chosen card replaced
at that point, replace the cut and square up very openly. Make a
partial shuffle bringing the reversed card and the card below it,
the chosen card, to a position about one-third of the pack from the
top. Hold the pack by the ends and drop small packets of cards
from the bottom in different places on the table telling the
spectator to call 'Stop' whenever he pleases. When he does call
drop all the cards below the reversed card. Have him name his
card and turn the top card of the last packet.
The trick may be repeated with added effect. When 'Stop' has
been called palm the top card of the last packet and turn over the
next, showing it but not looking at the card yourself. Turn it down
and replace the palmed card on top. When the spectator says you
have shown the wrong card, affect incredulity and work the
argument up. Finally invite him to turn the card up himself. Before
the shock of the surprise has passed it is well to assemble the
pack, losing the first card shown amongst the others.
Chapter Contents
Red Or Black
I AM indebted to Mr. E. L. Whitford for the following very
effective arrangements. Separate the black suits from the red,
turn one packet round and then put the two packets together.
Hold the pack as for an overhand shuffle. Press on top and bottom
cards with the left thumb and fingers, then pull out all the cards
but these two, letting them fall well into the crotch of the thumb.
Repeat the action with the new top and bottom cards, letting this
pair fall on the first pair. Continue the action until all the cards are
exhausted. The result is that you have the black and red cards
alternately throughout the pack all the cards of one color being
reversed. This is the simplest way of making such an
arrangement. the whole action taking a few seconds only.
Now, with a red card on the bottom if you riffle the top ends of the
cards at one corner red cards only will show, then by slipping the
top black card to the bottom and riffling by the corner, black cards
only will be visible. The principle is exactly the same as with the
Svengali or Mene-Tekel packs, the short cards do not appear.
Again, by taking two packs, one with a red back, the other with a
blue back and using the red cards with red backs and the blue
cards with blue backs. and arranging them as above, you can
show all red faces and turning the pack over show all red backs.
Then by slipping the top card to the bottom and riffling on the
opposite corner show all black faces and follow that by showing all
blue backs.
By applying the principle of roughening the backs (see Svengali
section) and then arranging the cards in pairs one red, one black,
with the backs together, and also carrying out the reverse stripper
arrangement as above for each color you cannot only show all red
and all black by riffling but also by fanning cards.
Properly introduced, that is by exchanging the pack that has been
freely handled by the spectators, these results will be
incomprehensible, even startling, to the layman and indeed to the
average magician.
Chapter Contents
The Ambitious Card
THE use of the end strippers makes this trick as near perfection
in handling as is possible. I am indebted to Mr. Annemann for
permission to detail some of the moves he uses. In his hands the
trick is perfect. Begin by having a card chosen, replaced, then
bring it to the top by whatever means you prefer, making no
reversal of the pack or the card. Order the card to the top and
show it has arrived. Take it off by putting your finger-tips under it,
thumb on top and turn it endwise to show the face. Replace the
card face down by turning it over sideways. This is a perfectly
natural way of showing the card and by using it you have reversed
the card without any possibility of arousing suspicion.
Show the chosen card again and push it under the next card.
Order it to the top, lift the two cards as one, thumb at one end
and fingers at the other. The projecting edges makes this the
easiest thing in the world. Replace the two cards, take off the top
card and push it under the next. This time, of course, the trick
works itself, the chosen card is on the top. Lift it by the ends to
show it in the same manner as when handling two cards.
Again push the reversed card under the top one, make the double
lift and show its face, push off the top card over the side of the
pack a little and slide the two cards under it. This time lift three
cards, just as easily as two, show the face of the reversed card
and replace on top. Slide off the top card, not showing its face and
push it into the middle, show the face of the next card, also an
indifferent one, to prove the chosen card really has gone to the
middle, riffle, make the double lift, and show reversed card back
on top.
Have the spectator hold out his hand palm upwards, slide off the
top card on to his hand and drop the pack on top. He finds his card
has returned to the top.
The moves can be varied ad lib., and for close work it is one of the
most effective that can be performed.
Chapter Contents
[ Main Contents ] [ Next Chapter ] [ Previous Chapter ]