TR.ICKERY TR.

EATS
Cord Crofi Continued
 Also
by
J. K. Horlmon

After Croh
(r ee5)

Cord Croft
(r eer )

Loose Ends
11e78l

Cord Fore
l1e75l

Super Dupes
11e74l

Meons ond Ends

11e73l

Pocket Mogic
11e72l

odd tifts
(1e711

Secrel Subtroclion
11e70l
TRICKERY TREAI]S
Cord Croft Continued

J. K. Hortmon

lllustroted

by
Joseph K. Schmidt
 ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

Severol items in this book hove been recorded previously in vorious mogicol publicotions or evolved
from ideos thot hove oppeored in them. Accurote references ore provided throughout, but the nome o[
the oppropriote editoi/publisher hos not been repeoted in eoch inslonce. They ore officiolly listed
below with thonks.

Apocolypse Horry Loroyne

Epilogue Korl Fulves

MAGIC Ston Allen

Phoenix Bruce Elliott

Precursor Williom Miesel

Richord's Almonoc Richord Koufmon

The Crimp Jerry Sodowitz

The Looking Gloss Stephen Hobbs

Richord Koufmon

Jon Rocherboumer

The Pollbeorers Review Korl Fulves

Word Processing by Denise P. Simmons

Edited by Motthew Field, Joseph K. Schmidt ond J.K. Hortmon
Book ond Cover Design by Richord Koufmon
Book ond Cover Loyout by Amy Stevens
Printed ond Bound in the United Stotes of Americo
First Edition

roduced or tronsmitted in ony form or by

recording, or ony informotion storoge ond
ut written permission.
 for

EAH ond AHH

ln Memoriom

First Teocher

First Toker
Conlenls

Middle Diddle .............62

Stocker Shock........ ......66
All Honds on Deck ...-.-.72

4 Mixed Tricks

6
5 Short Suite
Stuck Up .. 130
Fost Foced ................. 133
Fost Turnoround........... ............... 135
Up-here..... ................137
Whipswitch ............... 138
Unsnopped Color Chonge............. ................ l4l
Whot's Mine is Yours ......... .......... I 43
Poir Trode ................. ]45
Force Four. ................ 146
Poir Push .. 149
Double Cross Cul Force........ .'....' ]50

6 The Wikhcroft of Discoveries

7 Mind Reodings
Mind Store 171
Feinting Spe|1......... 176
Signing Power........ r80
The Odd Couple r85
Mixed Motch 187
Think in Synch 11............... r90

8 Future Shockers

A Process of Eliminotion .........213

I Goffed Croft
Cool Fusion 225
Toking Turns 227
Drowing Cord .........231
Cutting Corners ........234
SLETOHTS AND REFERENCES
The following speciolized ond stondord sleights ond moves ore exploined in the context of the routines
in which they ore used. lf the text of one trick refers the reoder to onother for on explonotion of o
necessory sleight, thot explonotion will olwoys be in the finol Notes to the trick to which reference is
mode, ossuring direct ond eosy occess to it. The lotter ore morked with on osterisk in the list below.

sleight trick chapter

A-D lndicotor Force Cutting Corners 9
Block Simple Simon Shifting Sondwich 4
Show ond Spell 4
Blow Awoy Chonge Cheek Turner ll 4
Center Swing Cut Whot's Mine is Yours 5
Covered Cop Tronsfer All Honds on Deck 3
Drop Holf Poss Spot Swop I
Foldover Chonge Signing Power 7
Hip Hop Spot Swop I
Four for Four 2
Knuckle Jog Spot Swop I*
Modified HoLo Cut Think in Synch ll 7
One Below Breok Two Ploced 4*
Secret Subtroction Nothing Succeeds Like Succession 2
Tilt Cut Middle Diddle 3
Tronfer Glimpse Mind Store 7
Ribbon Cutting 4
Underturn Move Plocing Foces I
Closet Revolutionory 4*
Green Li[t Cool Fusion 9
Elliott Chonge Signing Power 7
Kordyro Chonge Supreme The Odd Couple 7
KM Move Signing Power 7
KM Move - reversed Cheek Turner ll 4
Push-ln Chonge Through Woys 2
Strip-out Addition Triple Cross l*
Thru-the Fist Moves Fore Ploy 4*
Zochorellis-Allerton Lift Reflexions 4*
STETOHTS AND REFERENCES
(continued)

The routin require the customory sompling of other bosic sleights, the workings of
which ore l. lione is used in o single routine, on oppropriote reference is gener-
olly given is used in more thon one routine, the reference informotion is summo-
rized below to ovoid the necessity of repeoting source doto.

Foro Shuffle The Foro Shuffle, Edword Morlo; personol storting point:
Andrus Deols You /n, p. 85
Hindu Shuffle Modern Mogic Monuol, Hugord, p. 309
One Hond Top Polm Cord Monipulotions Series 1
-2, Hugord, p.2
Pinky Count Dorwin Ortiz ot the Cord Toble, Ortiz p. I 1

Riffle Force Cord Croh, p.25

Spreod Holf Poss The Spreod Holf Poss, Roy Wolton; best method: Elios Hol[ Poss,
Neol Elios, MilleniumAces, Korl Fulves, p. 61
Tilt Doi Vernon's Depth lllusion, Iilt, Edword Morlo; Cord Croft, p.26
TurnoverPoss Expert Cord Technique, 1" edit., Hugord ond Broue, p. 37
Vernon Tronsfer Move Doi Vernon; Spreod Version: "All Things Must Poss," Jerry Sodowitz,
-Spreod Version Conlemporory Cord Mogic, Duffie ond Sodowitz
Zorrow Shuffle Herb Zorrow, Doi Vernon's More lnner Secrefs of Cord Mogic,
Lewis Gonson, p. 49

9
INTRODUCTION
This book is o sequel to Cord Croft (Collected Trickery), 1991, ond After Croh (More Cord Trickery),
1995. The response to its predecessors wos quite sotisfying, certoinly sufficiently so to worront one
more try, so it hos been somewhot disconcerting thot preliminory interest in the third book os it op-
prooched reolity hos been much more reloted to its title thon its contentsl Vorious creotive correspon-
dents hove contributed o number of imoginotive suggestions, in foct, including inspired nuggets like
"Thereofter Crofi," "Hereotter Croh," "Dofter Crof+," ond "Crofterthoughts."

The word "crofi" is on oppeoling descriptor of the subiect motter with its duol definitions of "on occupo-
tion requiring monuolor ortistic skill" ond "skill in deceiving." lts proctitioners ore indeed "crofiy crofts-
men." "Trickery" is olso on opl term, encompossing both tricks ond sleights, but olso the brooder con-
cept of deception. Hod "Cord Trickery" not been used os o title decodes ogo, it might hove been the
nome of the first book, with "croft" worked into the subtitle rother thon the reverse.

ln ony event, it seemed oppropriote for the soke of voriety (if not desperotion vis-d-vis the olternotives
cited obove!) to opply this opposite nomencloturol order to the third book in the series, ond, occord-
ingly, you hove in your honds, for better or for worse, Trickery Treols (Cord Croft Continued).

The book comprises sixty-one seporote items (not including extensions ond voriotions incorporoted in
the text). Of the totol, eight in one form or onother hove been in print before, either in o monuscript
series published in the eorly 1970's or os more recent contributions to vorious cord mogic iournols. All
of these, however, hove been rewritten ond updoted, ond severol hove been revised or refined in
vorying degrees. The remoining fifty-three items hove never oppeored before.

All but three items use regulor cords only-ond the goffs thot ore required ore oll conventionol ond
eosily obtoinoble. One other, the lost routine in the book, uses o goff creoted with regulor cords. For
none ore speciol ongle-proof performing conditions essentiol. lf goffs or props ore involved, the exoct
effect of the trick is olwoys described in detoil ot the outset io permit the reoder to iudge whether it is
worth the effort to produce. The skill demonds throughout ore not beyond the intermediote level, ond the
most powerful trick in the book, o personol pride ond ioy ond on exomple (immodestly) of "ultimote
equivoque" for which o speciol script is provided, requires no cord hondling obility ot oll.

The two prior books ore not required reoding for this one. Speciolized sleights ond moves ore re-
described (os ore mony stondord ones) either within the text of the tricks in which they ore used or in the
Notes sections following the trick. lf the reoder is referred to onother trick in the book for on explonotion
of o necessory sleight, thot explonotion will olwoys be in the Notes to the trick to which reference is
mode, ond thus con be eosily ond conveniently occessed.

The descriptions often include detoiled potter which, in these coses, is considered os integrol to the
working os the methodology. Well thought-out potter serves mony purposes-timing, cover, distroction,
rotionolizotion, entertoinment-ond oll of them ore generolly vitol to the success of the trick.

Under the heoding of Politicolly Correct Discloimers, mole personol pronouns used to refer to the spec-
totors represent genderless proxies ond stylistic shorthond only, ond ore not reflective of either outhoriol
chouvinism or the composition of the oudiences before whom the tricks hove been performed. The book

r0
comes with the guorontee, incidentolly, thot reol, live, breothing oudiences hove indeed witnessed every
trick in it, but be odvised thot they hove consisted exclusively of loymen.

ond increosingly in this one, certoin technicol

: ::ff k:'it ;::: i1 h fl

r:il', " _ JJI"ft
rs the physicol operotion tokes ploce. The notion thot
mindset con influence execution wos developed from o comment in o trick description by Horry Loroyne
yeors ogo, ond is perhops o cousin of the old
string thot you "think" into swinging either in
stondpoint, no motter how other-worldly the i
in more precise ond more consistent sleight/move
intended to be token seriously.

As were the two eorlier books, this one is on ort exhibition by o pen-ond-ink moster, with over six
hundred fifty freehond illustrotions by Joseph K. Schmidt. His exoctness of technique ond understonding
of subiect motter comprise the essence of croftsmonship.

II
t Swop Exchclnge
Plocing Foces

Spot Swop

Tronce-Posed

Tronsalliterotion

Triple Cross
 Trickery Ireots

Pleicirtg Fcrces
It wos o cord problem posed by Korl Fulves olmost thirty yeors ogo in Epilogue thot enticed the initiol
submission of stored-up ideos, the first in the form of o trick entitled "Chonge of Foce," oppeoring in
EpilogueNo. Seven, November 1969,together with the Underturn Move which it relied on ond, omong
t"r"rol other opplicotions, o componion routine entitled "Chonge of Ploce." The solution octuolly ol-
tered the precise porometers of the problem originolly posed, involving o tronsposition seeming to use
only two cords, positioned foce to foce.

Although the Underturn in both Cord Croftlp. 1 23) ond Ahe.r Croft (p l?),its
originol seting hos not "Chonge of Foce" wos workoble but cumbersome,
olwoys rendering the tri hed.

More recently, the trick wos revisited, producing o perhops obvious if elusive solution by odding o
repeot ond using some finesses with o pseudo-duplicote, considerobly enhoncing the effect in the pro-
cess. As will be ieen, it hos been combined with "Chonge of Ploce" os originolly described, used os o
preliminory phose to set up the effect, but this phose con eosily be eliminoted. The Underturn Move is re-
exploined in context; the Vernon Strip-out Addition, olso o requirement, is described in the finol Notes
to "Triple Cross" (this chopter).

ln effect, the performer removes two cords, disposing of the rest of the deck, ond cleorly positions one
obove the other. They immediotely chonge ploces. He then turns the lower cord foce up, covers it with
the foce-do*n ,pp"i cord, without hesitotion sliding the lotter owoy to reveol thot the cords hove once
ogoin tronsposed. This second phose is immediotely repeoted.

Begin by running through the deck with foces toword you ond cutting the Nine of Clubs to the reor.
Lower tlie deck to horizontol position ond begin to leof through it ogoin. Outiog the first prominent red
cord your come to-e.g., the King of Heorts-then the Eight of Clubs.

Close the spreod, buckle the reor cord of the deck with the left fingers, ond execute o Vernon-Strip-out
Addition, secretly odding the reor cord to the outiogged cords os your right hond strips them free. (See
Figure One.) Set the resiof the deck oside. Obviously, ony other woy of reoching this storting position
con be substituted.

Spreod the foce cord o[ the pocket, holding the other two cords os one, to disploy the King of He-orts
ond the Eight of Clubs. (See Figure Two.) Squore up, iniogging the King slightly, ond turn the pocket foce
down, side for side, in the left hond.

I3
 J.K. Horimon

Grosp the outiogged double cord ot its outer end ond turn it over end for end to disploy the Eight. Lift the
double cord with the right hond from obove ond turn the left hond polm down, disploying the King. (See
Figure Three.) Turn the left hond polm up ond reploce the double cord, outiogged for o holf-inch. Slowly
revolve the double foce down os you soy, "Eight obove the King. No question obout thot, is there?"

"So fhis cord is the-?" you go on to o spectotor, letting him complete the sentence with "Eight." As you
refer to "this cord," drow the top cord inword for holf its length with the right second finger.

"And this cord is the-?" you continue, contocting the inner end of the uppermost cord with the right
thumb, its bock with the forefinger, the bock of the next cord with the pod of the right second finger (see
Figure Four), ond propelling both forword by moving the hond in thot direction until the right thumb
butts ogoinst the inner end of the lowermost cord, uppermost ond lowermost cords now perfectly oligned.
The oction of outiogging the cord ogoin relotes to your potter reference.

The spectoior will fill in, "The King." Pouse for o moment, then soy, "You come in second. Ihis one's the
King ..." As the lost comment is mode, grosp the top ond bottom cord ot the inner end (see Figure Five),
drow the double cord inword ond free (see Figure Six), ond revolve it foce up end for end on top. (See
Figure Seven.) Lift the double cord with the right hond from obove ond turn the left hond polm down to
expose the lowermost cord os you soy, "The Eight's over here."

.l5,
Themechonicsorethoseof Morlo'sQuick3-Woy Ubidem No. p.2l,in thiscoseoppliedtocoll
ottention to eoch cord to which your potler refers, these indicotory octions clooking the normolly some-
whot stroined hondling of the move.

After o pouse, turn the left hond polm up, soying, "Let's try thot ogoin..." Use the double cord to lever the
Eight foce up, soying, " ... fhis time with the Eight foce up ..." Reploce the double cord, outiogged for o

t4
 Trickery Ireots

holf-inch (see Figure Eight), ond execute the Underturn Move, os follows, os you oppeor to revolve the
King foce down, soying, "And now, right before your eyes ..."

Tilt the outer end of the deck somewhot upword ond rightword -iust out of the spectotors' line of vision.
Meet it with your right hond, opprooching the outer left corner of the double cord. As the thumb ond first
ond second fingeri toke hold of the cord to turn it over end for end, the left thumb, lying diogonolly
ocross the foce, glides the uppermost cord inword until it is very sllghtly iniogged. (See Figure Nine.)

/fr;tr, i
:, r/

r0 il 12

The right fingers thus drow out the second cord, doing so until it is free ond its inner end cotches on the
left forefinger which hos curled oround the outer end of the pocket. (See Figure Ten.) This cord is then
pivoted foce down on top of the pocket, the left thumb moving oside to occommodote the oction. As it
folds foce down, conceoling the reversed cord below it, the pocket is returned to o horizontol position.

Without hesitotion, the right hond extends to orch over the pocket, forefinger curled on top, the thumb
lifting up on the slight inlog ond squoring it, mointoining o breok below it. (See Figure Eleven.) As o
continuing oction ond os you complete the remork, "And now, right before your eyes...," slide the
double cord rightword for holf its width (see Figure Twelve-stop oction) then immediotely reverse the
oction, in the process momentorily exposing the Eight.

t3 t4 I5
Leoving the double cord oligned with the Eight but with the right thumb still mointoining o breok below
it, the iight hond continues to glide leftword, the second finger ond thumb reoching the left outer ond
inner corners (see Figure Thirteen-stop oction); still without the slightest pouse, ollow the lower cord of
the double to escope, ond ogoin reverse direction with the right hond, gripping the single uppermost
cord ond sliding it rightword until most of the double cord now below it is exposed, soying, "... the cords
chonge ploces!" (See Figure Fourteen.)

I5
 J.K. Hortmon

Pouse for o moment ot this stoge for the climox to register, then go on, "Let's try thot one
ogoin." As this
comment is mode, snop the right hond cord foce up by bending up on the ends ogoinst the forefinger
(see Figure Fifteen) ond releosing the outer end, ot the some time twisting the hond polm leftword, the
cord now held ot the inner index corner between thumb ond forefinger, your positioning of cords ond
honds such thot the oufer index ends up conceoled below the left hond double cord, striking its lower
surfoce. The inner index, meonwhile, is virtuolly outomoticolly conceoled by the right thumb. (See
Figure Sixteen.)

After the briefest hesitotion, olign the right hond cord with the double cord, odiusting it so thot it is
iniogged o holf-inch (see Figure Seventeen), the right hond not releosing the index corner until the left
hond tilts the outer end of the pocket upword ond rightword in preporotion for o second execution of
the Underturn.

r6 17 t8 t9
Note thot it is the revelotion of the King only thot is your demonstrotion of the tronsposition. You then
move to the next phose, seeming to turn the Eight foce up so os to reposition it for o repeot, not to
disploy it os o climox for the preceding phose.

Perform the Underturn exoctly os described, soying, "Right before your eyes ogoin..." Extend the right
hond over the pocket, forming o breok under the iniog. ln this cose plont the left thumb on the outer left
corner section of the pocket, ond follow os before by sliding the double cord rightword, here for obout
o third of its width, then immediotely reverse the oction. The left thumb will cover the outer index of the
lowermosl cord os its foce is thus momentorily exposed (see Figure Eighteen-stop oction), ond it op-
peors to be the Eight of Clubs.

Just os before, ollow the right hond to continue to glide leftword, the second finger ond thumb reoch-
ing the left outer ond inner corner (refer to Figure Eleven). Without the slightesl pouse, releose the
lower cord of the double ond reverse direction, gripping the single uppermost cord ond sliding it
rightword, continuing until it is free of the double. Snop it foce up in the some monner os before but
in this cose seporoted from the double, its outer index exposed, soying, "... the cords chonge plocesl"
(See Figure Nineteen.)

Nofe. lf you prefer to eliminote the initiol tronsposition, o minor chonge in order is required os you
remove the necessory cords ot the outset. After cutting the Nine of Clubs to the bock of the deck, run
through the cords with foces upword ond outiog first the Eight of Clubs, then o prominent red cord. Now
execute the Vernon Strip-out Addition ond proceed with the second phose ond its repeot.

t6
 Trickery lreots

Spot Swop
Other opprooches to this generol theme hove been in print before, usuolly requiring consideroble sklll.
This rouiine is relotively eoly to perform ond hos the following effect which the performer precedes with
o discussion o[ the renewed populority of stoge illusionists ond the resurgence of interest in Houdini. He
soys thot he will now demonstrote o ';poor mon's" voriety of o clossic fovorite of both.

He disploys o deck of cords in new-deck order. He removes the Jokers, discording one ond osking o
spectoior io initiol the foce of the other. Thot Joker is left foce down on the ioble. Spreoding the foce-up
deck, the performer osks the spectolor to designote one cord to be his, ond thot cord is left in ploce. The
performer produces o hondkerchief ond o rubber bond with which the spectotor is osked to wrop up
ond seol the deck.

The performer strikes this pockoge ogoinst the tobled Joker. The spectotor then turns the tobled cord
over to find thot it hos become the selection. The deck is unwropped ond spreod foce up on the toble.
Occupying the exoct former position of the selected cord is the signed Joker.

The only true sleights required ore two Holf Posses. One is executed completelyunder cover, however, ond
the other is the Diop Hol[ Poss, exploined herein, o virtuolly invisible meons of performing the sleight.

The one other move is the Hip Hop, o very eosy switch, opplicoble to single cords or pockets, thot
oppeors problemoticol but, with oppropriote misdirection os is the cose here, is o complete
.l985,
deception.
It wos described in print originolly in "Stock Knock," Richord's Almonoc Autumn p.324,loter
republished in Cord Croft, p.403. The lotter included two other opplicotions, "Tro-velers' Aid," p.222
ond "Holidoy Speciol," p. 633. The switch is on offshoot of Jock Merlin's Hop Off the Bottom, And o
Pock of Cords, Merlin, p.52.

Required is o deck in new-deck order (or simply with suits in sequence), o pencil or morker, o rubber
bond, ond o hondkerchief. The lotter need not be opoque. lf you weor o iocket, the rubber bond is in the
left side pocket, the hondkerchief in the front outer pocket, folded in stondord decorotive foshion, o
corner reodily ovoiloble. (See Figure One.) Otherwise, preset the rubber bond in your lelt side trouser
pocket, the hondkerchief in your left reor pocket.

With the pencil on the toble, begin by ribbon spreoding the deck foce up from right to left ond toword
the front of the toble, pointing out the orrongement of the cords. Slide out the Jokers ond extro cords,
disposing of oll but the true Joker. Hove o spectotor initiol its foce, then turn it foce down, positioning it
neorer you ond to the right of center. (See Figure Two.)

2 3

t7
 J.K. Hortmon

Scoop up the deck ond spreod it foce up between your honds, osking the spectotor to point to ony cord.
Try to time your octions ond request so thot the designoted cord is somewhere in the middle two quorters
of the deck. Repeot the nome of the cord os you close the spreod, securing o left little fingertip breok
obove the selection. The right hond orches obove the deck, the left forefinger curls beneoth it.

Soy, "There ore lour ployers in this little dromo. One of them is the Joker..." As you moke this lost
remork, twist the deck outer end downword, foce outword (see Figure Three), ot the some time lowering
both honds toword the toble, the right forefinger extending to point to the Joker. Simultoneous/y, the left
hond executes the stondord Holf Poss octions with the lower section in tronsit by uncurling the left
forefinger ond pulling down on the right side, the section pivoting foce down. (See Figure Fo-ur-stop
oction.) The left hond ends up noturolly moking light contoct with the deck, the fingers stroight ond
together ogoinst the left edge. (See Figure Five.)

The duol octions of the outword focing of the deck ond the lowering of the honds moke this Drop Holf
Poss virtuolly invisible, with most ongles well-mosked. The cover, in other words, does not depend solely
on the usuol notion of lorger oction obscuring smoller oction.

With both honds, roise the deck to normol height, odlusting it to Chorlier position in the lelt hond, the lelt
side roised, forefinger curled beneoth it (see Figure Six), continuing, "...A second isyour cord, still in
proper sequence in the deck." As this remork concludes, perform the Knuckle loglCord Croh, p.132-
redescribed in the finol Notes) to obtoin o norrow breok obove the lowermost cord with the right thumbtip.

"A third is this rubber bond," you go on, releosing the grip of the lelt hond, reoching into your pocket,
extrocting the rubber bond, ond tossing it to the toble. At the some time, cosuolly lower the right hond
to the toble, resting the deck flot on the toble iust to the left of the Joker. (See Figure Seven.)

7 8

l8
 Trickery lreots

"And the fourth," you conclude, "is this ploin white hondkerchief ." As you moke this remork,_ remove lhe
hondkerchief from your pocket with your left hond, keeping your hond to the lelt of center of your body.
Nip on ovoiloble corner ond shoke out the hondkerchief, snopping it forword, ond releose it os it unfurls
onio the toble, extended between you ond the spectotor. (See Figure Eight.)

As the hondkerchief is thus monipuloted ond ottention is irresistibly drown toword ii, execute the Hip
Hop with your right hond: releose the bottom cord of the deck onto the toble, move the hond rightword,
setting the deck flush onto the tobled Joker, ond pick up the Joker beneoJh it. (See Figure Nine.) lmme-
diotely roise the right hond, with the deck, moving it leftword, the forefinger extended to point to the
hondkerchief, ond sef,"... which l'd likeyou to pick up..." (See FigureTen.)

r0 ll
As the spectotor complies, tronsfer the deck into the left hond, releosing first the inner end of the foce-down
section vio the noturol breok ond intruding the heel of the left thumb to retoin o breok between sections os
the right hond, with no discernible pouse, releoses the remoinder of the deck. (See Figure Eleven.)

Continue, "... ond drope over the deck." When he does so, moke sure thot the edges of the hondker-
chief hong evenly. Go on, "Now will you pick up the rubber bond ..." As he complies, toke the pockoge
from the left hond with the right hond from obove, but iust prior to lifting it free of the lefthond, execute
o completely hidden Holf Pois ot the breok, the hondkerchief in no woy interfering with the mechonics.

"And twist it oround the ends of the hondkerchief so thot the deck is tightly enclosed within it," you go
on, extending your right hond toword the spectotor. "sotisfied thot nothing con get in ond nothing con
get out?"

"Now let's get bock to the Joker," you proceed. As soon os oll eyes relurn to the tobled cord, dort the
wropped dlck do*n onto the cord, immediotely lifting it off. lf possible, try to hove the tobled cord
bounce or move slightly. "Whot wos thot cord you're rememberin g?" yov osk. "Turn over the Joker." He
does, ond finds his selection.

Extend your right hond ond hove him remove the rubber bond. Gingerly set the covered deck on the
toble, oithe some time delicotely pulling owoy the hondkerchief with the left hond. Pouse for o momenl,
then, still ot o slow ond coreful poce, grosp the deck by the sides ond ribbon spreod it from right to left.

r9
 J.K. Hortmon

t2 l3 t4 t5

lf the selection is the Six of Diomonds, exlend your right forefinger, holding it iust over the Ace of
Diomonds. Move your finger slowly toword the originol position of the selection, soying, "See whot's
token the ploce of your cordl" Dointily push the cord out of the spreod for o third of its length-it's the
signed Joker.
.l00%
Nofes. Whotever your level of self-consciousness, the Hip Hop is o deception with odequote
misdirection, ond the unfurling of the hondkerchief more thon fills thot bill. Don't rush the movements or
perform them in o herky-ierky monner: use o deliberote, steody, even poce, including the finol ociion of
roising the right hond to point to the hondkerchief, ond don't be ofroid to look ot your own honds to
ossure thot it is performed cleonly.

As indicoted, the Drop Hol[ Poss is o virtuolly invisible hondling of the sleight An olternotive is o Spreod
Holf Poss. When the spectotor designotes o cord, seporote the deck, the selection uppermost on the
squored lower section, the upper section still spreod. Repeot the nome of the cord, reploce the upper
section, ond close the deck, executing o Spreod Hol[ Poss.

Knuckle Jog. This simple sleight provides o light-touch ond undetectoble meons of obtoining o norrow
right thumbtip breok obove the bottom cord. As o storting position, the deck is in Chorlier Cut position
in the left hond, the forefinger curled beneoth it, the left side roised ond held by the outer pholonge of
the thumb. (See Figure Twelve.) The right hond is orched over the deck, the thumb moking light contoct
ot the inner end.

With the first ioint of the left forefinger flush ogoinst the bottom cord, shift the forefinger very sllghtly
inword to iniog the cord for obout holf the width of its white border, the right thumb giving woy to
occommodote the oction. (See Figure Thirteen.) Push down with the right thumb, obtoining o norrow
breok obove it os it is squored. (See Figure Fourteen.)

With the left hond still in contoct with the deck, the lelt thumb ond [ingers reverse bevel the long sides,
the lefi side slonted rightword from top to bottom (see Figure Fifteen), the overhong providing some
ongle prolection ond cover for the breok from o view from your le[t.

For the some purpose, os the left hond releoses its grip, opply pressure between the right fingers ond
thumb, squeezing the deck longitudinolly, on oction thot will hove the effect of forcing the bottom cord
flush ogoinst the deck except ot the inner end, eliminoting the extended seporotion olong the entire
left side.

(These lost two finesses hove olwoys been used in these ond similor circumstonces but hove been omit-
ted in previous descriptions of the move.!

20
 Trickery Treots

l?clnGG-Posed
A re-reoding of the bound volumes of Hugord's Mogic Monthly uncovered mony fine ideos, buried ond
forgotten but siill os effective os ever. One such is George G. Koplon's "Zig-Log," (Volume X, Number
8, Jonuory I 953, poge I 025).

The subtitle is "stortling Tronsposition of Two Cords Merely Thought Of," ond thot is, in foct, the effect.
Two methods were provided, one requiring ten stronger cords. The other, the focus here, does not hove
this requirement ond loses nothing in terms of effect. The trick is on obvious (ond uncredited) extension
o[ Chorles Jordon's "The Unknown Leoper" (Encyclopedio of Cord Tricks, p. 27; Chorles Jordon's Besl
Tricks, Korl Fulves, p.75l1, but it is on improved ond more sophisticoted version. The firsthondling below
odds vorious refinements to the Koplon originol, the second (preferred) hondling introduces more sub-
siontive chonges.

Opening phose. The following beginning sequence opplies to both voriotions. ln eoch, the top ten cords
olthe deck must be orronged in on order not obvious on its foce. ln the first voriotion, ony stock with
which you ore fomilior con be used (e.g., "Eight Kings ...," the suits in CHoSeD order). ln the second
voriotion, the stock must be one which ollows you to tronslote ropidly o position number to the nome of
the cord occupying thot position in the stock. A simple stock thot permits this colculotion eosily ond
quickly is described in the finol Notes. Solely for purposes of trying out both explonotions, orronge o
run of Ace through Ten of o single suit on top of the deck.

Stort by folse shuffling, then setting the deck on the toble. Request o spectotor to cut off holf ond give it
to you. Hold this section foce down in the left hond. Ask the spectotor to think of o number from one to
ten. Soy thoi you will show him the cords one by one, counting oloud to ten os you do so, ond he is to
think of ond remember the cord ot his number-without, of course, signoling when you hove reoched it.

To do this, push the uppermost cord to the right, pinching it olong the right side between right thumb
obove, first ond second fingers below. (See Figure One.) Counting "One," twist the cord to on upright
position, the inner end of the cord scroping or slipping ocross the bock of the cord next on top, the first
cord ending up two or three inches obove the left-hond section ond o bit forword ond rightword of it,
foce toword the spectotor. (See Figure Two.)

I
I

I
_t

2 3

2t
 J.K. Hortmon

Returning with the right hond ond countin g "Two," toke the second cord below the first cord ond disploy
its foce in exoctly the some monner, including the scroping or slipping oction. As you return to receive
the third cord beneoth the pocket, slightly side-iog the uppermost right-hond cord leftwordwith the right
thumb (see Figure Three), ond toke the third cord in line with it. Continue deoling ond counting, toking
the cords on the foce of the pocket in inexoct olignment.

As you occept the tenth cord beneoth the right-hond pocket, ollow the left side of the pocket to squeeze
under the left thumb which edges more firmly onto the bock of the pocket. (See Figure Four.) Roise both
pockets to verticol position os the honds seporote, the right hond higher ond to the right of the left, the
left forefinger exiending to point ot it, the left thumb simultoneously drogging the uppermost cord of the
right-hond pocket squorely onto the left-hond section, the sound produced little different thon thot gen-
eroted previously by the right-hond disploy oction. (See Figure Five-stop oction-ond Figure Six.)

This lost sequence, of course, is o technique for on oge-old moneuver the result of which is to reduce by
one the octuol numericol position of the spectotor's mentol selection.

Freezing the configurotion for o moment, remind the spectotor thot he is concentroting on both o cord
ond o number, neither of which he is to forget. So soying, lower both honds ond corefully reploce the
right-hond pocket; equolly corefully toke the combined section ot its inner right corner ond set it on the
toble in front of lhe spectotor.

Soying thot you will olso think of o number ond o corresponding cord, pick up the other holf of the deck,
ond hold it upright, foces toword you, in the left hond. Concentrote for o moment os if thinking of o
number. Then deol cords off the foce of the deck, doing so relotively slowly ond reversing their order os
you toke them in the right hond, still upright. Count oloud to ten os you do so, ond oppeor to be focusing
on the foces, but do noi octuolly note o cord.

When you hove deolt ten cords, set the left-hond pocket foce down on the toble in front of you, toke the
ten-cord pocket with the left hond ot the outer end, ond revolve it foce down on top to reossemble your
holf of the deck. At this point, the procedure diverges for eoch voriotion.

l. Ask the spectotor to think of his number: Pick off the top cord of your holf-deck olong its right side,
tokino greot
toking ooins not to tilt it from the horizoniol (see Figure
oreot poins Seven). ond set it in your left hond.. As you
Fiqure Seven),
do so, soy. "This is Cord Number One in my pile."
so. soy, oile." Top pile. osking,
Too the top of his pile, "A you thinking of
oskino. "Are
Cord Number One in your pile?" oile?" The spectotor will olmost certoinly soy 'No;' when he does,does, corefullv
ly
pick off the top cord of his pile ond set it on the cord in your left hond, retoining o breok beneoth it.

22
 Trickery Treots

p
Pick off the next cord from your ond, soying. "This is Cord Numbe-r.Iwo in my
oskin
pile." Top the top of his pile, Cord Number Two in your pi.le?" .lf the onswer
is 'No,' releose'the breok osyou his pile ond set in your left hond, retoining o
breok beneoth it.

Continue with the so uding the estoblishing ond releosing of o breok) until the
spectotor soys thot h the onnounced position-e.g., Six. Soy, "You.thought of
the sixfh .oid in yo ht of the sixth cord in my pile!" As you moke this lost
remork, top the top of the pocket in your lefi hond.

Pouse for o moment, then continue, "You look dubious. You don't believe me. But I con prove it! ln foct,
I con go one befter fion proving it! I con moke the sixth cord thot you thought of ond the sixth cord thot
/ thought of chonge ploces!"

Pouse for effect, then osk the spectotor to nome the cord he is thinking of. You ore retoining o breok
below the uppermost two o[ the left-hond cords, ond you now use it to perform o Double Turnover os
you soy, "Ihis is the sixth cord in my pile," reveoling the spectotor's cord.

You then go on, "The cord /'m thinking of is the

stock. Pick off the single top cord of the pocket
left hond polm down (see Figure Eight), ond, exten
os the right hond drops its cord foce up on top o
Number Six in your pile." When he does, he finds

The trick is now over. Pouse oppropriotely; then cleon up by picking up the focg-up cord on his pile
below the still foce-up pocket in yorr left'hond, the thumb plonted on its foce, the forefinger digging
under the left side, ond'twisting if foce down. (See Figure Nine.) Pick up the remoinder of his pile foce
down below the left hond cords.

\I
/

At the some time, with the right e foce down ond sweep up the pile foce-
down with the polm-do*n righ up, slide the right-hond.cords on top of
the left-hond cords, spreod iht ck, ond revolve it foce down.

ll.ln this voriotion, it is necessory to onnounce the supposed nome o[-your cord first. As indicoted
obove, you thus must be oble to convert o position number to the nome of the cord ot thot position. An
oppropriote stock is described ot the end of the routine.

23
 J.K. Horlmon

Follow the opening phose exoctly os described. You ond the spectotor ore eoch, opporently, thinking of
o cord os well os the numericol position thot the cord occupies in its respective pile, ond eoch of you hos
your pile in front of you.

You begin by osking, "Did you think of the firstcord in your pile?" The spectotor replies thot he didn't.
You go on, "l didn't think of the first cord in my pile either." As you moke this remork, pick off the top
cord of your pile ond set in your left hond, then pick off the top cord of the spectotor's pile ond set it on
the left-hond cord.

Continue, "Did you think of the second cord in your pile?" lf the spectotor soys 'No,' soy, "l didn't think
of the second cord in my pile either," ot the some time picking off the top cord in your pile ond setting it
in your left hond; then pick off the top cord in his pile ond set it in the left hond.

Proceed in the some foshion with the some pofter until the spectotor soys thot he did indeed think of the
cord ot the position iust nomed-e.g., sixth. Then soy, "You thought of the sxth cord in your pile? Believe
it or not, I thought of the sixth cord in my pile." As you moke this lost remork, top the top of your pile, then
corefully pick up your entire pile ond set in on the left-hond cords, mointoining o breok beneoth it.

Continue, "You look dubious. You don't believe me. But I con prove it! ln foct, I con go one befter thon
proving itl I con moke the sixth cord lhot you thought of ond the sixth cord thot I thought of chonge
ploces!" As you moke this losi comment, top the top of the spectotor's pile, then top the top of the pile in
hond, ollowing the right hond to linger obove it.

After o pouse, go on, "The cord /'m thinking of is the noming the cord in the stock in o position
one higher thon the spectotor's number. ln this exomple, nome the seventh cord. Continue, "Turn over
your sixth cord." -:'
As he complies by turning over the top cord of his pile (to reveol the cord you hove identified os yours)
ond his ond his fellow spectotors' eyes ore riveted on it, perform o Clossic Poss with your cords, in this
cose the perfect misdirection obvioting the need for perfect execution.

Conclude by osking the spectotor to nome the cord thot he is thinking of. Meticulously turn the top cord
of your pile foce up ond set the pile on the toble for the climox.

Nofes: The stock is os follows. You will olternote o run of Ace, Two, Three, Four, Five with o run of Six,
Seven, Eight, Nine, Ten. An Ace is thus the top cord, the Ten the bottom cord. The Ace through Five will
be red, the Six through Ten block (mnemonic: "Block Bottom"). The odd volues in eoch run will be the
lower (Bridge) volue suit, Diomonds or Clubs, the even cords the higher volue suit, Heorts or Spodes
(mnemonic: odd ond low hove three letters; even ond high four letters). The resulting order is thus AD,
65, 2H, 7C, 3D, 85, 4H, 9C, 5D, I OS.

ln the trick, it is necessory to tronslote position number to cord. 1.e., the spectotor soys thot he is thinking
of the sixth cord ond you wont to nome the cord in the next (seventh) position os yours. You thus hove to
tronslote 7 into the nome of o cord in the stock.

To do so, focus on thot number. First tronslote it to o color: if thot number is odd, think red; if even, think
block (mnemonic: Odd ond Red ore three letter words ending in Dl. Then tronslote the number to o cord
volue: if the number is Odd, odd I ond divide by 2; lhe result is the Cord Volue; if the number is Even,
odd t O (put o I in front of it) ond divide by 2; the result is the Cord Volue.

24
 Irickery Treots

ln this cose the number is7 .lt is Odd, so you think Red. Add I (= 8) ond divide by 2 l= 41, so the cord
volue is Four-o Red Four. To decide on whether it is Diomonds or Heorts, think bock to the originol
mnemonic: odd cords hove the lower Bridge suit-Diomonds ond Clubs; even cords hove the higher
Bridge suit-Heorts ond Spodes. ln this cose, Four is even so the cord is the Four of Heorts.

As onother exomple, if the number is 8, tronslote to o Color- Eight is Even is Block. Tronslote to o Cord
Volue: the number is even, so put o I in front of it 1= I 8) ond divide by 2l= 9). The Cord Volue is Nine-
o block Nine. Thot volue is odd, so the suit is the lower Bridge suit-in this cose, Clubs. The cord is the
Nine of Clubs.

All this will undoubtedly reod os quite complicoted, but ofter o try or two the computotion is virtuolly
instontoneous. Just remember thot the number you ore working from is one oheod of thot identified by
the spectotor. The stock moy seem obvious, but when you show it to o spectotor o cord ot o time, it will
not be spotted. Perhops the only vulneroble ospect is the Ten of Spodes in lOth position. lf you wish,
orbitrorily substitute the Jock of Spodes, thinking of it os o Ten.

ln proctice the Ten (or Jock) is unlikely to be selected. lf it is, the position next higher in the ten cord cycle
is I . Either simply remember thot the first cord is the Ace of Diomonds, or go through the formulo: is
'l
odd-thecoloris Red;1 + I = 2, divideby2= I (orAce)-o RedAce;Ace isOdd = lowersuil=
Diomonds = Ace of Diomonds.

lleinseillirerqtion
This routine is o version of Peter Duffie's "Torn, Folded, ond Seoled," Effortless Cord Mogiclp. 1621,
eliminoting the need for o duplicote cord. The concept of the trick-in Woltonion foshion using potter
ond presentotion to tronsform o routine tronsposition sequence into o strong ond entertoining effect-is
o typicolly clever Duffie originoiion.

Moke sure thot the open cord cose lies on the toble toword the right of center, flopside down, mouth
oriented toword you. Begin by removing o King, Four, ond Jock of mixed suits ond the two Jokers,
setting the rest of the deck oside. The trick uses only the five cords.

Arronge them from foce to bock Joker, Joker, Jock, Four, King, toking no speciol poins to hide your
octions, ond spreod the pocket to disploy the cords, soying, "This next trick uses the two Jokers ond o
King, o Four, ond o Jock." Close up the spreod, obtoining o breok below the iock.

Soying, "The Jokers will be my cords," withdrow the block obove the breok with the right hond from
obove, the left thumb retoining the uppermost Joker in ploce. (See Figure One.) Without pousing, set the
double cord on top of oll, ond, without chonging grips, immediotely lift off the single visible Joker. Since
the Jock is in view, the presumption is thot you hove token both Jokers.

"And the other three will be your cords," you go on, digging the left thumb beneoth the left-hond pocket,
pivoting it foce down (see Figure Two), ond thrusting the left hond forword, toword the spectotors. At the
some time, unobtrusively revolve the "Jokers" foce down end for end by stroddling the long sides of the

25
 J.K. Hortmon

right-hond cord with your first ond fourth fingers, plonting the thumb on its foce (see Figure Three), ond
pushing down, the cord now gripped ot the inner end (see Figure Four), then setting it on the toble in
front of you.

"specificolly," you continue to Spectotor One, odiusting the pocket if necessory to normol grip, "the
King will be your cord." As this lost remork is mode, turn the top cord of the pocket foce up (simuloting
your preferred Double Lift hondling), turn it foce down, ond tronsfer it from top to bottom.

"And the Fourwill be your cotd," you soy to Spectotor Two, turning the top cord foce up, turning it foce
down, ond tronsferring it to the bottom. "And, lost but not leost, the Jocl<willbe yours," you conclude to
Spectotor Three, ot the some time executing o Double Turnover, turning the double cord foce down, ond
tronsferring the sing/e top cord to the bottom.

Then soy, "And whot we do with eoch of these cords is oll determined by Alliterotion. Do you know whot
thot is? lt's something you ossociote with poetry or prose, not cord tricks. l'll demonstrote."

Addressing Spectotor One, soy, "Your King will be Cosed," shorply occenting the first letter of "King"
ond "Cosed" l"Your Kkking will be Cccosed"). As the remork is mode, execute o Double Turnover, turn
the double cord foce down, ond toke off the top cord. lnstructing the spectotor to hold the cord cose in
ploce, insert the supposed King into the cose ond close the flop. Repeot os you do so, "The Kkking is
Cccosed. Thot's Alliterotion." Ask the spectotor to keep his finger on the cose.

" And," you go on to Spectotor Two, "your Fffour will be Fffolded!" At the some lime, execute o Double
Turnover, turn the double cord foce down, ond pick off the single top cord with the right hond from
obove. Repeoting, "The Fffour is Fffolded," perform the following open one-honded cord fold which will
ossure thot the foce of the cord is not floshed. Hove Spectotor Two pin it in ploce on the toble.

Extend the left second, third, ond fourth fingers close together os o kind of toble, ond rest the inner holf
of the right-hond cord on them. Exerting pressure ot the outer end, fold the outer holf downword ond
inword, oround ond below the "toble," toking core to olign the outer end with the inner end to the extent
possible to ossure thot the cord is folded exoctly in holf. (See Figure Five.) Freeing the cord from the left
fingers, press lirmly lo creose it, ond fold it in quorters by pressing upword with the right first ond
second fingers ond downword with the thumb. (See Figure Six.) Withdrow the thumb, moving it to the
upper surfoce, ond set the pockoge on the toble. (See Figure Seven.) Ask Spectotor Two to put his finger
on it to pin it in ploce.

26
 Trickery lreots

You now oddress Spectotor Three, obbrevioting your potter by soying, "And the Jiiock is Jiiokered ..."
As you so remork, perform the following sequence

Toke the remoining double cord with the right hond from obove ond set it directly (without exposing.its
foce) on the "Jokeis," picking up the single cord beneoth the double cord. Without hesitotion, revolve
the pocket foce up in the left-hond. Pick off th" uppermost Joker ot its inner right corner, onother Joker
showing os it should. (See Figure Eight.)

Use the right-hond cord to lever the left-hond cords foce down. Slide the uppermost left-hond cord
beneoth the foce-up Joker, fonned leftword. (See Figure Nine.) Use the two-cord fon to lever the second
Joker foce up, toking it beneoth the other two to complete the fon (see Figure T9n), o foce down cord
between two foce-u[Jokers. As these octions conclude, soy, "...like this-o Jiiokered Jiiock!"

"Understond now obout the olliterotion? The Kkking is Cccosed, the Fffour is Fffolded, the Jiiock is
Jiiokered?" Whotever the reply, soy, "Unfortunotely, it's not quile so simple. The Cccords Cccon't Cccope
with Alliterotion. Moybe it's becouse ... they're Alli erotel"

Toke the fon with the left hond ot the flored end ond revolve it over onto the toble (see Figure Eleven),
soying, "lt's the Four thot's Jokered ..." Pick up the folded cord, unfold it, ond set it down foce up,. soying,
"..'. ond the King thot's Folded ..." Pick up the cord cose, open it, ond cleonly extroct the cord within.
Turn it foce up, concluding, "... ond the Jock thot's Cosedl"

r0 ll

27
 J.K. Hortmon

ftiple Cross
"l do not know the origin of this trick. Stewort Judoh wos very fond of it ond tought it to me mony yeors
ogo." With these words, Poul Swinford introduces his own well-wrought opprooch to o routine entitled
"Triple Tronsposition," described in his lecture notes. The following constitutes on olternotive, quite
stroightforword method, the key move the Vernon Strip-out Addition, o description of which is included
in the finol Notes.

Prepore by secretly culling the four Aces to the top of the deck. Soy thot you will perform o trick colled
Triple Cross. Folse shuffle, hold the deck foce up, ond osk o spectotor to nome his fovorite foursome-
"Four Twos, four Queens, whotever ..." lf he nomes the Aces, chonge horses in mid-streom: perform on
Ace stock or o Spectotor Cuts the Aces or on Ace Locotion effect, now mode more impressive by the foct
thot the spectotor selects the volue ond you cleorly move right into the trick without seorching through
the deck.

During this preliminory potter, Triple Buckle to estoblish o breok obove the lowermost three cords.
Assume, for exomple, thot he nomes the four Sevens. Run through the foce up deck, outiogging the four
Sevens. Close the spreod ond execute the Vernon Strip-out Addition os you oppeor to extroct the
Sevens, octuolly odding the lowermost seporoted block beneoth them. (See Figure One.) Drop the deck
on the pocket, flip the deck foce down, ond immediotely deol the top four cords one ot o time into o pile
toword the left of the toble.

Turn the deck foce up ond obtoin o breok obove the lowermost three cords os you soy to the spectotor
thot you require o second foursome; since he chose o foursome of spot cords before, this time he is to
choose o foursome of picture cords. (Obviously, if he selected o picture cord volue initiolly, you now
instruct him to nome o spot cord volue.) Assume thot he decides on the Queens. Run through the foce up
deck ond outiog the Queens. Execute the Strip-out Addition, drop the deck on the pocket, flip the deck
foce down, ond deol the top four cords into o pile on your right.

Reioining the deck in the left hond, turn the top cord of the pocket on the left foce up, positioning it on
inch-ond-o-holf or so in front of the pocket (neorer the spectotors). Do the some with the pocket on the
right. (See Figure Two.! The slight time deloy obscures the foct thot the suit in eoch cose is not whot it
should logicolly be.

28
 Irickery Treots

Comment on the influence thot one cord hos on its brethren. Ask o spectotor to switch the positions of the
two foce up cords. Turn the right hond pocket foce up ond push the cords into o forword spreod behind
its indicotor (neorer you) to show thot ihe volues motch the indicotor. (See Figure Three.)

Stort to do the some with the left hond pocket. Then recoll thot the nome of the trick is TripleCross, "...
ond I don'twont to doublecross you. We need four more cords ..." Spreod
the honds, iniogging the fourth from top cord in the process, ond osk o s
cords. Moke triJthot ot leost one-third of the deck hos been fed from left h
his first choice, ond outiog the designoted cords for no more thon holf their length

Close up the deck, ond orch the right hond over the deck proper-second, third ond fourth [inger-s
togethei ocross the outer end, forefinger curled on top neor the outer lefit corner,-thumb ot the inner left
.oin"r, lifting up with the thumb on the iniog to secure o breok beneoth ihe top four cords. (See Figure
Four.) As this ond the ensuing octions tronspire, point out thot the first time the spectotor decided on o
foursome of spot cords, the second time on o foursome of picture cords, but this time the choice will be
left purely to chonce.

Holding the deck flot tilt the outer end somewhot upword; o
the upfer pocket for d, oligning it with the outiogged cord
lmmedioteiy, extend e left side of the combined outiogged
strip it end-for end (see Figure Six-stop oction) ond out o[ the deck, the left secon
side of the deck, serving oi the pivot point. The pocket ends up held tightly ot the inner right corner. (See
Figure Seven.)

5 6 7

29
 J.K. Hortmon

As soon os the pocket is free of the deck, both honds return their cords to horizontol position, their outer
ends, in foct, tilted o bit downword. Without pousing, drop the pocket on top of the deck ond deol the
uppermost four cords into o pile ot center toble. The entire switch sequence is performed ot o constont
but unrushed poce, the cont of the deck ond the right fingers conceoling the bock of the deck from view.

Turn the top cord of the pocket foce up, plocing it on inch-ond-o-holf or so in front of the pocket. Ask the
spectotor to exchonge the positions of the center ond lelt foce-up indicotors. Turn over the center pocket
ond push the cords inlo o forword spreod to show thot it motches the indicotor. Turn the left pocket foce
up to show thot it motches the Ace indicotor. (See Figure Eight.)

The description obove indicotes thot you ore to hold o breok obove the lowermost three cords while
outiogging the designoted foursome preporotory to executing the Strip-out Addition. As you will see, if
your feeding oction os you seorch for the four cords of like volue brings you neor the bock of the deck
ond hence neor the lowermost block, the foce cord of thot block con become inodvertently exposed.

During the seorch for the first foursome, such on exposure is not domoging-the volue of the cord
floshed (on Ace in the description obove)will hove no significonce ond will be forgotten. On the second
seorch (for the Queens), however, the exposure would indeed be domoging becouse the volue floshed
will be the one supposedly deolt previously to the toble (Seven).

The problem con be obvioted by o slight technicol chonge. You hove deolt the first pocket to the toble.
You hove turned the deck foce up ond Triple Buckled to estoblish o breok os you osk the spectotor to
identify o second foursome.

You now orch the right hond over the deck in on inconsequentiol squoring oction. As o virtuolly inston-
toneous follow-through, shift the section obove the breok o quorter-inch forword (see Figure Nine); then
immediotely shift it bock inword ond squore, the right thumbtip contocting the foce cord of the lower
block ond iniogging it in theprocess. (See Figure Ten.) An iniog hos thus been substituted for the breok.

E E
I,.-TI

E H
-
r0
Feed through the deck ond outiog the four oppropriote cords. The iniog will not be disturbed ond no
vitol cord will be floshed. When oll four cords ore outiogged, close up the deck. Agoin os o reflex-like
squoring oction, orch the right hond over the deck proper, push down on ond squore the iniog with the
right thumb, reestoblishing o left little fingertip breok obove it. Perform the Strip-out Addition ond
proceed os exploined.

Nofes. The oddition technique used for the finol switch is o more deliberote ond covered hondling of
Lorry Jennings' fine Opticol Add-On lThe Clossic Mogic of Lorry Jennings, Mike Moxwell, p. 4)which,
of course, con be used insteod.

30
 Irickery Treots

,BDY,"
Phoenix#248, p.
Strip-out Addition. This move of Doi Vernon's wos described in Bruce Elliott's
990. lts purpose is to odd cords secretly io o pocket of cords in the course of extrocting the lotter from
the deck or to switch o cord or cords within o pocket.

Using the setting obove os on exomple, hold the deck foce up ond begin to feed cords from the left hond
to the right os you look for the four Sevens, outiogging eoch for holf its length. Close the deck into the left
hond, ond ongle the Sevens os necessory to produce o tight fon. (See Figure Eleven.)

il t2
On the ossumption thot it is necessory to odd or switch three cords, buckle the three lowermost cords of
the deck with the leh forefinger to estoblish o breok obove them, ond insert the right forefinger into it.
(See Figure Twelve.) (Alternotively, this breok con be pre-estoblished before seorching for the Sevens.)

Grosping the deck proper ot its inner right corner between right forefinger ond thumb, drow it inword,
the three lowermosl cords, under cover of the deck, remoining fixed in ploce. The left thumb, extended
olong the left side of the iogged cords, ond the fingers cupped olong the right side serve os runners.
(See Figure Thirteen.)

Continue to drow the deck inword, the left thumb ond fingers oligning the jogged cords, until their outer
ends ore olmost but not quite even with the ends of the conceoled cords. At this point, grip the sides of
the iogged cords ond, without noticeoble hesitotion, drow the deck further inword ond free of them.
(See Figure Fourteen.)

r3 t4
The three conceoled cords hove been odded below lhe Sevens pocket. lf necessory it is on eosy motier
to obtoin o left little finger breok between the two blocks. lf o switch is in progress os in this trick, drop
the deck squorely onto the lefit hond cords. Turn the reossembled deck foce down, ond deol off the top
four cords. (See Strip-out Subtroction, Afier Crofi, p. 4, for o method thot does not require opporent
contoct between pocket ond deck.)

3t
Four Scores
Hofs ond Hof-Nots

Honds Hof[

Outside ln

It's Cotching

Nothing Succeeds [i/<e Succession

Four for Four

Through Woys

Add'Out
 Trickery Treots

Hofs clnd Hof-Nots

The following is o revision of Peter Duffie's "Brog Artist," lWith Cords, Duffie, unpoginoted), o neot ond
clever extension of the Hofzinser Four Ace Problem.

Begin by openly extrocting the four Kings ond the four Deuces ond distributing them seporotely-not in
pil-s or'overlopping-on ihe toble, Kings in one grouping, Deuces in onother. (See Figure One ) Retoin
ihe de.k foce down in the lelt hond. Aithe cords ore removed, comment thot you ore using Kings ond
Deuces-"... the Powerful ond the Lowly, Royohy ond Commoners, Hoves ond Hove-Nots ..."

Tell o spectotor thot in o moment you him

will osk of the Kings or one
of the b"r."r-ond osk him to onnounce which m, the Kings or the
Deuces. Assuming thot he decides on the Kings, the right hond from
obove in o known order-e.g., C-H-S-D from deck, momentorily
side-iogged, flip it foce do*n, ond perform o folse cut followed by o quick Hindu or Overhond Shuffle
preserving the top stock.

As theseoct os oppropriote obout the choice of the Kings ("Alwoys knew

you were m ort; so much for your love of the common mon," etc.) lf the
choice hod replocing the Kings, vory the potter os is consistent ("Obvi-
ously you're o true friend of the people; no loyolty to royolty for you ...")

ln this exomple, proceed by osking the spectotor to think of one of the Kings , "...o\y one ot oll. lt could
As you refer to the Kings, pick eoch up in turn with the
der, one below the other. Set the pocket on the deck,
Folse cut ond folse shuffle os before. Set the deck on the
e top stock, ond leove the deck there.

Hove the spectotor pick up the deck ond osk him to begin deoling cords from the top into o pile.on the
toble. As he does so, potter to this effect: "You ore thinking of one of the Kings. For me to hove known
oheod of time or know now which King is o one-out-of-four possibility. One ouFof-four is o chollenge,
on should be oble to deol with. But l'm sure
knowing or controlling iust how mony cords
I soy thot you con stop whenever you wish.
r you wish."

33
 J.K. Hortmon

will be in the pile by the time he underslonds whot he is

The point is thot ot leost fifteen or twenty cords
to do. When he does stop deoling, hove him set oside the cords remoining in his honds. Neoten the
deolt pile ond pick it up with your right hond from obove. Soying, "Toke these cords, whotever their
number, in deoling position," give them to the spectotor when he properly extends his hond. (The poini
of this somewhot convoluted procedure is thot ihe spectotor might inodvertently expose the foce cord if
he picks up the cords himself.)

Now osk him to deol his cords olternotely into four piles "iust os if you were deoling honds in o cord
gome, ond keep deoling until your run out of cords, however they foll." When he completes the deol,
which he will probobly execute from your right to lefi, note the pile following the lost cord deolt.

lf he deols from your right to lelt ond the lost cord folls on the rightmost pile, note the pile second from
the right. Think of thot os the "Clubs" pile, the piles then following in the known order. The pile third from
the right is thus "Heorts," the fou*h pile "Spodes," the first pile on the right "Diomonds."

Ask the spectotor to identify "for the first time" his mentolly selected King. Focus on the pile you hove
identified with thot suit. Assume thot he replies "Heorts" ond the situotion is os in the obove exomple: he
hos deolt from your right to left ond the losi cord deolt is the rightmost cord. The "Heorts" pile is thus
third from right. Reiterote, "The King of Heorts. You thought of the King of Heorts."

Go on, "But remember those lowly Deuces you turned your bock on? Well, despite the foct thot you did
oll thot uncontrolloble deoling, look whot ended up on top of this pile." As the lost comment is mode,
pick up the rightmost pile ond perform o Double Turnover to reveol the Two of Clubs. Replocing the pile
in position, soy, " A Twol Bui not the Two of Heorts."

Pick up the leftmost pile, ond go through the identicol potter ond octions. Repeot with the second from
right pile. The Twos of Diomonds, Spodes, ond Clubs ore in view. Continue, "One pile left. Whot do you
think is on top of iR" Whotever the reply, osk the spectotorlo turn the top cord foce up lo reveol the King
of Heorts - the mentolly selected cord. (See Figure Two.)

Note thot you ore trying to ottoch some logic or rhythm to the order in which the piles ore hondled to be
oble to leove the pile on which you hove focused for lost. Obviously, if the proper pile is ot either end of
the row, stort with the pile ot the olher end ond work ocross. lf the proper pile is second from right, stort
with the leftmost pile, then the rightmost pile, then the pile second from left.

The now stondord deoling procedure, which loymen occept fully os presenting o rondom method of
selection, wos published originolly by Bill Simon in o trick colled "Mothemogicion," Sleightly Senso-
tionol, Simon, p. 8.

Hcrnds Hoff
ln his lnside Out column in M A G I C April 1996 1p.78), Jon Rocherboumer described onother
delightful opprooch by Peter Duffie ("Honds Off Hofzinser") to the Hofzinser Ace Problem, one in which
much of the oction hoppens in o spectotor's honds. The following version extends the "honds off" feoture
to the moximum extent possible (ond thot is its novelty) os well os clorifying the tronsposition itself. The
suggested selection process is efficient ond fits in well, but obviously con be oltered ot will.

34
 Trickery Treois

Begin by looking through o shuffled deck, foces toword you. Note the suit ond volue of the foce cord.
Foithis descript'ron, ot**" the volue is Seven. Begin to feed cords from left hond to right, looki.ng foq o
cord of the some suit. lf the second or third from foce cord is of the some suit, ignore it ond look for the
next one. lf o cord of the some volue oppeors firsl, stort from scrotch with it. Le., look for o cord with its
suit, ignoring either of the next two cords. ln the some woy, if o third cord with the some volue oppeors
first, stort from scrotch with it, ond do the some if necessory with the fourth.

Whenever you reoch the desired cord, cut it to the bock of the deck. Whot you hove occomplished
(eosily, despite the cumbersome explonotion) is thot the suit of the reor cord duplicotes the suit of the
cord with the noted volue (Seven) locoted closest to the bock of the deck with ot leost two cords between
them. Lower the deck lo horizontol position, ond onnounce thot your next trick requires four Sevens.

Run through the foce-up deck, outiogging the Sevens os you come to them, Close up the deck ond turn
it foce do*n. Strip oui the outiogg"-d-.ordr, pivoting them oround the left first or second finger (see
Figure One), ot the some time obtoinlng o breok beneoth the top cord. Flip the Sevens foce up on top,
the breok now under the uppermost fivqcords. Assume for this description thot the Sevens ore orronged
from foce to bock Clubs, Heorts, Spodes, Diomonds, the first foce down cord on indifferent Diomond.

Soy thot one more cord is required, ond o spectotor is to decide whichone by soying 'stop' os you riffle
down the outer left corner of the deck. Perform o Rilfle Force, cutting off the block obove the breok with
the right hond in low wrist position ond tilting it upright to exhibit the foce cord. (See. Figure Two.)
Simulioneously, cont the left-hond section somewhot downword to mosk its thickness. Reploce the right-
hond block to reossemble the deck, mointoining o breok under it. (This Mock Force-like sequence is
perfectly deceptive, with most ongles well covered.)

Soying, "Now let's get bock to the Sevens," spreod the uppermost three momentorily, resquore them,
ond lih off the block ouer the breok with the right hond from obove. Give this pocket to the spectotor,
osking him to "Hold it like this, in your left hond, os if you were obout to deol in o cord gome," ot the
rorelirne monipuloting the deck foce up, gripped in normol left hond deoling position. You ore, in
other words, demonstroling your instructions with the deck, ond you will continue to do so.

Continue, "Whotever yovr cord might be, the one thing it con't be is o Seven. Yet one of the Sevens hos
the some suif os your cord." Then go on, pointing ot the pocket, "The first Seven is the Seven of Clubs.
lf it is the Seven whose suit motchei yow cord, leove it iust where it is. lf it isn't, toke it off like this, turn
it foce down, ond tronsfer it beneoth the other Sevens." As your occomponying demonstrotive oction,

35
 J.K. Hortmon

toke off the foce cord of the deck with the polm-down right hond (see Figure Three), turn the hond polm
up, the cord foce down, ond tuck it beneoth the deck.

When the spectotor hos done os requested (ond he will since his cord is o Diomond), go on, "Now do
the some with the Seven of Heorts. lf it hos the some suit os your cord, leove it where it is; if not, toke it
off, turn it foce down, ond tronsfer it beneoth the other Sevens." When he does so, repeot the sequence
with the Seven of Spodes.

When the spectotor hos tronsferred the Seven o[ Spodes, soy, "Thot meons by process of eliminotion,
the Seven of Diomonds hos the some suit os your cord." Continue, "So leove it where it is, but turn it foce
down, on top of the other Sevens."

Your potter goes on. "Let's double check to moke one hundred perceni sure. Slide out the Seven on the
boltom ond turn it foce up on fop." Demonstrote these instructions with the deck, sliding out the lower-
most cord vio the outer end (see Figure Four) ond revolving it foce up top. When he does so, soy
questioningly, looking ot the spectotor for confirmotion, "Your cord doesn'f hove the some suit os the
Seven of Spodes?"

When he ogrees, tell him to slide out the next cord from the bottom ond turn it foce up on top. Soy, "lt
doesn'l hove the some suit os the Seven of Heorts?" When he so confirms, hove him slide out ond turn
over o third cord, soying, "And it doesn't hove the some suit os the Seven of Clubs?"
"There's no doubt then thot the Seven of Diomonds is the one," you continue. "Slide it out loo, but don't
turn it over. Leove if foce down ond put it on the toble." When he does so, extend your left hond ond soy,
"And will you toke those other Sevens ond set them bock on the deck."
When the spectotor complies, soy, "Now will you cut off holf the deck ond ploce it on the toble ... ond
toke the rest of the deck ond set it on top of oll." When he does so, go on, "Lost but not leost, turn the
deck foce down." Then conclude, pointing toword the tobled cord, "Oh-one finol thing-cover the
Seven of Diomonds with your lelt hond so I con't get to it."

"You've probobly noticed lhol you've been doing oll the work," you continue, sitting bock, "ond so for
you've done it very well. Now for the mogic-ond you're going to do thot tool Somewhere in the deck
is o cord you selected eorlier. lf you snop your fingers over the deck like this," [demonstrote] "one cord
will turn over-turn foce up. Whot cord do you think it will be?" lf you use exoggeroted, sing-song,
emphosis os you osk this lost question, implying lhot of course it's his selection, he will reply, " My cord."

Continue, "Go oheod, snop your fingers, ond we'll find out." When he does so, osk him to spreod the
deck out, oiding him lf the foce up cord doesn't immediotely become visible. When the Seven oppeors,
push it out of the spreod (to obscure whence it come in cose he decides to poke oround loter) ond soy,

36
 Trickery lreots

"The Seven of Diomonds? Thot's supposed to be over therel" (pointing to his left hond). "Whotwos_the
Diomond you chose?" When he nomes his cord, hove him lift his hond ond turn the cord under it foce
up to reveol his selection.

Outside ln
This tronsposition hos been used os on incidentol interlude in o longer medley of Four Ace routines.

Hold the four Aces in o foce-up spreod in the left hond, from foce to bock Clubs, Spodes, red Aces. Toke
the block Aces olong their right side with the right hond. Soy to o spectotor, "Wokh how I orronge the
Aces: the red ones foce do*n, the blocks foce up." As you so comment, use the block Aces to lever the
reds foce down.

Continue, "The Ace of Spodes is the eosiest to remember, ond itgoes on the inside o[ the red Aces ..."
At the some time, push the uppermost foce-down cord to the right, ond corefully slide the Ace of Spodes
under it ond between the foce-down Aces. (See Figure One.) "... And the Ace of Clubs goes on the
ouhide." As you so conclude, slide the Ace of Clubs on top of the spreod which is now held lightly by
both honds. (See Figure Two.)

Pouse for o moment, then slide the cords squore, simultoneously securing o breok below the uppermost
foce-down cord. Arching the right hond over the pocket, execute o Turnover Poss os you osk, "Con you
keep trock of the orrongement if I turn the cords over?"

At the complelion of the Turnover Poss, the right hond will be orched noturolly gvgl lhe pockets. Without
chonging this position, work the cords into o spreod (see Figure Three), ond lift off the uppermost three.
(See Figure Four.)

The spectotor will presumobly onswer in the offirmotive. Without pousing, gesture with the left hond,
osking, "Whot is the cord on the outside?" Gesture with the right hond, ond osk, "And the cord on the
inside?" When the spectotor replies, pouse briefly. Soy, "You blinked." Turn the left hond polm down,
then the right hond polm up to reveol the tronsposition. (See Figure Five.)

3 4 5

37
 J.K. Hortmon

ll's Ccrtching
When Reinhord Muller's now clossic "3-Cord Cotch" oppeored in Ihe Pollbeorers ReviewQuly 1971 , p.
431), mony cordmen undoubtedly odiusted independently to o side grip rother thon on end grip. Two
descriptions of this hondling were published soon thereofter, both in the October 1971 issue o[ Ihe
Pollbeorers Review @. a61), one by Horvey Rosenthol ond the other the untitled predecessor of the
routine to be described which opplied the ideo to Roy Wolton's multiple sondwich Collectors theme. The
following odds some refinements ond reworkings to the originol version.

With the Aces foce up on the toble, hove eoch of three spectotors select o cord. Begin to spreod the deck
from hond to hond, seporoting it with roughly o quorter of the deck spreod in your right hond, the left
hond section more or less squored. (See Figure One.) Extend the left hond for the return of Spectotor
One's cord.

Roise the left-hond section to on upright position, pushing the selection rightword to give the spectotor o
finol glimpse. (See Figure Two.) Lower the hond, retrocting the cord with o breok beneoth it. Reossemble
the deck, ostensibly squoring it, the right hond orching over it in stondord foshion, the thumb toking
over the breok.

Undercut o thin pocket from bottom to top, then o second. Begin the hond-to-hond spreoding process
ogoin, seporoting the deck ot the breok for the return of Spectotor Two's cord. Tilt the left-hond section
upright ond push the selection rightword to give him o finol glimpse iust os previously, in this cose retroct-
ing the cord flush onto the left-hond section. Reossemble the deck, mointoining o breok between sections.

As before, undercut two thin pockets from bottom to top. Spreod the deck for the return o[ Spectotor
Three's cord, seporoting it ot the breok. Roise the left-hond section upright for his finol glimpse. As you
lower the hond, extend the left thumb to nudge the cord below the selection rightword, ond obtoin o breok
beneoth both cords os they ore retrocted. Reossemble the deck, ond Double Undercut to the breok.

The selections ore now on the bottom of the deck in Two, Three, One order from the bottom up. Pick up
o red Ace ond drop it on top of the deck. Pick up the other red Ace ond slide it beneoth the deck, openly
iniogged for holf its length. Without hesitotion, orch the right hond over the deck, the thumb pushing the
iniog squore ond obtoining o breok obove it. lmmediotely, shift the deck proper (obove the breok) o
holf-inch rightword, the left hond retoining the lowermost Ace in ploce, in effect side-iogging it. (See
Figure Three.) (This hondling of the second Ace will creote consistency with loter octions.)

38
Releose the grip of the right hond, the left thumb ocross the bock of the deck holding it in ploce, the left
fingertips co-ntocting theLofiom cord of the deck proper. Stotion the right hond two inches or so to the
rlgf,t of the left. During this sequence, soy, "Forty-eight cords between the red Aces."

With o shorp right-left movement, toss the deck proper into the right hond, squeezing.lightly with the left
thumb ond iing-"*ips to retoin the uppermost Ace,'the lowermoit Ace, ond the cord obove the lower-
most Ace, the ieck slipping out from between them, o single foce down cord now sondwiched by the
Aces. (See Figure Four.) Soy, "One cord between the red Aces."

Pouse for o moment, then set the sondwich corefully on the toble without disturbing the relotive.position
of the cords. Tronsfer the deck to the left hond, soying, "Let's see if the some thing hoppens with the b/ocl<
Aces," perform the following octions.

Pick up either of the block Aces ond drop it foce up ol top of the deck. Pick up the other one, ond
opporently slide it beneoth the deck. Actuolly buckle ihe botto, cord with your left [ingers, ond slide the
Ace obove it, openly iniogged os before. (See Figure Five.)
the iniog squore ond obtoining o breok obove it.
hond holding the lowermost two cords in ploce,
the lowermost Ace, duplicoting your prior octions,
k Aces, ond you comment, "Forty-seven cords be-
tween the blockAces."

With the n pl ght hond to the right of

the left o this ost Ace in the sondwich
retoined diff woy interfere with the
oction' " t"ft e'

"One ond one moke two," you go on. "spectotor One, whot wos the nome of the. cord you.selected
eorlier? Spectotor Two, whoi *ol your roid?" As you so potter, orch the right hond over the left hond
spreod ond toke it by the ends. (See Figure Six.)

6 7 8

39
 J.K. Hortmon

Corry it over the tobled sondwich, ond deliberotely set it down so thot lhe lowermost block Ace (double
cord) is directly on top of ond oligned with the uppermost red Ace (see Figure Seven), ond with thot
relotive positioning, pick up the combined elongoted spreod-the red Ace sondwich beneoth the block
Ace sondwich. (See Figure Eight.) As Spectotor Two replies by noming his cord, turn the right hond
polm outword, the pockoge upright, the two nomed cords in view. (See Figure Nine-spectotor view.)
"How did I do?" you osk.

There's o discreponcy here-only three bocks will be visible-but the spectotors'focus will be on the
cords between them. As soon os both spectotors provide some ocknowledgment, move the left hond,
polm inword, in front of the disploy (neorer the spectotors)-thumb ot the lelt side, fingers ot the right
(see Figure Ten), ond close it, compressing it squore. (See Figure Eleven.)

r0 il t2

The left hond then tokes the pockei by the sides, dropping down to normol height ond polm up. lmmedi-
otely retoke the pocket with the right hond ot the outer end-thumb obove, fingers below. (See Figure
Twelve.) As these octions toke ploce, turn to Spectotor Three, soying, "You selected o cord too, didn't you?"

Use the pocket to top the deck in stoccoto foshion, ond one-hond fon it, Ace foces visible, three bocks
now between them. (See Figure Thirteen.) As you do so, soy, "Don't worty,l hoven't forgotten youl"
Alter o momentory pouse, osk the spectotor to nome his cord; grosping the fon ot its flored end with the
left hond, thumb obove-fingers below, turn fie hond polm down ond set the fon on the toble, flored
end inword, oll three selections now in view. (See Figure Fourteen.)

t3 t4

40
 frickery Treots

Nothing Succeeds
Like Succession
Ken Krenzel's "succession Aces" theme hos provoked o number of solutions, some uncluttered ond
ingenious, others incongruously cumbersome given the leon-ond-meon plot For o geneologicol sum-
,Jry, see Morlo's Mog-ozine Volrre 1 , p.71. See olso Epilogue November 1972, p. 4 for Krenzel's
stotement of the effect.

The effect is o step-by-step gothering of the Aces: the Ace in the first pile invisibly trovels to the second,
the two then in th" t".onJpile tolhe third, the three in the third pile, finolly, to the Leoder pile to
complete the ossembly.

The following hondling hos minimol loose ends or grotuilous octions. One might dispute the psychology
of using the Vernon Trlnsfer move ot one stoge to oicomplish.sec.retly whot you. soy explicitly is hoppen-
ing mJgicolly, but the loct of the motter is thoJ it posses completely, perhops ot leost portiolly, porodoxi-
colly, becouse of the very broshness of using it.

Begin with the Aces foce up on top of the deck. The order for this de-scription is Heorts, Diomonds,
Spid"s, Clubs from foce to bock. ln'octuol performonce, only the Ace of Spodes must be in the position
given-third from foce.

Spreod them from hond to hond, ollowing the firs od os well. Obtoin o breok
below it os the cords ore re-squored. Arcf,ing the , begin to pick up-the block
obove the breok, the thumb ot the some time liFing th rd on top (second foce down
cord) to permit the left little finger to obtoin o breok beneoth it. Do nof corry it olong with the pocket.

You will now oppeor to redisploy the Aces one ot o time, ot the some time orronging them os necessory
with on oppli.Jion o[ the Dingl" version of Secret Subtroction (specificolly, the iechnique exploined
under Full Pocket Switch, Cord Croh, p. 53), os follows.

Move the pocket over the deck, the left thumb extended qcross it. Drow the pocket rightword, the left
thumb holding the first Ace in ploce, on top of the deck. (See Figure Ol".) Push it rightword, ogoinst the
neor perpendiculor position, stonding more or less on its long side.
rom the left edge of the right-hond pocket, revolve it over ond foce
ion), the cord londing on trcp of the extended left thumb, the pocket
from which position it is eosily retoken flush onto the bottom of the
re with the left little finger breok whlch is mointoined throughout.

4t
 J.K. Hortmon

Once the first Ace is securely on the bottom of the pocket, extroct the left thumb from under the pocket
by swinging it leftword (see Figure Five), then re-extend it over the pocket, ond in the some foshion
drow off the second Ace, revolving it foce down ond toking it beneoth the right-hond pocket os
exploined. As you extroct the lefi thumb by swinging it lefh,vord prior to pulling off the third Ace,
lower the pocket the froctionol difference necessory to contoct the top of the deck, ond steol flush
below it the cord obove the breok.

Continue without hesitotion by drowing off the third Ace (Spodes). Revolve it foce down ond toke it on
the bottom of the pocket. Drow off the fourth Ace. Revolve it foce down ond toke it beneoth the pocket,
but in this cose estoblish o right thumbtip breok obove it ot the inner end. (See Figure Six.) With the
hond positions unchonged-the pocket directly over the deck-extroct the left thumb os before, swing-
ing it leftword, simultoneously releosing the seporoted cord onto the deck, the oction over in on instonl.
lmmediotely return with the left thumb, toking hold of the pocket with the extended fingers ond thumb,
cleorly obove ond oport from the deck. (See Figure Seven.)

Pick off the uppermost cord with the right hond from obove, ond set it forword on the toble, beginning
o left-to-right three-cord row. Pick off the next cord, ond set it roughly two inches to the right of the first,
in center position. Pick off the third cord, setting it two inches to the right of the second.

The left fingers continue to hold two cords os one. "This one's the Ace of Spodes," you soy, "os you
might expect, the Leoder of the Pock." As you so comment, revolve this double cord end for end foce up,
onto the deck, to disploy the Ace of Spodes; turn the double cord foce down, ond deol the top cord to
"Leoder" position, o few inches inword (neorer you) of the center cord of the row. (See Figure Eight.)

(Note thot the Subtroction element con be eliminoted in fovor of o stroight Add-On. Proceed exoctly os
exploined, but do not estoblish o breok obove the fourth Ace: ofter revolving it foce down, toke it flush
beneoth the pocket. Drop the pocket onto the deck. Deol the uppermost three cords into o lelt to right
row. Perform o Double Lift to disploy the Ace of Spodes, turn the double cord foce down, ond deol the
supposed Ace to Leoder position.)

The octuol plocement ot this stoge is lndifferent Cord-Ace of Heorts-Ace of Diomonds in the forword
row, ond on indifferent cord ot the Leoder position. The Ace of Spodes is on top of the deck, the Ace of
Clubs directly below it.

Soy thot you require on odditionol twelve cords. So soying, toke the deck with the right hond from
obove, obtoining o thumbtip breok obove the lowermost two cords. Counting oloud, drog off the top
cord with the left thumb. As you pull off the next cord (counting "Two"), releose beneoth it the seporoted
cords, Reverse Biddle style. (See Figure Nine.)

42
 Trickery Treots

Continue drowing off cords, counting to iwelve, but ot some point in the course o[ the deol, steol bock
two cords. E.g., rihen you hove token off cord number six, introduce the.left little fingertip os ygy pu.ll off
the next cord]prll off one more. As you then pull off the succeeding cord (see Figure Ten), steol bock the
two cords obove the breok flush onto the bottom of the deck, Biddle style. At the conclusion of the count,
your leFt hond thus does hold twelve cords.

Set the bolonce of the deck oside. Return with the right hond to grosp the pocket from obove, soying thot
the twelve cords will be divided equolly, three to ioin eoch of the Aces. Pull off three cords one ot o time
with the left thumb. Curl oll four left fingers beneoth this pocket ond the left thumb on toP (see..Figure
Eleven), ond extend your fingers ond thumb to corry the pocket rightword.(see Figure Twelve), ollowing
it to be set neotly ond corfortobly onto the supposed Leoder Ace. During this sequence, soy, "One-two-
three cords on the Ace of Spodes."

t0 ll 12

octions, ollow the fingers to iog the lowermost cord

one by one os before, depositing the threesome on
this Ace "'" As vou then
,t#,1"'td;T;""'.?,'*::"
Pulloff thumb. Pull off the next one. Clipping the side-iogged three-cord
block o e it on the third count. ln the some foshion os before, set the left
hond p multoneously, the right hond sets its "pocket"-octuolly, o single
cord-on the rightmost Ace. (See Figure Fourteen.)

lmmediotely odiust the position of the left hond so os to contoct lhe center pile by the long sides from
obove, forefinger ot the outer end, both honds thus momentorily squoring their respective piles ond

43
 J.K. Hortmon

conceoling them from unobstructed view. (See Figure Fifteen.) As you do so, look up ond continue,
"Now let me tell you whol's obout to hoppen."

r3 14 t5
Lift your honds ot this stoge, soying, "lf we hod o piono ployer, we'd osk for o little troveling music,"
ond fluttering your fingers os if ploying o piono. (You ore distrocting ottention owoy from the tobled
piles.) Topping the leftmost pile, soy, "The Ace in this pile ..." As you go on, "... will trovel to this one,"
pick up the center pile with the right hond from obove. Revolve it foce up in ihe lefit hond ond tilt the
outer end downword.

Grosp the foce up pocket with the right hond from obove, ond move it in circles obove the leftmost pile,
soying, "Since we don't hove o piono, we do this insteod." Retoke the pocket in the left hond in reodi-
ness for o Block Push-Off Folse Count. Push off the uppermost cord, toking it in the right hond, soying,
"One Ace ..."

Toke the next cord below the first, froctionolly outiogged with respect to the first. (See Figure Sixteen.)
Block Push-Off oll but the lowermost cord os the third count, toking the block below the right-hond
cords, oligned with the second cord. Flick the lost cord, on Ace, soying , "...\wo Aces!" Announce the
suits of the two Aces ("Heorts ond Clubs") ond toke the second Ace on top of oll, oligned with the pocket
proper. (See Figure Seventeen.)

I6 17 I8
Continuing, "... ond i[ there ore two Aces in this pile ...," llip the pocket foce down ond orch the right
hond over it, the thumb estoblishing o breok obove the iniog. Contocting the inner end of the two-cord
block below the breok with the side of the left little finger (see Figure Eighteen), stroighten the finger to
ongle thot block rightword, the right thumb ot its extreme inner left corner ond the pod of the little finger
ot its outer right corner holding it firmly in ploce. (See Figure Nineteen-right hond tronsporent.)

As you then go on, "... then this one hos none," scoop up the leftmost pile with the left hond, dig the
thumb beneoth it (see Figure Twenty), ond spreod it longitudinolly with the thumb os it is levered foce up
(see Figure Twenty-One), replocing it in position on the toble. At this stoge, your right hond should be on
inch or fwo obove the toble, more or less befween the originol center pile position ond the rightmost pile.

44
 Irickery Treots

r9 20 2t

"The next step," you continue, "is the trip from here ... to here." Atthe some time perform the spreod
version of the Vernon Tronsfer Move, os follows.

Pinch the right-hond pocket olong the left side with the left thumb obove, first ond second fingers below.
(See Figure Twenty-Two.)With the right hond still gripping the lowermost block, seporote the honds, the
left hond moving o froction of o second before the right, returning the pocket to center position os you
soy "...from here..." The right hond, meonwhile, moves the short distonce necessory lo.corry its
conceoled block to the rightmost pile, immediotely spreoding the pile rightword, the conceoled cords
coolescing to produce o ftur-cord spreod (see Figure Twenty-Three) os you conclude, "... to here."

22 23 24

The opticol illusion provided by the Vernon Tronsfer Move ensure

the conceoled block is never completely out of octuol view, oided
ond the ropidity of the lronsfer which creote o blending, deloyed
retention of vision-ond by the foct thot the spreod pile hos the n

Squore up the rightmost pile, pick it up with the right

hond, retoking it with the right hond from obove. Ci
ond onnounce the suit of the Ace on the loce of the
with the right thumb ond fingers olong the right side
(see Figure Twenty-Four), instontly levering the lowe
before the new foce cord is in view (See Figure Twenty-Five.)

45
 J.K. Hortmon

25 26 27
Push the uppermost cord of the pocket to the right ond use the foce up Ace to lever it foce up, soying,
"ond Heorts..." Squeeze this cord beneoth the right-hond Ace ond use the twosome to lever over the
next cord, soying, "... ond Clubs." Receive this cord beneoth the right-hond cords, ond flip the three-
cord block foce down to reossemble the pocket.

Toking the pocket with the right hond from obove, you will soy, "And if there ore three Aces in fhis
pile, then lhis one hos none." As this remork is mode, you will lift the center pile by the long sides with
the left hond, turn the hond polm up, the pocket settling foce up, ond spreod it forword into o
longitudinol spreod.

As the left hond performs these octions, the right hond executes o kind of tobled Le Temps Chonge
lExperf Cord Technique, lst. edit., Hugord ond Broue, p.248-91, os follows.

You hove token the pocket in hond with the right hond from obove, doing so with the thumb ot the inner
end ond the second finger ot the outer end, both neor the right corners. (See Figure Twenty-Six.) At the
some time, begin the sentence with, "And if there ore three Aces in this pile ..." Both honds move toword
the toble, the left hond crossing directly in front of the right to lift up the center pile by the long sides, the
right hond obove the Leoder pocket. (See Figure Twenty-Seven.)

28 29
As the left hond lifts the center pocket ond begins to turn polm up, the right hond lowers its pocket in
such o woy os to be oble to grip the Leoder pocket between the third finger ond the thumb ot its outer
ond inner right corners. (See Figure Twenty-Eight.) As the left hond longitudinolly spreods the center
pockel, the right hond slides owoy the Leoder (lower) pocket, releosing the upper pocket to the Leoder
spot (see Figure Twenty-Nine), ond drifting o bit rightword. The left hond loys down the foce-up spreod
in center position, the right hond immediotely thereofter flooting forword to deposit the pocket it holds
in rightmost position. (See Figure Thirty.)

46
 Trickery Treots

30 3r

Don't be self-conscious obout the switch for which the left hond, picking up the center pile by the long
sides, provides octuol cover, the forword spreoding then creoting ideol misdirection. lt need not be
rushed, ond the hond octions synchronize eosily ond smoothly.

"Thot brings us to the domoin of the Ace of Spodes," you go on, turning over the Leoder pocket in ploce.
Pick it up with the right hond from obove ond circle it over the rightmost pockei, soying, "One more trip
to go." Reploce it foce up in Leoder position.

Soying, "And if the other three Aces ore no longer here ...," scoop up the rightmost pile with the right
hond, dig the thumb under it, ond spreod it longitudinolly os you revolve it foce up, replocing it on the
toble. Conclude, "... then this is where they must be!" As the remork is completed, lift the Leoder pocket
iust off the toble wiih both honds, one ot eoch long side, ond work it into o forword spreod to reveol oll
four Aces. (See Figure Thirhy-One.)

Nofes. An olternote opprooch to the hondling of the twelve indifferent cords moy be preferred. ln this
cose, you con begin the routine by giving the deck to o spectotor ond hoving him remove the Aces ond
deol o pile of twelve indifferent cords.

Pick up the pile, holding it foce down. Scoop up the Aces ond spreod them on top foce up, the Ace of
Spodes third from foce. Now proceed with the Secret Subtroction or Add-On phose, loying out the
supposed Aces on the toble exoctly os exploined. ln this cose, you ore operoting with o pocket of cords
rother thon the full deck.

At this stoge, two Aces ore on top of the pocket the bolonce of which consists of ten indifferent cords.
Arching the right hond over the pocket, buckle the lowermost two cords with the leh fingers ond obtoin
o breok obove them with the right thumb. Soy thot you will now divide the twelve cords up, distributing
three on top of eoch Ace. As the remork is mode ond os on idle but plousible demonstrotive oction, pull
off three cords one by one with the lelt thumb, releosing the seporoted cords between the first two-os
the second cord is pulled off-Reverse Biddle foshion.

Pouse momentorily, then drop the pocket proper onto the left-hond cords, soying, "We'll stort with the
Ace of Spodes," ond proceed exoctly os exploined in the description obove by beginning the deoling
process "ior reol."

47
 J.K. Hortmon

Four For Four

The following is yetonother version of the clossic Four Ace Trick theme with this novelty: oll four oces
tronspose with indifferent cords, the lotter hoving >een set well oport ot the outset of the trick.

ln more detoil, with the Aces foce up on the toble, the performer deols four cords into o foce-down
seporote pile. A spectotor orronges the Aces in o foce-down row ond three cords from the bolonce of
the deck ore odded foce up to eoch. The Ace pockets ore gothered, one on top of the other. The
performer deols through this combined pocket, in the course of which eoch Ace is seen to hove trons-
formed into on indifferent cord. As confirmotion, the pocket is spreod foce up on the toble without on
Ace- in sight. The four-cord foce-down pile set oside ot the outset is then turned over (by o spectotor if
preferred), ond it consists of the Aces.

The only reol sleight, exploined in this context below, is Hip Hop, the originol references for which ore
detoiled in "Spot Swop" (Chopter One). As is observed there, this poiket switch is eosy ond, with
odequote misdirection os is omply the cose here, fully deceptive despite its seeming obviousness. You
hove to try it to believe it.

Assume thot the four Aces loy foce up on the toble following o previous trick. Distribute them in o row in
stondord foshion, forword of the center lotitude of your performing oreo. Hove o spectotor shuffle the
deck. Toke it bock, ond deol four cords into o foce-down pile, the pile locoted neorer to you, in line with
the second Ace from the right. (See Figure One.) Point out thot whotever these cords might be, they
connot be the Aces.

Ask o spectotor to turn eoch Ace foce down in ploce

will odd three cords to eoch to form four four-cord
e righ
red. Fl
sing b

Poule for o moment, then close up the spreod squorely onto the deck ond immediotely lift off the entire
block obove the breok by the ends, setting it squorely on one of the Aces. Three foce-up cords hove
presumobly been ploced on top of the foce-down Ace. Repeot this process with ihe other three Aces,
then dispose of the deck, foce up ond well to your left.

Pick up one of the Ace pockets with the right hond from obove. Turn the hond polm up ond identify the
Ace ot the foce of the pocket. Turn the hond polm down ond tronsfer the pocket to the left hond. As the

48
right hond reoches for o second pocket, buckle the lowermost cord of the left-hond pocket ond obtoin o
little finge*ip breok obove it.

ing its nome. Turn the hond polm down ond

octuolly obove the lowermost cord, the little
modote the oction. (See Figure Three') As the
roze ogoinst the left fingertips, iogging it right-
breok obove it os the
hti:*";r,l#'i;;*
pick up o rhird pocket with the right hond, ond disploy the Ace ot its foce. App"ot to slide the pocket
U"n"ott, the leftlhond pocket, o.tiolly obove the two lowermost cords os before. ln this cose too ollow
tl," fo." cord of the right-hond pocket to groze ogoinst the left fingertips.to side-iog it,,ond obtoin o
6r"o[ obore it os the c"ombined pocket is fiuored]the breok no* obor" the lowermost three cords.
Finolly, disploy the Ace, slide the pocket
into the cord in the process, obtoining o
breok o umbtip retoining the breok, now
obove the lowermost four cords (the Aces).

You will now drow cords off the pocket with the left
inch or two obove the toble ond move in gentle in
process, the left hond remoins obove the toble,
seporotion settles down to the toble, its fingerti
down pile. (See Figure Five.)

ln this monner, drow off the uppermost cord, then the next cord, then the third cord,,soying, long-
t*olthr"" rondom .ord, oni ..." Dro* off the ne. t (foce-down) cord flush onto the left-hond pocket
but retoin o breok beneoth it with the left little fingertip, concludiog, "... on Ace."

The honds seporote os before, the right hond settling on the toble iust t9 the left of the four-cord pile, the
left hond somewhot lefit of center, stiiion inch or two obove the toble. Continue, "But wotch the Ace .'."
Bith honds now perform simuhoneous oclions, during which the Hip Hop is executed, os follows.

The left hond performs whot omounts to o slow motion version of L. Siminofft Flippont, .Apocolypse
September 1978,p. 103, used here os on open, perhops flourishy, oppropriotely one-honded turnover.
iil,p"ltJ is held'p"rf".ily flot-ir is no*ilied righword-ond iests.ielotively loosely in the hond, the
for"iirg", ot the ouier end ond second ond third flngerr olong the right side crodling it but not gripping

49
 J.K. Hortmon

it tightly The.little finger pod mointoins o breok under the foce-down cord; the thumb, extended olong the
left side, ond the thumb mound edge over ond onto the the pocket for its entire length. (See Figure SIx.)

Your potter continues, "... becouse it's on Ace ..." You then go on, "... no longerl" As you so conclude,
roise the hond obout.six inches ond, without pousing,lower it stroight down to storting position,
iust
obove the toble, the drop on immediote but gentle one. Air pressure will couse the foceldo*n .ord to
pirouette or somersoult foce up, tripping or hinging on the overhonging portion of the left thumb. (See
Figure Seven-stop oction, ond Figure Eight.) The spectotors will see thot the Ace hos indeed trons-
formed into on indifferent cord.

The operotive oir currents ore generoted by both up ond down movements iointly, the one following the
other without interruption. As indicoted, they ore performed ot o comfortoble poce: neither is on oierly
quick dorting oction. Since the turnover is. not secret, nothing is lost if the cord londs portiolly on your
thumb or is otherwise slightly disorronged

The right hond, meonwhile, performs these octions

it's
soy, " ... becouse grip on
As you conclude, ". bolonc
the foce-down pile, combin

At thot precise moment, your lelt hond hos come

it, ond you hove concluded the potter line, "
the left fingers squore the tronsformed cord
both honds opprooch eoch other to ollow
continuing, "One-two-three rondom cords ond

ond oction or perform it furtively or ierkily (or self-

on your right hond. The lett-hond oction con be
ke sure thot the right-hond pocket londs squorely
hugs the toble throughout: it releoses the lower
ction, it goes without soying, provides totol misdi-
rection, ond the pocket switch will poss without question.

As indicoted, on the completion of the switch, iust ot the point when the spectotors' eyes might wonder
from the tronsformed cord, your right hond hos moved owoy from the ioble, both hondsioming to-
gether to count off the second foursome. As before, the honds move in inverse orcs to do so, thJ lett
hond swinging somewhot leftword but still on inch or two obove the toble, the right hond settling do*n
to touch the toble, now to the right ond slightly inword of the foce-down pile.

50
As you count off the opporent Ace-the foce-down cord-mointoin o breok under it os belore ond
orr.1r" the Flippont grii (Refer to Figure Six.) Pouse momentorily, then soy, "... no longer!" At the
some time, p"ifom tlie open Flippont moves exoctly os before.

Repeot the some sequence o third time. At iis conclusion, three Aces will hove oppeo.red to chonge into
iniifferent cords. Beginning the sequence o finol time, count ofl three "rondom cords." The right hond
will be left with o fo.J-do*i blo.k which, with no hesitotion, it deposits os if it were the single remoining
Ace, the left little finger retoining o breok beneoth it.

"An Ace ... no longeri' you excloim os before, in this cose executing the entire
block. The techniq"ue is'little different, except in this cose be consc elt thumb
l"ft*ord os the block storts to revolve so thot'it is sure to lond flush, th he grip of
the left fingers to ossure thot the cords ore squored.

As soon os the move is completed, grosp the pocket by the long sides with the right hond from obove,
ond ribbon spreod it cleonly on the-tob[e from right to le[t, welloport from the foce-down pocket. The
cleor obsence of Aces will ossuoge ony suspicioris roised by the iinol torersoult, ond the presence of
extro cords in the foce-up spreod will not be noticed. (See Figure Ten.)

IO
Pouse o moment or two, then scoop up the spreod foce up ond dispose.of the.pocket onto the foce of the
deck. Top the foce-down pile, soying,'"Thot ieoves us with these cords thot, whotever they were, couldn't
be the Aces. Toke o look ot them." P-ush the pile forword, ollowing o spectotor to turn it over to reveol the
missing Aces.

Notes. A purist moy correctly observe thot in this four-for-four tronsposition, there is little theoreticol
rotionole ior. d"oling three (or ony number o[) cords on -eoch Ace. There is o kind of consistency,
however, in using foJ"cord pocketi to motch your originol four-cord pile ond, in ony event, this level of
spectotor intellectuolizing is not likely to occur in proctice'

A Boilom Plocement con be used os on olternotive to the Buckle or Pull Down to control the Aces to the
bofiom of the pile os you gother the pockets. The technique exploinedin Cord.9!"ft,p 30 3l (Modified
Bottom Replocementi is p"referoble os it covers the usuol Bottom Plocement follocies-the stroined op-
peoronce of the right fingers ond the foct thot the r pper block is reploced vio o southwest troiectory.

You ore ot the stoge in the trick where t om. top

down, of three fo.J-rp indifferent cords d Pick up
on" oi the pockets *ith the right hond s e hond
polm outwo rd-thumb up, finiers down. (See Figu p sfer the
pocket to the left hond.

5I
 J.K. Horlmon

ll t2 r3
Pick up o second pocket ond disploy its foce in the some monner, the right-hond pocket obove ond to the
right of the left-hond pocket. (See Figure Twelve.) Reverse the oction of the right hond, rolling it leltword
-the
ond polm down to set it on the left-hond pocket, very ropidly executing the octions of Bottom
Plocemenl to tronsfer the Ace ot its foce to the foce of the combined pockei. (See Figure Thirteen.)

Repeot these octions with fhe remoining two pockets. Obtoin o breok obove the lowermost four cords
ond proceed with the trick.

fhrough Wqys
This series of four porollel ond increosingly effective chonges of indifferent cords into selected cords or
Aces evolved out of the process of creoting o more developed setting for the finol chonge which is
impressive but insufficiently substontiol on its own. For eose of explonotion, the trick will be dLscribed os
o revelotion of the four Aces.

The first two chonges ore stroightforword opplicotions of the Push-ln Chonge lExpen Cord Technique,
lst edit., Hugord & Broue, p.87 ), described he'e with o somewhot non-stondord hondling thot is
porticulorly oppropriote within the context of this routine. The third chonge, in which the cords ore foce
up throughout, hos o strong elfect ond is similor to Ken Krenzel's "Around the World in Severol Woys,"
lKen Krenzel's lngenuilies, Stephen Minch, p. 39).

The fourth chonge is bosed on on ideo used in "Knocked for o Loop" lCord Croh, p.556). ln thot
trick, o disployed cord, portiolly inserted foce down in the deck, mogicolly turns foce up os it is
knocked or ropped through the deck. The method depends in lorge meosure on bluff, but lt is thor-
oughly deceptive ond creotes o surprising effect, both chorocteristics equolly true when the ideo is
opplied to o tronsformotion.

The necessory storting set-up is on Ace on top of the deck, on Ace third from top, ond the other Aces
second ond fourth from the bottom. As on eosy woy to reoch this position, stort with the Aces on iop. Cut
off o block of ony comfortoble size in Foro Shuffle position ond perform one Out-Shuffle (the originol
top cord remoins the top cord), then Double Undercut four cords from top to bottom (or two ctrds
twice). Alternqtively, follow the Foro Shuffle with on Overhond Shuffle, milking off the top ond bottom
cords, then running three cords singly ond throwing the bolonce on top.
Begin the routine itself by performing o Double Turnover ond colling ottention to the cord thus disployed.
Turn the double cord foce down, leoving it outiogged for on inch or so. Grosp it ot its outer right coiner,

52
ond insert it into the center of the deck lor two-thirds of its length, the left thumb creoting on opening to
occommodote the oction. (See Figure One.) Releose the grip of the right hond ond pouse momeniorily.
Then re-contoct the double cord ot its outer /eF corner between riqht thumb ond forefinger, ond execute
follows. Pertorm
the Push-ln Chonge with thot positioning os tollows. finger-snopping octlon
gentle, ttnger-snopp.lng
Perform o gentle with mese
oction wrm. these
fingers, the thumdedging leftword, the Iorefinger pulling erer-so-slightly rightword,. The effect will be to
."Joroi" the double
SepOrOte Jt ils
ot
dOuble Ot iis Outer end Under
tls outer cover
under COVer the ngnl
of Ine
couer. Ot right ihe uPPe.r
hond, Ine
riqht no.no, upper cqrq
cord snlrltlg
shifting froctionolly
rlqlrr()lrurry
l"it*ord ond forword of the lower. (See Figure Two-righihond removed.) The ouler edge of the lower
..,rd
cord is thus in oosition
position to be enoooed
engoged bv forefinger which pushes it flush into the deck.
by ih" l"ft forefinqer

Without the slightest hesitotion, curl in the right second finger so thot its noil surfoce contocts the outer
edge of the nJw single outiogged cord onJ begin to pivot the outer end of the cord rQhtwgld ,ot
delcribed below, the Ior J ereiti,olly turning end fi r end but oll the while remoining portiolly within the
deck. To occommodote this oction, fh" |"ft fingers stroighten ond the left thumb extends ocross the outer
left corner of the deck, clipping it with pr"tsui" ogoinst the bose of the forefinger.

The rototion of the cord, which is corried out ot o good but unrushed poce ond with.no interruption in
the flow of the oction, will toke it to o perpendiculor position (see Figure Three), then to on ongled
position, the right hond now ot the inner right corner (see Figure Fourl, then, with- the help of the left
iing"r, which fid oround the right side of thi cord, to on iniogged position for holf iis length or so but
otherwise oligned with the deck. (See Figure Five.)

At thot point, stillwithout pousing but ot o touch more deliberote poce, groduolly drow the cord inword
ond free of ih" deck. Flicl it, onl revolve it foce up to reveol thot it hos become on Ace by poking the
right second finger obove it (see Figure Six) ond pressing downword. io spin the cord over, gripped
bJue"n first onJ second fingers. (S-e Figure Seven.) Drop it on the toble.

53
 J.K. Hortmon

Note thot the Push-ln Chonge tokes on instont, ond is immediotely followed by the pivoting or rototing
process: thot, ostensibly, is why you hove token hold of the cord ot its outer left corner. Outwordly, in other
words, the two octions constitute o single step: you contoct the protruding cord ond begin to pivot it.

With this first chonge, you showed the foce of the indifferent cord while it oppeored to be on top of the
deck-not ofter itwos inserted into the deck. With the second chonge, vory the procedure to moke it seem
more demonding. Repeot the octions os described, but ofter the double cord hos been inserted in the deck,
pouse momentorily, then turn the left hond polm down to expose its foce once more. (See Figure Eight.)
You will thus sotisfy the suspicions of those who moy feel thot somehow you switched the cord prior to
inserting it in the deck. Then proceed with the Push-ln Chonge sequence exoctly os described.

As the foce of eoch Ace its nome. After the second Ace hos been tobled, soy,
"Let's try it with the cords the deck foce up ond oppeor to duplicote the proce-
dure of the first two chon Ace, os follows.

Arch the right hond over the foce-up deck, thumb ot the inner right corner, first ond second fingers ot
the outer right corner. Riffle up gently on the inner ends of the upper holf with the thumb, holding bock
the two foce cords, ond move them on inch or so forword os one. Gliding the thumb forword to ioin
the first ond second fingers, grosp the double cord ot its outer right corner (see Figure Nine) ond
insert it in the middle of the deck, in this cose for no more thon holf its length. Releose the right hond
grip ond pouse momentorily.

Re-grip the double cord ot its outer left corner, but in this cose twist the right hond bock-of-the-fingers-
leftword so thot contoct is octuolly mode ot the left side rother thon the outer end-thumb obove, first
ond second fingers below. (See Figure Ten.)

With this oltered grip, begin the some pivoting oction os before, rototing the double cord to perpendicu-
lor position (refer to Figure Three-ossume cords loce up), then to on ongled position. (Refer to Figure
Four-ossume cords foce up.) At this exoct point in its trovels ond os you now begin to swing it to on
iniogged position, simultoneously push off forcibly with the right thumb to propel the uppermost cord of
the double leftword. (See Figure Eleven-stop oction.) The left fingers, immediotely folding oround the
right side, instontly olign both the uppermost ond lowermost cord of the double with the deck os the right
hond drows the lowermost cord to the iniogged position (refer to Figure Five-ossume cords foce up),
ond then free of the deck.

54
 l0 IT

ln [oct, however, the uppermost cord should end u

occidentol iniog ond without in ony woy unsqu
your obiective in procticing the move. Note thot
lounches the cord; the left fingers, folding oroun
deck os the lowermost cord is drown inword.

Continue by tossing the third Ace on the toble, colling-its no.me oloud. Assume for descriptive purposes
thot or this itoge thI lndifferent cord now on the foce of the deck is the Four of Clubs. Procged by soying,
"One more tJgo." As this remork is mode, prepore for the fourth chonge somewhot differently.

Arching the right hond over the deck, Swing Cut

the riglrt hond section on the left hond section, in
to move it forword, the right second [ingertip
section-the Four of Clubs-in the some direction.
end of the lower section (under the odvoncing cor
vertently outiogged by friction below the Four of Clubs.

Continue the forword movement of the right

section ond the Four of Clubs is outlogged
section to reossemble the deck proPer, but lust prio
left forefinger to creote o kind of flesh breok or se
section. (See Figure Fourteen-exposed view.)

"This time, l'll knock it through the deck," you go

deck foce outword, the Four of Clubs now downlog
three very light preliminory tops. Concluding, "...
shorp ,op oiknock, propelling it through the deck
tronsit to the lourth Ace. Actuolly, perform the following octions.

Striking the edge of the protruding cord solidly, hommer it flush, moking contoct with the extended right
fing"rr"in o klni of bockword/up-*ord slopping motion, the hond opprooching from the side so os not
to 6lock the spectotors' view. (See Figure'iifteen-stop oction.) At precisely the some moment, push
shorply upword with the lett forefinger.

55
 J.K. Horimon

t2 l3 t4
The oction of the risht hond will squore the outiosns:?;:*iliJ::"1"ftproper. The simultoneous

to the lotter oction, ollow t

) the upiogged section, on
k to foce. (See Figure Seventeen-exposed view.)

t5 r6 t7
The upiogged section will oppeor to be o single
oppeoronce obetted by the foct thot it comes into v
no longer is. Moreove\your ongles ore protected
noturol follow-through positioning of the right hon
Pouse for o moment. Then contoct the exposed end of the Ace with the right second finger. With ossis-
tonce from the thumb, drow it upword ond free of the deck. At precisely the some time, thl left forefinger
squores the lower (outer) section with the upiogged block. (See Figure Eighteen.) Flick the Ace ond toss
it onto the toble, to complete the trick.

l8 r9
N9les. With respect to the first two chonges, the right finger positioning of the Push-ln Chonge-ot the
left rother thon the right outer corner-fits well into the sequence in which it is used since it is oppropri-
ote for the ensuing plvoting oction. The foct of the motter, however, is thot if ;lt results from'o mis-
reoding of the description in Expert Cord Technigue decodes ogo! The foct thot it provided greoter cover
undoubtedly creoted on eorly poth of leost resistonce, ond, through force of hobit, thot is htw the move
hos been performed for yeorsl

56
 Irickery Treots

With respect to the technique used in the third chonge, itcon be opplied (coming evolutionory full circle)
to produce on extremely effective version of the Tunnel theme thqt hos been incorporoted os o stoge in
on Ambitious Cord routine.
Assume t ted second from toP on ioP
ofter yet o Double Turnover. Us osit
the doub . Apporently turn the c the
Undertur Noies o[ "Closet Revolu ord
foce up second from top.
ich the Ambitious Cord distinguishes itself from its
(the noturol breok below them occommodoting the
r, ond insert it in the middle of the deck for no more
xoctly os described, in this cose the cord opporently
performing on instont ond olmost visuol reversol to emerge from the inner end foce up.
With respect of the trick were performed slowly.-the indifferent
cord prshed emerge from the deck-they would be illogicol if
represented o d *orld hove to be o good deol longer thon normol
to be visibleo of knocking it through the deck ond the suddenness
of the oction rotionolize this problem.
The following moy be of interest os o woy of incorporoting the fourth chonge into o.seporote "quick
trick" or the initiol introductory phose of.on Ambitious Cord or other routine thot demonstrotes the
mogicol properties of o porticulor cord in the deck-e.g., the Ace of Spodes.
Knocking Cord. Cull the oppropriote cord to the top of the deck-for this exomple., the Ace of Spodes.
Execute-o Double Turnover'to disploy on indifferent cord, ond perform the fourth chonge exoctly os
described, beginning with the Swing Cut, but in this cose with the deck proper foce down, the vitol cords
foce up. At its conclusion, the fo." rp indifferentcord chonges.into the foce up Ace of Spodes. lnsteod
of tossing the Ace to the toble oFter it is extrocted from the deck, drop it on top.
With it still in thot position, orch the right hond over the deck, lifting up with the thumb ot the noturol
breok beneoth the ieversed cord locoteJ in the lower holf of the deck. Allow thot cord to escope from the
thumb, retoining o breok obove it with the left little fingertip. lmmediotely continue the-upword riffling
oction, releosin! fiFteen or twenty cords or so, ond perform on open Side Slip Cut, the left thumb holding
the Ace in plocJ os the right hond slides owoy the unreleosed block. (See Figure Nineteen.)
Set thot block on the toble, ond return with the right hond. Lift off holf the cords obove the breok, ogoin
e os the right hond slides owoy the upper
ght hond o finoltime, performing on open
eft little finger breok. Moke sure thot the
olesces on top of it. Set the right hond block on the
toble in line with the others.
Ask the spectotor io point to one of the tobled piles. Turn the double cord.on t9p of the poc.ket in. hond
foce down, ond deol the top cord, ostensibly the Ace of Spodes, onto the designoted pile. Toke the
pocket in hond with the right hond from obove ond ploce it on either end pile if the.designoted pile is,the
center pile, otherwise on the end pile opposite to the designoted pile. Pick yP.the.combined. pocket,
gother ihe center pile beneoth it, then t"i ii on the remoining pile to reossemble the deck, in either cose
oppeoring to bury ihe Ace.
Ask the spectotor to top the deck ond hove him turn over the top cord to reveol the Ace of Spodes.

57
 J.K. Hortmon

Add-Oul
rother thon ony kind of sophisticoted move

lI ;:, "J TJ, i::'.lili::iffi :: fi ;i

certoinly less noturol thon the Vernon technique, thot
r:
requires o potter cover. Moreover, it is only opplicoble to situotions in which indifferent cords ore
secretly substituted for, soy, Aces-not in coses where Aces ore secretly substituted for indifferent cords.

Assume thot your obiective is to oppeor to remove four Queens but octuolly to switch two of them for
indifferent cords. With the deck upright, foces toword you, oscertoin thot no Queens ore omong the first
severol cords. Assuming thot this is the cose, soy, "T ris trick uses four of o kind. How obout the Queens?"

At the some time, spreod the foce cord rightword, gripping it befween the right thumb ond the bose of
the forefinger, i.e., more into the thumb crotch thon normol- (See Figure One.|spreod the second-from-
foce cord, troiling the first, ond momentorily hold it in ploce with the left thumb (see Figure Two) os the
right hond shifts leftword, squoring the foce cord with the second-from-foce cord, both now gripped os
o block between the right thumb ond bose of the rrefinger. (See Figure Three.)

Continue spreoding in normol foshion, moking sure thot no odditionol cords ore token flush beneoth the
focemost two-cord block which the right hond mointoins os o distinct entity. (See Figure Four.) When
you orrive ot the first Queen, tronsfer it directly onto ond flush with the focemost block, squeezing it
under the right thumb. (See Figure Five.) As the oction is completed, lower the deck to horizontol, foce-
up position, stoting oloud the cord's suit.

Reioin the deck ond resume spreoding os you continue your seorch, the deck still foce up. When you
come to the second Queen, tronsfer it os you did the first, in this cose without toking poins to leove it
precisely squored with the focemost block.
Proceed to look for the third Queen, in this cose tronsferring it onto the focemost block iniogged o holf-
inch or so. (See Figure Six.) The iniog will be visible but will not look out of ploce given th- normolly
somewhot disheveled condition of the portiolly spreod deck. Finolly, tronsfer the fourth Queen roughly
oligned with the first two. (See Figure Seven.) As eoch is tronsferred, stote its suit oloud.

58
After tronsferring the fourth Queen, reioin the two sections of the spreod, then begin to close.the spreod by
moving the righihond leftword. As you do so, dip theright fingers so thot they ride below the left fingers,
the riglt thumt oll the while opplying pressure to the foiemosrblock to keep it intoct. (See Figure Eight.)

You will be oble to roughly squore the deck proper, the focemost block remoining somewhot ongled
rightword. Leove it there, held in position by the left thumb, os the right hond releoses its grip. (See
Filure Nine.) lmmediotely, orch the right hond over the block to grosp it by the ends, the thumb estob-
lishing o norrow breok obove the iniog, forefinger curling on top. (See Figure Ten.)

IO II t2
The left fingers con quickly squore the deck pr
outer end. The second ond third fingers ond
beneoth. The left little finger grips the deck proper
deck, its tip grozing the bock of the pocket. (See
positioned os close os possible to the inner left cornr
oreo of seporotion olong the left edge of the pocket.

Momentorily preserve the breok with the pod of the left third finger os the right hond slides rightword,
thumb ond second finger gripping the pocket ot its extreme inner ond outer right corners (see Figure
Twelve), the thumb then recloiming the breok.

r3 t4 t5
Mointoining firm pressure between right thumb ond second finger ond contoct olong the lefit side of the
pocket with-the lelt thumb, roise the iight rlde of the pocket ond pivot it side-for-side foce down, the
pods of the right thumb ond second finger the pivot points. (See Figure Thirteen-stop oction.)

The pivoting oction will tronsform the breok into o step. (See Figure Fourteen.) Engoge the step with the
pod'of the lift third finger, recreoting the breok os the pocket is squored between the left thumb ot the left

59
 J.K. Hortmon

@ry
r6 t7 r8 r9

side ond ihe second ond third fingers ot the right side. (See Figure Fifteen.) Without hesitotion, the right
hond slides righword to centrolize the thumb (ot the inner end) ond second finger (ot the outer end), ihe
thumb reossuming the breok. (See Figure Sixteen.)

Curling the left fingers below the deck, extend the right forefinger, insert it under the deck (see Figure
Seventeen), ond use it to lever the deck foce down. ln the course of doing so, the right hond will be for
the briefest moment directly obove the deck (see Figure Eighteen stop oction), ot which point it releoses
-
or deposits the seporoted block, the honds immediotely moving oport. (See Figure Nineteen.)

This lndex Drop Switch wos described in "Lers Portend," Cord Croft, p. 505 (p. 502). lt is os deceptive
os the normol version, is more comfortoble when levering over o full or olmost full deck, ond conveys
less of o notion of pocket ond deck hugging eoch >ther.

At this stoge, you proceed os colled for by the trick being performed, fonning the pocket or dropping it
on the toble or osking o spectotor to toke the deck, etc. Your potter from beginning to end might runts
follows. "This trick uses four of o kind. How obout the Queens? Clubs-spodeslHeorts-Diomonds.
Thot's oll there ore. Now let me show you whot they're copoble of doing. Toke the deck ond set it down
in front ofyou."

lf you wish to switch out three Queens for three indifferent exoctly os
described. Toke the second cord flush beneoth it, then the th d, creoting
o three-cord focemost block gripped securely between the r finger.

Proceed os described, lowering the deck to horizontol position when the first Queen is tronsferred ond,
in this cose, iniogging the second Queen tronsferred. Conclude in the some monner, ond three of the
Queens will be switched out for indifferent cords.

To switch out oll four Queens, use the technique described to estoblish o four-cord focemost block.
Proceed os exploined, iniogging the second Queen tronsferred. After the pocket hos been grosped by
the right hond from obove, the breok estoblished obove the iniog, ond the pocket roised- to the left
fingertips, lift up one odditionol cord with the right t[ umb, reestoblishing the breok beneoth it. Conclude
os obove.

Nofe. Don't be concerned with the mild descreponcy ot the outset-when the first Queen is tronsferred
on top of the squored block ond the foces of the cords ore brought into view-even if the conceoled
block is not perfectly oligned. The spectotors ore focusing on the spreod cords ond the seorch for the
Queens-owoy, in other words, from the focemost portion of the deck.

60
Guiles crnd Declls
Middle Diddle

Stocker Shock

AllHonds on Deck
 J.K. Hortmon

nliddle Diddle
The following deceptive ond relotively eosy pseudo-demonstrotion of o center or middle deol evolved
from Steve Moyhew's "Moyhew's Mistoke" lLobyrinth Number Five, Stephen Hobbs, p. 3l), on op-
prooch thot itself demonds consideroble folse deoling skills.

You hove introduced the subiect of gombling skills ond ore discussing the legendory techniques of
gomblers, including the fobled Middle Deol. lf the Aces ore not olreody in ploy, extroct them. One woy
or onother, begin with the deck in the left hond, the Aces in o foce-up pile on the toble.
You now will oppeor to insert the Aces os o block foce up into the foce down deck, octuolly controlling
them to under the top cord. An eosy method of doing so is use the following modest extension of the
Depth lllusion (or Tilt)concept described os the Tilt Cut in Cord Crohlp.128l, o blend of sorts of Tilt ond
the Mock Poss. Suggestions of olternotives ore given in the finol Notes.

Adiust the top cord of the deck into Tilt position, inner end seporoted o quorter-of-on-inch, held in ploce
by the heel of the left thumb ond little finger, top surfoce flot. (See Figure One.) With the right hond,
reoch for the Ace pocket. Either o) pick it up directly ot the inner right corner-thumb obovl, fingers
below-or b) pick it up from obove, stroddle its long sides with forefinger ond little finger to squore it,
ond monipulote it into inner right corner grip or c) pick it up from obove, tronsfer it to the extended left
thumb ond first ond second fingers, pouse os you potter, ond regrosp it with the right hond ot its inner
right comer.

Appeor to try to insert the pocket, leoding with its outer right corner, into the deck vio the inner end,
using the Schwortzmon Bluff of iomming thot corner ogoinst the octuol middle to force o protrusion of
cords from the outer end. (See Figure Two.) Retrocf the pocket, squore the protrusion with your left
forefinger, ond seem to try ogoin, this time with o slight sowing motion, inserting the corner of the
pocket into the Tilt opening, oligning the pocket with the deck, ond pushing it in for holf its length (see
Figure Three), the right hond then releosing its grip.

With the left forefinger curled oround the outer end of the deck ond the outer end slonted downword, lift
off the top cord with the right hond in low wrist position-forefinger curled on top, remoining fingers ot
the outer end with os much of the bock of the cord visible os possible, thumb oligned with the inner end.
(See Figure Four.) You ore cutting off the "section" obove the pocket which oppeors to opproximote holf
the deck.

Without hesilotion, loosen the grip of the left hond ond give the deck o little iiggle so thot the pocket
slides forword, flush onto the deck. Follow immediotely by replocing the right-hond "section" to reos-

62
 Trickery Treois

semble the deck, ond obtoin o stondord lefi little finger breok vio the noturol seporotion below the
reversed Ace pocket. Your potter during the entire seqrLnce is to the effect thot you ore leoving the Aces
foce up so thot the spectotors con follow the oction cleorly.

"Whoiever cord hoppens to be on top will cover-cord," you soy os you turn the
top cord over, using on end-for-end techni end of the deck somewhot upword in
the process to conceol the reversed block, n os the top cord folds foce up.

Coll the nome of the cord in view, repeoting it os you soy (e.g.), "The Two of Heorts is the cover cord."
Turn the five-cord block foce do*n, supposedly the cover iord olone, using the some end-for-end
hondling which will olso mosk the extro thickness.

"Now the Middle Deol," you go on. "Wotch ond see if you con spot the Aces coming from the center of
the deck." You then oppeor io deol four foce up Aces into o pile on the toble os described below.
Conclude by showing ihe cover cord still in ploce on top of the deck.

For purposes of working through this explonotion, moisten your right thumb p
mine whether this will bi necesso.y in octuol proctice. Begin by necktieing the
its outer end upword so thot it is not in the spectotors' direct line of vision. With the
ocross the ouier left corner, ongle or swivel the top cord rightword-i.e., do not push it directly to the
right. (See Figure Five.)

plont the pod of the outer pholonge o[ the thumb

rd porollel to the outer end of the cord. The other
of the cord but do not moke contoct with it. (See
urth fingers press ogoinst the right side of the deck
top cord.

The deoling motion of eoch hond is simu/toneous: the

ond drops directly to the toble, the bock of the finger
word; the right thumb weighs stroight down with mode
riohtword on its wov to the toble. The resuh is thot th
relroluing to lond fo." ,p on the toble, the right thumb londing to its right. (See Figure Seven.)

ln performing the move, note thot the downword

thot mokes contoct with the corner section of the t
be odopted. There is thus no obstruction os the t
cord to revolve ond foll unimpeded. The honds

63
 J.K. Hortmon

word-ond the constoncy of this oction, the storting necktie position, ond the speed ond suddenness of
the revolution conceol the lurnover. The spectotors, moreover, ore unsuspectingly seeing the Ace in the
stote in which they expect to see it-i.e., foce up.

Continue by necktieing the deck, opprooching with the right thumb to deol the second cord in identicol
foshion, ond follow with the some octions to deol oll four Aces in o foce up pile. Once the knock is
ocquired, the Aces con be deolt in o reosonobly neot pile, but thot, of course, is not essentiol. Conclude
by showing thot the cover cord is still in ploce on top of the deck.

There is no need to rush the successive deols olthough the poce should be uninterrupted. Toke enough
time to position the left hond ond plont the right thumb properly-the former necktied os described, the
lotter flot on the cord ond porollel lo its outer end. Remember to lhinkin terms of pressing down with the
portion of the thumb contocting the overhonging corner, then shifting it rightword, lelt hond ond right
thumb both coming down firmly onto the toble.

Nofes. Other methods con be employed to control the foce up Aces lo o position under the top cord-for
exomple, o Cover Poss (for o simplified version see Cut Cover Poss [firstvoriotion], Cord Croft, p. 95).

Alternotively, begin the trick by openly looking through the deck for the Aces ond outiogging them.
Close up the deck, strip out the Aces, ond closp the pocket momentorily side-iogged ogoinst the foce of
the deck so thot the polm-down right hond con retoke it ot its inner right comer-fingers obove, thumb
below. Twist the hond polm up, the pocket foce down, form on opening with the left thumb ot mid-deck,
ond insert the pocket into it for holf its length. Push it flush, using the One Below Breok (Aher Croft, p.
68, ond exploined in the Notes to "Two Ploced," Chopter Four), to estoblish o breok one cord beneoth
the Ace pocket. Perform o Turnover Poss ond you ore set.

The originol Moyhew routine hod o second phose involving on opporent mistoke by the performer
which he rectifies to good effect. This some generol ideo con be opplied in on oltered woy to provide on
excellent climox (with impeccoble deoling technique) in this context, producing on entertoining ond
complete routine.

ln this cose, begin by using the Turnover Poss opprooch mentioned obove to extroct the Aces ond
position them foce up second from top. Disploy the cover cord, ond perform the supposed middle deol
exoctly os described. At thot point the Aces loy foce up on the toble ond you hove iust redisployed the
cover cord. Return it foce down to the top of the deck in Tilt position.

Alter o moment, continue by soying thot you will demonstrote the deol o second time so the spectotors
con hove onother chonce to wotch it, but this time you will impose even more difflcult conditions by
closing your eyes throughout. As you speok, pick up the Aces ond use the Tilt Cut hondling iniiiolly
exploined to insert the Aces foce up into the deck, ostensibly somewhere in the middle.

With exoctly the some hondling detoiled obove, disploy the cover cord by turning it over end for end,
then turning the block foce down os if o single cord. Close your eyes with exoggeroted tightness ond tilt
your heod o bit upword os if toking stringent steps to ovoid seeing the deck.

Then deol the top four cords foce down to the toble, imitoting the "necktie rock" used before. Keeping
your eyes closed ond beoming self-sotisfiedly, toke off the top cord of the deck ond show its foce,
observing thot the cover cord is still in ploce, on oction your oudience will consider quite irrelevont.

64
 Irickery Treots

After o moment you will be informed thot something went wrong: you did not deol the four foce-up
Aces. Open yori ond look down for o mo nent or two ot the foce-down cords with opporent
"yut
dismoy. ihen smile ond soy, "This time the hond wos even more'quicker thon the eye!' Not only did I
deol the Aces from the middle of the deck, I turned them over in the process!" So soying, use the cover
cord in your right hond to lever the Aces foce up os you prove your point.

Bottom Deol. The following is on odoptotion of the bosic ideo to o pseudo Bottom Deol which, with some
odiustments in potter, con be performed os o follow-up to the Middle Deol demonstrotion.

As your storting position, you ore holding the deck in your left hond, the four Aces in o. foc.e up spreod
in the right hond. You hove introduced thl subiect rf folse deoling. Use the Ace spreod to lever the top
cord foce up, coll its nome, ond soy thot it will serve os o cover cord. Flip it foce down ond obtoin o
breok beneoth it.

Squore the Aces foce up on top of the deck, ond lift off the block obove the breok by the ends from
obove. Dig the left thumb under the deck ond monipulote the deck foce up. Very cleonly deposit the
right-honJ pocket on the foce of the deck-oll th >se octions consistent with your potter thot you will
demonstrote o Bottom Deol.

Turn the deck foce down, ond soy, "ln foct, we'll reverse the Aces-leove them foce up-so you con
follow them eosily." As the remork is mode, toke the deck with the right hond from obove, slide out the
lowermost Ace with the left fingers ond use the deck to lever it foce up; repeot this oction with eoch of the
remoining Aces. With oll four Aces foce up in the left hond, corefully set the deck on top of them.

Continue, "Remember now, I will oppeor to be deoling from the top of the deck, but octuolly I will be
deoling those reversed Aces from the bottom." As you refer to the top, push the top few cords rightword,
then quickly retroct them. As you refer to the bottom, you roise the deck to on upright position momen-
torily io disploy the bock of the lowermost Ace, ond then lower it to storting position. lt is in the course
of this lotter ocfion-lowering the deck-thot you will execute o secret turnover.

You hove iust retrocted the top few cords. The right hond, os port of thot squoring oction, orches over
the deck-second ond third fingers ot the outer right corner, forefinger curled on top, thumb ot the inner
end, the extended little finger contocting the right long side of the deck. (See Figure Eight.)

With this right-hond grip, roise the deck ond tilt it to on upright position, lowermost cord toword the
spectotors, ihe left hond troiling olter to contoct the deck lightly olong the left side-fingers below (in
front), thumb obove (behind). (See Figure Nine.)

65
 J.K. Hortmon

With borely o pouse, ropidly lower the deck, ot the some time pulling up (or toword you) with the right
little finger ond pushing down (or owoy from you) with the left thumb. These oclions will hove the effect
of spinning or pivoting the deck side for side (see Figure Ten-stop oclion), turning it over by the time it
londs in normol left hond position, the right hond instontly opproximoting its storting position.

As indicoted, it is the combined work of the right little finger ond lelt thumb thot provide propulsion, ond
the speed of the turnover plus the lorger oction of lowering honds ond deck provide complete cover.

Now proceed with your demonstrotion, using the flipover deoling technique described obove os you
oppeor to deol four foce-up Aces to the toble. Pouse for o moment or two: this is your climox. Then go
on, "And (e.g.) the Two of Heorts, our cover cord, is still in ploce."

As this remork is mode, orch the right hond over the deck, forefinger curled on top; lift up on the inner
end of the uppermost cord ond snop this cord foce up by turning the hond shorply polm leftword,
simultoneously releosing the outer end, the cord gripped essentiolly between thumb ond forefinger ot
the inner end, the other fingers curling into the polm. (See Figure Eleven-deck omitted.) At exoctly the
some time ond with the misdirection offorded, twist the left hond polm down, reversing the deck, the
forefinger extending to point ot the right hond cord. (See Figure Twelve.)

will immediotely wone. Cleon up by revolving the cover

The trick is now cleorly over ond heovy focus
cord foce down ond onto the deck which the left hond hos monipuloted to normol position.

r0 il t2

Stcrcker Shock
A deservedly populor routine in recent yeors is Jim Swoin's "Poker lnterchonge," published originolly in
Arcone lssue Number Seven, p.79. The trick is o demonstrotion of riffle shuffle control with four Kings,
the lotter foce up so thot they con be more eosily followed. When the honds ore deolt, the foce-up Kings
foll to the deoler, eoch tobled foce down. At the conclusion of the deol, the performer osks o spectotor
whether he would hove liked to receive the four Kings. His hond is turned over, ond the Kings ore there.
The performer still wins, however, becouse his hond is reveoled to contoin the four Aces.

66
When the routine wos performed for the tried-ond-true fomily oudience, it elicited o fine reoction but olso
o suggestion: "lsn't it eosier for you to control the Kings when they'rg fgce up? Wouldn't the trick be more
effec-ti-ve i[ the Kings storted out foce down ond you not only stocked them but mode them turn foce up?"

The following is o method for producing thot result. lt involves o good deol of work, but none of it is
difficult ond Lll occurs before the trick itielf seems to begin, during your introductory potter. Whotever
the logic, the effect creoted goes over well, perhops becouse on element of surprise is odded to the first
.liroi, ond the presentotion creotes the odditionol impression thot you hove demonstroted other gom-
bling techniques os well os riffle shuffle stocking.

Prepore by secretly cu of the deck. With th ut the

,pp"rrnori cord (whic ) from foce to bock .Belly
Crimp, the side of the the outer end inwo inner
end firmly in ploce. (See Figure One.)

Begin with the deck foce down in the left hond, introducing the subject of go-mblers ond the secret
tec-hniques they use to cheot ot cords. As you do so, perform on Overhond Shuffle thot retoins. the top
stock; then run one cord ond throw the deck on it; run lour cords ond throw the deck on them. The Aces
ore thus on the bottom of the deck, the crimped key directly obove them. Obviously, ony other woy of
reoching this position con be substituted.

Soying, "l'll use the four Kings to demonstrote one of the more dilficult of those techniques," turn the
d".k fi."r toword you ond begin to feed through the cords. Tronsfer the first King you encounter to the
foce o[ the deck. Lowering the-deck to foce-up position, look for the second King, tronsfer it to the foce
o[ the deck, ond continue in the some woy with the third ond fourth Kings. Do not expose the Aces.

Arch the right hond over the deck in on incidentol squoring oction, lifting up on the crimped cord to
ollow the l"-ft llttle fingertip to obtoin o breok below it. Grosplhe block obove the breok ot the inner right
corner between right thumb obove, forefinger below. (See Figure Two.)

Bending up on thot corner, ollow one cord to escope from the right forefinger ond obtoin o new breok
obove ii. Mointoining o firm grip ot the inner right corner of the block with the right thumb ond forefin-
ger, immediotely fon th" rpplrrort three Kings with the left thumb, oll four Kings-visible..(See Figure
ihree.) Drog this block slighily rightword ond, tugging to the right with the right forefinger, flip the entire
block foce down, the pocket outomoticolly coolescing squore.

67
 J.K. Hortmon

During the opening sequence-os you find the finol three Kings ond reoch this exoct point-your potter
hos continued, "Whot the gombler hos to do is locote the cords he wonts ond then control them into his
own hond." You then go on, "He con do this through dishonest deoling techniques, such os the so-colled
second deol, or bottom deol, or the legendory middle deol ..." As this lost comment is mode, perform
the following oction which should be timed to follow immediotely ofter the Kings oppeor to be turned
foce down.

Deol the uppermost three cords into on overlopping right-to-left row on the toble. Begin to toke the
fourth cord, simultoneously twisting the lelt hond polm down, extending the forefinger. Use the fourth
cord to scoop ond gother the three tobled cords, the left forefinger oiding in the process (see Figure
Four), closing the spreod ond leoving the four cords in ploce in o roughly squored pile. Retroct the lefi
hond, ot the some time monipuloting the deck to normol foce down position, the Kings reversed on the
bottom, the Aces, purportedly the Kings, on the toble.

There is thus o kind of vogue connection between your potter ond your octions in this lost cose, the
potter providing some loose rotionolizotion for deoling the "Kings" foce down. Thot kind of rotionolizo-
tion now continues, your potter represented os continuing introduction, your octions os relotively incon-
sequentiol "toying," ond oll in preporotion for the demonstrotion itself. Since your remorks ore od-
dressed to the spectotors, your ottention ot this point should be on them: the ensuing octions ore per-
formed without looking ot your honds, ond the mechonics ore geored to be executed "sightlessly."

Your continuing potter is, "...or he con use some lorm of shuffle technique, ond, in the course of it, stoc/<
the winning cords to foll to his own hond." The occomponying octions ore the following.

Cut off something more thon holf the deck in Foro Shuffle position, roughly olign the tops of the sections,
ond perform on Off Center Foro, on excess block ot the bottom of the right hond section. (See Figure
Five.) As the sections ore compressed together, obtoin o breok obove this block, cutting it to the top os
the shuffle is completed.

ln other words you ore performing o Bottom Slough-off Foro, the originol lowermost cord of the left
hond section remoining os the lowermost cord of the deck. Repeot the Off-Center Foro without, in this
cose, the slough-off-i.e., without cutting the excess block to the top.

Lowering the deck into normol left hond position, orch the right hond over it to squore it, engoging the
breok obove the crimped cord with the right thumb, ond give the deck o complete cut ot thot point. The
cut should follow without o discernible pouse ofter the shuffle, comporoble to the slough-off cut ofter the
first shuffle-i.e., os port of the shuffle ond not o grotuitous, seporote oction.

4 5 6

68
 Trickery Treots

As you then go on, "Or he moy use secret switchi

top cord vio o Pinky Counl or o two-honded me

Go on, "Whot I will demonstrote for you now is the

potter ond octions conclude ond your ottentio
Kings ond o stondord riffle shuffle." At the so
the tobled cords into o left-to-right spreod, the
the deck, the first ond second fingers extending to
widely. (See Figure Seven.)

Drow bock the left hond, the thumb curling on the now uppermost surfoce (see Figure Eight), ond
monipulote the deck to normol position with ihot surfoce remoining uppe.rmost. Th.is stondord borefoced
reversol is thoroughly deceptive, the right hond's leod role providing oll the misdirection necessory.

You will now oppeor to return the "Kings" seporotely foce down into the foce down deck- During this
sequence, your potter runs olong the following lines. "As you'll see, l'll spoce.the King.s rondomly throughout
the'deck. l;ll then give the deck ihree riffle shuffles thot will stock them to foll to the deoler in o five-honded
gome of five-cord-poker. Not only thot, l'll do o little something extro os well. So wotch the shuffles corefully."

The following ore the occomponying octions. With

With the lelt forefinger opply shorp pressure inwo
to creote o multiple buckle of the bottom cords. (See
ond you will see o bock oppeor omong the lowermo:
right'hond ploces the first;'king" on the deck, ond immediotely cut the lower block from bottom to top.

Repeot these octions os you set the second "King" on the deck ond cut o block from bottom t9 top,
Repeot them ogoin with the third "King". After thii finol cut, pick up the fourth "King" by the ends ond
set it on the deck.

ln the foregoing sequence, do not ottempt lo countthe buckled cords; doing so willhove o studied look
ond perhop, .onu"y the impression thot o specific number of cords is being tronsferred. The oppeor-
onceof the bock mokes the oction instontoneous, o rd the cut thus seems quite rondom. Tilt the outer end
of the deck o bit downword to obscure the thinness of the block being cut from bottom to top.

69
 J.K. Hortmon

As your potter is concluding ond os your finol occomponying oction, lift up on the crimped cord,
estoblishing o breok beneoth it, ond execute o kind of discrepont Turnover Poss okin to Roy Wolton's
"Trigger" (see booklet of the some nome), os follows.

Curl the left forefinger under the deck ond begin the stondord Turnover Poss oction with the lower section,
pivoting it to o perpendiculor position, long side uppermost. (See Figure Ten-stop oction.) Allow the right
long side of the originol upper section to scrope downword ogoinst the leftmost surfoce of the originol
lower section, the right thumb ond forefinger the pivot points. (See Figure Eleven-stop oction.)

Shift the left thumb to the leltmost surfoce of the originol upper section ond tighten the grip of the left
thumb ond fingers to compress the sections together, the right hond hovering obove the deck but no

l0 il 12

longer gripping it. (See Figure Twelve-stop oction.) At the some time, twist the leFt hond polm down,
the long sides of the deck exchonging positions, surfoces now oriented toword you ond the spectotors,
the lower long side striking ogoinst the toble; the right hond stoys more or less in position, ending up
polm leftword, potting the exposed end of the deck in o squoring oction. (See Figure Thirteen.)

The spectotors will be looking ot the foce of the deck. Thot is the discreponcy, but it will poss scrutiny.
Conclude the sequence by folding the deck forword ond foce down in position for o Riffle Shuffle.

Proceed with the shuffle by gripping the deck with both honds os usuol ond cutting off holf the deck or
o bit less with the left hond. Tronsfer it below the right-hond section, mointoining o breok obove it with
the left thumb. (See Figure Fourteen.) Cut off holf of the now upper section with the right hond, ond riffle
shuffle it into the block obove the breok, ollowing o few right-hond cords to foll first but otherwise
shuffling freely.

As the sections ore compressed together, lift up slightly on the right-hond cords to ollow the left thumb to
regoin its originol breok obove the now lowermost block. (See Figure Fifteen.) Repeot these octions
twice more-three shuffles in oll-ond conclude by cutting the lowermost block to the top.

As you shuffle, soy, oppropriotely following your lost potter line, "First Shuffle," "second Shuffle,"
"Third Shuffle" in time to the shuffles. Squore the cords, liftyou honds from the deck, ond sit bock for o
moment, soying, "Thot's it! The Kings ore stocked to foll to the deoler, me!, in o five-honded gome ...
with thot little extro something I promised."

70
 frickery Treots

I3 14 t5
Pick up the deck ond deol three cords in o row from left to right, so-yi.ng, "One, Two, Three." Pou-se for
the briefest moment, then soy, "Fot)r," os you very slowly slide off the next cord, deoling it to fourth
position, reveoling the foce-up King.
Pouse ogoin very briefly, then turn the double cordfoc top row,
in front of you, soying, "And the King of Spodes (e.g.) See peot
this sequence with the some potter with the remoining dly y9u.
After seeming to deol the [ou*h King to your hond, ii I the
Kings in the deck!"
Allow this climox to register; then oddress o spectotor to your left (ond.hence closest to the first hond),
soying, "Wouldn't yo.ilik" io hove hod the King.s in you'r.ho.nd?" As the remork is mode, deol o flfth
.ord ti eoch hond,'including yours, ostensibly filling out the honds, ond set the deck oside.

il'"fr5'i::,5
to ..." Spreod
::%"Jif:lil1[rn:,1
row, soYing , "Yov dol"

After o moment, go on, "Of course, thot would meon thot you'd be the winner ..." As you then soy, "...
unless ...," pick oT[ the top cord of your hond, use it to scoop up.the hond, ond-turn the hond foce. up,
squorely in'ploce. Pouse'for o moment, continuing, "... lhe deoler used one of those secret s,witching
techniques I'o/so referred to..." Conclude by spreoding your hond in o forword row to reveol the four
Aces, soying, "... ond gove himself o hond like this!" (See Figure Seventeen.)
deolt is the crimped cord. lf the crimp seems too
bend prior to deoling. Alternotively or in oddition,
e trick. lift its outer end - right thumb obove, fingers
then ollowing the pocket to snop foce up.

I6 t7 r8

71
 J.K. Hortmon

The belly crimp, incidentolly, does not interfere with the Foro Shuffle. Relotedly, since reversed cords ore
involved, it is importont for the Foro thot the deck does not hove o severe one-woy curvoture; by the
some token, the noturol seporotion between bock-to-bock cords moy not be sufficient to occommodote
outomotic breoks.

The mechonics of the Trigger-like Turnover Poss con be used to effect o poss without the oppeoronce of
o turnover (ond without o discreponcy). See Turnoverless Posses, Cord Croft, p. 90.

All Hcrnds on Deck

ei dishonesl leclure on dishonesly
This supposed exposure of gombling sleights wos described in Super Dupes ij974), p. 30. lt wos not
republished in Cord Croft or After Croft becouse of its length, on omission to which o number of more
weothered reoders colled unfovoroble ottention-o response, incidentolly, thot hoppily surprised its
creotor who hod ossumed thot it hod inspired few, if ony, somplers. Perhops it's old enough to be new,
ond, length notwithstonding, it is reproduced belov with modest editing ond updoting.

As wos pointed out in its originol introduction, the routine wos developed some yeors prior toits 1974
publicotion specificolly for one session of o public speoking course the ossignment for which wos o
twelve to fifteen minute tolk using o physicol prop. A deck of cords sotisfied the lotter requirement, ond
the presentotion wos quite successful. The originol oudience consisted of fourteen equoily inorticulote
ospiring New York City business executives, o good mony of whom were most ossuredly country club or
commuter troin cord ployers-in other words, "sophisticoted loymen" in the fullest sense-ond thus
provided on excellent initiol testing ground.

The routine oppeors to be for reol: it is presented os on opporently serious educotionol effort throughout
ond does not evolve into on exhibition of cord tricks or reloted feots of skill. lt is, of course, o double
cross-on exomple of whot P. Howord Lyons so perfectly described os "cheoting ot cheoting." Actuol
skill of o high order is not required: the only reol sleight involved is o folse riffle shuffle which retoins the
order of the deck, ond even here the circumstonces under which it is performed cover less thon impec-
coble execution.

Eoch performer will develop his own exoct potter. The opproximote potter which hos been used is
given here by woy of exomple, ond it essentiolly comprises two cotegories- introductory ond conver-
sotionol potter used to cover the repetitive octions of deoling rounds of honds, ond potter used in
supposedly exploining the monner in which eoch sleight is performed. Eoch performer will olso wont
to decide on the exoct technique he wishes to "expose" ond, for thot motter, the degree to which he
mokes o reol expos6.

On this lotter point, odmonitions ore usuolly given obout octuol exposures of importont techniques, por-
ticulorly those generolly used in coniuring. While this odvice mokes theoreticol sense, from o procticol
stondpoint it is most unlikely thot ony loymon will hove the remotest recollection of the specifics of whot he
is told. Despite the noture of the presentotion, it will in oll probobility be remembered solely for its enter-
toinment volue or for the opporent demonstrotion of digitol prowess involved rother thon for its substonce.

72
 Irickery Treots

The routine covers most of the skills thot loymen ottribute to gomblers, ond even though the "gombling
lecture" motif is odhered to throughout, it hos on effective ond surprising climox.

Effect in brief

You exploin thot on untroined eye connot octuolly cotch o skilled cord cheot ot work; nonetheless.there
ore certoin tell-tole octions which, if observed, might foreworn thot some form of sleight o[ hond is being
performed. ln other words, if one connot detect ihotis being done, he still might be oble to detect thot
something is being done.

One method of cheoting is the folse shuffle of which there ore two lypeq-the overhond qn-d the riffle. By
woy of exomple, the four Aces ore ploced on top of the deck which.is given severol fost overhond
shuffles. Five honds of cords ore deolt out, ond the deoler's hond hos the Aces. The some sequence is
repeoted in connection with o riffle shuffle, the Aces ogoin deolt to the deoler in o five-honded gome.

You then discuss folse deols, ond with one of the Aces you demonstrote, in slow motion ond ot full speed,
o second deol. Then oll four Aces ore ploced on the bottom of the deck ond ore given to the deoler in o
five-honded gome vio o bottom deol. The third method of cheoting is "switchin-g." Io demonstrote it, you
ploce the Ac6s in your pocket, deol five honds, ond secretly switch the Aces for the deoler's hond.

Finolly, youpoi t method o o winning hond does the gombler

no good if the the gome ust hove enticing honds.too. The
,peitotor, ,oy lonced ot t when reossembling. the deck ofte.r
eoch deol. You est of how well their lessons hove been leorned, you hove oll
olong been putting into proctice certoin o[ the demonstroted techniques. So soying, the other four honds
then Ln the ioble ore disployed to show thot one hos o poir of Kings, onother three Jocks, onother o Full
House, ond the fourth forr Nine.. The deck is now regulor in every sense ond con be used os desired.

Requi rements ond preporotion

A full deck is required, ond in oddition, four Aces ond o Two of Heorts from o duplicote deck. Thirty-one
cords, including'these duplicotes, ore orronged in o speciol order. The key cords in this stock, in oddi-
tion to the dupltote Aces ond Two of Heorts, ore the following: 4 Aces, Two of Heorts, 4 Nines, 2 Kings,
3 Jocks, 3 Sevens, 2 Queens.

"X" indicotes ony cord other thon those listed obove, "D" indicotes
The order of the stock is given below.
duplicote-i.e., the corJs odded from the second deck. At the conclusion of the routine, these will
repose solely out of the woy in your pocket.

l. Ace of Clubs

2. Ace of Diomonds
3. Ace of Heorts

4. Ace of Spodes (D)

5. Ace of Spodes
6. Any Nine

73
 J.K. Hortmqn

7. Any Nine
8. Any Nine
9.X
.l0.
Ace of Heorts (Dl

I l.x
12.X

13. X

14. Two of Heorts

15. Ace o[ Diomonds (D)

16. Any King

17.X

18. X (,l7 ond l8 must not motch in volue)

19. Any King

20. Ace of clubs 1o)

21. Any Jock

22.X

23. Any Jock

24. Any )ock

25. Any Nine

26. Any Seven

27. Any Queen

28. Any Seven

29. Any Seven

30. Two of Heorts (D)

31. Any Queen

From the remoinder of the deck, ony five cords of different volues ond mrxed suifs ore removed ond
ploced in your left iocket pocket, foces toword the body, the pocket on its side. The thirty-one cord stock

74
 Trickery Ireots

is ploced on the bolonce of the deck which is inserted in its cose. Drop the cose in your right iocket
pocket ond you ore reody to begin.

Presenlolion

(o) Prologue

Sitting or stonding behind o toble, remove the cord cose from your pocket ond toss it on the toble os you
begin your introduction, os follows.

"Authorities on gombling ond gomes of chonce tell us thot if you ploy cord gomes from time to time-
ot o club, on the troin, o1 peop-le's homes-ot some point olong the line the chonces ore you've been
cheoted. Cheoted by o sleight of hond expert known os o mechonic or on operotor.

expert, no odvice will enoble you to spot one of

tuolly doing the dirty work even if you ore looking
ever, involve vorious tell-tole outword octions, ond
ng for, you moy be oble to notice them. And even
be oble to tell thot het doing something.l will do
my best to exploin some of these tell-tole signs to you."

he four Aces." As this lost remork is mode, deol the

top four cords one ot o time into o foce-up pile.

(b)Overhond Shuffle

Continue your potter by soying, "One method of delivery is the Folse Shuffle: the operotor stocks. the
cords whiie he is shuffling them. And mony of you ore fomilior with the foct thot there ore two kinds of
shuffles-the overhond s[uffle ond the riffie shuffle. The overhond shuffle looks like this."

Give the deck o slow iog shuffle: undercut roughly the lower one-third (below the.stock); run one cord,
iniogging it; shuffle offlhe bolonce in two oi tllre" chops. Soy, "Note thot in the. regulor..overhond
thrfTl6, t[e positions of the cords ore shifted in groups." So soying, conti.nue the s/ow shuffle: form o
breok below the iniog; shuffle to the breok, ogoin in two or three chops; throw the bolonce on top.

Proceed by soying, "When the operotor is stocking by meons of on overhond shuffle, he does it o little
differently. He'shuffles foster ond the cords ore shilted one by one rother thon in groups. Wotch ond
you'll see whot I meon."

Pick up the Aces, drop them on the deck, spreod them qu]ckly, then flip them foce d9*l Do not reo.rronge
fhem.'Execute o ropid G. W. Hunter shuffle: undercut holf the deck; run four cords, the lost iniogged; throw
on topi undercut obove the iniog; run four cords; throw on top. Repeot the entire sequence.

Begin to deol five honds of five-cord poker, deoling in o horizontol line from lelt to right neor the front
of th" toble. Your covering potter heie is os follows. "Now l'll deol five honds of five-cord poker ond
we'll see the results. (Thelirst five hove been deolt.) One-two-three-four-[ive. (The second five

75
 J.K. Hortmon

hove been deolt.) Of course the fifth or lost hond is the deoler!-in this cose, mine. (The third five hove been
deolt-top the fifth hond.) lncidentolly, the gome could be stud or some other form of poker (the fourth five
hove been deolt), but for now we'll ossume itt the bosic five-cord voriotion." (The deol is complete).

Sweep up the pocket in first position with your right hond (fingers on the bock, thumb on the foce),
roughly spreoding it with foces toword you. Look directly ot it, then flip it foce down on the deck. Repeot
the octions with the second, third, ond fourth honds. Occosionolly, resquore o hond ogoinst the toble,
respreod ond toke onother look ot it, then set it on the deck. Perform this sequence ropidly soying,
"These honds, of course, belong to the other ployers."

Don't comment obout these octions which you will repeot throughout the demonstrotion. They will reg-
ister with the spectotors but won't bother them, ond they will hove opporent meoning loter.

Continue, "Now let's look ot mine." Pick up the top cord of the lost hond, show it, ond deposit it foce
down on the deck os you soy, "One odd cord." Then pick up the bolonce of the pocket with the right
hond from obove, ond os you soy, "... ond one two-three-four Aces," perform o s/owOne-hond Fon,
foces toword the oudience, ultimotely fonning the four cords os widely os possible.

(c) Riffle Shuffle

Pouse for o moment for effect, then squore the Aces ogoinst the deck ond releose them foce up on top.
Soy, "Now for the other kind of shuffle-the riffle shuffle-which looks like this." Begin o stondord
dovetoil or end riffle shuffle: with the deck held from obove in the right hond, forefinger curled on top
(ogoinst the uppermost Ace), riffle off obout holf the deck with the thumb onto the owoiting extended left
fingers. (See Figure One.)

Pincer thot portion by clomping the bock of the left forefinger on top of it. With the oid of the right
fingertips, roise thot portion to o verticol position, the upper end held by the left thumb. Both sections ore
now held by the respective honds in on identicol monner. (See Figure Two.)

Perform o slow, deliberote dovetoil shuffle onto the toble, meshing the contiguous ends os perfectly os
possible while retoining contoct with the fingers on the other ends. Allow o smoll block from the orig]nol
bottom section to foll lost. As you do so, soy, "Notice thot the cords ore releosed from eoch section of the
deck of more or less the some speed." When the ends hove been entwined, pouse for o moment. Then
openly disengoge them ogoin by twisting them upword, ond reossemble the deck, the foce up Aces
going bock on top. The logic here is thot you don't wont to lose the reversed Aces in the deck by
completing the shuffle.

76
 Trickery Ireots

Continue, "Thot's how it looks normolly. But when on operotor uses o riffle shuffle for stocking, he cov-ers
the deck to o greoter extent ond releoses the cords unevenly. He will olso intersperse successive shuffles
with cuts. Thiiis how it works." As you so remork, turn the Aces foce down os o block.

You now perform ony full deck folse riffle shuffle. T

is determined by the method you use, the potter iu
form of shuffle-o Zorrow or even the time-honor
169, method "2o" (which uses o dovetoil grip)-wil
Croh, p.69). Since you hove onnounced in odvonct
respect, ond since the spectotors ore owore thot
concentrote on your honds, they will occept o less-thon-stroightforword oppeoronce.

Proc
Perform the folse shuffle three times ot o steody poce. of five-cord
s
poker in o horizontol row neor the lront of the'toble. As deol our five
i',ondr ogoin. (The first live hove been deolt.)One-two-t second five
horu beln deolt.) ln octuol proctice, the operotor doesn't hove to give himse/f the winning hond- (The
third five hove been deolt.) lihe works with on occomplice, he could give him the best hond. (The fou*h
five hove been deolt.) But we're ossuming now thot the operotor is on his own." (The deol is complete.)

Gother up the first four honds one ot o time exoctly os before, gloncing..ot eoch one b9f9re de.positing
it foce down on the deck. As you do so, soy, "And, in o moment, we'll see how he did." Pick up the
perform o foce down One-hond Fon. With the
cord leftword ond clip it on iop of the deck (see
odd cord..." Then continue, "... ond one-two-three
nd polm inword, the four Aces focing outword, on
disploy to the spectotors.

Pouse for o moment in this position. Then twist the right hond polm down, corry the foce up fon over-
not flush onto-the deck, ond squore the Aces with the extended left fingers (see Figure Fo_ur) which toke
hold of the pocket momentorily, ollowing the right hond to regrosp it from obove. Set it foce up on the
toble, the Ace of Spodes uppermost.

(d) Second Deol

Continue, "The second method of delivering the right cords to the right hond is Folse Deoling. One s.uch
deol is colled the Second Deol. The SeconJ Deol is worked with o cord thot orrives on top of the deck

77
 J.K. Hortmon

thot the operotor recognizes through some sort of mork or bend ond thot he wonts to keep for himself. For
exomple, the Ace of Spodes." So soying, lift off the Ace of Spodes ond ploce it foce up on top of the deck.

"The operotor will then seem to deol cords off the top of the deck to the other ployers, but will octuolly
deol the second cord until his turn comes up. The tip-off to wotch for here is the position of the deck in
the honds."

At this point, odiust the deck from your normol grip to some other position, ond describe thot odiust-
ment. For exomple, if you hove been holding it in mechonic's grip up to now, slide it deeper in the hond,
oll four fingers together ot the right side, forefinger obutting the outer end. (See Figure Five.) As you do
so, soy, "lnsteod of being likethis... it's likethis-much lower in the hond."

Angle the foce up Ace rightword with the left thumb to expose the next foce down cord to the extent
possible. (See Figure Six.) Deol off thot foce down cord to the toble with the right thumb, ot the some
time retrocting the foce up Ace squore with the deck. ln other words, perform o slow, obvious, exogger-
oted Strike Second Deol. Deol onother second in similor foshion, plocing the cord on top of the first. As
the first two deols ore execuled, soy, "And, os I soid, from this position the secondcord is deolt insteod
of the top cord."

Tilt the outer end of the deck upword os you continue, "ln oddition, the second deoler will turn the deck
like this so you con't see the bocks of the cords." As the remork is mode, deol three more slow ond open
seconds onto the pile on the toble, eoch time returning the deck to o horizontol position on completion
of the deol. Finish by deoling the foce up Ace of Spodes onto the tobled pile, concluding, "... until he's
reody to deol the Ace of Spodes io himself."

Pick up the deolt pile, ploce it on the deck, ond turn the Ace of Spodes foce down, soying, "Now let me
show you whot it looks like ot full speed. Remember, I will be deoling the second from top cord." As this
lost remork is mode, ogoin deol o slow, open second, deoling the cord io the toble. Then, ropidly deol
onto it fivecords from the lopof the deck, replicoting the supposed second deol octions, including the
tilting ond lowering o[ the deck.

Slowly turn over the next cord on top in ploce to show the Ace of Spodes, completing your remork by
soying "... keeping the top cord for myself." Arch the right hond over the deck to re-odiust the deck to
your normol deoling position. Roise the inner end of the top fwo cords in so doing ond estoblish o breok
beneoih them with the left little fingertip.

Lift off the two cords os one with the right hond from obove-opporently the single foce up Ace of
Spodes. Ploce the double cord on the deolt pile on the toble, lifting up the pile beneoth it in the some
motion. Squore its right long side ogoinst the toble to expose the foce cord to the spectotors.

78
 Trickery lreots

The foct thot it is indifferent gives subliminol reossuronce to onyone who might doubt your "skill.' lt is
illogicol, of course, since the-foce cord of the pocket would not be the originol Ace.in ony event due.to
the extro demonstrotion second thrown in, but this point seems to be forgotten: oll eyes will go to the
foce cord to the sotisfoction of ony skeptics.

(e) Boltom Deol

Drop the pocket on the deck, but in releosing it, hold bock the inner ends of the top two cords, re-
estoblishing o breok under them with the left little fingertip. As these octions toke ploce, your potter
continues, "The other type of folse deol is the Bottom Deol."

"ln it ...," you go oi, "... the winning cords ore secretly positioned on the bottom of the deck." As you
moke this lotter remork, perform the following octions.

Toke the single foce-up Ace with the right hond from obove ond set it on the other Aces, in the some
motion pickhg them up beneoth it. Ploie the pocket on the deck, overhonging the right side. Flip the
pocket io.e do*n ond immediotely lift off oll the cords over the breok with the right hond from obove.
Slide the pocket onto the bottom of the deck, toking core not to expose the foce cord.

Continue, "The thing to wotch lor here is thot the bottom deoler usuolly holds the deck with o couple of
fingers wropped oround the end, this woy." As you so comment, curl both the first ond.second fingers
oround the outer end. Here too some othei re-positioning con be substituted, olong with the oppropriote
descriptive potter.

Soying, "He olso moves his honds o bit more thon usuol," swing the honds from side to side in norrow
inverse orcs so thot both honds meet, come oport, meet, come oport, etc., ond conclude, "... ond when
he's reody to deol to himself, he deols from the bottom insteod of the top." As the remork is completed,
top the bottom of the deck.

"Wotch how it looks in proctice." Agoin deol five honds of five-cord pokeq using the oltered grip ond
hond swing os you deol, perhops 'tnotching" the cords o little more thon usuol. Moke sure not lo
expose lhe foce cord. The covering potter is os follows.

"Bock to our five honds of five-cord poker. (The first five hove been deolt.) lncidentolly, the Bottom Deol
is probobly the most difficult technique of oll (the second five hove been deolt), ond is considered the
gombler's most prized occomplishment. (The third five hove been deolt.)The operotor will proctice.[or
yeors to goin proficiency (the fourth five hove been deolt), often in the dork, so he won't get used to
looking ot his honds." (The deol is complete.)

Pick up eoch of the first four honds iust os previously, gloncing ot them Qe-fore depositing them on the
deck. As you do so, soy, "A quick look ot the competition." Pick up the fifth hond with the right hond
from obove, soying, "Needless to soy, none looks like this." One-hond Fon it with foces toword the
oudience. Pouse foi o moment, then momentorily tilt the fon toword you os i[ to ollow yourself o glimpse
of it, ond odd, "Actuolly, if Deuces were wild, l'd houe five Aces!" You hove thus colled ottention to the
fifth cord-the Two of Heorts.

Twist the right hond polm down, corrying the foce-up fon over the deck, ond squore the Aces with the
extended l# fingers. (Refer to Figure foui.) Hold the pocket in ploce momentorily so thot the right hond
con regrosp it from obove, ond iet it down ot center toble. As you do so, soy, "And they oll come..."

79
 J.K. Hortmon

Concluding , "...ftom the bottom of the deck," slide out the bottom cord, show its foce, ond drop it foce
down on top of the deck. This tronsfer of the bottom cord, the showing of which ogoin reossures ony
skeptics, is essentiol ond must not be omitted.

(f) Switching

Now begin to deol onother set of five honds olong the front of the toble. Your potter here is os follows.
"So for l've demonstroted delivery by Folse Shuffling. (The first five hove been deolt.) And l've shown
you delivery by Folse Deoling. (The second five hove been deolt.) The third technique is colled Switch-
ing. (The third five hove been deolt.) lt meons the secret substitution of the winning cords (the fourth five
hove been deolt) ofier the honds hove olreody been deolt." The deol is complete.

Soy, "This is how it works." Spreoding the deck norrowly between the honds, lop off the bottom four
cords with the left hond, immediotely squoring them with the left fingers, without colling ottention to or
exposing the precise number. Continue, "Assume for the moment thot these ore the winning cords ond
thot they hove been secretly removed from the deck ond ploced in my pocket."

At the some time, squore the deck with the right fingers ond set it well oside ot the right inner corner of
the toble. Toke the pocket ot its inner end with the right hond ond slip it, bock out, in your front iocket
pocket for holf its length, ongling it upper end rightword to secure it in ploce.

Two olternotive procedures con be used next, both occomplishing the some end, the first the origi-
nol hondling.

With the right hond from obove, pick up the fifth hond without exposing the foces of the cords os you
soy, "And this is the hond the operotor wos deolt." Resting thot pocket in the left hond momentorily,
obtoin o breok obove the bottom cord, mointoining it with the right thumbtip.

"The ideo is to switch fhese cords .../' you soy os you remove the pocket from your pocket with the left
hond, holding it foce down. Do so by grosping it olong the protruding left side neor the upper left
corner-fingers on the bock, thumb on the foce (see Figure Seven), drowing it out of the pocket, ond
closing the fingers into the polm to monipulote the pocket to stondord foce-down position. Do not flosh
the foce of the pocket.

"... For these cords l' you go on, gesticuloting with the pocket in the right hond. Then soy, "ln slow
motion, like this." As the remork is mode, execute the following octions.

Move the right-hond pocket directly over the left-hond pocket ond releose the cord below the breok onto
it. Without hesitotion, corry the bolonce of the upper pocket further to the left ond into the left thumb

80
 Irickery Treots

crotch, gripping it there. Roise the empty right hond momentorily, cleorly exposing the two pockets in
the left hond, the upper pocket in effect side-iogged to the left of the lower. (See Figure Eight.) Then
grosp the lower pocket with the right hond from obove, drowing the pocket rightword ond free of the
,pp", pocket os the honds t"porote. Mointoin o deliberote poce throughout: you ore ostensibly expos-
ing o secret switch usuolly performed "quicker thon the eye."

Then conclude, "Now let me try to do it without you seeing me." Reploce the pocket now held by the
right hond on the toble in fifith position. Toke the other pocket with the right hond ond dispose of it on top
of the deck.

The olternotive ond smoother procedure for the foregoing "switch exposure" is os follows. As the stort-
ing position, four indifferent cords ond the Two of Heorts below them comprise the hond in lifth position.
Four Aces ore in your outer iocket pocket, in this cose upper end ongled lefword.

Pick up the fifth hond with the right hond from obove ond tronsfer it to left-hond deoling .position.
Remove the pocket from your pocklt with your right hond by reoching over ond grosping it ot the uppef
right corner between thumb ot the foce ond forefinger ot the bocl<. (See Figure Nine.) Pull it upword ond
out. As you lower your hond to stondord height on
push up or forword to lever the pocket to horizonto
its bock ond forefinger to its foce so thot it ends u
inner right corner. (See Figure Eleven). All the whil

l0 ll
Prepore for the Covered Cop Tronsfe r lCord Croft, p. 66; Aher Croft, p 1 al by buckling the lowermost
cord of the left hond pocket to obtoin o little finger rreok obove it ond pushing ihe pocket inword {o cop
position with the forefinger. (See Figure Twelve.) Purportedly demonstrote the switch by slowly exchong-
ing the pockets, executing the Covered Cop Tronsfe r in the process, briefly os follows.

The right hond tronsfers its pocket to the left hond, toking it in the left thumb crotch (see Figure Thirteen),
ond comes owoy with the left-hond pocket proper (obove the breok), clipped between the forefinger
obove, second finger below, leoving behind the cord below the breok. (See Figure Fourteen.) Push inword
with the left forefinger to squore thl pocket it now holds with the copped cord. ln this cose, discord the
nght-hond pocket to the top of the deck ond set the /eF-hond pocket on the toble in fifth position.

With either hondling, proceed by soying, "The winning hond ...", picking up the Ace pocket ond
spreoding it foce up to sho* ogoin thot iiconsists of the four Aces ond the Two of Heorts. Continuing,

8l
 J.K. Hortmon

J.J

t2 I3 t4

"... in my pocket," squore it ond slip it into your left side iocket pocket, foces inword, on end perpen-
diculor to the pocket olreody there. Let your hond be seen empty os it emerges from the pocket. lf the
pocket hos o flop, tuck it inside.

Pick up the fifth hond with the right hond from obove os you soy, "This is the hond the operotor is deolt
thot he wonts to switch out." Continue, "The tip-off here is thot he will be hunting for something in his
pockets, trying to determine which one it's in-motches, o chopstick, o hondkerchief, something like
thot." As you so comment, use some bosic octing (but not over-octing!) obility to creote the impression
thot you ore smoothly ond dexterously switching the cords in your honds for the cords in your pocket.

Do so by squoring the cords in your honds, tronsferring them from hond to hond, potting your pockets,
flipping your pocket flop, finolly bringing out o hondkerchief from o reor ponts pocket, using it briefly,
ond returning it.

Conclude with the pocket in your right hond, held from obove. Soy, "Now tell me ... How did I do?" At
the some time, perform o One-hond Fon with foces toword the oudience. The hond consists of Four Aces
ond the Two of Heorts, iust os it should. Pouse for o moment, then grosp the fon ot its flored end with the
left hond, revolve it flored end inword, ond deposit it foce up ot center toble. (See Figure Fifteen.)

(g) Sucker Honds

Proceed by soying, "Now the Four Aces-or, for thot motter, ony other winning hond-wouldn't do
much good if oll the other ployers dropped out without doing ony betting." Reoch in your left iocket
pocket ond remove the five indifferent cords ploced there before the performonce. As you do so, con-
tinue, "For exomple, il you were deolt this hond, you wouldn't wont it eilher." Spreod the cords foce up,
pouse for o moment, then squore the pocket, turn it foce down, ond discord it to the top of the deck.

"lf the operotor reolly wonts to set things up for himself, he hos to whet his opponents' oppetites. So I

hove o surprise for you. l've been conducting o little test to see how fost you leorn ond how close you
wotch. You moy hove noticed thot I olwoys took o good look ot oll the honds eoch time I gothered them
up. Whot I wos trying to do wos to see if there were some interesting cords thot I could goin possession
of, ond deliver through the very methods ond techniques l've been exploining. Let's see how it oll
worked out."

Pick up the fourth hond with the right hond from obove ond perform o One-hond Fon. Grosp it ot the
flored end with the left hond, ond revolve it foce up, end for end, replocing it in position on the toble.
Repeot these octions with eoch of the remoining honds, toking the third next, then the second, then the

82
 frickery Treots

first. (See Figure Sixteen.) Comment during this sequence, your tone one of growing excilement, "A poir
of Kings. Three Jocks. A Full House-sevens over Queens! Four Nines!"

f\

15 16
Pouse for o moment, then top the fon of Aces ond conclude, your tone bock to normol, "But only one
winner. The other guys didn'istond o chonce." The deck is now complete ond unprepored, ond reody
for exominotion.

Outline.

Remove four Aces from top of deck.

l. Jog shuffle with lower one-third to demonstrote overhond shuffle.

2. Ploce Aces on top ond execute G. W Hunter shuffle two times os overhond stock.
3. Deol five honds of five cords.
4. Gother four honds to top of deck, gloncing ot their foces.
5. Show fifth hond, odd cord going foce down on deck, four Aces foce up on deck.
6. Perform "incomplete" riffle shuffle to demonstrote.
7. Aces foce down on top. Perform full deck folse riffle shuffle three times os riffle stock.
8. Deol five honds, gother four os before.
9. Odd cord on top of deck; show Aces, leove in foce-up pile on toble'
I0. Ploce Ace of Spodes foce up on deck. Demonstrote second deol five times, deol Ace of Spodes.

11 . Reploce deolt cords, turn Ace of Spodes foce down.

12. Demonstrote second deol once more.

13. Deol five tops ropidly os seconds.

.l4.
Turn over next cord on top-the Ace of Spodes.
I 5. Obtoin breok under top two cords. Tronsfer two os one to deolt pile, pile to deck, floshing foce cord.

83
 J.K. Hortmon

.l6.
Obtoin breok under top two cords. Tronsfer Ace of Spodes to Ace pocket, ploce pocket on deck
side-iogged.

17 .Flip pocket foce down, lift block obove breok.

.l8.
Tronsfer to bottom to demonstrote bottom deol. Don't expose bottom cord.

19. Deol five honds, gother os before, show oll five cords of fifth. Ploce on toble foce up.

20. Tronsfer botiom cord to top, showing it.

21. Deol five honds. Remove four bottom cords to demonstrote switching, ploce deck oside.

22.Ploce four-cord "switch" pocket in hondkerchief pocket. Pick up fifth hond, obtoining breok over
bottom cord.

23. Remove four-cord switch pocket. Demonstrote switch, shifting bottom cord of hond to top of switch
pocket.

24.Ploce switch pocket in fifth-hond spot, discord other pocket to deck.

25. Ploce entire Ace pocket in side iocket pocket. Pick up fifth hond. ,Act out supposed switch, show
hond.

26. Ace hond foce up on toble. Remove indifferent cords from pocket, showing them.

22. Show honds in 4-3-2-1 order-oll ore strong.

84
Mixed llicks
Two Ploced

Key for Two

Ribbon Cutting

Bockmorked

Closet Revolutionory

Cheek Turner ll

Comebock

Fore Ploy

Through ond Through

Reflexions

Appoironces

Shifting Sondwich

Show ond Spell

Touchy Fooly
 J.K. Horlmon

furo Plclced
This opprooch to the Elmsley "in the some ploce ot the some time" theme is not dissimilor to others in
print, but the precise orrongement is smooth ond efficient ond produces o strong impression.

Ribbon spreod the deck foce down on the toble, osking o spectotor to slide out two cords from sepo-
rote points. Scoop up the rest of the deck ond turn it foce up. Ask the spectotor to indicote one of the
two selection. Pick it up without exposing its foce ond set it on the foce of the deck, outlogged for holf
its length. (See Figure One.) As you do so, soy, "This cord will go bock where it come from sight
unseen, so to identify it, we'll foce it opposite to oll the other cords."

As you then go on, "Foce down in the middle of the foce-up deck," toke it ot its ouler right corner ond
slice it into the center of the deck for holf its length. (See Figure Two.) Do so without bending down o
block to creote on opening with the left thumb so os not to expose the index below it.

Push it flush, ot the some time obtoining o breok under the cord beneoth it. (See the One Below Breok,
After Croft, p. 68, redescribed in the finol Notes.) Continue, "And now for your other cord," heod-
gesturing toword the cord on the toble. Execute o Turnover Poss, the diversion of ottention providing
even more cover for this mechonicolly well-covered sleight. The reversed cord is second from top.

Reoch for the second selection, ot the some time obtoining o left little finge*ip breok below the top cord
of the deck. Set the second selection on top of the deck, outiogged for holf its length, soying, "This cord
will gobockwhereitcomefromthe normolwoy..." Asyouthenconclud.,"... sowillyoupleose
remember its nome," perform the following octions.

Extend the right hond over the deck, the forefinger curled on top, other fingers ot the outer end of the
outiogged cord, the thumb ot the inner end of the deck. (See Figure Three). As o single, combined
oction, squore the outlogged cord with the deck ond lift the two cords obove the breok os one, roising
the double cord upright to expose its foce, simultoneously twisting the lefit hond polm inword, the hond
troiling below the right, the forefinger pointed toword the double cord. (See Figure Four.)

Pouse momentorily, then lower both honds ond reploce the double cord squorely onto the deck, syn-
chronizing the oction to ovoid floshing the reversed cord. (See Figure Five.) As soon os the double cord
is releosed, roise the right hond, pointing toword the spectotor in o kind of instructionol gesture, ond
soy, "Repeot the nome of the cord to yourself two or three times so you don't forget it."

86
 Trickery Ireots

Then return with the right hond to the deck, pick off
vio the outer end for holf its length. Allow the spect
cord," you go on, "bul I do know thot it con't be t[
prepore for o Triple Turnover ond, os the remork cor
Lifi,' Aher Croh, p 20, described in the finol Notes to "Reflexions," this chopter, for on ideol technique.)

Pouse for o moment, ot the some time pulling down with the left little finger on [he lower holf of the deck
to obtoin o breok obove it. Then toke ihe fo-e up top cord ond toss it to the toble. lmmediotely execute
o Turnover Poss, soying , "...or lhe one on the bottom ..." Here ogoin, lingering ottention on the tobled
cord provides foilsofe misdirection.

Grosp the deck from obove by the long sides,

beneoth it, ond ribbon spreod the deck widely
be thot foce down cord, con it?" When the spectot
you whether his cord is obove or below the reve
concludes thot it is in the other holf, hove him seorch through to moke sure.

Hewill ultimotely tell you thot he con't find his cord. Soy, "You con't find it?...Your cord's not there? ...
Whot wos its nome? ... tok" o look ot thot cord thot il coin'tbe," pointing to the reversed cord. When he
does so, he finds his selection.

Nofes. One Below Breok. The deck is foce up in the

the cord into the outer end of the deck for two-third
ond fourth fingers ot the ouler end of the protrudi
thumb contocting the inner edge of the upper few c
outer end of the deck below the outiogged cord.

Begin to push the loce down cord inword with the right fingers. Simultoneously, push inword with the left
forLfinger, iniogging the section below the foce-down cord, the foce of thot section coming into contoct
with the tip of the right thumb. (See Figure Seven.)

When the lower section hos been iniogged o holFinch or so, ceose the oction o[ the left forefinger. At
thot stoge, the right fingers completre ihe tork of pushing the foce-down cord squore with the upPer
section;-in virtuoll-y the iome motion, the right hond moves inword to squore the upper section with the
lower, the thumb drogging with it the uppeimost cord of the lower section. {See Figure .Eighl.) Thot cord
is thus iniogged, onJyo, .onclude the oction by lifting up on the iniog to form o breok below it os it is
pushed squore.

87
 J.K. Hortmon

The sequence hos been described os o series of seporote octions but in foct is performed from stort to
finish os o continuous flow losting only o hoir longer thon the legitimote oction it simulotes.

Key for furo

The obility to obtoino "noturol glimpse," i.e., o glimpse of the bottom cord while o spectotor himself
shuffles the deck, con be o potent weopon. See, for exomple, "Ribbon Cutting," described next, ond
"Mind Store," Chopter Seven; see olso "Poker Foce-off" (Meons ond Ends, p. 69, Cord Croft, p. a83).
Spectotors con be "tested" in the course of your performonce, ond one who shuffles in on oppropriote
woy con be loter colled on for o porticulor trick.

Generolly, o loymon who uses o dovetoil shuffle will give you the opportunity for o noturol glimpse. ln
foct, some who shuffle in this foshion never disturb the bottom cord throughout. l[ you hove the nerve,
you con glimpse the bottom cord with the deck in your honds, give the deck to on oppropriotely tested
spectotor, ond turn your bock while he shuffles.

ln ony event, the following is o method for exploiting o single noturol glimpse in connection with fwo
selectionsvio o relotively symmetricol process, producing on "impossible" locotion without opporent
explonotion. Moreover, cumbersome colculotion or obvious bock-counting is not required.

Spectotor One hos shuffled the deck ond you hove noted the bottom cord. Assume it is the Ace of
Spodes. Turn your bock, osking the spectotor to hold the deck foce down in his left hond. Ask Spectotor
Two to cut off o portion of the deck-onything less thon holf-ond to shuffle rt.

Tell both to turn their sections foce up. lnstruct Spectotor Two to deol his cords into o foce-up pile on the
toble. Spectotor One is to do the some, deoling ot the some poce, cord for cord, os Spectotor Two.
When Spectotor Two runs out of cords, they both stop.

lnstruct Spectotor Two to note the cord uppermost on his tobled pile, repeoting its nome to himself two or
three times to ossure thot he remembers it. Similorly, osk Spectotor One to note ond remember the cord
uppermost on his tobled pile. He is then to shuffle the cords remoining in his honds ond drop them on
top of his cord. Finolly, he is to pick up the combined section ond drop it on Spectotor Two's pile to
reossemble the deck, squoring the deck neotly.

At thot point, you foce front ond retrieve the deck. Remind the spectotors thot they did oll the shuffling,
cutling, ond selecting with your bock turned. There could be no clues to the identity of their cords. Ask

88
 Trickery Treots

them to concentrote on the nomes os you look through the deck. Begin to feed through it with foces
toword you.

Do so untilyou reoch your originol key-in this exomple the Ace of Spodes. Continue without pousing
to feed through the remoining cords, counting to yourself the cords following the Ace of Spodes by
multiples of fwo: on fhe next cord ofter the key, count "Twof' on the next cord, count "Four;" on the next
cord, count "Six," etc., continuing until the cords ore exhousted. (This, of course, is iust o shorthond woy
of counting singly, then multiplying by two.)

Remember the finol number-soy 32-os you seemingly hove run through the entire deck without
success. Look up with o somewhot onguished expression, ond osk the spectotors to concentrote horder,
octuolly forming mentol imoges of their cords. Now begin to feed through the cords o second time.

As you do so, begin to count (by ones) with the foce cord, storting the count on the number directly
following the number you ore remembering, ond feed/count singly to 52.|n this cose, the foce cord is
33, the next cord 34, the next cord 35, etc. (lf the deck hos one ioker, count to 53, if two iokers, to 54.)

Thecordonthefoceof thelefthondportionotthotpoint-i.e.,thecord following"52"-isspectotor

One's cord. Thumb it off foce down on the toble, smiling os you soy, "Now the impressions ore coming
through much cleorer." Continue to feed cords, looking for your originol key-the Ace of Spodes.
Thumb off the next cord-the cord directly following the key. lt is Spectotor Two's cord.

lf you wish, you con identify the cords by selectors. The opprooch used in proctice is to toble the deck
ond soy, "l con't tell you who's thinking of whot cord, but I hove strong messoges thot somebody is
thinking of eoch of lhese." Hove eoch spectotor nome his cord. Turn both cords foce up simultoneously.

Ribloon Cultirtg
The following locotion depends on o key cord sel thot is o good deol more subtle ond deceptive thon
might oppeor on first reoding. A morking pen is required ond, if you wish, o removoble lobel or o smoll
"Post-itrM" to offix to the bock o[ o cord.

Begin by hoving o spectotor shuffle the deck. Try to obtoin o "noturol glimpse" of the bottom cord os the
spectotor shuffles the deck. lf you ore successful, osk the spectotor to set the deck foce down on the toble.

Lift it iust off the toble ond execute o long, neot ribbon spreod, hondling the deck in such o woy thot the
foces ore cleorly never visible to you. Do so in whotever direction is most comfortoble to produce on
equidistont spreod of the cords-right to left or left to right-ond remember which direction it is.
lf you ore unoble to obtoin o noturol glimpse, receive bock the deck ond execute the Tronsfer Glimpse
(loose Ends, p. 1 ; Cord Croh, p. 12111, in this context os follows. ,Assuming thot you ribbon spreod with
your right hond, receive the deck from the spectotor in your /eF, toking it in deoling position. You will
now tronsfer the deck to the right hond ond in the process undetectobly glimpse the bottom cord.

Dig the left thumb under the deck (see Figure One) ond begin to lever it up on its left long edge.
Simultoneously, twist the left hond polm down, the deck ending up gripped foce do*n olong the left
side-fingers obove, thumb below (See Figure Two.) From this position, occept it in the right hond directly
in your ribbon spreoding grip. (See Figure Three.)The octions ore performed in o ropid, continuous flow,

89
 J.K. Hortmon

but os they toke ploce the bottom cord is momentorily exposed to you ond con be eosily glimpsed.
Follow immediotely with o ribbon spreod os described.

Ask the spectotor to decide on o cord "on)ryvhere in the middle of the spreod" by plocing the tip of his
index finger on it. Gesture over the center third of the spreod os you moke this request. (lt is preferoble
but not essentiol thot his selection is mode within this oreo.)

Using both honds, seporote the spreod on eoch side of his cord. A cleon woy of doing so is to contoct
the groupings of cords directly to the right ond left of the selection with eoch hond from obove (fingers
ot the outer end, thumbs ot the inner end), shifting them in opposite directions until the selected cord loys
seporotely between them. (See Figure Four.)

At thot point ond os port of o continuing oction, contoct the inside long edge of eoch pocket with the
thumb o[ the oppropriote hond (see Figure Five), pushing outword to close the spreods into pockets (see
Figure Six), the fingers of eoch hond oiding to squore them. As ihese octions toke ploce, soy, "We'll
creote some writing room for yov ..."

Then go oi, "...

becouse whot l'd like you to do is to pick up thot pen ond drow ony klnd of obstroct
design or imoge on the bock of your cord." lf you prefer to use the lobel or "Post-it," hove the spectotor
offlx it ond write on it "ony four digit number."

When the spectotor hos followed either course, hove him re-cover the pen ond set it oside. Then soy,
"Let's woit o moment or two for the ink to dry. While we're doing thot, do I hove your ogreement thot
thot design [number] is not one thot I could possibly hove known obout ond duplicoted oheod of time?"

With this time deloy complete, reossemble the deck in exactly the some direction os you initiolly spreod
the cords.lf from right to left, pick up the pocket on your right with the right hond from obove, set it on

90
 Trickery Treots

the selection, picking up the selection beneoth it, ond drop the combinotion on top of the lefitmost pocket,
leoving the deck in position there. ln performing these octions, keep the oction close to the toble so thot
o glimpse of the selection is out of the question.

As these reossembling octions toke ploce, soy, "Would you squore the deck neotly so everythingis the
woy it wos." As the spLctotor complies, go on, "Of course even though I couldn't know the ngryeof your
cord, it's true thot I know opproximotely *here it is in the deck, so pick up the deck, put it behind your
bock, ond tronsfer o group'of cords oi ony size you wish from top to bottom ... Neoten up the deck
ogoin, now bring it forword, turn it foce up, ond put it bock on the toble."

lf it hoppens thot the decoroted bock of the selected cord is in view on top of the deck-when he brings it
for*ord, tell him to put the deck behind his bock ogoin ond repeot the oction of tronsferring o group of
cords of ony size from top to bottom.

Ribbon spreod the foce up deck in the some direction you did before, soying, "Neither of us could hove
ony ideo'whot your cord iooks like from the front. When you get right down to it, only the pen hos come
into octuol contoclwith your cord, so perhops if in its own inonimote woy con help us out."

Pick up the pen by one end, move it bock ond forth over ihe spreod, zero in on the opproximote.locotion
of the'key cord, iinolly descending to rest the end of the pen on the selection-the cord iust obove the
key. (See Figure Seven.) Hove the spectotor withdrow it ond turn it foce down for the climox.

Nofes. The following bockground tole might be of interest.

Mony( o "Horly" ot the time), together with o clossmote ot o New

s
Englon nstituted o mogic club whose meetings were morked by on
enihusi ordor v os not even dompened when Horty wos oppre-
hended by o school prefect while engoged in procticing posses during Evensong, o required lote Sun-
doy chopel service, ond quite severely disciplined.

Over o severol-yeor period, the two boys presented o number of school shows ond entertoined infor-
molly with frequency,'the lotter chiefly with cords. They olso wrote o bookl Since Horty's clossmote's first
nome begon with 'JH" ond lost nome with "Lor," the outhor of this book wos none other thon "H. J.
Horlor." 6n".opy wos produced (on Horty's typewriter)which, ofter groduotion, seemed to disoppeor
ond wos relegoted lohory memory.

Four ond o holf decodes poss. (How could thot be!) JKH, now well-ensconced in northern middle oge,
reods in on olumni news[effer from his old school thot his odolescent mogic buddX whom he hos not

9t
 J.K. Hortmon

seen or corresponded with during the intervening yeors, hos hod serious heolth problems. He writes o
letter o[ good wishes ond good memories ond receives in return o comporoble letter ond o pockoge-
the lotter contoining the long lost monuscript of the only work of H. J. Horlor!

Whot o kick! Whot fun it is to reodl The contents include "Truth Detector" ond "Poker Foce-off" (under
other nomes), little different thon os described in Meons ond Ends ond Cord CroF. Other entries hod
been knowingly reworked over the yeors ond still others deservedly forgotten. Two, however, hod been
undeservedly forgotten. One, on older ond wiser JKH reolizes, is more the germ of on ideo thot could
well hove consideroble potentiol. The second, recolled os o very effective trick ot the time, needs only
dusting ond tweoking: tested virtuolly os is, it scores remorkobly high morks. Other thon incorporoting
the Tronsfer Glimpse, rewriting, ond retitling, itt "Ribbon Cutting," iust os you've reod it obove.

Bcrckmeirked
Toke o look first ot the preceding trick, porticulorly ot the reminiscence in the finol Note. Re-reoding the
trick in the long lost tome iogged even more oncienl memories of o predecessor routine with o "mirocle"
version of the effect. lt begon the some-ofter o spectotor shuffle, the deck is ribbon spreod on the toble
ond the bock of one cord is morked. At thot point, however, the performer without further odo sweeps
up the spreod ond immediotely honds the deck to the spectotor for odditionol shuffling. lt is then re-
spreod foce up, ond the performer identifies the right cord.

The method relied on o ropid iniogging of the cord below the morked cord by o dorting, inword swipe
of the thumb os the deck wos swept or scooped up, the iniog then utilized to obtoin o glimpse of the foce
of the morked cord os the deck wos honded to the spectolor.

The trick in thot form wos performed mony times, but it become cleor thot the thumb's covert mission
could not be fully conceoled no motter how ropidly it wos implemented, ond spectotors often spotted the
moment of trickery if they sow the trick severol times. The foct thot they could not then deduce exoctly
how the selected cord wos thereofiter glimpsed mode the trick puzzling, but obviously something less
thon o reol shocker. Old mortificotions flooted into consciousness-"Wotch his thumb!" wos soid more
thon once by certoin cynicol sodists who were witnessing o repeot performonce.

It wos then thot the simple opprooch of "Ribbon Cutting" wos developed. The foct remoins, however,
thot from the stondpoint of effect, the originol version is obviously quite strong ond direct, ond its
recollection reowokened the chollenge of finding o fully deceptive solution. lt is not coincidentol thot the
following thoroughly convincing technique, emonoting from considerobly more weothered wiles, essen-
tiolly relies on more potient hondling.

The outword impression is the some-once the bock of the cord hos been morked, you scoop up the
deck, digging your fingers under one end of the spreod ond gothering it in o single sweep-ond
immediotely hond it to the spectotor for shuffling. ln the course of thot oction, you ore oble to glimpse the
foce of the morked cord.

Begin by receiving bock o shuffled deck. Ribbon spreod it from left to right, moking sure thot the center
section is more widely spreod. Ask o spectotor to designote o cord by holding the copped morking pen

92
over the spreod ond bringing one end down on ony cord. "Hold your cord lightly in ploce, ond l'll give
you some writing room," you soy, performing the following ociions.

or "mini-spreod" of five or six cords on either side

ping directly belo* (to the left of) the selection, the
the-selection. (See Figure One.) Gently ond simul-
rs or so in opposite directions-the right hond right-
ord ond o quorfer-inch inword. (See Figure Two.)

Releose the hond grips, the bock of the selection now olmost fully exposed (the cord, however, still within
the spreod), the glouping immediotely below it (to its left) iniogged with respect to the selection, the
grouping immediotely obove it outiogged.

A fine point: the honds must move together-if onything, the left hond somewhot in odvonce of the right.
ln octuolity, "writing room" .on be-creoted by rhifting the right hond grouping. olone ond, for thot
motter, shihing it dirlctly rightword: s ond iog-ging either grouping inword
or outword orl not necessoiy. Acc os o first, seporote step, the oction
o[ the left hond oppeors superfluo oving.inversely.together-the right
hond rightword ond slighily outv slightly inword-creotes o lulling
noturolness ond is occepted without question.

Now hove the spectotor remove the cop of the pen ond mork the bock of the selection.with ony
minimol design or initiols he wishes. As you then iell him to recop the pen ond set it oside, begin the
following sequence.

lntrude the left fingertips iust under the left end of the spreod, the thumb lightly contoctin-g the bock of the
spreod; simultonetusly, stotion the right fingertips iust to the right of the.right end of the spreod, the
pods touching the right long edge of ihe tofcord(s), the right thumb lightly contocting the bock of the
top cord. (See Figure Three.)

3 4

93
 J.K. Hortmon

Keeping your goze focused on the iniog,i.e., on the iniogged portion of the cord immediotely below the
selection, move the honds togetherto gother the spreod, very roughly squoring the deck-left fingertips
still below it, right fingers ot its right long side-os it rests on the toble, the iniog still cleorly evident to
you. (See Figure Four.) The ociions now proceed immediotely ond in o continuous, unseporoted flow.

Lift the deck off the toble, the right fingers working under it so thot both honds hold it in more or less
porollel positions. (See Figure Five.) With the left fingers, lifi or tip up the left long side, pivoting the deck
on (long) edge, bock of the deck rightword, left fingertips continuing to contoct the foce cord, the deck
held in ploce by the right hond-thumb oround the upper long side, forefinger curled ogoinst the bock,
other fingers oround the lower long side. (See Figure Six.)

Curling the left forefinger ogoinst the foce of the deck, extend the other fingers to contoct the outer end
ond the thumb to contoct the inner end; the thumb pulls bock on the iniog to squore it, creoting o foirly
wide opening or breok. (See Figure Seven.) At the some time, tilt the outer short end of the deck
somewhot upword, foce ond bock of the deck still oriented leftword ond rightword, ond begin to extend
both honds toword the spectotor to give him the deck. ln the course of these octions, the foce of the
selection-directly obove the breok-con be cleorly ond instontly glimpsed. (See Figure Eight.)

Releose the opening os soon os the glimpse is ottoined, squoring the deck more thoroughly iust before
giving it to the spectotor for shuffling (see Figure Nine), the scoop-up sequence from beginning to end
oppeoring outwordly no different thon if the instructions hod simply been, "Scoop up the deck ond give
it to the spectotor."

The keys ore o) to focus on the iniog os the deck is gothered ond b) to gother the deck by inverse oction
of both honds simultoneously-left hond rightword, right hond leftword. These meosures will ossure thot
the iniog is preserved ond con be eosily engoged. The disorroyed, rogged-ended condition of the deck
following the scoop-up is completely noturol, ond the glimpse oction itself, occurring in tronsit, is invis-
ible from the spectotors' perspective.

94
 Trickery lreots

-----: ....----
r0

As indicoted, the sequence is o single oction-not o succession of steps-ond oppeors no different thon
the legitimote one it replicotes. Directly ofter the spectotor morks his cord ond os.you reoch "gothering
positi6n" (refer to Figuie Three), your potter is, "Good. Now reploce the- cop ond put the pen down ..."
From thot point to thl moment of giving the deck to the spectotor, your fully covering potter is, "... ond
pleose toke the deck ond shuffle it thoroughly."

When the spectotor hos completed his shuffle, conclude os in "Ribbon Cutting." Retrieve the deck ond
ribbon spreod it foce up on the toble, soying, "Neither of us could hove ony ideo wh.ot your cord looks
like from the front. When you get right down to it, only the pen hos come into octuol contoctwith your
cord, so perhops it in its own inonimote woy con help us out."

Pick up the pen by one end, move it bock ond forth over the spreod, zeroin on the opproximote locotion
of the'glimpsed iord, finolly descending to rest the end of the pen-directly on the glimpsed cord. (See
Figure Ten.) Hove the spectotor withdrow it ond turn it foce down for the climox.

Closet R.evolutioncr ty
The following routine, which requires o prop but is otherwise impromptu, produces o quite eerie.effect
ond mokes J strong impression. The peiformer begins the effect by depositing o signed selected cord
foce down in o smoll box. The box cover is pui in iloce, ond removed o second or two loter. The cord
is now foce up.

The only move required is the Underturn Move (see references in "Plocing Foces," Chopter One, re-
described below in the finol Notesl. The box, obtoinoble ot o lewelry store or iewelry deportment, is
cordboord with o detochoble cover, ond con be ony size thot comfortobly occommodotes o ploying cord
without too much excess spoce, the depth no more thon on inch-ond-o-holf or so. (See Figure One.)

Typicolly used for o wotch or other piece of iewelry, such o box often comes ttol like-,
somewhot stiff bedding or podding in the bottom section. (See Figure Two.) ld be left
in the box, ond moy, ot yo, will see, hove to be built up or cut down o bit. ll strip of
(
Scotch tope, looping it, ond offix it to the center of the inside of the cover. The loop
should be relotivelylighr ond should not hong below the sides of the cover.

To determine the proper level of the cotton bedding, set two cords in the box, centered on the cotton
bedding, ond reploce the cover. Push down gently ot the center of the cordboord top with the right
forefing-er. Lift off'the top. lf the uppermost cordhos odhered to the Scotch tope, the bedding is o[ proper

95
 J.K. Hortmon

123
girth. ln other words, the two cords should rest iust high enough so thot the uppermost one becomes
ottoched to the tope if light downword pressure is opplied to the cover.

The working should now be cleor. With the deck in the left hond ond o morking pen in reodiness, riffle
down the outer left corner, osking o spectotor to coll "stop." Give the deck o complete cut ot thot point.
Execute on end-for-end Double Turnover, depositing the double cord on top outiogged for holf on inch.

ldentify the cord in view os the selection. Extend your hond, osking the spectotor to use the pen to initiol
its foce. Alternotively, ottoch o detochoble lobel or smoll "Post-it" sheet on which the spectotor con
inscribe his initiols.

ln either cose, roise the deck to chin level ond cont the outer end upword ond rightword, ollowing you
to blow on the inked initiols to dry them. Purportedly turning the selected cord foce down, perform the
Underturn Move os the deck is lowered ond returned to the horizontol plone, leoving the selection foce
up second from top, on indifferent cord foce down obove it.

Set the deck on the toble, ond introduce the box. Toke off the cover ond drop it on the toble. lt will be
obvious thot the box, other thon the cotton bedding, is empty. Pick off the double cord from the deck by
the ends vio the noturol breok below it (see Figure Four), ond ploce it in the box, centering it (see Figure
Five), soying, "Wotch corefully whot I do with your cord."

Pick up the cover with the right hond from obove, forefinger curled on top (see Figure Six), ond reploce
it on the boxwithouf exerting pressure. lmmediotely lift it off, soying, "lt's foce down, of course ..."
Pouse for o moment, ollowing the spectotors to look ot the cord, then reploce the cover ogoin, this time
opplying light downword pressure with your forefinger os you go on, " ... but you do remember whol it's
foce /ooks like, don't you?"

4 5 6

96
Releose the right-hond grip os the remork is concluded, ond owoit the spectotor's reply. Then return with
the right honiond tlorily'lift off the cover, soying, "Does it look like this?" The cord now oppeors foce
up, the foce down cord odhering to the Scotch tope.

Extend the left hond, soying, "Toke it out ond moke sure il's your .le.g.) Four of Heorts." When he
removes the cord to cheik his initiols, cosuolly reploce the cover ond set the box oside.

As will be obvious, the some ideo con be used to c

very deceptive.

Nofes. Begin the Underturn Move in this contex foce up on

e
top outiog-ged for o holf-inch. Tilting the outer ft corner of
th" doubielord with the right honJ. As the thu the cord to
turn it over end for end, t[e left thumb, lying dio rmost cord
inword until it is iniogged obout on eighth-of-on-inch. (See Figure Seven).

The right fingers thus drow out the second cord, doing so until it is free ond its inner end cotches on the
left for"efinge"rwhich hos curled oround the outer enJof the deck. (See Figure Eight.).This cord is then
pivoted foie do*n on top of the deck, the left thumb moving oside to occommodote the oction.

As it folds foce down, conceoling the reversed cord below it, the deck is groduolly returned to o hori-
zontol position, the right thumb Iquoring the inner end of the top two cords. (See Figure Nine.) A few
moments in front of o mirror will indicote the proper timing here.

Cheek furner ll
A two-voriotion routine with this title, thestorting
Triumph" (Apocolypse June 1 993, p. 22261, oppe
ing description presents two now preferred versi
originol, the second moking use of the Blow Awoy
in the text.

97
 J.K. Hortmon

Begin by hoving o cord chosen, disployed to oll spectotors, ond returned. Control it to the top of the
deck. Spreod the deck foce down from hond to hond. Seporote the spreod when the right hond holds o
little less thon holf the deck, the top cord or cords of the left hond section remoining noturolly in spreod
condition os well. (See Figure One.) As you do so, soy, "We stort out with your cord somewhere in the
deck, one of fifty-wo foce-down cords."

"Let's chonge thot," you go on. As this remork is mode, flip the right-hond section foce up, the cords
coolescing squorely onto the lower section, the left little finger simultoneously obtoining o breok beneoth
the top cord of the lower section (the first foce-down cord). Follow immediotely by inserting your right
forefinger into the breok (see Figure Two) ond flipping over the block obove it, soying, "... ond mix
things up ..." At this point only the iop cord is octuolly foce up, the selection directly beneoth it.

Continue without pousing, "... reolly mix things up." As this lost comment is mode, grip the deck by the
long sides with the right hond from obove, roise the left side to left-hond Foro Shuffle position, ot the
some time cutting off o bit more thon holf the deck in preporotion for o Foro Shuffle. (See Figure Three.)

Butt the two sections together, moking sure thot the top few cords of the right-hond section lond on top
of the combined deck. Compress the sections for holf their length. Turn the elongoted deck so thot the
long sides foce you ond the spectolors, ostensibly to disploy the shuffle cleorly (see Figure Four), ond
complete the process of enmeshing the sections squorely together.

Allow the deck to drop into normol lefi-hond position, presumobly o mixture of foce-up ond foce-down
cords. "Some cords foce up, some foce down," you soy, os you orch the right hond over the deck ond cut
onywhere in the middle of the deck, then reploce the cut. This opening phose is the some in both versions.

l. As you then soy, "Foces ond bocks on this side ..., begin o "reverse-fingered" K-M Move (Kordyro-
Morlo) os follows. Li[t the inner right corner of the top two cords with the right forefinger "Hit" style,
inserting the forefinger into the breok ond sliding it forword to the midpoint of the right side of the cord.
(See Figure Five.) Grosping the double cord there between thumb ond forefinger, drow it to the right
until its left edge is contiguous with the right edge of the deck, simultoneously iniogging it the length of
the white morgin. (See Figure Six.) As you go el, "... ond foces ond bocks on fiis side," ond os o
continuing oction, perform this next sequence.

Twist the left hond polm down, the conliguous edges the hinge point, the deck hugging the double cord
to the extent possible. (See Figure Seven.) The instont this position hos been reoched, forcibly push off

98
with the right thumb ond tug with the right forefinger, ihe right hond drowing out the lowermost (foce-
down) .ord for. two-thirds of its width. (See Figure Eight.)

After the briefest pouse, return the foce-down cord flush beneoth the deck ond releose contoct with the
righr hond. Soying, "One of the foces ond one of the bocks belongs to the_cord you selected," point ot
th"e spectoto, *ithih" extended forefinger of the still polm-down left hond. Continue, "We oll know whot
its bocl< looks like; tell us whot its foceis."

When the spectotor identifies his cord, repeot its nome os you rub the lowermost surfoce of the deck
ogoinst the bock of your right hond or right sleeve. Slowly turn the left hond polm up to reveol the selection.

r-\

Pouse for o moment for this effect to register. Then soy, "Not only thot. All the other cords hove turned
their bocks to it!" Toke the deck with thJ right hond by the long iides from obove ond ribbon spreod it
on the toble from right to left (see Figure N-ine), retoining the selection in the right hond, then tossing it
foce up to onother spot on the toble.

ll. Complete the opening phose exoctly os exploined. The deck is in the lefit hond, only the,top c_ord
foce up. ihe selection is dlrectly below it. You hove iust soid, "Some cords foce up, some foce down," os
you cut off o portion of the deck, then reploce it.
mber its nome? Wotch whot I con do with o little hot
oy Chonge by orching the right hond over
tl"d on top, thumb ot the inner right corner
top two cords. The left thumb is extended

You now oppeor to roise the deck ropidly to o point o few inches in lront of your mouth, blow on it, then
iust os ,opijly lower it to its storting posiiion
to reveol thot the foce-up top,cord hos chonged, in this cose
into the ."l".tion. Under cover 6f th" upword movement o[ the deck, you perform the following
secret octions.

99
 J.K. Hortmon

t0

It is in this stote thot the deck, ofter o ropid v-oyoge, orrives o few inches in front of your mouth, long
sides focing you ond the spectotors, polms focing eoch other, right thumb ond second finger ot thI
inword corners of the double cord. (See Figure Twelve.)

il t2
The moment it does so, blow on it quickly ond oudibly, ond instontly lower the deck with both honds to
its the right hond simultoneously zipping rightword to contoct the right corners os
-storting -position,
before. (Refer to Figure Ten.) The selection oppeors to hove mogicolly moteriolized on top of the deck.

As indicoted, the spectotors lose focus on the deck os it dorts upword ond thus do not see its reposition-
1ng or the turnover itself, refocusing only ofter the return trip is underwoy. As mentioned, it is the lefi
hond-not the right hond-thot drives the turnover itself: odopt the mindset os the chonge is obout to
toke ploce, "l'm going to twist my left hond polm rightword," ond it is the long side of the deck which
you octuolly blow on or toword.

When this first ef soy, "Not only thot. All the other cords hove turned their
bock to itl" So so ht hond by the long sides from obove ond ribbon spreod
it on the toble fr e Nine), retoining the selection in the right hond', then
tossing it, foce up, to onother spot on the toble.

Nofes. As is evident (ond secretly sotisfying!), the first version relies on on odditionol bit of "cheek" over
ond obove the discreponcy turnover: the K-M Move with "reverse fingering" (The K-M Move, Edword
Morlo, p. 3) inherently incorporotes still onother discreponcy!

The slight iniog creoted while perfoming the move ossures thot the push-off/pull-off oction is not floshed
ot the outer end of the deck.

I00
Comelocrck
Frederick Broue's "The Homing Cord" (Show Stoppers With Cords, Hugord ond Broue,.p.. l3), intro-
duced o clossic "comebock" tf,eme thoi hos modl'vorious comebocks of its own through the yeors in
one form or onother, o well thought-out relotively recent exomple Jim. Swoi otest
iord t i.k" lMiroclesWirh Cords,Swoin, p. 36).The following is o reworking o lolly
f"i-noli=ing ond streomlining it. fh" routine uses the Vernon Strip-out Addi finol
Notes to "Triple Cross," Chopter One.

of Spodes to the top (bock) of the deck. Begin by

ive spot Heorts. Do not expofe the Ace of.Spodes
ore or less evenly spreod through the deck, on
ubsequent Strip-out Addition.

Close up the deck ond perform thot sleight, secretly odding the reormost cord to the outiogged cords os
ti"y or" extrocted. Set the deck foce dJ*n on the toble, ond flip the pockei foce do*n in the left hond.
During this opening series of octions, soy, "Unlike most tricks where one of you selects the cords, in this
one li1l,going to dI the selecting. And not iust ony cords. The closet gomblers omong you know thot o
poker hond in which oll the cords hove the some suit is o flush."

With the pocket now foce d trick uses o five-cord flush." At the some time, count
tl.re oocket from left hond to beneoth the other (i.e., without reversing the order)
onj p"rforring o Block Pu Flick the lost cord ond toke it on top of the pocket.

This precise method o[ counting is used throughout the trick, ond thot is the point,of using it here. ln foct,
there is on exoct consistency tJoll the ensuingioctions ond potter. Note, incidentolly, thot yog do not refer
to the number of cords involved until this .o.int ir initiolly executed, thus, in o sense, rotionolizing it'

"So-we hove o Heort ...," you go on, flipping the pocket foce up. Soy, "And ..." Push.off the u,ppermost
cord ond toke itwith the polm-dJwn righi[onJ Stud-style (see Figure One); revolve the hond polm up, the
cord foce down, ond tuck it beneoth th'e pocket. (See Figure Two.) Continua, "... o Heort ... ond '.."

Push off the uppermost cord, toke it with the polm-

the cord beneoth the pocket. Soy, "... o Heort... on
..." Then soy with o tone of inevitoble expect
reveoling the Ace of Spodes. Reoct with o kind

Pouse for o moment, then turn the double cord foce down, soying, "This won't d.o.".De.o[the top cord
onto the deck, oddin g, "For this trick, we hove to hove Heorts ...'iContinue, ",..hrt luckily it will work
with o four-cord flrsf,." As this lost remork is mode, perform the Count os before, on this o-ccosion
displovinq five cords os four: toke the first cord; toke the second beneoth the first; Block Push-off on the
thlid corn-t, [llck the fou*h ond finol cord, ond deposit it on top.

"So-let's stort ogoin." Flip the pocket foce up, soying, "We hove o Heort... ond ..'" Stud tronsfer the
uppermost.ord tL beneoth the pocket, ond soy, "... o Heort... ond ..." Stud tronsfer, ond continue, "...
o'lieort ..." ln the some monnei os preriously,'soy, "... And..." Stud tronsfer o third time, reveoling the
Ace of Spodes, ond soy, chogrined os before, ".'. the Ace o[ Spodes."

IOI
 J.K. Horlmon

t; then turn thedo s

"This top
soying, "For this Conti
." will
ord flush." As this Count, the
ng the third cord, g it on top.

"So-let's stortogoin." Flip the pocketfoce up. Soy, "We hove o Heort... ond ..." Stud tronsfer, ond
soy, "A Heort..." Repeot os before, "And ..." Stud tronsfer, , ond soy
disconsolotely, "... the Ace of Spodes." Turn fhe double cord definitely
won't do." Deol the top cord onto the deck, soying, "For this t

Continue, "But hoppily it will work with o fwo-cord flush." At the some time, Block Push-off two cords os
one ond tronsfer the double cord beneoth the remoining cord. (With o two cord block, you might find
it cleoner to buckle the bottom cord with the lefit forefinger, toke the uppermost double cord with the right
hond ot its inner right corner [see Figure Three], ond tronsfer it below the single cord.)

Go on, "So-let's stort ogoin." Flip the pocket foce up, soying, "A Heort ... And..." Stud tronsfer, ond
soy resignedly, "... the Ace of Spodes." Turn the double cord foce down, soying, "This obsolutely,
positively, won't do."

Angle the top cord rightword (see Figure Four), grosp the outer right corner of the two-cord block
beneoth it (see Figure Five), drow out this double cord, ond revolve it foce up on top. (See Figure Six.)
As this Doley Bottom Li[t is executed, soy, "But, fortuitously, the trick will work with o or"-.ord flush."

Turn the double cord foce down, pick off the single top cord ond toss it to the toble, toke the remoining
double cord with the right hond from obove, ond deposit it on the deck. As these octions ore performed,
soy, "So-ot long lost, we con octuolly begin this trick."

102
Look ot the spectotors ond osk, "All sei?" Then go on,."O.K. The poinf of the trick is ..." Look ot the
spectotors ogoin ond osk, "Are you reody for th-is?" Then continu?,"... to moke oll those Heorts ..."
P;r; for on'instont, then iurn the'single .ord foce up os you conclude, "... turn into the Ace of Spodesl"

Feire Ploy
This routine, in print before in Ihe Crimp No.
of Lin Seorles'i'Connibol Cord" theme thot
4l , p.370, is o refinement of o novel three-victim version
oppeo The Crimp No. 38 ("Cordnivores," p.,345)
hier. penjnomes ("E. Lusifrobbitz ond Ron
n's "Return of the Connibols" /Cord Script, p-
ther extension, described in Ihe Crimp No. 39 os
Sheilo" (p. 355), odded o fourth victim, o chor-
, ore fori of o kind rother thon indifferent cords.

The trick uses the reversol ond non-reversol forms of the Vernon Thru-the-Fist Move. Both vorionts ore
in the finol Notes. An odditionol requirement i.s lo ossure thot there is o noturol breok under
"rploin"d
; f;" ,p block on top of the deck. lf necessory, prepore by giving the foce-down deck o concove bend
(ends down) or the foce-up deck o convex bend (ends up).

Figure Three.)

During these initiol octions, explo ick hos to do

Deuces, you soy, will ploy the port issionories' R
the four jockr, soying thot they wil nibols. Close
As previously, tronsfEr them foce c foce up deck
the'right hond *hi.h then flips the deck proper foce down, the two

r03
 J.K. Hortmon

Toke the deck with the right hond from obove. Drow off eoch of the Jocks into the left hond with the left
thumb. Leoving the Deuces in ploce, set the deck on the toble. Your occomponying potter exploins thot
the connibols room the woodlonds while the lowly missionories stoy in their equolly lowly mission.

Redisploy the Jocks, then squore up ond flip the pocket foce down. Obtoin o breok below the uppermost
Jock os the right hond lifts the block of Deuces off the deck by the ends. Approoch the left hond with the
right ond .drow the uppermost Deuce onto the.Jock pocket with the left thumb. During these octions, soy,
"On one foteful doy, the missionories ventured out for some evening word-spreoding, but one of them,
regrettobly, went oslroy." Reploce the remoining Deuces onto the deck.

the pocket, soying, "The solivoting connibols loy in

reversol feoture), receiving the pocket in right-hond
ond ote ..." Elmsley Count, the Deuce no longer in

With the pocket in the left hond, obtoin o breok beneoth the top cord of the lefi-hond pocket os you
return to the deck with the right hond ond lift off the Deuce block. Approoching the left hond with the
right, drow off the uppermost Deuce onto the pocket, then reploce the remoiningb"rces on the deck. At
the some time, soy, "His colleogues went looking for the missing missionory, bu1 olos, one of lhem went
ostroy os well."

Cut the top two cords to the bottom, soying, "The connibols hod him in view ..." Perform the non-
reversol Thru-the-Fist move os before, soying, "... then hod o good chew..." Elmsley Count for the
second vonish, soying, "... of Missionory Stewl"

Lift the Deuces off the deck with the right hond. Double Buckle with the lefi fingers to obtoin o little finger
breok obove the lowermost two cords of the connibol pocket. Drow off the uppermost Deuce, ot the
some time steoling the block obove the breok Biddle style. Reploce the remoining Deuce on top of the
deck, the right fingers mosking the thickness of the ,xtro cords conceoled beneoth lt *hich coolesce with
the deck itself. As these octions ore performed, soy, "When the two still left went out in seorch, one
wolked right into the connibols' kitchen ..."

Perform the reverso/voriont of the Thru-the-Fist move, soying, "So oll they hod to do wos heot'im up ..."
Elmsley Count three os four, soying "... ond eof im up!"

Lift off the lost Deuce os the left little finger obtoins o breok beneoth the top cord of the pocket ond sef the
Deuce on the pocket, soying, 'nVhen the lost lowly missionory took one quick look oround ..." Cut ot the
breok, soying, "...the connibols followed'im..." Elmsley Count, soying, "... ond swallowed'im ... Whole."

r04
 Trickery lreots

hoppy ending, however, becouse the missionories,

d our connibol friends foiled to reolize ..." You will
turn oll four cords foce up in o forword spreod,
lude, "... thot this wos their Lost Supper!"

Grosp the upper three cords olong the

b below. (See Figure Five.) Curl the left
t edge of the bottom cord with the left
contoct. (See Figure Six.)

thumb twisting the cords in o longitudinol spreod

left hond inword ond polm down os the first ond
kind of Poddle Move with the bottom cord which
) As these duol octions toke ploce, the two honds
ing so thot thot the left hond cord reoches the toble
d foce-up longitudinol spreod, the disploy coming
into view with your finol words. (See Figure Nine.)

Nofes. With the vonish of eoch of the first two mis

cutting the pocket; 2) o Thru-the-Fist move; 3) on El
only the tuo lost steps ore involved. lt is to bolonc
olso omits o step with the fourth Deuce (in this co
rotionolizing ond covering the lock of symmetry.

r0 II 12

Thru-the-Fist Move.This Doi Vernon flourish oppeors to be o mogicol gesture, but con be used to effect
the secret turnover of o pocket. Assume for this description thot the pocket consists of four cords, the
lower two foce up. To perform the move os o reversol', hold the pocket somewhot forword in the left

r0s
 J.K. Hortmon

hond, oll four fingers olong the right side, thumb ot the lefit side hooked oround the outer left corner. (See
Figure Ten.)

ln o sudden, eight or nine inch movement, dort the hond forword, immediotely twisting it polm down,
thumb inword, the pocket revolving over, end for end. (See Figure Eleven.) Without hesitotion, slowly
drow the hond inword, ot the some time propelling the pocket through the hond in the opposite direc-
tion with the thumb. (See Figure Twelve.) Toke it olong the right side-right thumb obove, fingers be-
low-ond reploce it in the left hond, now polm up. (See Figure Thirteen.)

I3 t4 t5

To simulole the move without reversing the pocket, begin with the pocket in normol left hond position,
thumb ocross the top. Crook or cock the left thumb (see Figure Fourteen) ond curl the fingers so thot their
tips contoct the undersurfoce of the pocket neor its right side. (See Figure Fifteen.) With this grip, extend
the fingers to shift the pocket rightword, now resting on the inside of the fingers rother thon the polm.
(See Figure Sixteen.)

Without hesitotion, close or clench the fingers ond twist the hond polm downword, thumb inword, the
thumb repositioning so thot it contocts the now inner end of the pocket. (See Figure Seventeen.) The
pocket hos turned end for end but hos not revolved over-the some surfoce is uppermost. Simulto-
neously, dort the hond forword os described obove, then drow the hond inword, the thumb propelling
the pocket through the hond in the opposite direction os exploined, but now foced os it wos ot the outset.

lfr

t6 t7

r06
 Irickery Treots

fhrough clnd fhrough

Yeors ogo Edword Morlo publlshed o trick creoted with Cormen D'Amico entitled "Push Thru Foilure"
lPhoeni #\49, p. 766, The Cordicion, Morlo, p.l 9). The effect wos-thot on.open Push Through Riffle
5hrffl", executei with holf the the deck foce up, wos reveoled to be o "foilure" becouse one cord ends up
in the wrong holf-foce down in the foce-up portion, the cord turns out to be
o previous ilection. A recent revisiting of thoi trick pr ion, the ideo of which is
thot the possoge or penetrotion of thelections throug colly, not openly.

the cords from left hond to right, osking o spectotor

middle of the deck or somewhot obove the middle.
I squored lower section. Push the selection to the
ight position to disploy the foce of the cord. (See
Figure One.)

When it hos been noted by the spectotor, lower the hond ond retroct the cord, obtoining o norrow left
little fingertip breok beneoth it, soying. "You've not only decided on o cord, you've olso decided on o
position-tl're point ot which the deck will be divided into fwo portions."

Continue, "A foce-up portion ..." At the some tim

contoct the right side of the top of the left-hond secti
leftword ond foce up, the spreod outomoticolly clos
the slightest hesitotion-os port of o continuing r
breok *ith the right hond from obove, going o1, "... ond o foce-down portion ..."

"ln the middle of which," your potter proceeds, "is your cord." As you moke this remork, execute o
very slow Chorlier Cut, oppeoring to support the sense of your remork: you ore. cutting the selected
.ori into the middle of the'foce-d6*n ,".iion. ln foct, the selection is foce down beneoth the foce-up
right-hond section.

Pouse for o moment os if completing o thought segment. Then continue, "ln the middle of the foce-up
section, of course, ore oll sorts of cords thot you did nol select." As on idle demonstrotive oction occom-
ponying your remork, perform the following sequence.

Prepore for o Swing Cut with the right hond by lifting up o good three-quorters of the right-hond section
with the forefinger:ideolly, oll buJ five or ri* .orJt. Continue. with the Swing Cut,..toking the upper
right-hond bloc[ onto the left-hond section. (See Figure Three.) The honds then noturolly seporote.soTe.-
w-hot, ond os you return to deposit the remoining-block, ollow its underside to scrope ogoinst the left

t07
 J.K. Hortmon

fingertips, sideiogging the lowermost cord or cords. (See Figure Four-view from below.) Hook the left
little fingertip obove the single lowermost cord ond obtoin o breok obove it os the deck is otherwise
squored, the right hond still orched obove it.

Continue, "Let me tell you whot we'll do with the two sections. lt's very simple: they're going to poss right
through eoch otherl And not once, but twice! Actuolly, it's the foce-up section thot penetroies the foce-
down section-down through it, then up through it." 'lt oll hoppens pretty quicklyi' you go on, "so wotch
corefully." As you so comment, shift the block obove the breok froctionolly (white morgin-plus) forword.

Then soy, "First we push down ..." At the some time, cup the right hond over the deck in Polm position,
pressing down on the outiogged ledge to lever the block into o full Polm. (See Figure Five.) lmmediotely,
slide the right hond rightword, forefinger ond thumb (the lotter quickly reverting to the inner end of the
deck) toword their respective right corners, to expose the bock on top of the deck proper. (See Figure Six.)
Woit one second, then return the right hond leftword, cupping it directly over the deck in Polm position.

Continuing uninterruptedly, soy, "Then we pull up," ot the some time performing the following octions.
Deposit the polmed block, tighten the grip of both honds, ond ierk your right hond stroight up on inch
or two, oudibly scroping both ends of the deck, the outer end with the fingers, the inner end with the heel
of the thumb; immediotely, lower the right hond ond slide it rightword os before, o foce now in view.
(See Figure Seven).

7 9

r08
 belongs to the single selected cord, ond the block
cords.With spectotor ottention on the deck proper,
however owkword ond evident it seems, will poss
y of conceoling holf the deck, ond the brief flicker of
pushing down:pulling up potter do creote the first-
blush illusion thot the sections hove somehow penetroted eoch other'

Pouse for o momenl, then proceed, "As olwoys, the exception proves the rule." With the right hond from
obove, lift off the entire foce-up block vio the noturrl breok, ond execute o One-hond Fon, reveoling o
single foce-down cord within it (see Figure Eight), soying, "One cord got left behind!" Pouse momen-
toriiy, then go on, "Whotwosthot corJyou .htse b"fore?" Turn your right hond polm down, reveoling
thot the single foce-up cord is the selection. (See Figure Nine')

It is unimportont thot the reversed cord is off-center-not in the middle of the fon. li's cleorly within the
fon, ond ih" irr"grlor, less studied plocement might octuolly give greoier credibility to the ossertion thot,
-been
wherever it hod situoted, it wos indeed left behind!

R.eflexions
hock Your Pock," The Art of Astonishment Book
ot the outset, it creotes the impression thot the
:ir honds on the toble-the spectotor on top of o cord

which rhe performer reveors thor he hos won *r," .r,liiJ"!:,".:"."i'ff1',?ffi1,:,i$;IJi?iit:'IoT"i

it is the speclotor's.

he top cord to the right for holf its width, the second
ne.) Roise the deck to on upright position in prepo-
imultoneously ond under cover o[ the lorger oclion
for enough so thot its right edge posses o holf-inch
. (See Figure Two.)

From the spectotors' perspective, the octuol reor cord is conceoled. Without hesitotion, clip the top {o
cords between the right t[rumb ond bose of the forefinger (see Figure Three), drow them os o unit o bit
rightword, ond conti-nue with o normol spreoding oction with the uppermost eight.to ten cords. Toklng
thl spreod with the right hond olone, lower the left hond os you disploy the spreod to o spectotor. (See
Figure Four-your view-ond Figure Five-spectotor's view.)

t09
 J.K. Hortmon

Soy, "l'll give you o choice of o dozen or so cords. Pleose lhink ol one of them, onyone ot oll, ond tell me
when you've settled on one." When he so indicotes, lower the right hond, of the some time curling or
clenching the right fingers, roughly squoring the pocket (see Figure Six), ond slide it on top of the deck.
As you do so, instruct the spectotor to repeot the nome of his cord to himself two or three times to ossure
thot it is firmly etched in his mind, reminding him thot he selected it by thinking of it, not by touching or
toking it.

Exploin thot you ond the spectotor will now ploy o little gome okin to the cord gome of yore colled
"Slopiock." Soying thot you will demonstrote with o cord the spectotor couldn't be thinking of, cleonly
drow out the bottom cord of the deck ond tronsfer it to the top, still foce down.
"Whot lwilldo is this," you go on. "lwillturn eoch cord foce up ..." Turn the top cord foce up in ploce,
using o comporoble hondling to the Double Lift technique thot you will employ throughout (see finol
Notes). ".. . Coll its nome, in this cose the [e.g.] Queen of Diomonds, turn it foce down, lift it off the deck,
ond hold it over here like this." Accompony the lotter remork with oppropriote octions-i.e., lurn the
cord foce down with the some hondling, lift lt off by the ends from obove, ond corry it to o position five
or six inches obove the center of your performing oreo. (See Figure Seven.)

TOP VIEW

"ln the meontime," you continu e, "you rest your hond here, ond loy in woit." As you speok, turn your left
hond polm down, ond point to o spot on the toble oround three or four inches to the lelt of the point
obove which your right hond is hovering. (See Figure Eight.)

"After o second or two, l'll drop the cord onto the toble." Do so with the cord in hond. "lf if is the cord
you're thinking of -ond only if it's thot cord-when it reoches the toble, slop your hond right on top of
it os fost os you con." Demonslrole by doing so with your right hond. "l'll lry to beot you to it, os I did
iust then. Remember, only slop the cord you're thinking of, ond both of us hove to woit until the cord
octuolly reoches the toble before moking o move. You, of course, hove o big odvonto ge'. you're the one
who thought of it!"

il0
 Trickery Treots

Leove the demonstrotion cord where it is on the toble. When the spectotor indicotes thot he understonds
the procedure ond his hond is "loying in woit" os instructed, execute o Double Turnover, onnounce ihe
nome of the cord os you turn it foce do*n, lift it off by the ends, ond corry it obove the tobled cord to
"dropping" position. Pouse for o second or two, then releose it onto the tobled cord.

Continue in this foshion until the spectotor slops

rectly below it.

When the spectotor indicotes thot he did not think of thot cord, turn wn, using o
technique described by Horry Loroyne os o "Double Li[t Finesse" in p. 222 ond
ottribuied to on otherwise ononym ous "Borty." lts originol purPose top cord to
on outiogged position while turning o double cord foce down. ln thi to set up on
eosy Polm of the top cord olone.

Moking sure thot the left hond holds the deck flot-not tilted rightword-ond c-urling the right fingers
into the polm, grosp the double cord olong the right side, thumb obove, side of the outer pholonge of
the righi forefinger below. Drow it rightword (see Figure Nine) ond flip it foce d.own, but iust before
releosing it, shifi the first finger sllghily forword-your fingers ond thumb octuolly.move in opposite
directiois. The double cord *ill ,ncouple, the lower cord folling flush with the deck, the top cord folling
in on outiogged position, ideolly but necessorily less thon o quorter-inch or so. (See Figure Ten.)

r0 II
As this move is performed, soy, "Well, give me onother chonce." Then go on, "Lift your hond ..." As he
does so, orch the right hond over the deik os if to squore the top cord ond toke the deck, in foct pressing
down on the outiog to lever the top cord into o polm os the deck is grosped ond the left hond releoses
its grip. (Obviously ond olternotively, you con turn the double cord foce down in stondord foshion ond
,rJony top polm technique os you toke the deck with the right hond.)
Continue, "... ond this time you hold your cord ...," ond of the some time, os on ongoing oction, reoch
forword with your left honi ond lift the supposed selection from the pile, grosping it olong its left side
ond roising it four or five inches obove the pile. (See Figure Eleven.) Concluding ,"...1y the ends, like
l'm holding the deck," extend the right hond somewhot toword the spectotors os on indicotory gesture.

III
 J.K. Hortmon

12 t3
When he tokes the cord from you, return to the deck with the left hond, your potter proceeding, "So
we're reversing roles ..." As you then go on, "You're doing the dropping ond /'m loying in woit," toke
the deck with the polm-up left hond, turn the hond polm down, ond deposit the deck off to the left, os, ot
the some time, your right hond moves to the toble, five or six inches to the right of the pile. As it comes
to rest, curl the forefinger to grip the conceoled cord, extending the other fingers in o noturol position.
(See Figure Twelve.)

Continue, "So whenever you're reody, you drop it on the pile, ond we'll eoch try to be the first to slop it.
But remember the rules: you con'f slop until it londs." Let him proceed. The instont he drops the cord ond
slops his hond down on it, lilt your right hond slightly, move it o couple of inches leftword, ond slop it
hord, flot on the toble with fingers together (see Figure Thirteen), excloiming, "l won!"

The spectotors will look ot you quizzicolly. Pouse for o moment, beoming crypticolly. Then spreod your
right fingers soying, "l've got o cord under here . .. whotwos the cord you thought of?" Pouse for the
onswer; then slowly lift your hond ond equolly slowly turn the cord foce up.

The opporent disploy of the indifferent cord folling next ofter the supposed selection mokes the mon-
ner in which you eventuolly procure the selection oll the more perplexing, ond the routine in this form
is most entertoining.

Nofes. An ideol technique to use for o repeoting Double Turnover is the Zochorellis-Allerton Lift (Afer
Croft, p.20). The following explonotion is in the context of this trick.

The deck is in the left hond, the right hond orched obove it-thumbot the inner end, forefinger curled on
top, second ond third fingers ot the outer end, the second finger ot the mid-point of the outer end. Riffle
up gently with the right thumb, holding bock two cords. Curl the thumb froctionolly to ollow these cords
to converge together os o squored block. The following octions ore then performed os o continuous,
vi rtuolly simultoneous flow.

14 I5 t6 t7

tt2
 Irickery Treots

Shifting the double cord slightly forword, bend up somewhot on the inner end, convexing.the double
cord Jgoinst the forefing"ilS"" Figure Fourteen'-stop oction.) Releose the.inner end, ollowing it to
snop glntly ogoinst the ieck, o. yoJ bend up on the outer end, now clipped letwgen first ond second
fing"rl, o# d"rog the double.ori for*ord, it, inne, end sweeping the deck. (See Figure Fifiteen')

Continue to drog the double cord forword until its inner end is in iuxtoposition to the outer end of the
deck. With the Inside of the left forefinger os o pivot point, revolve the double cord over (see Figure
Sixteen) ond foce up, mointoining o breok beneoth it. (See Figure Seventeen.)

Turn the double cord foce down in the some mon

Double Turnovers.

Appeiiretnces
The following is o simple, pure pocket opprooch to Nick Trost's clossic "Motche The
Cord Mogi.Lf Ni./. Tiost, p 49t thot eliminotes the need to use the deck proper. e to
the Verno-n Thru-the-Fist Move. lt is exploined in the finol Notes to "Fore Ploy," this ore
os follows: QC, JD, KD, QS, JS KS,
scriptive purposes, it is only essentiol thot the colors
ng repeoted, except for the reormost threesome in

rmost cord-the Jock of Heorts-foce down' lf you

preliminory disploy.

th the right hond from obove os the left hond sets the
remoinder o[ the deck oside.

ttention to the foct thot it consists eniirely of picture

the number. When you hove reoched storting
thot vou hove
," .lH:,';:' ir;"1x ;proin
"For exomple, " you soy, "this first poir: the cords ore different volues ond differenl colors." As the
comment is mode, toke'the uppermost two cords in o spreod with the right hond, doing so in the
following monner for consistenry with the loter ex rcution of the only necessory sleight.

il3
 J.K. Horlmon

With the right forefinger, lift the uppermost cord ot its inner right corner "Hit" style (see Figure One),
drogging it rightword for holf its width. Push off the next cord, toking it below the first, spreod to the left,
then seporote the honds on inch or two. (See Figure Two.) The cord in view on the foce of the pocket
proper hos o different volue thon either cord in the disployed poir, os is the cose throughout.

Soy, "See whot I meon?" Pouse for o moment or two, then return the poir to the pocket, roughly squor-
ing the two cords with eoch other ond toking them so thot they ore logged outword ond rightword, held
in ploce by the left thumb. (See Figure Three.) Regrosp the poir ot its outer right corner with the polm-
down right hond stud-style (see Figure Four), revolve it foce down, ond slide it beneoth the pocket. (See
Figure Five.)

"The some is true of the next poir," you soy, going through the identicol octions: toke the two uppermost
cords os described with the right hond, pouse for o moment or two, retoke them onto the pocket, revolve
them foce down, ond tronsfer them to beneoth the pocket. "And this one," you go on, repeoting the
sequence. "And this one," you soy, performing the sequence one more time. You hove tronsferred four
poirs ot this stoge, but in no woy refer to the number of poirs.

"And the some is true for this lost poir," you go on. At the some time, with the right forefinger in "Hit"
style os before, lift up on the inner right corner of the foce-up three-cord block, using the noturol breok
to do so. Releose one cord, grosp the uppermost double cord, ond move it rightword. With the left
thumb, push the next cord rightword, troiling the double cord, ond freeze the position without seporoF
ing the honds. (See Figure Six.) ln this cose, the oppeoronce of o bock below the supposed lost poir
creotes o sufficient distinction.

Pouse for o moment, then odd, "The cords don't motch." At the some time, move the double cord
lefword, squeezing it under the left thumb, roughly squoring the "poir," icgged to the right on the
pocket (see Figure Seven); retoke the "poir" with the polm-down right hond, revolve it foce down, ond
tronsfer it beneoth the pocket.

It4
 Trickery Ireots

Jocks!" (See Figure Ten.)

r0

Continue with eoch successive poir ond set them on the toble in rondom positions, identif'ying the first
few ("Block Queensl Red Kings!l') ond concluding in silence to reveol the perfect motings ond motchings.

Shifiing Scrndwich
Edword Morlo ("Ace-X-Ace"), Lorry Jennings ("Seorchers"), ond others hove worked on the theme of o
"flooting" sondwich, in which the sondwiching cord_s stort outwidely seporoted within the deck, mogi-
colly mJving to either side of o selecied .ord.lSee, for exomple, "Direct Ace-X-Ace," Heirophonf lssue
5-6, p.275.1

The following is o full circle ond groduol opprooch: it storts ond ends with the sondwiching cgrds directly
odiocent to tf,e selection, in the cJurse of *hi.h the two cords seporote ond reunite in stoges. The only reol
sleight is o Turnover Poss which is executed severol times in o porticulorly well covered setting.

ldeolly, the trick should be performed with two identicolJokers ond will be described with thot ossump-
tion, bur it is odequotely deceptive using cords of like color ond volue-red Aces, for exomple.

tI5
 J.K. Hortmon

With the Jokers foce up on the toble, fon the deck with foces toword o spectotor, osking him to remove
ony one he wishes ond set it foce down on the toble. Hove him repeot the cord's nome to himself once
or twice to ossure thot he hos it well memorized. Squore up the deck ond lower it to normol foce-down
position. Pick up the foce-up .Jokers ond, moking on opening in the middle of the deck with the leh
thumb, insert the Jokers ond push them flush, soying, "The Jokers orc my cords, ond they go together,
into the center of the deck."

Begin feeding cords from left hond to right, soying, "And whot lwould like you to do ..." When you
estimote thot you hove nine or ten cords in the right hond (the exoct number is unimportont), seporote
the honds ond move the right hond in the direction of the toble, the fingers squoring the pocket ond the
forefinger extending to point ot the selection. (See Figure One.) At the stme time, continue, "... is to pick
up your cord without letting onyone see its foce ..."

You then go on, "... ond return it to the deck so thot it is directly belween the Jokers." At the some time,
perform the following sequence.

Resume spreoding, but now feed the cords o6ove or onto the right hond pocket. ln doing so, tilt their
outer ends o bit downword, receiving them so thot the pocket is, in effect, slightly iniogged. (See Figure
Two.) These precoutions will ossure thot the pocket is out of view, but the sequence should not be hurried
or performed self-consciously. Continue feeding cords until you reoch the Jokers, ond seporote the
spreod befween them, the right edge of the uppermost one going obove the conceoled pocket. (See
Figure Three.)

Allow cord onto the second Joker, then reploce the upper section ond squore the
deck, (ond virtuolly outomoticolly) introducing the conceoled pocket between the
upper n-i.e., obove the selection. (See Figure Four.)
You hove performed on under-the-spreod plocement with o block of cords, the move in essence o pocket
version of Tony Kordyro's Simple Simon, described decodes ogo in o booklet of the some nome. As
obvious os thot move oppeors, it hos olwoys been fully deceptive, certoinly the eosiest under-the-spreod
technique extont, ond, os indicoted here, the only one thot is equolly odoptoble to more thon one cord.
(See Afrer Croft, p.56 [Secret Simon] for o discussion of effective hondlings of the move.)

Proceed by soying, "So-the etween lhem; your cord. But wotch whot hoppens
when I do this to the deck." So t the deck with the right hond from obove os it'rests
in the lefi hond. ln ropid succ umb under the deck to revolve it foce up, the right
hond receiving it ot the outer fingers below (see Figure Five)-ond immediotely

il6
revolve it, end for end, loce down into the left hond. As indicoted, these octions should be perlormed
qrl.fy 6ut neotly, oni will oppeor to be duplicoted by loter simulotions involving the Turnover Poss.
o moment, then begin spreoding the cords, feeding them from left hond to right, receiving
pouse for
;h*";;r" o1. [tr rqror"d. Wh"n'yo, .o,i" to the first Jokeioutiog it, toking core thot only the cord
below it is exposed for the moment, ond soy, "Here's one of the Jokers ..."

Soying, "And here's the ofherone ..." [stretching the words if necessory], continue spreoding,,doing do
;6',dVrnrii fou ,"olh the second Joker, onioutiog if, ossuring thot the cords.between the Jokers
;;il ', rp;; condition. (See Figure'Six). Freezl the position, concluding, "And now there's o
handfulof cords between them!"
e middle of the sondwiched cords os you close the

;l :: :' i; i;
;fl: il:Ji i:::r"" :' nl,T"::'* (the i'

ter end ond revolving it foce down sequence

referred to below in shorthond os o Turnover Turnover).

"Whot hoppens is, rhis Joker's oll the woy up here....," you continue. During this comment, perform the
following sequence, the octions proceeding'ropidly ond in o consiont flow.

Begin to re-feed lrom hond to hond, o Joker oppeoring within the uppermosi four or five cords. Sepo-
,"rl tf," a".l [yi.*i"g the right hond in*ord)not rigihtword, the Joker on top of the left-hond section
(See Figure Seven.)
,ide-[ogged toihe rightior two--thirds of its width, the right-hond cords in o spreod.

117
 J.K. Horimon

Pincer the inner right segment of the Joker between the ouier left segment of the two lowermost right
hond cords (see Figure Eight), ond thus gripped, deliberotely corry the Joker to on outlogged position
by moving the right hond forword to olign the right-hond spreod with the deck. (See Figure Nine.)

Without hesitolion, resume the feeding or spreoding process, going on, "... ond the other one's. ..."
Reoching the second Joker, the cords between them semi-spreod or roughly squored, outiog if, odding,
"... oll the woy down here ..." (See Figure Ten.)

You hove disploced the upper Joker. More occurotely, the cord obove it (which, in foct, is the originol
selection) hos been shifted below it-but the oction will poss os ot most on efficient if flourishy woy of
corrying the Joker forword ond, in ony event, os on irrelevoncy. Accordingly, no more subtle or covert
displocement technique is necessory or desiroble.

Continue uninterruptedly by closing the deck completely, then respreoding it widely, soying, " ... so now,
mosl of the decl<'s between theml" Pousing for o moment to ollow this hoppening to be opprecioted, re-
close the deck, ot the some time obtoinin! o breok ot oround the center.

Pushing the Jokers flush into the deck, soy, "lt works the other woy too. Wotchl" As you so excloim,
perform the Turnover Turnover. Begin to spreod through the deck, soying os you feed through the
uppermost few cords, "The Joker's not here ..." When you reoch the first Joker, go on, "... it's here!"
Outiog ii, ond continue spreoding.

Reoch the second Joker, retoining the cords between the Jokers in roughly spreod condition, the cords
obove the upper Joker more or less squored, soying, "...ond the other one's herel" At the some time,
ollow the cord below the second Joker to spreod rightword, ond retoin it in thot position os you outiog
the lowermost Joker. (See Figure Eleven.) Freeze the position momentorily, soying, "Novr' we're bock to
thot hondful ogoin!" Close the deck into the left hond, simultoneously obtoining o breok beneoth the
(side-iogged) cord under the lower Joker.

With the right thumb obove ond second finger below slightly ongle the upper Joker rightword ond
the lower Joker lefrword. (See Figure Twelve.) As you do so, your potter goes on, "We'll do it one
more time, but this time we'll strip things down to the borest essentiols so you con see it oll hoppen
before your very eyes."

r0 ll t2
As you complete this lost comment, corefully remove the block obove the uppermost Joker ond set it on
the toble. lnserting the right forefinger into the breok, the right thumb holding the inner right corner of
the upper Joker in ploce, lift off the block obove the breok (see Figure Thirteen), ond set the bolonce of

ll8
 Trickery Treots

t3 t4

the deck on the toble. One cord is conceoled beneoth the lower Joker. You then go on, "The Jokers on
either side of o smoll group of cords." As the comment is mode, perform the following octions.

uble cord squore.

o new breok of oround the cenler ond continuing,

ery eyesttt execute the Turnover Turnover. Follow
hond from obove by the long sides ond ribbon
g, "And then there wos onel" A single cord oppeors

After onother brief pouse, corefully seporote the three-co bolonce of the pocket,.
eoch hond pushing'owoy the contiguous cords. (See Figu o so, soy, "We sforfed
with one .ord b"trn"en the Jokers." ih"n go on, "Whotio .spectotor
replies, slide
out the foce-down cord ond toss it foc" up on lop of the J ll there!"

Note. The sequence referred to os the Turnover Turnover - o Turnover Poss followed by o legitimote end-
for-end turnover-is performed here os o mogicol gesture ond is represented outwordly os two distinct
revolutions performed in ropid succession. ln Roy Wolton's Tligger, the two ,octions ore even more
quickly elided to oppeor os o single turnover with o voriety of swprising opplicotions. (For o reloted
move,'see "stocker Shock," Chopter Three.)

Show Grnd Spell

lExpert Cord Mysteries, Alton Shorpe, p.1 55),

i::i "ui#:T[i:ffi ffii;ffi H,#i

'ocedures ond on ongle-vulneroble secret plocement.
More recen tly, Jennings '67, the first in o proposed hilogy by Richord koufron devoted to the superb

il9
 J.K. Horlmon

mogic of the lote Lorry Jennings, included on excellent version of the Krenzel routine with uniform
spelling procedures in which the selected cord oppeors foce up ot the culminotion of the spell.

The following is o different opprooch bosed on o kind of chollenge premise. Specificolly, true "imme-
diocy" would seem to be more closely reolized if th : position of the selected cord is not openly shifted by
the performer to the top of the deck-thot is, if it oppeors thot it is lelt in precisely the some position it
hoppens lo occupy ofter the initiol spectotor shuffle ond is then immediotely ond mogicolly tronsported
to its exoct spelling position. Severol voriotions will be described. The first is porticulorly direct ond
mokes o strong impression. lts effect is os follows.

l. The performer receives bock o shuffled deck ond osks o spectotor to nome ony cord in the deck
except the Joker. The performer feeds through the deck, the spectotor helping him to locote the nomed
cord. When it oppeors, the performer colls ottention to the cords on either side of it, noting thot he will
turn the selection foce down but otherwise leove it in exoctly the some spot.

This he does, immediotely turning the deck foce down ond setting it on the toble. The spectotor is osked
to press down on top of it, ond then press ogoin. The performer exploins thot these octions hove coused
his cord to move to onother position, "... but not iust onywhere." When the spectotor spells the nome of
his selection ond o cord is deolt for eoch letter, his cord oppeors, foce up on top of the deck.

ln foct, the performer con describe in detoil oheod of time exoctly whot the effect will be, leoving no
room for outs or olternotive procedures. As suggested obove, in this type of trick it is cleorly essentiol to
ovoid octions thot openly reposition the cords such os "unobtrusively" cutting the deck if, os you work
through it, the selected cord oppeors inconveniently eorly.

Begin with the deck upright, foces toword you. When the spectotor nomes o cord, begin to feed cords
from left hond to right from the foce of the deck. ln doing so, extend the left little fingeiunder the lower
edge of the left-hond section os o toble or support. The cords ore received by the right hond into the
right thumb crotch-in other words, in porollel position to the left hond, ond the mechonics of the
feeding process ore reolly o kind of holFdeol, holf spreod, os follows.

Push the foce cord to the right, receiving it in the right hond os described. (See Figure One.) Shift the
right hond rightword, the cord still in contoct with the deck, ot the some time re-cocking the left thumb.
(See Figure Two.) Return with the right hond by shifting it leftword, the left thumb simultoneously pushing
the next cord rightword, thot cord sliding noturolly under the first. (See Figure Three.)

Shift the right hond rightword, now with two cords, os the left thumb re-cocks (refer to Figure Two), ond
repeot these octions os you continue to feed cords from the foce of the deck.

120
 Trickery lreots

The point of this hondling is thot it ollows

contingent (minority) eventuolity- i.e., dow
outword chonge of poce. This is occomplis
leftword trip, toking the next cord in o down-logge
Figure Four), then lowering the right hond to its
Figure Five.)

Begin os described, ond, storting on the foce cord,

feeding o cord for eoch letter. [For purposes of this
the cose, thot you do not come upon the selection in
seporote your honds slightly, ond ollow the left thu
reor section rightword. I neither it nor the next cord is the selection, pouse ond look up.

As you so comment, lower both sections to horizon-

-hond section obove the right, its foce cord into the
tion, the covering cord froctionolly outiogged with
he Block Simple Simon (referenced in the preceding
trick, "shifting Sondwich"). (See Figure Six.)

4 5 6

Don't rush this oction or try to perform it covertly. lt will not otlroct suspicion or question. The key is.to
resume feeding cords from left hond to right, now obove or onto the spelled section, the moment the
cords reoch horizontol position, withoui hesitotion.

Continue to feed cords until the selected cord oppeors, doing so now with the left thumb more or less
olone, the right hond remoining relotively immobile. Freeze the position momentorily, the selection ond
the cord on side of it cleorly in view Soy [for exomple], "Here it is-the Ace of Heorts-right
"o.h
between the Two of Clubs ond the Four of Spodes." (See Figure Seven.)

Seporote the deck with the selection uppermost on the left-hond section, the right fingertips eosily moin-
toining o seporotion between the conceoled block ond the spreod obove it. Use the right-hond section to
leue, ihe selection foce down. As you do so, soy, "And thot's where it will stoy, but focing the other woy....."
Reioin the two sections ond spreod the foce-down cord, momentorily freezing the position oggi! to ollow
the spectotors to ossure themselves thot it is still between the some two cords. (See Figure Eight.)

121
 J.K. Hortmon

Go on, "... in exoctly the some position." Atthe some time, slowly close the spreod, working the con-
ceoled block directly below the foce down selection in the process ond securing o breok beneoth the
conceoled block os the cords come together ond the deck is otherwise squored. You will find thot both
octions ore eosily occomplished ond virtuolly outomotic.

Arching the right hond over the deck os if to squore it further, engoge the breok with the right thumb ond
move your hond toword the toble, executing o Turnover Poss in tronsit. Set the deck foce down on the toble.

Ask the spectotor to press down lightly on the center of the top cord of the deck. Soy, "Press ogoin, iust
o touch ... Once more ... Thot should do itl" Continue, "Believe it or not, you hove iust mogicolly moved
your cord. But not iust onywhere."

Give him stondord spelling instructions. Soy thot you will deol o cord from the top of the deck for eveqy
letter he colls. When you ore sure thot he understonds whot he is to spell, hove him begin the process.
Accompony him by picking off o cord from the top of the deck (which remoins in ploce on the toble) ofter
he soys eoch letter. When you lift off the cord folling on the finol letter, his selection is foce up on top.

As emphosized in the preceding trick, the Kordyro Simple Simon move is o perfect deception no motter
how obvious it seems to you os long os the necessory breok in the spreoding oction is properly rotionol-
ized-os it is here by your opporent decision to ollow the spectotors to view the foces of the cords ond
ossist you in finding the nomed cord.

Going bock to the beginning, if the minority contingency occurs-the selection oppeors in the course of
your initiol spell-odopt o different procedure. Ceose spelling, ond, beginning on the cord directly
following the selection, stort spelling oll over ogoin-from the first letter of the volue. Continue spelling
os you spreod/deol through the deck, ond, in the monner exploined, downiog the cord folling on the
finol letter (S).

Without ony interruption, continue to work through the deck os if still looking for the selected cord. As
you opprooch the lost few cords, wrinkle your brow quizzicolly, unoble, it seems, to find the selection,
murmuring, "Hmm. This moy be o better trick thon I thought!"

When you run out of cords, retoke the deck in the lelt hond. Arching the right hond over it ond lowering
it to horizontol position, lift up on the iniog with the right thumb ond estoblish o left little finger breok
beneoth it. At the some time, soy to the spectotot, "You better help me look."

Begin spreoding through it ogoin, the suggestion cleorly thot you missed the cord ond ore looking for it
o second time, now with the spectotors' ossislonce. Coming upon it, freeze the position momentorily

r22
with the selection ond the cords on either side of it visible, ond soy [".g.], "Ahl Here's the Ace of
Heorts-right between the Two of Clubs ond the Four of Spodes."

Seporote the deck with the selection uppermost on the left-hond section ond use the right-hond section
to iever it foce down. As you do so, soy, "And thot's where it will stoy, but foce down." Reioin the two
sections ond spreod the foce-down cord, momentorily freezing the position ogoin to ollow the specto-
tors to ossure ihemselves thot it is still between the some two cords.

Corefully close the spreod into the left hond. Arching the right hond over the deck to squore it, thethumb
engoging the breok, move your honds toword the ioble ond execute o Turnover Poss in tronsit. Set the
deik foce down on the toble, ond conclude os described.

if, on completing your initiol spell, the selection

d directly following it. Switch geors in either event,
tion. With ony cord beyond those two, the Block
owkwordness.

Notes. The reverso o reoson for seorching for it. You ore not, in other words,
rother grotuitously ke sure it! there." The foct thot it is reversed moy olso moke
its secrlt reposition rs to be more difficult to occomplish without exposure.

The reoson for performing the finol deol yourself is to ossure thot the reversed cord does not come into
view until the lost cord is iounted off
-o much more effeciive conclusion. The loct thot the deck remoins
on the toble os you deol oppeors to obviote ony form of folse deoling.

l-A.The minority contingent possibility con be

of selection. Begin the trick by fonning the dec
the focemost fifteen cords or so. Ask him to th
one, squore up ond briefly shuffle obove the bott<
Shuffle. Then osk him to nome the cord oloud. Look for it, proceeding os described.

From o personol stondpoint, the simplicity ond sponfoneity of simply ollowing o spectotor.to nome ony
cord wiihout odornment worronts whotever price is represented by the contingent procedure.

ll. ln e con qui os the sole modus operondi, elim.inoting

the Bl entirely. d, feeding through the deck with foces
towor e for you cords con be received by the right hond
olong full grip ssitoted by Simple Simon, the little finger serving os
o tobl not stort ot this stoge.

When you orrive ot the selection, wherever it is, begin to spell, storting on the cord directly following the
selection. Downiog the cord folling on the finol letter (S), ond co-ntinue through the deck with the some
comments ond ottitude os described obove-you con't seem to find it.

As described, when you run out of cords, retoke the deck in the left hond, ond lower it to horizontol
position os your estoblish o breok below the iniog. Requesting the spectotor to ossist in the Process,
begin the seorch ogoin. When you find it, reverse it in position, squore up, ond execute o Turnover Poss
ot ihe breok os the deck is tobled. Conclude os bef, re.

123
 J.K. Hortmon

lf, os you feed through the deck initiolly, the selection is locoted toword the reor o[ the deck ond you.run
out oi cords in the course of spelling its nome, the procedure does not outwordly vory. Lower the deck to
o horizontol position to begin o second seorch, osking now for the spectotor's ossistonce. Continue
spelling from the foce of the deck, resuming the spell ot the point ot which you left off. lf the cords ore
receive-d in o more or less unsquored, imprecise condition, the foct thot you iniog o cord in full view of
the spectotors will not be noticed or questioned.

ln this cose, continue until you reoch the selected cord, preserving the iniog throughout, ond use the
some potter ond octions os described oboue os you lever the cord foce down in ploce. Close the deck
into the left hond, orch the right hond over it, lift up on the iniog to form o breok, ond perform o
Turnover Poss os you set the deck on the toble for the conclusion.

lll.The following opprooch wos evolved to simulote the ending of the Jennings voriotion referred to
obove-the selected cord is reversed mogicolly, not openly, its oppeoronce foce up ot the conclusion of
the finol spell on odditionol surprise.

The price is on odditionol sleight ond on "uncleon" deck ot the conclusion. The lotter is not onerous:
there is no reoson for the spectotors to wont to inspect the deck ot thot stoge, ond the cleon-up is eosy
ond complete.

A further price is the foct thot since the selected cord is left in ploce without reversing it, this rotionole for
seorching for it in the first ploce is eliminoted. The substitute rotionole is thot you ore seeking to deter-
mine its position in the deck, o reosonoble excuse in the setting in which it is presented.

Here too the procedure given in l-A obove con be incorporoted to ossure thot the nomed cord does not
oppeor within the focemost stock. lf you prefer using the more stroightforword opprooch (simply hoving
the spectotor nome o cord) ond the selection does oppeor in the course of your initiol spell, follow the
contingent procedure exploined in the moin voriotion, the effect vorying occordingly. The selection, in
other words, is under thot circumstonce openly-not mogicolly-reversed.

Ask him to nome his cord oloud-e.g., the Ace of Heorts. Soy, "O.K., let's find out exoctly whereyour
cord hoppens to be." So soying, hold the deck in horizontol position-foce up-ond begin to feed
through it. Storting with the foce cord, spell the nome of the selection, iniogging the cord folling on the
finol letter (S).

Continue until you reoch the selection. Freeze the position momentorily, with the selection ond the cord
on eoch side o[ it in view, soying, "Here's the Ace of Heorts-right between the Two of Clubs ond the
Four o[ Spodes." (Refer to Figure Seven.) Then go on, "And thot's right where we'll leove it."

As you moke this comment, retroct the selection squorely on top of the left hond section, the right hond
section still semi-spreod, the inlog preserved throughout. (See Figure Nine.) As your potter continues,
"And this is where the mogic will begin," execute o Spreod Holf-Poss, secretly reversing the left-hond
section os the right-hond section is squored on iop of it. lmmediotely follow by orching the right hond
over the deck in o squoring oction, lifting up on the inlog to form o breok, ond executing o Turnover Poss
os the deck is deposited on the toble.

Proceed with the concluding phose os described obove. Toke speciol core not to expose the foce-up
block. The selection will oppeor reversed on top ofter the finol letter.

r24
 Irickery Treots

-/

9 t0 il

When the effect hos been opprecioted, pick up the deck proper ond set it in the lefi hond. Lift off the
selection Hit Lift-shyle-with the right forefinger ond thumb ot the inner right corner (see Figure Ten),.the lelt
hond simultoneously turning polm to pick up the deoltcords below those in
hond. (See Figure Eleven.) iuin the election on top. Arch the right hond over
foce-
the deck ond l-ifi off the entire below it, the right fingers conceoling the
thickness of the block. Revolve the lower section foce up beneoth it, ond reossemble the deck.

The Spreod Holf-Poss fits in efficiently in the context in which it is required ond is o well-covered sleight,
the oction of closing the spreod mosking the revolution of the lower section.

Iouchy Fooly
lncluded in Jerry Sodowitz' The Crimp No. 45 is o trick colled "'Twixt the Aces" by."Armitoge Shonks,"
on ingenious eitension of "The Known ond Unknow f.nflfrl ?"dg?:of Eddie .Fields,"
Jon R-ocherboumer, p. 117. Among other things, it ll effect by odding_ the ideo of o
motching-cord climox. lt olso inspiied o revisiting resulted in the following elobo-
rotion ond corbinotion. Required is o deck witl'r enticol Jokers.

As o beiween-tricks fiddle, ropi ds with foces toword you, ond obtoin o breok
under (in bock of) o Joker, ot the the cord immediotely obove (in front of) it (e.g.,
the Two of Heorts). Close up the tol position ond Double Undercut to the breok.

Now you "decide" whot trick to perform next. Soy thot it require_s two speciol cords. Concentroting ol
lhe color moteo[ the remembered cord (in this cose, the Two of Diomonds), tilt the deck upright ond
begin feeding through it. Upiog the second Joker ond the Two of Diomonds in whotever order they
oppeor, soying, "Here's the first one; here's the second one."

Remembering which is focemost-the mote or th

without exposing the protruding cords, now outlog
side with the inside of the right fingers, the cords p
the right side of the deck (see Figure One), the c
Figure Two.) At the some time push the top cord of
below it os it is retrocted.

125
 J.K. Hortmon

lf the Joker wos originolly focemost of the iogged cords, spreod the lowermost of the two cords lefrword
with the right second finger from below, ond closp the two-cord spreod on top o[ the deck with the left
thumb, the lower cord right-iogged with respect to the deck lor holf its width, without releosing contoct
with the right hond. (See Figure Three.)

lf the mote wos originolly focemost, push off the uppermost of the two cords onto the deck, closping it in
ploce with the left thumb, side-iogged for holf its width, then squeeze the remoining cord under the
thumb, spreod to the right. You ore, in other words, reversing the order of the cords, but otherwise
ending with the identicol configurotion. (Refer to Figure Three.)

ln either cose, os you pivot the cords from the deck ond spreod them on top, soy, "Whot they ore, ore
..." With the righrfingers ond thumb in position, move the right hond leftword to squore the two cords
with eoch other, then with the deck, immediotely flipping the three-cord block obove the breok foce up,
cotching it on the left thumb mound. (See Figure Four.)

As the block londs, soy, "A ioker ...," ond continue without hesitotion by gripping the block with the right
hond from obove ond withdrowing it, the lefi ihumb retoining the uppermost cord in ploce. (See Figure
Five-stop oction.) As you do so ond os the second Joker comes into view, go on, "... ond ... o Joker."

Pouse foro moment; then setthe right-hond double cord on the toble to the right, soying, "... ond eoch
will get o piece of the deck for itself." "So will you cut off obout holf, like this," your potter proceeds. At
the some time, orch the right hond over the deck, obtoin o breok beneoth the top two cords with the
thumb, ond llft off obout holf the deck. (See Figure Six.)

Pouse momentorily, then reploce the cut-off portion, grosp the entire deck in lhe some motion, ond set it
on the toble, the right hond retoining the double cord. Ask the spectotor to shuffle the cords he cuts off.
As he follows your instructions, rest the double cord in the left hond. When he is done, hove him toble
the shuffled holf ond osk him to shuffle the other holf, ultimotely depositing it on the toble os well.

126
 frickery Treots

When this stoge is reoched, lift the double cord with

holf-deck, soying, "This one goes here ..." "And thi
by the ends the double cord set oside previously
holFdeck in the some motion, move it off to the

Tell the spectotor thoi you ore obout to turn your bock. When you do, he is to cut off o block of cords o[
ony size'from the holf]deck ot center toble, remove the cord he cuts to without looking ot it, reploce the
upper seclion, ond set the cord cut to on top of oll, foce to foce with the Joker.

As you give these instructions, demonstrote them: cut olf o pocket with the right hond from obove, pinch
off ihe Jppermost cord of the lower section with the lefi thumb ond fingers (see Figure Seven), reploce
the upper'section, ond rest the cord on top without releosing it. (See Figure Eight.) Whe-n the spectotor
indicoies thot he understonds, reverse your octions by lifting owoy thot cord, cutting off o pocket, ond
corefully returning the cord to the middie of the holf-deck. Reossemble, squore up meticulously, ond turn
your bock.

When the spectotor onnounces thot he hos followed your instructions, tell hl1 to .g-ive the- cords o
complete criony*h"re he likes, burying the twosome-the Joker ond the cord ploced foce to foce with
it-somewhere within. Ask him to squoie the holf-deck corefully ond give it to you behind your bock.
Foce front, stoting thot you will use your ultro-sensitive fingertips, not only to find the Joker but olso to
identify by touch olone the nome of the cord thot foces it.

e pocket os quickly ond quietly os possible. As on

hond. Cock the thumb to the moximum extent ond
:ft edge contiguous with the right edge of the pocket,
rgertips. (See Figure Nine.) You might find it more
comfortoble to reoch this position with two quick movements of the left thumb-cock ond push, re-cock
ond push. From this position, the cord con be token noiselessly into right-hond full grip.

During this sequence, potter obout the difficuhy of your duol tosk-distinguishing the Joker ond deter-
mining the nome of the cord thot foces it ond doing so without benefit of sight orsound. Common sense
is defied by your uncommon sense of touch. When you ore done, bring the holf-deck forword ond set
it on the toble, cloiming success.

You ore ossert, thot you will go one step further. As you so stote, lift up the ofher holf-
deck- p ide-with the right hond from obove ond corry it behind your. bock. .Soy thot
you wili ing sense of torih olone, position this Joker in this holf of the deck so thot
it is foce rdJhot is closely reloted t< he one you iust identified in the first holf.

127
 J.K. Hortmon

t0

Reverse the positions of the top two cords. Turn the top cord over in ploce, spreod off eight or nine cords
(without reversing their order) ond cut them from top to bottom (you wont the Joker ond its neighbor to
end up onyryvhere off-center ond thus more rondomly situoted). Allowing o bit more time to elopse
(remember, your sensitive fingers ore hord ot work), bring the holFdeck forword in right-hond ribbon
spreod grip.

Execute o ribbon spreod osyou soy, "Let's see how sensitive my senseof touch is..." Pick up the other
holf-deck ond execute o seporote ribbon spreod. (See Figure Ten.) Ask the spectotor to slide out from
eoch the Joker ond the cord foce to foce with it. Pouse briefly, then slowly turn over the foce-down cords
for the climox.

Note. The initiol culling procedure is efficient ond deceptive-you ore cleorly extrocting ond hondling
two ond only two cords-ond the positioning of the first Joker before the trick begins is o thoroughly
unobtrusive ond insignificont oction, but ony other procedure thot produces the some result con obvi-
ously be substituted.

t28
Short Suite
Stuck Up

Fost Foced

Fost Turnoround

Up-here

Whipswrtch

Unsnopped Color Chonge

Whot's Mine isYours

Poir Trode

Force Four

Poir Push

Double Cross Cut Force

 J.K. Hortmon

Stuck Up
ln this relotively quick trick, the lowly odvertising cord, defying grovity, mogicolly suspends itself from
onother cord. Begin with the odvertising cord on the toble. Secretly cull o Jock ond King of the some suit
to the top of the deck. For descriptive purposes, ossume thot the Jock of Spodes is on top, the King of
Spodes second from top.

With the deck foce down in left-hond mechonic's grip position, pick up the odvertising cord ond show
both sides os you soy, "This cord is inserted in the deck by the cord monufocturer, ond we tend to think
of it os o throwowoy". Drop the cord bock on the toble ond go on, "Actuolly, it's greotly underroted: it
hos o foscinoting ond unique tolent." At the some time, do the following.

Toking the deck with the right hond from obove, use the forefinger to Swing Cut holf into the left hond;
obtoining o breok ot thot point, Swing Cut holf the remoinder on top of the first block, then set the bolonce
on top of oll. You thus mointoin o breok obove the pre-set cords ot oround the middle of the deck.

Asking o spectotor to ossist you, execute o Riffle Force, cutting off ot the breok, ond set the upper section
on the toble. Flip the top cord of the section in hond foce up, purportedly introducing the selected cord,
in this cose the Jock of Spodes. Flip the cord foce down, in the process pushing the next cord rightword
os well ond obtoining o breok below it os both ore squored. During ihis sequence, comment thot you
will use the Jock to demonstrote whot you meon.
Appeor to push the top cord forword for o little less thon holf its length with the right first ond second
fingers. Actuolly, perform the following octions, derived from o Double Lift by Cliff Green lProfessionol
Cord Mogic, Green, p. 17, first lift described).

With the third ond fourth fingers loosely curled, extend the first ond second fingers together, their
pods contocting the top cord between inner end ond center. Directly behind them ond mosked by
them, the thumbtip contocts the two cords obove the breok ot their inner edge. (See Figure One.) As
the right hond moves forword, the thumb propels the double cord, the first ond second fingers, in
effect, olong for the ride. (See Figure Two.) Tilt the outer end of the deck o bit downword to cover ony
floring of the double cord.

Pick up the tobled section with the right hond from obove, ond plont it on the bolonce of the deck,
iniogged o holf-to-three-quorters of on inch. Focus on the inner ends of the two sections to determine the
proper plocement. (See Figure Three.) The left forefinger presses in ot the outer end of the lower section,
under the outiog.

r30
 Trickery Treots

Align the upper section with the lower by shifting the upper section forword until the right thumb butts
ogoinst the inner edge of the lo,,rer section, the right second fingertip simultoneously propelling the
,[p"r cord of the ouiiogged double in the some direction. ln the process, the lefit thumb ond second
finger, ot the sides of the double cord, oct os runners. (See Figure Four.)

The result will be thot the deck proper is squored, o bifurcoted double cord, presumed to be the Jock o[
Spodes, is outiogged ot the center of the deck, the upper cord of he double o holf-inch or so more
odvonced thon tlie lower. The precise omount of this extro iog is not vitol os long os it ot leost equols the-
width of the white bock morgin. (See Figure Five-view from below.)At this stogp, the downword tilt of
the deck con be minimized. During this sequence, soy, "The Jock hos to protrude from the deck, like this,
but it hos to be iust the right omount."

Pick up the odvertising cord ot its inner right corner, pivol it to o horizontol. position-long sides
oriented toword yo, ond the spe:totors-ond begin to slide it from side to side below both outiogged
cords, the upper surfoce of the odvertising cord rubbing lightly ogoinst the foce of the double cord, its
inner long o cleor holf-inch forworJ of the outer end of the deck. (See Figure Six.) At the some
"dg"
time, youi lefiforefinger extends to opply gentle upword pressure ogoinst the moving under-surfoce
of the odvertising cord.

During this sequence, soy, "lf I toke this cord ond creote o littlelreot, like this, ryotch. whot it does.". Stop
the side-to-side oction with the odvertising cord centrolized lrom right to left, releose it, ond slowly
withdrow the right hond, the left forefinger holding the odvertisin ; cord in position, opporently sus-
pended from the outiogged cord. (See Figure Seven.)

7 8 9

I3I
 J.K. Hortmon

Pouse for o moment, then go on, "l hove o feeling you've oll figured this one out-the old 'finger holding it in
ploce' trick." As you conclude the remork, twist the left hond rightword ond polm down, oppeoring to expose
the secret. (See Figure Eight.) The spectotors will reossuringly see os well o portion of o foce thot will posl for
the Jock of Spodes ond perhops o sliver of the outer pips, the odvertising cord covering the outer end of the
foce cord of the double. Mointoin the position for o second, then turn the left hond polm up.

"So let's try it ogoin," you soy os you regrosp the odvertising cord ond resume the side-to-side sliding or
rubbing oction. ln doing so, drift the right hond forword, moving the odvertising cord toword the outer
end of the upper cord of the double (see Figure Nine), until you feel the tiny click, then work the
odvertising cord inword ond o6ove the lower cord of the double. The left forefinger continues to opply
gentle upword pressure from beneoth to ossure thot the outer end of the lower cord is not bent down-
word ond floshed. (See Figure Ten-view from beneoth.)

Stop the sliding oction with the odvertising cord centrolized os before, the inner long edge cleorly
forword of the deck proper (refer to Figure Seven), releose it, ond slowly withdrow the right hond.
Continueofteropouse, "lf youthinkmyfinger'sstill doingthedirtywork,you'reright..."Grospthe
deck ot the inner right corner ond tentotively withdrow the left hond, unduloting it in Zombie foshion,
concluding, "... but now it isn't!" (See Figure Eleven.)

l0 II
Let this stote o[ offoirs sink in for o few moments. Then soy, "The force is so strong thot we con even move
the cord oround o little bit." At the some time grosp the left end of the odvertising cord with the left hond
ond gently resume the side-to-side oction for o few strokes; then withdrow the left hond ond resume its
Zombie-like gesticulotions.

After onother severol second pouse, retoke the deck in the left hond, forefinger extending under the
protruding cords. With the right hond, grosp the right end of the odvertising cord, the thumb contocting
the upper cord of the double olong the right side. (See Figure Twelve.) Engoge the outer end of the lower
cord of the double with the left forefinger, ond push it flush into the deck.

During this sequence, soy, "The spell will lost obout thirty seconds-which is iust obout now" Slide the
outiogged cord forword ond free of the deck together with the odvertising cord (see Figure Thirteen),
turn your right hond polm down, ond toss the cords on the toble, the Jock foce up, for the spectotors to
exomine ot will.

Nofe. During the cruciol sequence, moke sure thot the outer end of the deck is not inodvertently tilted
downword. Hold the deck obsolutely flot or even tilt the outer end very slightly upword to ossure thot
grovity does not couse the suspended cord to foll out.

t32
 frickery lreots

t2 r3

Feist Feiced
This instont reversol oppeored before in loose Ends,p,7l,the following description including minor
technicol relinements.'llwos triggered by o routine entitled "Where's the Discrepg\cY?" lLorry Jennings
on Cord ond Coin Hondling,lJfI grsby, p. 41]t. No discreponcy is involved, ond the octions ore quick,
simple, ond deceptive.

, osk the spectotor to point to o cord, if possible

third. Seporote the spreod so thot his selection is
eft-hond section, the right-hond section remoining
e-quorters of on inch or so). (See Figure One.)

Without hesitotion, use the right-hond spreod to flip the selection fogg up, the cord-folling squorely on
the left-hond section, the spre-od coming noturolly to rest so thot the left underside of its lowermost cord
contocis the selection olong its right side. (See Figure Two.)

Mointoin this position only long enough to onnounce the nome of the foce-.up selection,ond give the
spectotors on opportunity to t"L it.l"Irly. You will then oppeor to turn the left hond polm down ond
thumb the selection foce down on the toble.

r33
 J.K. Hortmon

ln foct, you ropidly twist the left hond rightword ond polm down, folding the left-hond section foce up
side for side directly onto the exposed portion of the lowermost right-hond cord, the contiguous long
sides of thot cord ond the selection serving os hinge points ond in exoct olignment. (See Figure Three-
stop oction.) Without the slightest pouse, closp the lowermost right-hond cord ogoinst the underside of
the left-hond section ond retoin it there os the left hond moves toword the toble. (See Figure Four.)

Thumb the now lowermost cord of the left hond section onto the toble to be token os the selection. Then
retroct the left hond, turning it polm up os the left-hond section moves under the right-hond spreod,
simultoneously tilting its outer end upword (see Figure Five), ond squore the reossembled deck in the left
hond. A triol in front of o mirror will clorify the synchronous timing of these octions to ovoid exposing the
foce-up selection.

Proceed by toking the deck by the ends with the right hond ond setting it on the toble, immediotely
cutting off below the reversed cord vio the noturol breok. Alerting the spectotors to wotch you with eogle
eyes, cleonly ond corefully pick up the ostensible selection olong its left side with the left hond, set it on
the tobled holf of the deck, ond reploce the upper holf.

Squore the deck meticulously with both honds, grosp it with the right hond by the sides from obove, very
ropidly move it toword the right side of the toble, stop suddenly, then slowly ribbon spreod it from right
to left to reveol thot the selection hos opporently turned over.

Obviously, the switch con be used in woys other thon on immediote reversol. lf, for exomple, it is
necessory for the octuol selection to be foce down ot the bottom of the foce-up deck, reossemble the
deck in the following monner.

As you thumb off the supposed selection onto the toble, the right hond squores the still spreod foce-
down upper section. Curl the forefinger beneoth it ond, gripping it with pressure from thot finger from
below ond the other fingers olong the left side from obove, stroighten the forefinger to revolve the
section foce up. (See Figure Six.) ln thot position slide it onto the foce-up left-hond section, the left thumb

6 7

r34
 Trickery lreots

moving oside ond the left fingers eosily odiusting to occommodote the oction. (See F.igure,Seven.)
(Cleoriy, this hondling con be-used in coniunction with the moin version obove: slide the right-hond
section beneoth the left-hond section.)

With respect to the switch itself, outwordly you lever the designoted.cord foce tP ond thumb it foce
do*n onio the toble, the pouse between those octions only longlnough to ossure thot the reversed cord
hos been noted by the spectotors. The steol of the indifferent cord hoppens virtuolly outomoticolly,
instontoneously, ond noiselessly.

As o precoution to ossure thot the stolen cord does not overhong ot the outer end of the right-hond
section, iniog the right-hond section sllghtly in the momentory "resP position iust prior to the steol itself.
(Refer lo Figure Two.)

Feist furncrround
o direct opplicotion of o voriont of the Vernon Strip--out Additlon introduced

l'-'n:Tfl:;1.1,?1;'ff ,ijf llilm'g:;:H"fiff"l::rfl i?ffi !:!l*

strength of the effect.

As preporotion, thumb through the deck with foce

not contoin on Ace or picture cord-perhops the
cut the block to the bock or reor of the deck. (Se
orching the right hond over it, ond obtoin o left littl,
the deik froct'ronolly inword, deeper in the left hond.

Soy to o spectotor thot your next trick uses four cords of like volue. "Which volue should it be-Jocks,
Qreenr, (ingr, Aces ...?" you go on. Your tone is offhond, suggesting lhot the choice is o motter of
indifference, ond the spectotor will nore one of th< se offered-".g., Jocks.

Feed through the cords, outiogging the four Jocks for holf their length os.you come to them, mointoining
the breok ihroughout. As yo, Jo io, .oll out the suits os you come to them. Close up the spreod, ond
flore out the Jocks into o norrow fon, soying , "Four Jocks ..'" (See Figure Two.)

Grosp the deck proper (obove the breok) ot its inne-r right-corner, right.thumb obove, forefinger below.
(See Figure Three.) iightenlng the pressure of the left little finger on the block below the breok, drow the

r35
 J.K. Hortmon

deck proper inword until its outer end is olmost-but not quite-oligned with the outer end of the now
conceoled block. The Jocks will outomoticolly olign, the flored condition providing cover for the stotion-
ory block.

Tightening the grip of the left hond on the outiogged Jocks ond without ony interruption of the strip-out
oction, pull the bolonce of the deck proper inword ond free (see Figure Four), the left little finger eosily
retoining o breok between the conceoled block ond the Jocks.

Durlng the strip-out, your potter continues, "... yout choice ..." As you then go on, "Wotch whot they'll
do for you," go right into the following sequence which follows without o pouse.

Move the right hond forword to rest the deck momeniorily olong the right side of the bifurcoted lelt hond
pocket, closped in ploce by the left thumb, the deck thus side-iogged for most of its width. (See Figure Five.)

lmmediotely slide the right forefinger ond thumb forword to the midpoint of the right side of the deck (see
Figure Six), ond in virtuolly the some motion flip the deck foce down ond flush (see Figure Seven); without the
slightest hesitotion extend the right fingers ond thumb ond lift the entire block over ihe breok with the right
hond from obove (see Figure Seven), ot fhe some instont revolving the pocket remoining in the left hond
(ostensibly the Jocks) foce down by digging the left thumb under it (see Figure Eight-stop oction, right hond
removed) ond pulling down on its right side with the left fingers. (See Figure Nine, right hond removed.)

As on odditionol component of the oction, the moment the right hond begins to toke the deck from the
left hond, it moves toword the toble to deposit the deck there. You ore, in other words, enocting o single
step-tronsporting the deck from its momentory resting spot in the left hond directly to the toble-nof o
double step-lilting owoy the deck, then plocing it on the toble.

As indicoted, the sequence following the strip-out is covered by the potter line, "Wotch whot they'll do
for you." You then count oudibly, "One-Two-Three-Four" os you corefully deol the supposed Jocks
one ot o time onto the deck, toking them ot their olter right comers.

136
 Irickery Ireots

Ask the spectotor to g n to squore it neotly. After o brief pouse, grosp

the deck with your rig r curled on.top, very ropidly drow it toword the
right side of tlie toble, o wide right-to-left ribbon spreod to reveol the
Jocks foce up in ihe center.

Up'Here
The flipover deoling technique exploined in "Middle Diddle" (Chopter Three) ond redescribed below
con be used os o iingl" cord revelotion, to be performed on its own or os one of o sequelie 9f
discoveries. The outword effect is thot the performer riffles the deck ond o selected cord suddenly
oppeors foce up on the toble, hoving shot out from some indeterminoble position in the deck.

Control o selection to the top of the deck. lf oppropriote, show thot it is not the top cord (vio o Double
Lift) ond not the bottom cord. With the deck in leftlhond mechonic's grip, the left thumb cotercornered
ocross the outer left corner os if preporing to deol, necktie the deck somewhot-tilting its outer end
upword-so thot it is not in the spectotors'direct line of vision. (See Figure One.)
tion, moisten your right thumb pod ot this stoge. Youcon
in octuol proctice. Approoch the outer right corner of the
ng the bock of the deck neor the outer right corner, the
ge of the outer right corner, the other fingers comfortobly
curled. (See Figure Two.)

With the right forefinger, give the outer right corner o pronouncqd gnd. oudible upword riffle, then o
second. Without chonging hond positions, follow immediotely with the flipover deol os follows.

fourth fingers press ogoinst the right side of the deck

top cord.

r37
 J.K. Horlmon

,1,

The octions of eoch hond ore now simultoneous. the left hond drops directly to the toble, the bock of the
fingers moking contoct, the deck conted slightly rightword; the right thumb weighs stroight down with
moderote force on the overhonging corner, then moves rightword on its woy to the toble. The result is
thot the top cord spins or snops over, revolving instontoneously to lond foce up on the toble, the right
thumb londing to its right. (See Figure Five.)

Outwordly, you hove given the deck two riffles, following which the selected cord shoots out from some-
where, foce up. The sound of the deol is not dissimilor to the riffle, ond the riffling oction rotionolizes the
position ond involvement of the right hond. The ossociotion, in other words, is with riffling, not deoling.

ln performing the move, note thot the downword pressure of the right thumb is opplied by thot portion thot
mokes contoct with the corner section of the top cord ongled off the deck, ond thot is the mindset to be
odopted. There is thus no obstruction os the thumb weighs downword, then rightword to ollow the cord to
revolve ond foll unimpeded. The speed ond suddenness of the revolution completely conceol the turnover.

As indicoted, the poce is uninterrupted-riffle, riffle, deol-but toke enough time to plont the right
thumb properly-loying flot ond porollel to the edge of the cord. Remember to think in terms of pressing
down witl'r the portion of the thumb contocting the overhonging corner, then shilting it rightword, left
hond ond right thumb both coming down firmly to the toble.

Whipswirch
The mechonics of the following cord chonge, published previously in Precursor LVlll Morch 1997, p.3,
evolvedwhileworking through Don Block's "On the Polm of His Hond" (Precursor LlV, Moy 1996,p.
19). They ore, regrettobly, difficult to orticulote or illustrote in terms of specific octions. Assuming thot
the generol ideo is odequotely communicoted, mostery is reolly o question of ocquiring o knock rother
thon the exercise of speciol skill. Vorious leod-ins to the chonge itself will suggest themselves; one is
given to presenl o complete effect.

Give the deck to o spectotor for shuffling. Toke it bock, pointing out thot the identity of the top two cords
hos been rondomly determined. As you so potter, form o Tilt opening beneoth the uppermost two cords.

Toke off the top cord by the ends with the right hond from obove. Show its foce to Spectotor One by
twisting the hond thumb up, fingers down. Stroddling the long sides with first ond fourth fingers, drop

r38
 Trickery lreots

the thumb to the lower right comer (see Figure One). As you then reiurn the cord to horizontol position,
it is on eosy motter for thl thumb ond forefinger to grosp the cord ot its inner right corner ond insert it
into the Tilt opening, supposedly into the center of the deck. (See Figure Two.)

Arching the right hond over the deck, push the selection into the deck, lifting. up.on it, then lilt.the inner
end of lhe ,or-d b.lo* it, tronsferring the Tilt opening to beneoth tholcord (thlrd from top). Toke off the
new top cord in the some monner ond sho* it io Speltotor Two. lnsert it into the Tilt opening. Push it into
the deck, retoining o normol little fingertip flesh breok beneoth it.

Top the top of the deck or snop your fingers. Flip the fop c.ord.foce up flush-on the. deck, soying to
Spectotor bne, "Thot's your.ord.T' Toke it with the right hond ot the midpoint of its right.side ond u.se it
to flip the next cord foce up flush on lop, onnouncing to Spectotor Two thot it is his cord. All the while,
mointoin the breok.

Spectotor Two will tell you thot you ore wrong:

isn't? Whot's the nome of your cord'?" you osk
of the right-hond cord into ihe breok, move the
for holf its width (see Figure Three), ond lift o
midpoint of the extreme right edge, very lightly closping it in ploce. (See Figure Four.)

t
L"
I

You now look down ot ihe double cord ond repeot the correct nome of Spectotor Two's cord, ot the some
time oppeoring to toss or snop the incorrect cord onto the deck, in the course of which oction it chonges
instonioneously into the right one. Actuolly, you execute Whipswitch, os follows.

r39
 J.K. Hortmon

As the storting point, the right hond pockoge is positioned three or four inches obove the deck, its left
side more or less over the center longitude of the deck. (See Figure Five.) You will very ropidly move the
right hond two inches or so downword, toword the deck, then stop obruptly with o froctionol ierk
upword, ot the some time conting or tilting the right-hond cords iust o bit leftword.

ln the process, the double cord will be releosed from the right hond, trip over the left side of the single
cord remoining in the right hond to revolve 180 degrees (see Figure Six-stop oction), ond lond on the
deck, the foce of the correct cord now in view. (See Figure Seven.)

ln proctice, the oction is more o downword flick of the rightwristwith on obrupt reversol-o crocking-
the-whip-like motion okin to snopping o towel. Mindset is o key: consciously think to yourself lever over
the double cord with the single cordos you reverse direction with the slight upword ierk. ln foct, the
more tedious knock to ocquire is to ossure thot the revolving double cord londs flush on the deck.

The revolution tokes ploce too ropidly to be fully observed or onolyzed, the foce o[ one cord seeming to
melt into the foce of onother, ond the sudden chonge is quite effective. lmmediotely ofter the chonge
tokes ploce, thumb off the chonged cord onto the toble ond toss the right-hond cord next to it. You ore
thus moking unmistokobly cleor thot the two cords ore the onlyloce up cords ond thot the chonged cord
is o sing/e cord.

Note. The following opplicotion, using o double-foced cord, produces on interesting effect. Assume thot
the double-foced cord is AH/4S. Arronge thot cord on the bottom of the deck, 45 surfoce ot the foce of
the deck. The cord iust obove it-second from bottom-is the genuine Ace of Heorts.

Shuffle or cut this stock to the middle ond retoin o breok beneoih it. Riffle Force to the breok ond cut
the deck there. Turn it foce up. Coll ottention to the Four of Spodes, obtoining o breok beneoth the two
foce cords.

Using on end-for-end technique ond tilting the outer end of the deck somewhotupword, turn over two
cords os one, lowering the deck to horizontol position os the double cord folds foce down. (The obiec-
tive is to ovoid exposing the foce of the next cord.) Push off the foce down cord, referring to it os the Four
of Spodes, ond toke it with the right hond olong its right side. Coll ottention to the new foce cord, lhe
Ace of Heorts.

Toke the Ace of Heorts onto the supposed Four of Spodes in Whipswitch position, setting the deck oside.
The Ace of Heorts is thus foce up, the Four of Spodes opporently foce down. Execute Whipswitch,
snopping the foce-up cord to the toble. lt oppeors to hove chonged to the Four of Spodes. Revolve the
cord in hond foce up to reveol the Ace of Heorts.

r40
 Irickery Ireots

Unsnerpped Color Chclnge

This color chonge evolved from Joseph Cottone's Snop Color Chonge lMore Cord Manip-ulotionsVol. tV,
Jeon Hugord, [. ZO1 which uses the mechonics of the Herrmonn Poss to excellent effect. The notion
o..rrr"drony yeors s mechonics with osingle cord to permit successive con-
trolled Snop Chonge to o specific cord. The oltered presentotionol opprooch
described below wos by occident.

The oppeoronce of the Snop Color Chonge is literol

the chonge tokes ploce, olmost os if the foce cord h
sudden effect is more effective thon o slower movin
token out of view. Yet the lotter opprooch hos prove
spectotors ond pursuont to their logic, the snopping oction ond sound cover up the.trickery (which,, in
foct, they do) ond "thot's how you Jid itt" By the some token, the noiselessness ond slow motion quolity
of the "Unsnopped" hondling creote the impression thot there hos been no opportunity for trickery to
hove token ploce.

The cord ot the foce of the deck is the cord to be chonged. The cord into which it is to be chonged is ot
the top of the deck. lf subsequent specific chonges ore to be performed, the desired cords ore in order
under the top cord.

Begin with the deck foce up in the lelt hond, rig

Estoblish o left little fingertip flesh breok obove
octions. Roise the left side of the deck to Cho
pholonge of the left thumb (see Figure One), ond s
ot the right corners, oll four fingers still together.
contocfing the bock of the deck.

move from Figure Two to Figure Three) you will exe

t4t
 J.K. Hortmon

By meons of the breok, begin to swing down ihe right side of the lowermost cord, the left long edge of
cord ond deck the hinge point. (See Figure Four-exposed view-stop oction.)Continue this oction, the
cord gripped with some tension between the bock of the forefinger ond the pods of the other fingers,
until the originol left side folls or is propelled rightword or downword, the edge of the cord scroping
ogoinst the bock of the deck, the cord swiveling foce down ond olmost perpendiculor to the deck. (See
Figure Five- stop oction.)

Without the slightest hesitotion, shift the lelt forefinger to ioin the other fingers beneoth the cord ond
slide the cord outword (toword the right hond), under the originol right edge of the deck, cord ond deck
becoming truly perpendiculor, the inner long edge of the cord ond the lower long reor corner edge of
the deck exoctly oligned. (See Figure Six-right hond removed.)

The cord ond the deck ore both now gripped firmly by the left hond, fingers extended ond holding the
cord flush ogoinst the lower long edge of the deck, thumb ocross the upper long edge. All four nght
fingers olso extend, close together, the hond opplying downword pressure on the conceoled cord ond
lying os flot os possible on it, the thumb stroight ond ot right ongles, contocting the neor short edge of
the deck, the foce cord of the deck exposed to the moximum extent possible. (See Figure Seven-
spectotors' view. )

As indicoted, this configurotion is reoched os you odiust from storling position to Color Chonge posi-
tion, ond tokes no longer to ottoin thon does thot odiustment. From the spectotort stondpoint, you hove
done nothing but occommodote o brood disploy of the foce cord of the deck.

The chonge itself now tokes ploce. Coll ottention to the foce cord by osking (".g.), "Con you oll see the
King of Spodes from where you ore?" Then soy, "Wotch it corefully!"

r0

Moving ot o deliberote, unrushed but constont poce, begin to drow the deck inword to disengoge it
from the right hond which remoins frozen in position throughout. Simultoneously, twist the left hond in o

142
 Trickery Treots

forword direction to turn the deck foce down, ot the some time compressing the conceoled cord flush
ogoinst the foce of the deck with the left fingers. (See Figure Eight-right hond tronsporent-stop oction.)

Continue to drow the deck well inword to the extent of three or lour inches, roising the left hond to o
higher plone thon the right so ihot the left hond ond the deck ore well in view. As indicoted, the right
hond position remoins fixed. (See Figure Nine.)

Alter the briefest pouse, reverse direction with the left hond ot the some poce: move it bock to the stotion-
ory right hond, twisting the deck foce out, left fingers extending behind the cover of the right hond, finolly
re:oszuming Color Chonge position. (Refer to Figure Seven.) The foce cord hos chonged in the process.

The sequence should produce no slipping or other sound. As indicoted ot the outset, its obsolute
noiselessness ond the deliberote poce ot which it tronspires outwordly creote the impression thot no
room for trickery hos been possible ond underlie its effectiveness.

is
lf it immediotely with o second chonge, mointoin the body-turned position os well
yo
os ting the deck somewhot foce upword, curlrhe left forefinger beneoth it, ond
bend r) long side of the lowermost cord with the lefi thumb. (Figure Ten.) You will then
be oble to execute the Herrmonn Pott mechonics ropidly entirely under cover of the oction of returning the
deck to foce-out position, orriving ot Color Chonge position. (Refer to Figures Four through Seven.)

Wheil's mine ls Yours

This short ond sweet discovery tronspires in o hurry ond is thus o good opener. lt does little more thon
provide o setting for Roineesh Modhok's Stortling Color Chon ge, Apocolypse Februory 1996, p. 2612,
o modest technicol voriotion of which is exploined below

Begin by controlling o selected cord to the bottom of the deck. Arching the right hond over the deck, pull
down with the left little finger on the bottom few cords-the exoct size of the block is unimportoni-ond
execute o Center Swing Cut (Cord Craft, p.125), os follows.

Grip the deck proper only (obove the breok), ond execute o Swing Cut with it,.the. right forefinger
lifting holf ond pivoting it leftword, the left hond simultoneously oligning with it the lowermost sepo-
roteJ block. (See Figure One.) These sections coolesce in the left hond os the right hond withdrows the
now center section.

2 3

r43
 J.K. Hortmon

Use this section to lever the left-hond section foce up, the left, second, third, ond fourth fingers dipping
or curling to occommodote the oction. (See Figure Two.) ln doing do, "hug" the left hond section with the
right hond section to ovoid exposing the foce cord of the le[t-hond section, the two pockets "kissing"
foce to loce momentorily. (See Figure Three-right hond omitted.) During this sequence, onnounce thot
you will select o cord os well.

Without pousing but without rushing, ollow the outer ends of the wo sections to moke contoct while the
right thumb engoges the inner end of o thin block of cords ot the foce of the lower section, lifting it ond
mointoining o breok obove it. (See Figure Four.) Drow the upper section, including this seporoted block,
inword for holf its length, completing your remork by soying , "This one" (see Figure Five), referring to
the cord now in view on the foce o[ the lower section.

Your potter continues, "ls my cord your cord?" When the spectotor soys thot it isn't, you conclude, "lt is
now!" At the some time perform the color chonge os follows.

The outer end of the deck is conted very slightly downword, the deck otherwise obsolutely flot-i.e., not
tilted rightword. The left thumb reloxes, the heel moving owoy from the left side of the deck so os not to
bind it. The right hond tightens its grip only on the block obove the secret breok.

Simultoneously, the right hond releoses the smoller block, ond the left hond, toking thot block with it,
twists shorply polm rightword, oufer end of the cords downword (see Figure Six-stop oction), on
oction thot will couse the smoll block to drop or be propelled squore with the lower section, cought by
the forefinger. The left hond without the slightest pouse returns polm upword, the right-hond section
hovering obove ond inword of it. (See Figure Seven.)

The cord now in view ot the foce of the left-hond section is the spectotor's selection-on instontoneous
chonge toking no longer to complete thon your occomponying remork, "lt is now!"

ln oppeoronce, your cord should seem to be out of view for the merest froction of o second, the left hond
coiling ond uncoiling in o ropid, dorting monner. The propulsion of the sliding pocket will work cleonly
ond consistently if o) the lefit thumb ond heel of the thumb relox owoy from contoct to ovoid binding, b)
the deck storts out obsolutely flot, only the outer end tilted very slightly downword ond c) the left-hond
oction, which octivotes the chonge, comprises o shorp ond simultoneous polm-righword ond forefin-
ger-lowermost twist.

The requisite convolution of the left hond is less owkword if the trick is performed while stonding. lf you ore
sitting or kneeling, it will help if you extend your orms owoy from the body while performing the trick.

144
Pcrir lrclde
The following two-cord switch utilizes o technique employed in "Ac
I 8) but woslriggered by Steve Silvermon's "$20 Switch" (Jon Roch
G / C Morch I 998, p.78lr. When you initiolly try it, you moy get t
rotes o discreponcy. lt doesn't-os.is mode evident by first perform
exoctly simulotes, os follows.

The deck is foce down in the lefi hond. For descriptive purposes, ossume thot the top cord is the Two of
Clubs, the second cord the Four of Heorts, proxies foi "indifferent cords." Push off the top two.cords,
tot lng them with the right hond olong the right side in spreod condition, upper cord rightword of the
lower for holf its width. (See Figure One.)

Turn the right hond polm down, the left thumb clipp n

this cose, jh" Forr of Heorts) on top of the deck, ')

lmmediotely, turn the right hond polm down, stillhol e
motion drcking or sllding thot cord below the Four of Heorts so thot e
Four for holf its width. (See Figure Three.)

Continue sliding the Two of Clubs leftword until it is squore with the Four, ot which point flip the bock-to-
bock cords ouei, flrsh onto the deck, the Four now foce down second from top, the Two foce up.on top.
Without pousing, flip the Two foce down ond push >ff the top two cords, toking them with the right hond
ond proceeding with the trick ot hond.

This sequence, os indicoted, is exoctly whot lh9 sleight oppeors to replicote, in the course of which the
two indifferent cords will hove been iwitched for wt speciol cords-e.g., the red Aces.

The precise initiol hondling will depend on the sgtting in which switch y of
exomple, begin with the rel Aces on top of the deck. Fon the deck, invi two
cords ot r.onior, eoch of which you outiog. The some somple cords will lubs
(uppermost) ond the Four of Heorts.

Close up the deck ond pivot out the protruding cord-s,.coniocting them w their
left edge, the lefit second finger, ot ihe right side gf Jh" deck, the pivot ln so
Joing ind ,nd"r. cover of rhe"right hond,Lbtoin o left little fingertip breo ds of
the deck.

r45
 J.K. Horlmon

The selected cords end up foce down in the right hond, held olong the right side, the fingers ond thumb
spreoding the upper cord rightword, lower cord leftword. (Refer to Figure One.) "Two freely selected
cords ...," you soy.

"... The ... Four of Heorts ...," yoy go on. As you do so, turn the right hond polm down ond clip lhe now
foce-up Four of Heorts on top of the deck, side-iogged for holf ir v idth, onnouncing the nome of the
cord when it comes into view. (Refer to Figure Two.) Without pousing ond os yo, .ontinre, "... ond, os
you've seen, the ... Two of Clubs," perform the following octions, oll in on uninterrupted flow.

Revolve the right hond, with the Two of Clubs, polm up, the hond positioning such thot the inner left
corner of the now foce-down.Two pokes directly into the breok. (See Figure Five.) Squeezing it obove
the left little fingertip, odiust the cord so thot it is side-iogged with respeit to the Four for holT its width
(refer tofigure Three), then slide it leftword ond squore with the Four. As o continuing oction slide both
cords leftword ond in olignment with the deck, immediotely flipping the entire bloc[ obove the breok
over, flush on top. Do not retoin o breok beneoth it.

You hove opporently turned over the bock-to-bock cords, the Two of Clubs now in view. You now follow,
still with no interruption in the flow of the oction, by seeming to turn the Two foce down, octuolly three
cords os one. ln doing so, engoge the foce-up block ot its inner right corner with the right forefinger vio
the noturol breok (using the Lin Seorles Auto-breok technique if necessory), slide the right hond forword
to grosp the block ot the midpoint of the right side, ond flip it over in o monner consistent with your prior
octions. Finolly, shove off the top two cords ond proceed with the trick in progress.

As indicoted,_there is o symmetry ond constoncy of motion to the sequence which moy come ocross os
o somewhot flourishy disploy but nonetheless creotes o solid deception.

Force Four
is o hondling of o sleight published decodes
Kord Koniuring, 1955 p. l6). The primory
down, the subsequent turnover of the deck to
on, okin (in reverse) to the comporoble oction in o
ol Double Lift, Fother Cyprion's Quick Chonge, ond

146
A recent e:moiled description of o Kordyr
Revolving Force, ond the rother obvious th
ochieve iuccessive forces of multiple cords.
the mechonics would moke them obvious to loy spe
deceptive, perhops becouse the constoncy of the r

Bywoy of exomple, secretly cull the four Aces to the top of the.deck. Begin.with the,deck in the left hond-,
t# f-:frg;;;;ffi ,"J"rit, the left side roised somewhot so thot the thumb mound does not bind the left
begin o stondord Thumb Riffle.
is"""Figure O*.irh" tf'umb is ot the outer lef corner os if obout to
"as".
nd fourth fingers to hold it firmly in ploce, turn the
bock to foce] no* upword rother thon downword.
spectotor to coll 'stop' when he chooses. You wont
k.

lmmediotely thumb off the d section onto the toble. Withoui pousing,,curl,the
dsLif.[fi;g", und"r th" r nch tightly wirh the remoining fingers, the thumb ot
th"e outer rig"ht corner in rif e time-, turn the hond polm down'

147
 J.K. Hortmon

Execute o right-hond upword Thumb Riffle, osking the spectotor to coll 'stop.'At thot point, ollow the left
underside of the lower pocket to foll onto the outer
Six.)Twist the right hond polm up, the righ
side ond foce down (see Figure Seven-
thumb off the top cord of the le[t-hond sec

Finolly, turn the right hond polm down, execute o Thumb Riffle, ond go through the sequence one more
time, pivoting the releosed pocket from right hond to left hond. Thumb off the top cord of the left-hond
section. Slide the right-hond section onto the left-hond section to reossemble the deck. The four Aces ore
on the toble, fo be reveoled now or used os required.

The trick in this form con be performed with four different spectotors, but the poce is more persistent ond
non-stop if you do not hove to move from one to onother, stoying with o single spectotor who quickly
leorns exoctly whot he is to do.

Pcrir Push
The following is o form of Center Double Lift opplicoble in o number of woys. lt is quite deceptive since
it replicotes on oction thot oppeors to be impossible to execute with more thon o single cord-specifi-
colly, on Annemonn-Christ-type Alignment.

When performed with o full deck, the impression

inword, then pushes it forword ond flush, the seco
of the lower section to on outiogged pos
three-cord pocket, the performer drows
ot the some time outiogging the middle

ond. Arch the right hond over it, second ond third
top, little finger flooting free. (See Figure One.)
breok obove them with the right thumbtip, Swing
section on top of it but mointiin o breok ,nd", ii
rily mointoined obove ond below the two originol
Figure Two.)

Corry the section obove the upper breok inword for holf its length, leoving the double cord behind, the
left little fingertip breok still beneoth it. ln the process, slide the left little finglr forword, closer to the third
finger, so thot the breok is mointoined more forword of the corner. (See Figure Three.)

The precise positioning of the upper section vis-d-vis the lower is now importont. The tips of the right
second ond third. fingers both contoct the top cord of the lower section. The under surfoce of the upper
section contocts the top of the lower section only olong the extreme left side. The right side is froctionolly

t48
roised, the side of the right little [inger-next to the noil-moking conioct with,the right edge of the
dorbl" cord neor its inni right corier. The left thumb, meonwhile, extends flush olongside the lower
section, moking light contoct;-it does intrude obove the lower section. (See Figure Four')

The right little finger is, in o woy, exerting o kind of tension upword ond leftword, the double cord
in o
betwJen ti" ,igl,t liril" fing"r"below ond the right ihlrd fing"rtip ond the left extreme side of
""g;gil;
the upper section obove.

ln this position, holding the elongoted deck o

light touch with both honds throughout rother
for*ord. The double cord will be corried olon
ostensibly propelled vio the right second ond t
respect to the lower section for somewhoi more

At thot point, releose contoct with the right little finger, ollowing.the double cord to foll flush olong its
L"tir" ,,I+".". Applying pressure ogoinlt irs long "jg"t with the left thumb ond second finger to hold it
',n
;il;;i tqror;j, clntinue to mJve the right[onifor*ord untilthe upper section is oligned with the
lower. (See Figure Six.)

Ar thot point, give the outer edgg of the double o slight inword jop os if moking To.d":t reodiustment
I
in iis oosition."Th" upper .ord lfthe double ,oy h&e shifted froctionolly oheod of the lower-o stote
*f-,iii'" orr*orj! visible-ond this oction will ossure thot the double is fully squored.
^.i

lf the setting requires the double cord to be withdrown immediotely ond turned foce up on top of the
;";k, ih; frt rt"p obou"-the slight top-should be executed os o connected oction. l.e-, top the outer
end ond, in o continuing, singlJmotion, grosp the double cord there (thumb obove, fingers below),
extroct it, ond revolve it foce up on top.

149
 J.K. Horlmon

The procedure with o smoll pocket is little different. Holding four cords os three in the left hond, obtoin
o breok obove the lowermost cord. Lift the uppermosi cord with the right hond from obove, drow it
inword, ond follow the description obove.

There ore olternotive woys to reoch the required position with o full deck. For exomple, simply lilt up on
the inner end of the upper holf with the right thumb, ond ollow two cords to riffle off onto the left little
fingertip which mointoins o breok beneoth them. Drow the block obove them inword, ond you ore set.

Finolly, the move is perfectly procticol with three cords to produce o Center Triple Lifi.

Double Cross Cut Force

The lollowing is on extension of the clossic Cross Cut Force. lt incorporotes on unodulteroted discrep-
oncy ond o procedure thot oppeors impossible for o spectotor to rotionolize, but it is nonetheless fully
convincing iI performed deliberotely ond unselfconsciously, without on oir of furtiveness. (ln other words,
Just Do ltl) lt is reloted in terms of these chorocteristics to the Lift Off Force (Cord Croft, p.85) which is
olso os deceptive os it is illogicol. Designed originolly to force on entire pocket, it con olso be used to
force two or three individuol cords. The finol Notes include o much more modest modificotion of the
Cross Cut Force thot moy odd o loyer of visuol cover to the stondord version.

Assume thot you wont to force o pocket consisting of thirteen cords o[ o single suit-e.g., Spodes. The
ideo is to creoie the impression thot o spectotor is cutting off or extrocting o rondom pocket of indeter-
minote gi*h. As preporotion, thot pocket must be culled to the bottom of the deck with o breok secured
obove it.

For exomple, begin with the Spodes on the bottom of the deck, o double-foced odvertising cord inserted
obove them. Extroct the deck from the cose to stort your progrom ond Hindu or Riffle Shuffle obove the
bottom stock. As if noticing something omiss, run through the foce-down deck, come upon the odvertising
cord, seporote the deck to drop the cord on the toble, ond estoblish the breok os the deck is reossembled.

Cut off o thin pocket-seven or eight cords-ond drop it on the toble. Cut off o second pocket, setting it
on the first. Asking o speclotor to coll "stop" whenever he wishes, continue to Drop Cut thin pockets from
the deck to the pile on lhe toble. When he does so, without ony pouse in the oction or chonge of poce,
perform the following sequence, soying, "We'll mork the spot ihis woy."

2 3

t50
 ut in proctice both honds ore in motion together,
totors, of course, hove no ideo of thot stoge whot
ossure thot the deception is complete when the

As the sequence concludes ond immediotely following your comment, "We'll mork the spot rhis *oYi',
.oniinr" *ith oppropriote introductory potter. By *o| of exomple, soy, "Normolly o mogicion would
require you to cl'roose o sing/e cord. ln this cose, it's o group o[ cords'"

section of the deck ond nod toword the bolonce,

en he does so, set the section in hond on the tobled
thot both the size ond composition of the spectotor's

the bottom cord with it. (See Figure Five.) The upper section ond the bottom cord coolesce in the left
f.,."a ri. right hond withdrivs the bolonce of th" deck. Set it on top of oll, mointoining o breok
beneoth"t it.
(This sequence is on opplicotion of the Ce-nter Swing Cut [see "Whot's Mine is Yours,' this-chopter]'
ift"r".tir"1y. use the'HoLo Cut-see references o-nd o modified version in "Think in Synch ll,"
Chopter Seven.)

Now perform the Double Cross Cut Force os exploined. After the oppropriote time deloy, osk.the
,o"lti.r t" lift off the rop secrion ond nore the bottom cord. Ask Spectrctor Two to lift off the middle
;:;il- ond note its bottom cord. Hove the deck reossembled ond proceed os required.
To odd o third force cord, begin with oll three on top of the deck ond retoin them there os you shuffle.
D;rn Lut two to the [ottor] ond perform the prior sequence exoctly os described. After the second

I5l
 J.K. Hortmon

spectotor hos noted the bottom cord o[ the center section, hove him give thot section to o third spectotor.
Ask Spectotor Three to note its fop cord ond proceed with the trick in process.

Nofes. The following is o less ombitious modificotion of the stondord Cross Cut Force. The two force
cords ore on top of the deck. Retoin them there os you shuffle, concluding by Double Cutting one to the
bottom. Set the deck on the toble.

Ask o spectotor to cut off o portion of the deck, setting it down ot o seporote spot. Ask him to cut off o
second section, setting it ocross the first ond perpendiculor to it. Hove him pick up the bolonce of the
deck ond set it on top of oll, oligned with the lower section.

After the oppropriote time deloy, lift off the upper section with the right hond from obove ond tilt it
upright, disploying the foce cord to the spectotor. Liftoff the center section with the left hond-second
finger ot the outer long side neor the outer left cornet thumb ot the inner long side, forefinger curled on
top (see Figure Six)-ond use it to top the top cord of the lower section. At the some time, osk Spectotor
Two to lift off thot cord ond note its nome.

Hove him reploce the cord. You reploce the left-hond section ot o more ocute ongle, ouier end oriented
toword two o'clock. Then set the right-hond section on top of oll, oligned with the lower section. Con-
troct the deck with the forefingers ot opposite sides ond the thumbs ot the inner end (see Figure Seven),
ond drow the forefingers inword to squore up.

152
6 fhe Witchcrsft of Discoveries
TouistTrap

Rlse Gur.se

Mass Buial
 J.K. Hortmon

Iiourist l?clp
The following routine, published previously in The Looking G/ass Spring 1996, p. 71 , provides a smooth
and efficient method for a standard but effective sandwich{ype plot. The only advance preparation is to
reverse the bottom card of the deck.

Begin with the deck in the left hand, the right hand arched above it. Form a thumbtip break above the
lowermost three cards. With the right forefinge4 Swing Cut a quarter of the deck into the left hand, then
a second quarter, then set the remainder on top of all, taking over the break with the left little finger.
Perform a Riffle Force, cleanly and slowly cutting the deck atthe (presumably)freely designated spot.

As you say that you will use the two cards now on top of the deck, adjust those two cards to Tilt position.
Pick off the top card by the ends with the right hand from above, twist the hand palm outward, thumb
upward, fingers downward, to display its face to Spectator One. (See Figure One.) As really part of the
same action, straddle the long sides with first and fourth fingers, dropping the thumb to the lower right
corner (See Figure Two.)

It is then an easy matter to grasp the card at that corner as you return it to horizontal position. (See
Figure Three.) lnsert it in the Tilt opening for half its length. Release it, arch the right hand over the
deck, lifting the inserted card flush with the uppermost card as it is pushed square. ln the same
manner, pick off the new top card and display it to Spectator Two. lnsert it in the Tilt opening and
square up, losing the break.

Say that you now will use a small group of cards from which Spectator Three will make a selection. Riffle
down the outer left comer of the deck, beginning the riffle well below the uppermost three cards, releas-
ing roughly fifteen cards.

Grasping this block at the outer left comel revolve it face up on top. As it lands, retain a break beneath
it with the left little finget immediately extending the right fingers, the hand arching over the deck, and
riffle off three cards with the right thumb onto the lower section. Establish a break above them and
release the rest of the packet with a pronounced riffle. As these actions take place, say that is necessary
to assure that the two cards previously selected are not by accident within this packet.

Spread the face-up cards carefully and completely, permitting Spectators One and Two to study them
thoroughly. The left little fingel meanwhile, tightens its grip on the lower section to assure that the face-
up selections second and third from top in the deck proper are not exposed.

r54
When the spectators confirm that their cards are not among the smaller group, close up the spread, flip
the face-up packet face down, without the slightest pause-as virtually part of the same action--extend-
ing the right fingers and lifting off the block at the natural break below the reversed cards. Turn the left
hand palm down and deposit the balance of the deck face up on the table.

Say to Spectator Three, "Since we are using a small group of cards, you will select your card in a
difierent way. We have about ten or twelve cards here-give me a number between one and ten." As
you so pattel rest the packet in the left hand and establish a right thumbtip break above the lowermost
card.

When he gives you a number; begin to count aloud to it by pulling off cards from the top of the packet with
the left thumb Biddle style. As you count off the card at the designated numbel release beneath it the
separated card. You can do so at a more deliberate pace to accommodate a clean steal, covering the
action by saying at the same time (e.g.), "And Eight is the number you decided on."

\ \ I I t , r r,

rI

Raise the left-hand section to an upright position and push the selected card rightward for half its length
to display its face to Spectator Three (see Figure Four), the left fingers acting as a gauge to assure that
only the single card is moved. Retract the card and lower the section to horizontal position. With
meticulous handling, replace the right-hand section and set the reassembled packet on the table.

"Now let's get back to your cards ...," you say to Spectators One and Two as you ribbon spread the
deck proper from right to left, "... somewhere among the rest of these." Pause for a brief moment;
then go on, 'And right before your eyes, they will disappear!" Snap your fingers twice, and invite the
spectators to look for their cards.

When they acknowledge that the cards are no longer there, ask the spectators to announce their
names. Continue, 'And now right before your eyes, they will rematerialize!" Snap your fingers
twice. Pause momentarily, then conclude, "Over here," as you switch your attention to the face-
down packet, slowly and cleanly ribbon spreading it from right to left. The missing cards appear
face up with a single face-down card between them. (See Figure Five.)

Ask Spectator Three to name his selection and have him slide out and turn over the sandwiched
card for the climax.

Note. lf you are performing the trick for two spectators only, make sure at the outset that the
second and third from bottom cards are easily remembered-Aces, Kings, or Queens or any two cards
with the Same suit. Spectator One is then asked to remember two cards.

I55
 J.K. Hortmon

R.ise @uise
The following is an adaptation of the technique used in "Rise Guys ," Apocalypse January 1986, p.
1158; Card Craft,p.326. That routine is a double rising card trick---each of two spectators'cards rises
from the deck, one after the other. ln this routine, one spectator's selection rises from the deck and
immediately changes into the second spectator's selection.

Begin by controlling the first selection second from bottom, the second selection third from the bottom.
An easy way to accomplish this result is to control the first selection to the top, the second selection
above it, and Double Cut three cards from top to bottom.

Adjust the deck to Faro Shuffle position, both hands holding it by the long sides-left hand from be-
neath, right hand from above. (See Figure One.) Cut a block of fifteen cards or so from the bottom of the
deck with the left hand. Faro this block into the larger block, its uppermost card juxtaposing below the
top few cards of the larger block. (See Figure Two.) Compress the sections until about three-quarters of
an inch remains unsquared.

Lower the deck into the left hand. With the left forefinger push the outer (smaller) section inward,
seemingly squaring it with the inner section, actually activating a plunger action. (See Figure Three.) At the
same time, arch the right hand over the deck, lifting up on the now injogged section with the thumb. (See
Figure Four) Release three cards from this block, then squeeze the balance of that section fonruard and
flush with the deck proper.

Shift the right thumb to the inner left corner of the injogged cards and angle them to the right, allowing
the thumb to grasp the deck near the inner cornen (See Figure Five.) Feel for the outer left corner of the
injogged block with the left thumb, at the same time contacting the inner edge of the jogged corners with

4 5 6

r56
the side of the left litfle finger. Gripping the angled block atthese two points, slide it inward to the extent
possible. (See Figure Six.) The left fingers then align it with the deck, the depth of the jog such that the
extreme inner right corner of the injogged block is in contact with the inside of the left little finger. (See
Figure Seven.)

Make a half body turn to the right and carry the deck to an upright position, face outward, the back of
the left hand, fingers tightly togethe4 concealing the jogged block. (See Figure Eight.) At the same time,
just
shift the right hand to "rising card" position, thumb and forefinger gripping the opposite long sides
above thsleft hand and the side of the little finger moving below the lower edge of the jogged block.
(See Figure Nine.)

During this preparatory sequence, ask Spectator One to announce the name of his card. As he identifies
it, slowly propelthe jogged block upward. Once ortwice hesitate, as if the card has risen to the extent
possible, then continue until it attains maximum height. The card that emerges appears to be his. lt is, in
fact, a "split" double card, the rearmost of which is the second selection.

After a moment, say (e.g.), "The Four of Clubs." Continue, "... from the middle of the deck." Atthe same
time, face front and lower the deck to the horizontal plane, the outer end dipped slightly downward,
adjusting the deck to a somewhat deeper position than usual in the left hand, the tip of the curled
forefinger pressing up against the face of the double card, thumb and second fingers bearing down on
the long sides of the double card as they emerge from the deck, assuring that the outer ends do not flare
orseparate. (See Figure Ten.)

t0 II 12

Go on, "Let me give you a better view." As the remark is made, bend or curl the left thumb fractionally,
allowing the outer left corner of the section above the outjog to spring clear. (See Figure Eleven') Lift off
that section with the right hand from above (see Figure Twelve), setting it on the table. You appear to be
suiting actions to words, clearly demonstrating that the first selection has indeed risen from the center of
the deck.

157
 J.K. Hortmon

Twist the left hand palm downward, exposing the face of the double card (see Figure Thirteen), and
ask Spectator Two, "You didn't select the same card, did you?" When he replies, reverse the action,
the left hand turning palm up, outer ends of the cards tilted downward, and say, "ln that case, watch
my every move!"

r3 14 t5

You will now use the "interlocked" condition of the split double to produce an absolutely invisible change
under the spectators' undiverted gaze. Contact the uppermost outjogged card with the right hand from
above, forefinger curled on top. Apply the lightest pressure at the outer end to lever up the inner end,
allowing the inner end to be contacted by the thumb, and slowly move the card directly fonruard. (See
Figure Fourteen). When it has moved a half-inch or so, engage the outer end of the lower card with the
left forefinger and, under cover of the upper card, push it flush into the half-deck.

Continue the slow forward movement of the right-hand card until it is a few inches in front of the left
hand. Then, bending up on the short ends to create tension, allow the outer end to spring free, at
the same time twisting the hand palm leftward, the card now face up, grasped at the inner end.
(See Figure Fifteen.) As this last action is executed, ask Spectator Two, "Now does it look famil-
iar?" He will be looking at his card.

During the push-in of the lower card by the left forefingel apply pressure at the long sides of the
half-deck between the thumb and fingers and avoid bearing down on the outer end of the card
itself. These two precautions will preclude the inadvertent injogging of the card or cards below it as
the change takes place.

Mcrss Buricrl
The notion of combining a number of discoveries into a single routine has been popular through the
years, the more prominent early examples Edward Victor's "Supreme Control" (Magic of the Hands,
Victor, p. 14) and Theodore Annemann's "Five Card Findo" (The Jrnx Winter Extra 1938-1939, p. 368).
(For an extensive and authoritative recent discourse, see "Multiple Location Routine," From a Shuffled
Deck in Use, Paul Cummins, p. 43.) The routine takes various forms: effects, for example, in which the
four Aces are each found in varied, sometimes flashy ways are, in fact, multiple discoveries in a some-
what different guise, as are routines in which cards of a single suit are located in sequence.

r58
 Irickery Treots

These latter approaches have the advantage that it is not necessary for spectators to remember particular
cards over long stretches, but using cards unknown to the performer; seemingly chosen and replaced at
random, adds a dimension that has signiflcance to laymen as does their involvement. The point is sound,
however: there is a limit to spectators' ability to remember their cards when distracted by attention on
others, and asking them to write down the names is not always convenient and can intrude on the flow of
the routine. What you can and should do at various times during the routine is to ask the remaining
spectators to repeat to themselves the names of their cards.

For the same reason-and to enhance the pace of the routine-the individual tricks should be short
and sweet: they should not themselves be elaborate or complex, involving props or phases or layers.
The most important consideration, of course, in the choice of discoveries is that they should be impres-
sive ones-each strong in its own right, effective as a stand-alone trick. Additionally, the discoveries
should be truly different. This caveat is more subtle than it seems: in laymen's eyes, effects thatfrom a
cardman's standpoint are mechanically or even logically quite diverse may appear to present basi-
cally the same plot.

A Card At Any Number effect, for example, may seem at most to provide a different spin than a Card
Speller or even a Perfect Stop: in all three, a selection is found at the end of a deal at a particular spot.
Whether a card pops, rises, or shoots out of the deck, the overall effect can be generalized by non-
magicians as "the mysterious emergence of a card from the deck" even though in some cases it is
reversed or appears suddenly ratherthan slowly. One does not have to go to the extreme of Fitzkee-like
generic categorizations, but common sense analysis and thinking from a spectator's perspective should
not be ignored. At the same time, the routine is enhanced if there is a kind of connectivity or interrela-
tionship among the individual tricks, creating natural segues and an aura that they are parts of a
cohesive whole.

The following quote from the introduction of the Annemann routine cited above is relevant to these
suggested specifications. He said in explaining his source of inspiration, "lt was after I had seen
that incomparable card showman, Maurice, then just a year from France, present his twelve card
masterpiece. Maurice's various locations, brilliant and showy, left me with the impression that there
was much sameness of flourishes and productions. My temperament desired a clean cut differ-
ence between each of the findings and more assistance from the spectators ..."

Finally, the method of control is important as well. The techniques used should be crisp, not time-
consuming, involve minimum handling for positioning or arranging, and have a uniform appearance
throughout. Also in the interests of pace and continuity, gratuitous handling between discoveries
should not be required for placement or re-setting.

It is more logical to create the impression that the cards are discovered in the order in which they are
selected. A way of so doing and still accommodate standard and simple methods of control is to have
cards returned in the reverse order than that in which they are selected-the last spectator returning
his first, then the next-to-last, etc. They then can be discovered starting with the first selector.

ln this eight-card discovery routine, the first spectator cuts to his own card. The performer scales that
card into the center of the deck-right next to the second selection. These two cards, one placed on top
of the deck, the other on the bottom, instantly trap another as the deck proper is tossed from hand to
hand, and it proves to belong to Spectator Three. That card is tabled, and yet another appears in its
place without the trappers contacting the deck-spectator Four's card. An indifferent card changes into

t59
 J.K. Hortmon

the fifth selection when rubbed on the performer's sleeve. The performer extracts the sixth card from his
pocket. The seventh spectator discovers his card by calling 'stop' as the performer deals through the
deck. The final selection rises slowly from the middle of the deck.

As indicated above, the selections are returned in reverse order-the eighth card returned first, etc.-to
permit them to be revealed in the order selected. After the completion of the selection/replacement
process, the selections must be ultimately positioned as follows:

eighth selection: eighth from bottom

seventh selection: sixth from bottom

sixth selection: third from top

fifth selection: top

fourth selection: third from bottom

third selection: fourth from bottom

second selection: second from bottom

first selection: bottom

The following very simple technique accomplishes these requirements and conforms to the standards
suggested above, although, of course, other controls can be substituted.

Approaching Spectator One, dribble the cards from right hand to left, asking him to call 'stop'at any
point. When he does, thumb off the uppermost card of the lower section onto the table in front of him (or
onto his outstretched hand). Repeat these actions with Spectators Two through Eight. ln the interests of
efficiency, if at any point a spectator stops you just after the dribble begins, don't reassemble the deck:
continue the dribble from that point as you allow the subsequent spectator to make a selection.

Ask each spectator to note the identity of his card and repeat it to himself two or three times to assure that
it is well memorized. As you do so, execute several complete Swing Cuts. Approaching Spectator Eight,
Swing Cut half the deck into the left hand and extend the hand to the spectatorforthe return of his card.
Tilt that section upright and push the uppermost (selected) card to the right for one-third of its width,
displaying its face to Spectator Eight, saying, "One last look." (See Figure One.)

2 3

r60
Lower the hand, at the same time further extending the left thumb to nudge the second-fromtop card
rightward as well (see Figure Two-stop action); then retract the top two cards, obtaining a left little
fingertip break beneath them as the deck is reassembled. As the hand reaches normal position, replace
the right-hand section flush on top.

Double Undercut to the break as you move to Spectator Seven, and Swing Cut half the deck into the left
hand so that he can return his card. Tilt the hand upright, pushing the selected card to the right for one-
third of its width to display its face to the spectator for his last look. Lower the hand, as before further
extending the left thumb to nudge the second-fromtop card rightward as well; then retract the top two
cards, obtaining a break beneath them as the deck is reassembled.

Turning to Spectator Six, Double Cut to the break. Swing Cut half the deck into the left hand and extend
it for the return of his card. Display it one more time as before, in this case retracting the single card and
obtaining a break above it as the hand is lowered and the deck reassembled.

Double Cut to the break as you move to Spectator Five. Swing Cut for the return of his card, and here too
obtain a break above his selection after it is displayed and retracted and the deck reassembled. Double
Cut as you approach Spectator Fou[ and go through the same actions with him, the break established
abovelhe selection.

Turn to Spectator Three as you Double Cut to the break, and repeat the process, but in this case obtain
a break one card betowlhe selection as you reassemble the deck. (Refer to Figure Two.) Double Cut and
repeat the process with Spectator Two, obtaining a break directly belowthe selection as the deck is
reassembled. Do the same with Spectator One, the break belowthe selection, and Double Cut to the
break. The selections are now arranged as desired

lmmediately give the deck two or three good full-deck false shuffles (e.9., aZarrow Shuffle or a Strip
Cut Shuffle , After Craft, p.69). Conclude by Swing Cutting a quarter of the deck from top to bottom
and holding a break above it with the mound at the base of the left thumb. (See Figure Three.)

lf at any point after the Swing Cut-when you proffer the left-hand section for the return of the card-
a spectator protests, "Do I have to return it there?" say, "O.K., how about here?" atthe same time using
the following little dodge, applicable in other similar situations.

Replace the upper section as you draw back the deck, maintaining a break below it with the right
thumb. lmmediately give the outer left corner of the deck a pronounced downward riffle with the left
thumb, stopping about ten or twelve cards from the bottom. Without hesitation, undercut this group of
cards to the top and immediately cut off at the break, seemingly at a different position in the deck,
extending the left hand for the return of the card.

You now proceed with the sequential discoveries, starting with Spectator One (the first selector and the
last replacer). You are holding a flesh break over the lower quarter of the deck.

First selection. [-he first discovery is the Push Up Force (Card Craft,p.77, second method).] Extend your
left hand toward Spectator One, asking him to cut off a portion of the deck and shift it inward-toward
you. Demonstrate by lifting off a third of the deck, momentarily injogging it for a third of its length, then
resquaring it.

l6r
 J.K. Hortmon

The spectator will invariably cut above the flesh break, and when he has done so, arch the right hand
over the injogged section-forefinger curled on top, remaining fingers extended and hovering above
the deck, thumb at the inner end, overhanging it by a half-inch. (See Figure Four.) At the same time,
slant the outer end of the entire deck downward, and perform the following sequence as virtually a
single, flowing action.

Begin to slide the injogged section fonruard, propelled by the thumb and stabilized by the forefinger. The
right thumb will butt against the inner end of the left-hand section. At that instant, the right second, third,
and fourth fingers, almost in transit, descend to contact the outer end of the deck; the thumb continues to
propelfonruard the entire block above the flesh break (see Figure Five), the right hand grasping itfirmly
and lifting it to an upright position. (See Figure Six.)

As you begin the move, which is performed rapidly but not at so rushed a pace as to cause fumbling,
say, "This is your cut." As you reach the final position, ask, "How did you do?"

After the spectator reacts to the fact that he is looking at the card he has selected, lower the right hand
section to horizontal position, and with the left fingers drag the first selection from beneath it (see Figure
Seven), the left thumb clasping it onto the lower section, side-jogged and outjogged. Turn the left hand
palm down, releasing the selection face up to the table. Turn the hand palm up, and reassemble the deck
by sliding the right-hand section beneath the left-hand section.

Second Selection. [The second discovery is "Flinging Fingers," Card Craft, p.312.] Set the deck on
the table in front of Spectator Two and ask him to square it neatly. Demonstrate by doing so yourself.
When he follows suit, pick up the first selection, holding it face up at the inner right corner with your
right hand, thumb above and first and second fingers below, the remaining finger curled next to
them. Position the hand about six inches behind the inner end of the deck as if to sail or boomerang
the card. (See Figure Eight.)

162
Grasp the deck without lifting it from the table with the left hand from above, first finger curled on top,
remaining fingers at the outer end, thumb at the inner end. Bend up on the inner end and sharply riffle
the cards back onto the table. At the same time, say, "Ready!" Repeat the riffle, saying, 'Aim!"

Apparently repeat the same action a third time, actually bending up on the inner end of the top half
only. (See Figure Nine-stop action.) At that precise instant, toss the card in hand into the opening thus
created, and without a discernible pause, riffle off as before. (See Figure Ten.) As the riffle and toss
actions take place, say, "Fire!" The impression created is that the entire deck has been riffled and the
single card tossed at random into it.

t0 il
Commenting, "Right around the middle of the deck," hold the deck in place with the /eft hand from
above, and with the right rearrange the face-up card so that it is at right angles to the deck and
centered, one end flush with the right long side of the deck, the other end protruding from the left
side. (See Figure Eleven.)

Finish the necessary arranging by removing the left hand and picking up the deck with the right
hand from above, the fingers curling beneath it in Bottom Placement position. With the left hand,
apparently remove the face-up card and all the cards under it. Actually perform a Side Glide han-
Oiing of the Thompson Glide Force (Card Party, Thompson and Rutledge, pp. 17-18), as follows.

Approach the protruding card with the left hand, the thumb resting on it at the point at which it
emerges from the deck, fingers lightly contacting the bottom card of the deck. (See Figure Twelve.)
Simultaneously, pivot the bottom card to the right with the curled right fingertips as if beginning a
Bottom Placement. (See Figure Thirteen.)

With the left fingers now contacting the second from bottom card, draw away the face-up card
together with the block below it with the exception of the glided bottom card, the latter automati-
cally coalescing with the upper half of the deck. (See Figure Fourteen.)

t2 t3 t4

r63
 J.K. Hortmon

Square the upper half by straddling its long sides with the right forefinger and little finger. At the same
time, tilt it upright, facing Spectator Two. (See Figure Fifteen.) As you do so, ask, "How did / do?" He will
acknowledge that he is staring at his card.

t5 r6 17

After a moment, set the left-hand section carefully on the table, the face-up first selection still perpendicular
on top. Revolve the right-hand section face up into the left hand. Pick off the second selection and drop it
on the table. Lift off the first selection and drop it next to the second selection. Revolve the section in hand
face down, take it from above with the right hand, and set it on the tabled section, picking up the reas-
sembled deck in the same motion and replacing it in the left hand.

As these clean-up actions are performed, address Spectator Three, saying, "Three, now it's yourturn.
Without any help from me, let's see if One's and Two's cards can find yours. Let me show you how they'll
do it."

Third selection, Fourth selection. [The third and fourth discoveries are related to a handling and varia-
tion published in Ihe Pallbearers Review, October 1971,p.461,of Reinhard Muller's "3-Card Catch"
(The Pallbearers Review July 1971,p.431). See also "lt's Catching," Chapter Two.l

As your patter continues, "One of them on top, and one on the bottom, with fifty cards between them,"
perform the following sequence.

Pick up either of the first two selections and drop it face up on top of the deck. Pick up the other one, and
apparently slide it face up beneath the deck. Actually, buckle the bottom card with your left fingers, and
slide the face-up card above it, openly injogged for a third of its length. (See Figure Sixteen.)

With no pause in the action, arch the right hand overthe deck, the thumb pushing the injog square and
obtaining a break above it. (See Figure Seventeen.) lmmediately, shift the deck proper (above the break)
rightward three-quarters of an inch or so, the left hand holding the two lowermost cards in place,
squared as one. (See Figure Eighteen.) You have apparently side-jogged the lowermost face-up card,
the deck now seemingly sandwiched between the first two selections.

Extend the left thumb across the deck to clasp it, the left fingertips contacting the face of the deck
proper, and station the right hand two inches or so to the right of the left. With a sharp right-left
movement, toss the deck proper into the right hand, lightly squeezing with the left thumb and finger-
tips to retain the uppermostface-up card, the lowermost double card, and the bottom card of the deck
proper, the deck slipping out from between them, a single face-down card now apparently sand-
wiched by the prior selections.

164
 )

l8 t9 20

Say, "One card between them!" Pause momentarily, then set the deck face down on the table, asking
SpLctator Three to announce the name of his card. With the right hand, take the uppermost two cards
along the right side, still in spread condition (see Figure Twenty), tilt them upright, selection face out-
ward-, and say, "How did they do?" Then turn the hand palm down and deposit Spectator Three's
selection face up in front of him.

As attention is on it, the right hand turns palm up and slides the card it holds beneath the left-hand
double card. Shifting your attention to Spectator FouI say, "That deserves an encore." Ask him whether
his card is stillfirmly in mind, then have him name it.

When he does, execute the reversal variant of the Vernon Thruthe-Fist Move with the left-hand packet
(explained in the final Notes to "Fare Play," Chapter Four), receiving it at its outer end with the right
hand-thumb above, fingers below-as it emerges from the left. (See Figure Twenty-One.) lmmediately
One-hand Fan it, twisting the fan upright so that the face of the fourth selection is clearly in view. (See
Figure Twenty-Two.)

21 22 23

Fifth setection, Sixth selection. [The discoveries of the next two cards are adapted from a fine idea of Al
Leech ('A Quick Theft," Card Man Sfufl Leech, p. 17), designed by him as a cover for the palm and
production of a card from the performer's pocket.l
pause for the fan display to register. Then extract the face-up card and drop it on the table. Turn the right
hand palm down, and table the first two selections face up, their work now complete, the left hand as
you do so retrieving the face down deck and preparing for a Triple Lift. As these actions are performed,
say to Spectator Five, "Obviously, none of these belongs to you."

Execute a Triple Turnove[ asking, "This one doesn't belong to you either, does it?" When he agrees, turn
the triple card face down and transfer the top card to the bottom of the deck, outjogged for a third of its
length. As you do so, say, "Watch what happens ..." Concluding, "... when I massage it, like this,"
perform the following actions.

r65
 J.K. Horlmon

Grasp the deck with the right hand from above, pushing the jogged card flush, in One Hand Top Palm
position, the tip of the little finger on top at the outer right corner. (See Figure Twenty-Three.) As a
continuing action, twist your left hand palm down, crossing your left arm more in front of your body,
and begin to rub the face of the deck against your left sleeve. (See Figure Twenty-Four)As you move the
deck toward the sleeve to do so, execute a perfectly covered One Hand Top Palm. (See Figure Twenty-
Five+xposed.)

24 25 26
Continue the rubbing action for two or three seconds. Then turn the left hand palm up, take the deck with
that hand by the long sides, and revolve the hand palm down, the deck face up, setting it directly on the
table. (See Figure Twenty-Six.) As you do so, say, "Nowdoes it look familiar?" Spectator Five will be
looking at his card.

ln terms of the right-hand action, maintain its position when the deck is taken from it untilthe left hand
arrives at the table; then let it fall naturally to the table, your knee, or your side as fits appropriately with
your performing setting.

When Spectator Five acknowledges that the indifferent card has been "massaged" into his, pick it off
the deck with the left hand, and toss it onto the table with the other selections. Do not disturb the card
below it. As you do so say, "The (e.9.) Five of Diamonds is your card..." Turning to Spectator Six,
continue uninterruptedly, "... and, Spectator Six, what's yours?"

When he replies, saywith a touch of surprise, "The (e.9.) Six of Diamonds? That's lhe Flying Card!" As
you speak, your right hand is in motion, reaching into your right jacket or trouser pocket or your left
inside breast pocket. Apparently extract the palmed card and toss it face up in front of Spectator Six.

Seventh selection. [The seventh discovery is an application of "Drop Stop," Card Craft, p. 82.] Pick up
the deck with the left hand by the long sides, turning the hand palm up, the deck face down. At this
stage, the selection is second from bottom.

Arching the right hand over the deck, obtain a thumb break above the lowermost two cards via a
Double Buckle. Begin to draw off cards from the top of the deck with the left thumb, asking Spectator
Seven to call 'stop'at any point.

When he does so, tap the uppermost card of the left-hand section with the right forefinger; stating that
it is the card on which the spectator decided. Say, "l'll give you another chance. lf you want me to, l'll
deal one more card." lf the spectator wishes, pull off the next card. Then say, 'Are you satisfied now or
would you like me to deal one more card?"

r66
Continue in the same manner until the spectator indicates that he is satisfied-which may occur the first
time he is given a choice. Proceed by saying, "lf you hadwanted me to deal one more card, it would have
been fhrs one." As the remark is made, pull off the next card, at the same time releasing beneath it the two
separated cards. Use the right-hand section to lever the card just dealt face up as your remark cpncludes.

Set the right-hand section on the table. Take the face-up card with the right hand along the right side
near its inner right corner. Push the next (face down) card to the right, taking it below the right-hand
card, spreao tolne left. (See Figure Twenty-Seven.) Use those two cards to lever over the third card'
During this sequence, say, "lf you had stopped me one card earlier, it would have been fhrs one."

27 28 29

pushing this card to the right, slide the pair in the right hand under the left thumb and fonruard so that the
two cards are outjogged for twothirds of their length (see Twenty-Eight-stop action); leaving the face-
down card in position, outjogged and spread, draw the uppermost face-up card inward and even with
the lowermost face-up card, lifting off both with the right hand near their inner right corners, the three
cards still somewhat spread. (See Figure Twenty-Nine')

The face-down card, presumably the one on which the spectator decided to stop, has thus been sand-
wiched by the face-up cards, outjogged for twothirds of its length. During this sequence, say to Seven,
"... and neither is your card, is it, Seven?"

Then go on, "But the one you stopped me on is fhis one ..." At the same time extend the right-hand
pact<age toward him, positioned no more than an inch-and-a-half over the table. Concluding, "...and /t is
your cird, isn't it," give the right hand a slight up-and-down flick or wrist-snap. The face-down sand-
wiched card will come loose, make a single revolution, and land face up on the table. (See Figure Thirty.)

/-=---
{'=_-
==

30 3l 32

167
 J.K. Hortmon

ln doing so, your right-hand grip should not be overly tight, and the flick or snap is not overly sharp. The
key is to situate the right hand just above the table, assuring that the central card makes only a single
revolution as itflies out. A little experimentation will indicate precise hand and card positions.

To conclude, flip the face-up cards face down onto the left-hand section; take the left-hand section and
set it on the balance of the deck, picking up the reassembled deck in the same motion and transferring
it to the left hand. The eighth card selected is now second from bottom.

Eighth selection. [The final discovery is another adaptation of the technique used in "Rise Guise" (this
chapter); the original application, as indicated there, was in "Rise Guys", Apocalypse January 198G, p.
1158; Card Craft, p.326.1 "One card left," you proceed, addressing Spectator Eight. "Yourcard,
Eight. Haven't forgotten it, have you? That may be the best trick of all-remembering your card after all
this time-and now it's time to let us a// in on your secret. Tell us its name."

During this brief introduction, you appearto give the deck a shuffle. To do so creates a mild inconsistency
since you have not previously shuffled (or engaged in any extra handling) between discoveries, but the
fact that you have arrived at the last card rationalizes a slightly more elaborate pre-climax intermission.

Adjust the deck to Faro Shuffle position, both hands holding it by the long sides-left hand from be-
neath, right hand from above. (See Figure Thirty-One.) Cut a block of fifteen cards or so from the bottom
of the deck with the left hand. Faro this block into the larger block, its uppermost card juxtaposing below
the top few cards of the larger block. (See Figure Thirty-Two.) Compress the sections until about three-
quarters of an inch remains unsquared.

Lower the deck into the left hand. With the left forefinger push the outer (smaller) section inward,
seemingly squaring it with the inner section, actually activating a plunger action. (See Figure Thirty-Three.)
At the same time, arch the right hand over the deck, lifting up on the now injogged section with the
thumb. (See Figure Thirty-Four) Release two cards from this block, then squeeze the balance of that
section forward and flush with the deck proper.

33 34 35 36

Shift the right thumb to the inner left corner of the injogged cards and angle them to the right, grasping
the deck with the thumb near the inner corner (See Figure Thirty-Five.) Feel for the outer left corner of
the injogged block with the left thumb, at the same time contacting the inner edge of the jogged corners
with the side of the left little finger. Gripping the angled block at these two points, slide it inward to the
extent possible. (See Figure Thirty -Six.) The left fingers then align it with the deck, the depth of the jog
such that the extreme inner right corner of the jogged block is in contact with the inside of the left little
finger. (See Figure Thirty-Seven. )

I68
 37 38 39 40

Make a half body turn to the right and carry the deck to an upright position, face outward, the back of
the left hand, fingers tightly togethe[ concealing the jogged block. (See Figure Thirty-Eight.) At the same
time, shift the right hand to "rising card" position, thumb and forefinger gripping the opposite long sides
just above the left hand and the side of the little finger moving below the lower edge of the jogged block.
(See Figure Thirty-Nine.)

At this stage, your introductory remark concludes. As he identifies his card, slowly propel the jogged
block upward. Once ortwice hesitate, as if the card has risen to the extent possible, then continue until
it attains maximum height.

At that point, pause for a moment: this is the climax of the routine. Then lower the left hand, turning it palm
up, the deckface down, the selection pointed outward, clearly emerging from the middle of the deck. (See
Figure Forty.) Finally, extract the card, revolve it face up, and toss it on the table with the other selections.

r69
Mind R,eeidings
Mind Store

Feinting Spell

Signing Power

The Odd Couple

Mixed Motch

Think in Synch ll
Mind Store

on loymen could be creoted with o considerobly le

The opplicotion of key cords is obvious ond hord

ond the structuring of the trick required more t
importont, for exomple, to ovoid the grotuitous (o
tions of toking bock o shuffled deck, hondling it with

ier version of the following wos submitted to Horry Loroyne, he replied thot he
key cords ond enclosed o .opy of o write-up of his own opprooch olreody
pctming Apocolypse(see June 1997 issue, 'Apocolypse Voriotions or Addi-
tions," p.28071.

, he mentioned os well thot the concept of counting o number of cords equol to o

opplied in his "Mentol Photogrophy," o trick thot op-peored in Hugord's.Mogic

',#"#::iJH:x**i:*'fl:'mJ;;ru1',:3T:i:il:?,'#T'1,'[#
oddition is o smoll price to poy for the substontiol enhoncemeni of effect.thot it produces in oll circum-
stonces, pinpointing wo rothei thon four olternotives ond thus essentiolly eliminoting the need for fishing.

Tronsfer Glimpse which will be exploined in this

eferences, see "Ribbon Cutting," Chopter Four.) A

;,H:'J:::,f,",i::Yii:l[""l",t'Jlo"mirocre"
Tronsfer Glimpse. Give the deck to o spectoior for shuffling- Extend the rrght hond to receive ii bock,
toking it in deoling position. You will now tronsfer the deik to /ef-hond deoling position ond in the
pro.or undetectobly glimpse the bottom cord.

Alternotively, with the deck in deoling position in either hond,-os the sleight is executed ond the hond
twists polm Jo*n, extend it toword oipectotor or to the toble, fingers pointing outword,.the deck's long
side outword. (See Figure Three.) The glimpse is thus occomplished os you give the deck to o speclotor
or toble it.

171
 J.K. Hortmon

Begin the trick itself with the deck in the left hond. Toke it from obove with the right hond ond give it to
o spectotor directly in front of you or to your right, osking him to shuffle it thoroughly. lt moy well be
possible to obtoin o "noturol glimpse"-i.e., to spot the bottom cord os he shuffles, porticulorly if he
uses o dovetoil shuffle. As wos discussed in "Key for Two" (Chopter Four), mony loymen, in foct, will
perform on unwitting folse shuffle-the bottom cord will stoy in position throughout.

lf you do glimpse the bottom cord, receive the deck bock in your left hond. Otherwise, receive il in
deoling position in your right hond, ond perform the Tronsfer Glimpse os you tronsfer it to left-hond
deoling position. Soy thot you ore going to ottempt o kind of psychic experiment rother thon o conven-
tionol cord trick. Don'f hesitoie to pouse here with o second of silence so thot you con repeot to yourself
the nome of the glimpsed cord once or twice.

Then soy to the spectotor who shuffled the deck, "ln o moment, l'll show you the foces of oll the cords
ond osk you to think of ony of one of them with o volue-o Two through Ten, nof o Jock, Queen, King,
or Ace-onywhere in the deck; not to toke it or touch it-iust to think of it. Then l'll give you the deck,
turn my bock, ond go to the other side of the room, ond osk you to do certoin things thot l'll demonstrote
for you now. l'll repeot these instructions from ocross the room, but I wont to moke sure thot you
understond whot to do."

As you sel, " ... ony /where/ in-the/deck ..." without looking ot your honds ond more or less in beot, Swing
Cut o third of the deck or so into the left hond, then onother third, then set the remoinder on top of oll,
mointoining o breok below it with the bose of the left thumb. (See Figure Four.) To the extent thot someone
poys otfention to the cutting oction, it will oppeor to be o kind of physicol occentuotion of your potter.

You then go on, "The first thing is to cut off o portion of the deck of ony size os long os it's less thon holf
the deck. like this." So soying, cut off the pocket obove the breok, momentorily direct its left long side
-
toword the spectotor lo show its girth, ond deposit it on the toble.

4 5

172
 Trickery lreots

"Next, you ore to focus on the volue of your cord. lf it's the Four of Clubs, for exomple, you ore to
concentrote on the volue Four. With thot voluein mind, ond this is why I

thot hodone, l'd like you then to tronsfer cords one ot o time from the.top
hold, the number of iords tronsferred equoling the volue you're thinking
four cords one ot o time from top to bottom of the cords in hond.

"l'll hove o few odditionol chores for you, ond when

onto the cords on the toble to put the deck bock to
cords in hond onto the tobled cords.. Then soying,
room, but thot's the generol ideo. Cleor so for?" W
it in the left hond, soying, "O.K., let's begin ..."

sition your honds ot lower chest height, neorer the

rd, beginning o hond-to-hond spreod, ond tilt the
end froctionolly inword. By gloncing downword ot
r) cord. (See Figure Five.)

the spectotor: the process is non-stop.

is in position for the glimpse, ond keep looking

the spectotor os if you ore deliberotely overting
Additionolly, os you extend the deck, mointoin its
nly shift it more upright.

ible, holding the position so os to give the spectotor

d, ond settle on one. You ore olso providing o few
of the key cords in the order in which they were
sure thot they ore well remembered.

Finolly, osk the spectotor whether he hos decided on o cord. Close.up the spreod, the deck still focing the
spectoior, your honds still extended ond your goze overted, ond hove the spectotor toke it, octing os if
you ore trying to hondle the deck in o meticulously glimpse-proof woy.

the instructions obove, pousing between eoch:

entrote on the volue; tronsfer cords from the top
d's volue. "Woit o few seconds i[ you wish, ond tell
le the cords quietly so I con't heor you."

r73
 J.K. Hortmon

soy. "Now l'd like you to repeot whot you iust did: tronsfer o second group of
When he so indicotes, soy.
cords from top to bottom equol to the volue of your cord. Woit o few seconds if you wish, ond teli ,e
when you're done."

When he does so, continue ,"O.K., the volue of your cord hos now been indelibly etched in your mind.
Let's do the some thing with the suit l'll give you these instructions ogoin, but listen first: your cord might
be o block cord-o Club or o Spode-or o red cord-o Heort or o Diomond. lf it's o C/Lb, tronsfer one
more cord from top to bottom. lf it's o Spode, tronsfer fwo more cords; if o Heorl,lhree cords, ond if o
Diomond, four cords. Club One, Spode Two, Heort Three, Diomond Four. Woit o few seconds if you
wish, ond tell me when you're done."

The memory work here is minimol-shorter word to longer word, colors grouped: Club, Spode, Heort,
Diomond. When he signols thot he hos complied, go on, "Now the full nome of your cord hos been
delineoted unombiguously in your mind. Set the cords in your hond onto the cords'on the toble to bury
oll evidence, squore the deck, ond tell me when you're done."

At thot point, foce front, return to center stoge, pick up the deck, ond ribbon spreod it widely foce up on
the toble from right to leff. Ask the spectotor to look cver the spreod to moke sure thot his cord is in view.
He is not to store ot it but he is to keep concentroting on its nome. As he is so occupied, spot the first key
in the order in which you ore remembering them-the originol bottom cord-ond eye count io its /eF
until you reoch the originol top cord. Remember the number of cords befweenthem os your key number.

From thot number, you con determine thot the spectotor is thinking of either of two cords, one red, the
other block. Once you then leorn the color, you know exoctly which cord it is. lf the number is odd, the
"suit ironsfer" wos either one cord or three cords, equoting to o Club or o Heort. lf the color is block,
'l
subtroct from the totol ond divide by 2to orrive ot the volue. l[ red, subtroct 3 from the totol ond divide
by 2for the volue. For exomple, the key number is 13. To determine the block possibility, subtroct I (=
1 2) ond divide by 2 l= 6). The cord is the Six of .lubs. For the red possibility, subtroci 3 (= l0) ond

divide by 2l= 5). The cord is the Five of Heorts.

lf the key number is even, the "suit tronsfer" wos either two cords or four cords, equoting to o Spode or
o Diomond. Go ihrough the some process: subtroct I for the block possibility ond 4 forthe red'; divide
eoch result by 2 to orrive ot the volues. (The key number is I 6. lf the color is block, subtroct 2l= 1 4l;
divide by 2l=71; lhecord is the Seven of Spodes. lf the color is red, subtroct 4[= 121; divide by 2l= 6]'
the cord is the Six of Diomonds.)

To leorn the correct color, look dubiously ot the spectotor, ond soy, "Are you reolly concentroting on the
nome of your cord? Theret o certoin omount of froth in the thought woves flowing oround. I get the
impression of o block cord. Thot is correct, is it not." The lost comment is mode os o stotement, not o
question. You con, of course, guess either color.

lf you ore right, comment thot the impressions seem o little cleorer, look over the spreod, ond climocti-
colly you ore wrong, soy, "Here, give me some help. Hold my wrist, like
this." right wrist with your left hond. When the spectotor complies, let your
hond r over the spreod. Find the correct cord, drop your finger on it with
ossur reod.

174
Notes. Following the initiol spectotor shuffle, the demonstrotion sequence is your rotionole for retoking
the deck. As ind-icoted obove, simply receiving bock the shuffled deck to glimpse the keys ond immedi-
otely returning the deck to the spectotor could well roise red flogs.

The restriction of the selection to o volue cord rother thon o court cord or on Ace eliminotes (without
seriously reducing the universe of possible choices) the odded complexity of.ossigning volues ond ovoids
the counts thot orl either the most owkwordly short or most time-consumingly long.

Cleorly, the procedure used for the tronsler pfoce

bottom of the bolonce, etc. -could be simplified.
pocket. He could be osked to deol cords onto th
the deck. He could be osked to tronsfer cords f
procedure suggested seems to be more subtle ond

As on olternotive method of concluding the trick, o

he spreod.

Mirocle Mind Store. Despite oppeoronces, these next versions, in which you do not hondle the deck
ofter the spectotor shuffles it, o;e procticol ond relioble. The first ossumes thot you ore oble to obtoin o
"noturol" glimpse of the bottom cord os the spectotor shuffles.

Tell the spectotor to put the deck on the toble olter

onything less thon holf the deck." Soy thot you hove
foces toword himself, moking sure thot every cord i
is then to think of ony spot lord thot is ,oither.
pouse: invoriobly, he will be o bit confused by
moments to be oble to comply-oll o[ which give
the cords thot he hos fonned or spreod, remembering thot number.

You ore counting the bocks, of course, which ore

is o knock to doing so with precision which is
counter-intuitive it moy seem, counl os ropidly
heod ond eyes to zip olong non-stop from le
conveniently, is the key to occurocy: the cords

Assume thot you count l7

cords. Hove him replo
the resi of the deck. Soying thot now you must b
ond turn your bock. Give him the ironsfer instr
then telling him to drop the cords in hond onto

Returning to the froy, ribbon spreod the deck foce up. Count the remembered number from the loce of
the decklthen re-count to-but not including-the originol bottom cord to determine the key number,
ond conclude os described obove.

175
 J.K. Hortmon

Finolly, this "from the bock" count con be used to produce o honds-off "mirocle" version even if o
noturol glimpse connot be obtoined.

Begin by hoving the spectotor shuffle the deck ond set it on the toble. Ask him to cut off "ot leost o
quorter of the deck or so" ond shuffle it. Demonstrote by cutting off, then replocing o block of
roughly fifteen cords. lf you ore not sure thot the spectolor's block contoins ot leost fourteen cords,
hove him cui off o few more. Then proceed os described, counting the bocks o[ the cords to
estoblish o key number os he thinks of o spot cord thot isn'f omong them.

When he indicotes thot he hos one in mind, turn oround, go to the other side of the room, ond soy,
"This next port hos to hoppen unseen ond unheord. The reoson I osked you to think of o volue
cord is thot I wont you to concenlrole on thot volue, very quietly deol thot number of cords from
the group you ore l'rolding onto the rest of the deck, ond'tell' me'when you're done."

When he so indicotes, give him deoling instructions for the suit. (He does not, in this cose, deol the
volue o second time.) After he follows them, soy, "lf you hove ony cords left, put them in your
pocket, out of the woy, ond tell me when you're done. The /ost thing I wont you to do is to pick up
the deck ond shuffle it thoroughly, ond tell me when you're done."

Foce front ond retrieve the deck. Tell him thot he is to focus his mind on his cord os you look
through the deck. Soy thot you will moke stotements obout the color, the suit, ond the volue of his
cord. You'll keep going if you moke one mistoke but will move on to your next trick it yov keep
moking mistokes becouse you don't wont to orrive ot his cord by process of eliminotion.

So soying, begin to feed through the deck with foces toword you, counting them os you do so but
storting your count on the number following your key number. (lf your key number is Fitteen, stort-
ing counting on the foce cord with Sixteen, etc.) When you reoch Fifty-lwo (ossuming you ore using
o fifty-two cord deck), begin counting with One on the next cord, ond count from there until the
cords ore exhousted. Your finol number equols the totol he tronsferred.

As soon os you hove completed the run-through, look up uncertoinly, soying, "The imoges ore not
very cleor, but I get the impression of the color Red. ls thol correct?" When he replies you know the
exoct nome of his cord (remembering thot in this cose the volue wos not deolt twice). lf your first guess
wos wrong, tell him now to form o mentol picture of his cord rother thon iust thinking of its nome. ln
either cose, quickly run through the deck o second time, look up, ond onnounce the suit. Run through the
deck once ogoin, remove his cord, tobling it foce down, ond conclude.

The impression thot you wont to creote is thot the first run-though is specificolly ossocioted with the
discernment of the color of the cord: thot is its officiol purpose. lt should not, in other words, come ocross
os on extro unovoiling effort thot you must repeot o second time to produce results.

Feinling Spell
This routine, the quite different storting point of which wos Jerry Sodowitz' "Time Operotor" (The Crimp
No. 24, p.2071, oppeored in A,pocolyp.se Jonuory 1997, p.2743. The following revised description
includes three primory versions, eoch designed to produce on effect thot opproximotes octuol

176
mindreoding. The first moy seem choncy but works with virtuol certointy ond mokes o dromotic impres-
sion. A ,or".onr"ntionol treotment is exploined in the note following it.

"Toke oll the time you wish, ond tell n. When the spectotor indicotes
thot he hos decided on o cord, squo , osking him to repeot the nome
of I'ir .ora to himself once or twice s . This opening sequence opplies
in oll coses.

the some time."

"The physico/ tosk will simply be this: tronsferring cords one ot o time from the top to the bottom of .yo.ur
pocket of .ordr, iust like l'm ioing." As you mok6 this comment, suit your octions to your words with the
deck proper, demonskoting ot oiorfortoble poce with three or four cords.

"Ihe mento/tosk," you go on, "hos to do with sev

ouestion will hove o one-*ord
Ard, oryou spell, tronsfer one
demonstrote ogoin two or thre

Srill holding the deck, turn your bock ond go on,-Very well. The cord.you ore thinking of hos.o Volue-,
Ace, Two, ihr"", oll ih" woy up to King. t-hink of thot Volue, ond spell it to yourself, tronsferring o cord
from top to bottom for eoch l"itet, onJtell me when you're done."

When he so indicotes, soy, "And the volue of your cord con.be Odd or Even. Of course, the Aces, Jocks.,
Or""nr, ond Kings ,onlt'b" odd or ,o we'll give-them o numericol volue-Ace is One, Jock
"u"n,
il",r.n, br""n T*!;u", ond King Thirteen. Spell to yoriself either Odd or Even, tronsferring o cord from
top to bottom for eoch letter, ond tell me when you're done."

When he so indicotes, continue, "And your cord con be o Piclurecord-Jock, Queen, King-or,o Spot
.orJ-A." through Ten. Spell to yourself either Picture or Spot, tronsferring o cord from top to bottom
for eoch letter, ond tell me when you're done."

ge, some cords ore considered Honor cords-the

thinklng of is on Honor, spell to yourself.Ho.nor,
f it's notln Honor, woit o few seconds, ond tell me
your oudience, soy, "Now- in the go-m.e of Poker,
k, Qr""n, King, ond Ace. lf it's one o[ those cords,
spell to yourself "Royol," etc.)

177
 J.K. Hortmon

When he so indicotes, go on, "ln oddition to o Volue, your cord olso hos o Color-Block or Red. Spell
to yourself Block or Red, tronsferring o cord from top to bottom for eoch letter, ond tell me when
you're done."

When he so indicotes, conclude, "Finolly, the cord you're thinking of hos o Suit. lf it's o Block cord, the
Clubs. lf it's o Red cord, the suit is Heorts or Diomonds. Think to yourself either
or Diomonds, ond spell it, tronsferring o cord from top to bottom ior every letter
end, ond tell me when you're done."

When he so indicotes, foce front ond soy, "The

colled'Optimum Delineotion.' Thot meons, wheth
of your cord now is os strong os it con be." Actuo
hos left his selection fourth from the bottom of his

Continue, "Ihis time when l-turn my bock, turn your cords foce up, so thot this is the top ond this is the
bottom, ond tronsfer cords from top to bottom [ust os you've been doing ..." As you moke the remork,
turn the deck foce up, top the foce of the deck, then the bock, ond tronsfLr two oithree cords from foce
to bock. Conclude,"... ond fll,rull you when you're done."

Begin to turn your bock, soying, "O.K., turn your

your remork concluding ot the some time. lmme
iurn the deck over in your honds ond begin to tr
The instont you hove deolt the fourth cord into yo
of is one thot you're looking ot!"

And it will bel You hove given yourself o little extro leewoy-his cord will be either ot the foce of his
pocket or in his right hond-but in tronsferring this smoll number of cords, it is olmost impossible for the
spectotor's poce to deviote moteriolly from yours.

Nofe. The storting orrongement occommodotes o more stondord ending with o "computer progrom"-
type effect.

After the spectotor hos spelled the suit, foce front ond soy thot he will now do once ogoin whot he hos
become on expert ot-tronsferring cords from top to bottom-but with o difference. 6iu" him Down/
Under deoling instructions (o cord to the toble, o cord beneoth the pocket), demonstroting with three or
four cords with the deck proper. Tell him to continue until o single cord remoins in his honis.

Set the deck on the cords you hove tobled ond ollow him to begin. When he holds one cord, hove him
identify his mentol selection. When he turns over the cord in hii hond, it is the one iust nomed.

rom the deck, setting the rest of the deck oside, ond
is menlol selection. Squore the pocket, turn it foce
indelibly impressed in your thoughts, you ore going
following Chorlier Shuffle.

178
 I

ln foct, the shuffle hos done no more thon cut the p

Now give the pocket to the speciotor, pick up the

Version I obove through the finol spell-the suit.
foce front ond soy, "The whole process you lus
tion.' Thot meons, whether you know it or not,
strong os it ever con be." ln this cose, his select

Continue, "Now l'd like you to do whot you've become on expert ol-konsferring cords tl.l tqp t:
bottom-bui this time tih the pocket uprighi-like this-so I con see the foces." As you, speok,, tilt the deck,
still in your left hond, upright, bock of'the hond outword, ond tronsfer two or three cords from bock to foce.

As soon os he begins to turn his pocket upright to

ond remember the cord ot the foce of the pocket-
from following your instructions, simultoneously,
heod shorplyio one side, ond soy, "Oh woit! I fo

Letyour body follow in the direction of your heod, turning your bock, ond ofter o brief PoYser,go on, l'...
rhrifl" it thortughly, ond tell me when you'r.done." You iont him. to cut the pocket before shuffling so thot
he doesn't occiientolly spot his cord ot the foce o[ the pocket os he begins to shuffle.

When he so indicotes, foce front, soying, "O.K., now hold the pocket upright, foces toword me, ond
t onrf"1. cords from top to bottom," on.I ogoin lurning your left hond, with the deck, bock outword,
deck to o verticol position, os o demonstrotion.

Store ot the foce of his pocket os he goes through the tronsferring Process. When the glimpsed co,rd
off"orc there, soy, "Stop! The cord y6r'r" thinki-ng of is the one ltn looking ot!" When he checks, he
wili discouer, ond lonuey to the other spectotors thot you ore right'
it is necessory to memorize the thirteen cords in the order,originolly giu:l: Proceed
lll. ln this version,
exoctly os in Version ll, including'the Chorlier Shuffle, through the completion of the spectotor's finol spell.

When he indicotes thot the spell/tronsfer is complete, with your bock still turned, tell him to cut off o few
.orJ, [ro, the top of the pocket ond drop them on the toble. Tell him to cut off o few more cords ond

179
 J.K. Hortmon

drop them on the tobled cords, then o few more cords; then, "if ony cords ore left," he is to drop the
remoinder on top of oll-"ond tell me when you'r r done."

When he does so, foce front ond sef , "

'Optimum Delineotion.' Thot meons, wh
cord now is os strong os it ever con be
ot-tronsferring cords from top to bofiom-but fh
the foces." As you speok, tilt the deck, still in you
tronsfer two or three cords from bock to foce.

llows your- instructions by tronsferring cords from top to bottom, note the first one
to yourself the memorized order, thinking of it os on endless choin, os he continues
ys looking ot eoch cord iust os he begins to drow it from the bock of the pocket.

Signing Power
ln his fine book Cordshork, Dorwin Ortiz includes

k Twice" (published
in Meons & Endstp. 65I
is very strong, ond it is perhops debotoble
orronts o possible onti-climox. Nonetheless,
mbinotion is indeed impressive. The following is
bosic opprooch of "Think Twice."

The,necessory sleights include the Foldover Chonge (described in "Fosten-otion," Cord Croh,p.618l
ond the Elliott Chonge (Bruce_Elliott, Controlled Mirocles, Bill Simon, p. 14i1, both of which'will be
exploined first in the context of this trick. Also required is o morking pen.

F_7ldygr,Chonge. You orelolding holf the deck foce down in the left hond. The bottom cord is foce up.
The sleight will be used to force this cord. Estoblish o norrow thumbtip breok obove it os the right hond

r80
grosps the section from obove (vio, for exomple, the Knuckle )og, Cord Croh, p.132, exploined in the
Notes to "Spot Swop," Chopter One).

one with the left thumb. Ask o spectotor to coll 'slop'

:i :1 *: Tl ",ilifl T s-'; ili: t:t"'i: [':ilt :

different color thon the force cord. The Foldover
Chonge obviotes this problem.

To perform the sleight, the extended right second [inger contocts the bock of the selection iust forword of
the inner end ondlrriro the right of t[e left long siJe. (See Figure o-ne.)-Drog the selection inword, its
inner end outomoticolly folling onto the outer pholonge of the right forefinger.

Continue to drow the selection inword, scissored between right second finger obove, forefinger below
(see Figure Two), until its outer end clicks off the inner end oithe pocket to strike the left polm, the cord
snopping to o verticol position. (See Figure Three.)

Begin to move the right hond forword ond down os if to revolve the cord foce up,,end,for end.
Co"ntinue to move the"right hond forword ond down, the selection olmost outomoticolly folling free
beneoth it, the rlght hoid pocket os o noturol follow-through ending up directly obove the lower
pocket. (See Figure Four.)

At thot precise inslont, the right thumb releoses the sepor mb butts
oloinrithe inner end of thelower pocket, squoring ond tself, the
r."]"or"d cord, ond the octuol selection. Without hEsitoti the foce
of the force cord-octuolly, of course, o double cord.

rn performins rhe sreisht' it is essentior to * "1:;:::::H*::il:.:l::.,.,

(rower) end
ner edge o[ the pocket to octivote its reversol os the right
oticolly-ossut"t ihot the selection will drop squorely onto
y oligned with it.

. The forword-ond-down movement of the right hond (which is o continuous oction from stort to
finish) must be executed ropidly to ovoid exp-osing the foce of the octuol selection.
. The right thumbtip must butt ogoinst the inner end of the pocket ot the momeni o[ releose to ossure
thot oii cords-including the selection-ore pushed squore.

I8I
 J.K. Hortmon

Elliott Chonge. The deck is in the left hond, o double cord foce up on top, o breok beneoth it. You will
nd, revolving it foce down ond onto the toble os the
o pin the removed cord in ploce. Actuolly, the right
oyed cord remoining foce down beneoth the foce-

The.left thumb is ongled ocross the deck, holding the double cord in ploce. With the right second, third,
ond fourth fjngers loosely cu.rled or clencheC, insert the forefinger into the breok. Lifting up slightly on the
right side of the double cord, slide the forefinger forword to iuit beyond fhe midpoint. (See F.rguie Five.)

Mointoining light upword pressure with the right forefinger ond downword pressure with the left thumb,
twist both h.onds polm inword, ot the some time beginning to seporote them. ln the process, the right
forefinger drogs the conceoled cord with it. (See Figure Six-stop oction.)

n, thot cord ends up foce down, clipped by the right

closped in ploce foce down, flush beneoth the foie-
s in motion to the toble to deposit its
n the deposited cord in ploce by woy
Eisht.)

Srgning Pow9r. Begin the routine by giving the deck to o spectotor for shuffling. When he is done, hove
h.im ploce. it
fo9e.
down on the toble ond olk him to cut off holf the deck, giving it to you. Receive it foce
down in the left hond ond, turning the hond polm down, deposit it foce ,p *6ll off io the left.

Top the top of the foce-down section ond point out thot the cord there is one which the spectotor hos
orrived ot completely by chonce. Pick up thot section with the right hond ond set in the le[t. Giue him the
pen, ond hove him sign his nome ocross the bock of the top cord. To occommodote him, harist your left

r82
hond so rhothe long side of the holf-deck is oriented toword him. (See Figure f in".) The pen conJhen
U" aitpot"J of. (lf hJ is osked ro sign rhe cord while the section is still on thl toble, he moy toke it off the
deck ond expose its foce.)

Roise thele blow on the top cord os if to dry the

ink, os you cords to estoblish o breok beneoth
them. Lowe holf-deck foce uP'

Arching the right hond over the cords, ogoin estoblish o breok below the two uppermost.cords.ond
Double" - "ln o sJnse, you hove selected the boc/< of o cord, identif'ying it by
signing lect the foce ol one, ond to moke sure thot I exercise no influence or
.Jrpri k of o cord-ony cord you see."

(As o resufu of this cutting sequence, you hove disployed o chonging top cord ond o chonging foce cord
without exposing the fole o[the *ork"d cord ond leoving it lowermost in the foce-up pocket.)

IO il t2
he soys thot he hos, foce front ond close up the
btoin o norrow thumbtip breok obove the lower-
some time, soy, "You hove decided on the foce of
ow tell us whot it is."

Slide the right-hond pocket below the lefi to reossemble the s he some
tir", l"y, "ihi, i, the foce you decided on." Then go on. "A o bock'
b
Believe it'or not ..." Execute o Double Turnover, retJining o twist the
[."a t" thot the signoture is eosily reod from the spectitors both on
the some cord!"

os indicoted, this is o strong climox. Then continue, "You're wondering how your
Pouse for o moment;'signoture.Whot
ii"n1r,o^nd your reolly hoppei"d it, your signoture found yovr lhoughfsl 'Hogwosh,'
yor loy. I will iemonstrote. Hold your cord in ploce like this."

r83
 J.K. Hortmon

os described obove, in this cose revolving the

s foce down. Follow through by depositing the
left forefinger, this demonitrotive oction rotio-
otors, of course, see the foce of the cord they expect

r to follow your instructions, curl the thumb onto the

to stondord deoling grip-in slow
the other fingers to clench oround
o foce-up cord beneoth it.

Toke the holf-deck with the right hond from obove, obtoining o norrow thumbtip breok over the lower-
most (reversed) cord. Begin to drow cords off one by one wiih the left thumb. During this sequence, soy,
"This time I wont you to come up with o cord by soying 'stop' whenever the impuls"e strikes you."

he does to, top the top cord of the left hond pocket with the extended right second finger, soying,
Yh".,
"You've stopped
stooped me on fhis
this bock ..." Retroct the right
rioht hond ond pouse [.r.,o mtment
ndrqe for.
^i-J+ho .^o.+f-
tr' giive the specto-
-"^'.ont to
tors omple opportunity to goze on o cleorly unmorked bock. Then Then proceed with the Foldover switch os
you go
go on,
on, "....which
"... which hoppens to be connected to this
fhis loce
foce ..." Slide
Sli, the right-hond
rioht-hond pocket
oocket beneoth the
I9u
left to reossemble the section os you nome the cord-e.g., "... the Two oJ I eorts.'i Estoblish o breok
under the double cord.

wove the Two of Heorts over your (e.g.) Three of

n ploce on.the toble.) As you moke this remork, you
right hond ond circle it over the tobled cord os'the
e-up section by depositing it on top of the bolonce
ordyro / Morlo), os follows.

Curling the right second, third, ond fourth fingers, insert the right forefinger into the breok, ond move
the right hond forword to grip the double corJolong the right r]d" b"t*"Jn thumb ond foreiinger. (See
Figure Fourteen.)

t3 t4 r5 r6

Begin to drow the double cord rightword ond d

rightword ond polm down to fold the pocket

"i,"y
*" airlJy"J .ord (Two of Heorts in rh ft
to leove the conceoled cord beneoth the pocket. ( e
double cord ossures thot the oction is not exposed

184
 Trickery Treois

Seporote the honds, the left hond, still polm down, then proceeding oJl to the left to deposit its cords
onio the bolonce o[ the deck, the right lrond proceeding toword the tobled cord. Move the right-hond
cord in repeoted circles os it hovers o few inches obove the tobled cord.

the tobled cord os you soy, 'Whot hoppens is thot

n, soying, "... from here ..." Pouse for o moment
ose, then lever the tobled cord foce up. Conclud-
down to reveol its signed bock. Pouse for o moment,
e spectotors to exomine both cords ot will.

Note. The reoson thot the trick is performed with holf the deck is thot if the Reverse Biddle moneuver in the
first phose is executed with o full deck, the foce of the secretly releosed cord will flosh. By incorporoting the
division of the deck into the selection process, it is r rtionolized ond ottrocts no porticulor curiosity.

fhe Odd Couple

o method in which o single sleight, performed once, occomplishes
the method is ottoched to o sirong effect. ln this cose, the sleight is on
Chonge Supreme ond the effect is one in which o spectotor finds the
two pockets thot he hos shuffled ond from which he hos deolt.

Holding the cords with foces toword you,spreod thro

the reormost group in the lelt hond, the frontmost gr
deposit eoch pile foce down on the toble. During
dlviding the deck into two sections, eoch with port

Hove o speclotor pick up one pile ond shuffle it.

foce down when he is done. Hove him pick up on
to retrieve it. Position your honds obout six inche
out thot whotever the cords might be in the two s
rondom ond uncontrolled.

"Now eoch of us will do two things of the some time," you soy. "l'm going f9 do fhis." As the lost
comment is mode, push the top cord o[ the left-hond pile to the right for holf its width ond the top
cord of the right-hond pile to the left. (See Figure One.)

"And whot I would like you to do is to lift off both cords, one with eoch hond, ond drop them onto the
s one here ond this one here." With this lost comment, top o spot on the toble
ft hond with the noil o[ your extended left forefinger, then top o corresponding
ur right hond with your right forefinger.

When the spectotor follows these instructions, push off the next cord on eoch section, soying, "Good,
now do thoiogoin." When the spectotor corp[ies, soy, "And thot's whot l'd like you lo continue doing:

r85
 J.K. Hortmon

keep deoling into the two piles. Continue, thot is, until you decide, whenever you wish, to stop. ltt
entirely up to you. Whot's more, you don't hove to stop deoling from Soth sections ol the some time. You
con stop with one hond, either one, ond keep deoling with the other until you decide to stop for good."

Proceed with this process, thumbing over the top cord of eoch pocket os the spectotor deols their
predecessors to the tobled piles. At some point, the spectotor will ceose the process with one hond,
leoving o side-iogged cord on top of one of the pockets. Retoin it in thot position os you ond the
spectotor continue with the other pocket until he stops the deol there os well, ot which point the top cord
of both pockets will be side-iogged.

Squiggling the right-hond cord, soy, "You stopped me on fhis cord." Squiggle the left-hond cord, soy-
ing, "And on this one." As you then soy, "This one hoppens to be ...," move the right hond odiocent to
the left os the left thumb retrocts the left-hond cord, reioining o breok beneoth it. (See Figure Two-stop
oction.) As port of o conlinuing oction, opporently use the lelt fingers ond thumb to turn the right-hond
cord foce up in ploce, concluding, "... the one ond only (e.g.) Four of Clubs." ln foct, you perform the T.
K. Chonge Supreme os follows.

Freezing the position of the right hond, twist the left hond portiolly polm rightword, the left thumb
closping the outer left corner section of the right-hond side-iogged cord ogoinst the left long edge of the
left-hond pocket. (See Figure Three.) Note thot the corner itself overhongs the left-hond pocket ond thot
the cord is ot on ongle, its left edge octuolly cutting into the left thumb crotch. Note too thot by normolly
reloxing the left hond, the left edge of the pocket will hove o slight noturol bevel, ond the side-iogged
cord octuolly lies flot on this beveled edge.

Without pousing, roll over the left hond, directly righword ond polm down, reloxing or extending the
left fingers slightly so thot the top cord of the left-hond pocket folls free, slipping out t,c lond foce ,p on
top of the right-hond pocket. (See Figure Four-siop oction.) The left hond, continuing on its rightword
poth, pulls owoy from the releosed cord, the left thumb collopsing the switched-out cord flush beneoth
the now foce-up left-hond pocket. (See Figure Five.)

4 5 6

r86
The opporent turnover is timed with your potter-you nome the cord os it comes into view-ond the
instoni'it drops free, turn the left hond polm up, reiurning it to storting position, to the left of the right-
hond pocket. (See Figure Six.)

Figure Nine.)

IO

"Two rother unremorkoble cords," you observe , "or ol leost so it seems." Ask the spectotor.to neoten up
the tobled pile in front of your left hond, pick it up, ond set it on the left hond pocket. He is then to do the
some with the right hond cords.

Notes. lf o significont number of cords ore deolt from the left-hond pocket, its lett edge will provide o
less substontill surfoce ogoinst which to clip the side-iogged right-hond cord. ln this cose, oPPly greoter
pressure with the left thuib to closp the coid tightly in p-ioce, ond the sleight will work without problems.

d is closped in Chonge Supreme position, do nof

r words, should nof be two-step-the left hond
ing it foce up. lt should be one-step: the ho.nds
.Jrd fo." up in ploce, ond thot is your mindset.

Mixed Mcrtch
The complexil.y of o trick's method is olten confused with robustness of effect. ln Doi Vernon's clossic
version of Do As I Do (Cord Mogic, Hilliord, p. 5761, the performer ond spectotoq eoch with o deck of
I
different color, rondomly select .ord ond reploce it in the other's deck. The decks ore ribbon spreod
ond the two odd cords ore extrocted ond disployed. They hove identicol foces.

187
 J.K. Hortmon

lnsteod of Vernon's subtle method, suppose the reoder were instructed to "force o cord in the red deck the
duplicote of which is on top of the blue deck; pretend to remove the lotter ot rondom, ond show thot the
cords motch." Somehow, thot would not reodos onywhere neor os good o trick. But isn't the effecto more
direct ond better one? lsn't o procedure in which cords ore inserted in opposite decks only to be removed
immediotely thereofter ot leost voguely illogicol ond redundont?

There is o difference in effect, it will be olleged, between ollowing o rondom choice ond forcing o cord.
ls there? When you force o cord successfully, isn't the impression to be creoted one of o rondom choice?
Does o loy spectotor ponder degrees of rondomness?

Anyvoy, conceptuolizing oside, the following opprooch combines unodorned directness of effect-the
cords ore disployed virtuolly immediotely ofter their selection-with o reolly rondom selection process.

As preporotion, remove oheod of time the (e.g.) Two o[ Heorts from eoch deck. Assume thot you will be
using the red-bocked deck for your eorlier tricks. With the blue-bocked deck in its cose ond the cose
flop-surfoce upword ond flop closed (cut-out downword), ploce the red Two of Heorts foce up on top of
it ond the blue Two of Heorts foce up on top of oll. lnsert this pockoge in your right side iocket pocket,
Twos outword or rightword.

When you ore reody to perform this routine, your left hond is holding the foce-down red deck following
the previous trick. Reoch into your right iocket pocket ond grosp the pockoge in full right-hond deoling
grip. Extroct the pockoge, turning the hond polm up os it emerges to ovoid floshing the foce of the
outermost cord.

Slide the pockoge flush on top of the red deck. (See Figure One.) Open the flop, pull out the blue deck, set
it on the toble, ond lift off the cose, disposing of it to one side. The duplicotes hove been secretly odded to
the top of the red deck. Any other meons of reoching this position con, of course, be substituted.

Ask o spectotor to pick up the blue deck ond shuffle it thoroughly. You folse shuffle the red deck,
retoining the top stock in ploce. End by Swing Cutting holf the deck into your left hond, obtoining o
breok, then Swing Cutting the remoinder in two blocks. Tell the spectotor thot he too is to stop shuffling
when he's sotisfied the cords ore well mixed.

Now soy, "Run through your deck, like this, ond cul ony cord you wont to to the top." As you speok, feed
through the deck to the breok, ond complete-cut the deck ot thot point, the duplicotes now bock on top.
As the spectotor follows your instructions, obtoin o norrow breok below the top two cords. Ask, "Are

188
 Trickery lreots

you sotisfied thot neither o[ us could hove ony possible ideo whot the cord is you hove iust cut to the top
of your deck?"

Whe toke your deck with the right hond from obove in low wrist position, the thumb-
moin Figure Two.) Set it on theioble iust to the left ond iust forword of center, lift off
the d it it two inches inword of the deck (closer to you). (See Figure Three.)

"Pleose put your deck here, next to mine ...," you go on, topping o spot on inch-ond-o-holf to the right
of your d".k. "... And your cord here," you conclude, topping o spot inword of his deck, indicoting thot
his cord is to be ploced in porollel position to yours.

When he hos followed these instructions, continue, "A cord from eoch deck ..." At the some time, pick
up the double cord with the right hond from obove, then the spectotor's cord below it, mointoining.o
norrow breok between them with the right thumb. (See Figure Four.) Move the right hond directly
forword so thot it hovers lust obove the blue deck, ot the some time pinching the pocket olong its left side
between the left thumb ond first ond second fingers. (See Figure Five.)

Your potter proceeds without pousing, "Mine from the red deck, yours from the blue ....,". o: does your
occomponying oction: pinch off the red cord ond corry it leftword ond iust obove the red deck. The right
hond tirrito*orsly lowers froctionolly so os to be oble to releose the lowermost cord onto the blue
deck, flush ond perfectly oligned, retoining the uppermost cord iust obove the deck, left hond ond right
hond cords situoted more or less comporobly. (See Figure Six.)

Hold this position for o full second, underscoring the sense of your remork, then simultoneously revolve
the cords foce up (os follows) ond drop them on their respective decks, concluding, "... ond they're
exoctly the some!"

7 8 9-t0

r89
 J.K. Horlmon

The left hond revolves its cord foce up by inserting the third finger obove it (see Figure Seven) ond
beoring downword to spin it over. (See Figure Eight.) The right hond does so by opplying pressure ot the
ends ogoinst the curled forefinger (see Figure Nine), then shorply releosing the outer end ond twisting
the hond polm leftword to snop the cord over. (See Figure Ten.)

fhink in Synch ll
The originol version of this routine, on extension of the Mentol Discernment theme, wos described in
After Craft, p.206, ond relied on three perfect Foro Shuffles. The following opprooch obviotes the need
for o Foro-conditioned deck through o very noturol-oppeoring proceduie thot produces on effect of
iruly telepothic occomplishment. The finol Notes include o considerobly simplified Foro Shuffle version
ond o "fishing" version which, in o somewhot more primitive form, wos on eorly repertoire moinstoy for
mony yeors.

The key move is the HoLo Cut (Rim Shofs, Horry Loroyne, p. 131). An olternotive is o Center Swing Cut
obove the bottom cord, originolly described in Pocl<et Mogic lp. 67lrond ogoin in Cord Croftlp. 1251.
(See olso "Whot's Force," Chopter Five.
no odvonce breok close opproximotion i
"
be ottoined vio o in Cord Croft, p.1261
o
first. The method rr Foce-Off" lMeons ond Ends, p. 69; Cord Crofi, p.
483), conveys on impressive mindreoding effect without octuolly necessitoting thot you know the iden-
tity of the thought-of cord.

To perform the modified HoLo Cut, stort with the deck in the left hond, the right hond orched obove it
with oll four fingers ot the outer end in Swing Cut position. (See Figure One.l

Applying the s ers, minimolly buckle the bottom cord, engoging

it with the left ontinuing oction, begin o Swing Cut: thl righl
forefinger lifts the deck ond pivots iileftword oi simultoneouily
the left hond o rrd with the swung pocket. (See Figure Two.) Clomp
down with the left thumb on the pocket, gripping it together with the bottom cord, Ls the right hond
withdrows the bolonce of the deck (see Figure Three), depositing it on top to complete the cut.

t90
 Trickery lreots

Turning your heod to one side, push the top cord to the right, toking itot oround the midpoint of its right
side, tHumb on iis bock, first ond second fingers on its focl, its righiedge butting ogoinst the bock of the
outer pholonges of the curled third ond fourth fingers. (See Figure Six.)
Drow the cord rightword until it is olmost-but not
to toke the next cord which the left thumb pushes to

the third ond fourth fingers will help ossure thot the
of the lost cord deolt in cleor view to the spectotor.

Your occomponying potter is, "As I spreod through the deck like this, whot l'd like.you to do is to think
of one cord'..."'Th6 po." of your deol is such thtt ot this point your right hond s.hould hold opproxi-
motely seven cords. Further, os you soy "think," yru hove iust token o cord, ond os you soy "of one
cord," you hove token onother cord.

ng both honds in position, ond osk, "Hove you got

one?" (See Figure Eight.)

The spectotor will in oll likelihood reply thot he hos, ond it will be one of the [inol five. He moy Pou.se o
second ond remember one of the indices conveniently left in view. lf he soys thot he hos not thought of

r9l
 J.K. Horlmon

one, ioke on odditionol cord, squoring the disorronged cords in the process, then the next four in o
fonned stote os before. Stop ofter the fifth cord ond osk, "Got one now?"

ln either event, focing front, obtoin o breok below the right-hond cords os the spreod is closed ond the
deck lowered to horizontol position. Arching the right hond over the deck, Double Undercut to the breok
ond Hindu Shuffle obove the bottom stock, soying, "Keep thinking of your cord. ln foct, repeot its nome
to yourself three or four times so it's firmly etched ir your mind."

Pouse for o moment-you don't wont to distroct him os he memorizes; then continue, "Let me emphosize
thot you didn't loke o cord, or top it, or touch il, or tolk obout it. You iust thoughtof it, so to look through
the full deck ond tell you whot it is would be o tough telepothic tosk, even for me! But if we use smoler
groups of cords, we might be oble to hove o meeting of the minds." As you so comment, perform the
following series of octions.

Using ihe regulor or modified HoLo Cut, Swing Cut o pocket of roughly ten cords or so into the left hond.
Deposit this pocket foce down on the toble. The smoothest woy of so doing is to curl the left fingers below
the pocket (see Figure Nine), grip the pocket in thot position, then re-extend the fingers to setihe pocket
down. (See Figure Ten.)

>

l0 il 12
Repeot this oction three more times, four pockets now on the toble, eoch with o possible selection ot its
[oce. lmmediotely, perform o stondord Swing Cut with the pocket remoining in your honds ond retoin o
breok between sections os you complete the cut, the fifth possible selection directly obove the breok. This
"reflex" Swing Cut, in sequence with its predecessors, will seem noturol ond not grotuitous. (You moy hove
o problem lifting up o block with the forefinger from the relotively smoll pocket remoining in your honds.
This oction con be eosily focilitoted os the left hond returns to below the pocket by quickly bending down
holf the pocket with the left thumb ot the outer left corner.)

"Let's stortwith this one," your potter continues. "Look over fhese cords ond tell me whether the cord
you're thinking of is omong them." So soying, roise the pocket in hond to on upright position ond begin
to spreod it from hond to hond into o wide fon, foces toword the spectotor. When you reoch the breok,
count the number of cords remoining below thot point. Hold the fon in ploce for o few moments, oll
cords visible, to ollow the spectotor to inspect it corefully. lf he soys thot he sees his cord, remember thot
number os you proceed os described below.

lf he does not see his cord, close up the spreod, re

forget the number. Go on, "lf your mentol selection
spreod the top few cords of the pocket in hond, obt
os you resquore. Continue, gesturing toword the t
Point to one of them."

192
 Trickery Treots

Pick up the designoted pocket with your right hond from obove. As you then osk, "ls your cord one of
these," perform the following octions.

Set the pocket directly onto the left-hond pocket

pouse shifting the combined block obove the bre
honds roise their pockets to on upright position.
releose the right-hond grip, the second pocket now
ond spreod the upper pocket from hond to hond into o wide fon. (See Figure Thi*een.)

You hove odded four cords from the top or bock of the first pocket to the foce of the second, but the
duplicotion will not be observed since the spectotor is focusing. ol lhg seorch for his cord. lf he
sees it ot this point, close up the spreod ond proceed os described below

lf not, close up the spreod ond compress the two pockets into one os the combined block is lowered to
horizontol position. Soy, "lf it's not omong these ..." At the some time, os before cosuolly spreod the top
few cords ond obtoin o breok below the fourth os they ore resquored.

Continue, gesturing toword the toble, "... then it musl be in one of the remoining groups. Point to one.of
them." Go through- exoctly the some octions os previously, secretly odding the seporoted cords to the
foce of the next pocket designoted prior to spreoding it. (Refer to Figures Eleven, Twelve, ond Thirteen.)

t3 t4 l5
Proceed in identicol foshion, working through eoch pocket, the deck proper reossembling in your honds
in the process. lf you reoch the lost pocket, vory your finol potter line os you execute the oddition-ond-
tpr"od sequence'by soying, "... then by process of eliminotion it must be in this one, but let's check iust
to moke sure you hoven't missed it."

Whenever the spectotor indicotes thot he sees his cord in the pocket you hove iust spreod before him,
close it up, lift it off the lower block, ond give it to him. Then soy, "Turn your cords like lhis,. so you con
see the foces ond I con't." By woy of demtnstrotion, reposilion the pocket in your left hond so thot it is
upright, foces toword you.

When he does os requested, turn your pocket foce down, toke it with the right hond from o.bove, gother
ony pockets remoining on the toble beneoth it, ond set this reossembled deck proper oside.

Continue, "Whot I would like you lo do now is to tronsfer cords, one by one, from the foce of your
pocket to the bock, from the foce to the boclr, ond keep doing thot rrithout stopping or p-ousing-
until I tell you otherwise." Eoch time you sey "foce," reoch over with o foreflnger o-nd top the foce of
his pockei. As you soy "bock," top ihe bock of his pocket with the bock of your forefinger.

r93
 J.K. Hortmon

Before ollowing him to follow your instructions (ond use your hond to provide gentle restroint if neces-
sory), continue, "All the while, no motter whot cord you see, think to yourself the nome ol your cord,
your mentol selection. At some point, you'll be looking ot the cord you're thinking of. When fhot hop-
pens, don't stop tronsferring ond don't chonge your expression or pouse. Cleor?"

Now ollow him to begin the process, peering into his eyes os if seorching for the borest hint of o
messoge, octuolly counting to yourself os he tronsfers cords from foce to bock. When he hos
shifted four cords ond is iust toking the next one, point ot him ond soy with sudden triumph, "Stop!"
Pouse for o moment, then conclude, "At this very moment, the cord your mind is focusing on ond
the cord your eyes ore focusing on ore one ond the some!"

The exception occurs if his cord is in the very first pocket. lnsteod of stopping the spectotor ofter
he hos tronsferred four cords, do so olter he hos tronsferred the some number you determined
eorlier when you exhibited the pocket to him ond counted the cords below the breok. Pick up one
of the other pockets ond use it to demonstrote whot he is to do.

Nofe. The mentol selection technique used in this trick creotes the impression of offording o wide
choice. ln foct, the spectotor will not focus on o cord prior to the completion of your opening
instructions. The foct thot he shuffled the deck ond you overt your heod ond goze os he decides
on o cord mokes him unlikely to question or suspecl ony seeming limitotion of his choice. As
indicoted, by hoving severol indices in view in oddition to the lost cord token, he is presented with
options should he not hove settled on one when you stop the deol.

The foregoing opprooch to the trick ovoids the more studied look of the originol Foro Shuffle
version which required o specific number of cords to be counted when forming the seporote pock-
ets. lt olso enobles eoch pocket to hove more cords in it, thus presenting o wider pool within which
the selection is ultimotely identified.

Nonetheless, the successive Foro Shuffles moy odd to the overoll impression of lock of control.
Additionolly, six cords rother thon five con be disployed when the spectotor is given the opportunity
to think of o cord, ond the following simplified hondling moy thus be of interest. The simplifying
foctor is thot Slough-Off or Stroddle Foros ore used thot do not require precise cuts: the two sections of
the deck need not be of ony porticulor size. The following description ossumes o fifr.y-two cord deck.

Proceed os described obove os you offer the spectotor his mentol choice. ln this cose, push off o fifth
cord ofter you slow the codence of your spreoding oction (counting to yourself, "Two, Three, Four, Five,
Six"). The indices of six cords thus might be in view. Assuming he indicotes thot he hos settled on one,
continue os described, cutting his possible thought pool to the bottom.

With the cords in Foro Shuffle position, cut off filteen cords or so with the left hond, ond interweove
them into the midst of the right-hond section, the exoct positioning unimportont. Cut the bottom
unwoven block of the right-hond section to the top, ond coscode the deck together. Cut off fifteen cords
or so with the left hond for the second shuffle, the octions otherwise the some, including the slough-off of
the unwoven bottom block to the top. For the third shuffle, cut off o block lust less thon holf the deck-
you hove o four cord lee-woy-ond follow the identicol procedure.

The bottom cord hos remoined in position throughout, so do not flosh the foce of the deck while shuf-
fling. Settle the deck in the lelt hond, ond push off eight cords into the right, receiving them in spreod or
fonned condition. Roise the fon to exhibit the foces to the spectotor, osking whether his mentol selection

194
is omong them. lt will not be, so squore the pockel ogoinst the toble, ond slide it onto the botiom of the
deck. the foce of the deck con now be sofely floshed.

s to the spectotor. lf his cord is not omong them,

eck. Continue until the spectotor soys thot he sees
tor. Use the cords you hold to demonstrote how he
inol instructions, ollowing the spectotor to tronsfer
p.

lf the deck hos one Joker, Double Undercut one cord from top to bottom ofter the Foros. lf it hos two
Jokers, Double Undercut two cords from top to bottom. ln both coses, the bottom cord con be sofely
floshed os you proceed from thot point exoctly os described obove'

The finol very bosic version combines the selection procedure witho method of discovery. thot wos on
eorly-coreer'obsolute fovorite, performed countless times with greot success even though the mentol
selection poolwos openly restricted to five rondom cords.

Follow the opening procedure described in the moin version obove

five-cord pool from which the spectotor mokes his selection is on
Hindu Shuffle obove the bottom block. Begin o second Hindu Shuff
the top of the deck, continuing to do so until the left hond holds s
twenty cords or so. Deposit the right-hond section on top, mointoining o breok beneoth it with the pod
of the left little finger.

With the right hond hovering over the deck, dig the left thumb under it (see fjgrr" Fourteen), ond lever
it to on ,prlght position, focis toword you. The breok hos been outomoticolly converted to o step, the
inner index 6f th" foce cord of the reor section visible to you. (See Figure Fifteen-right hond omitted.)
Glimpse ond remember it.

The right hond, meonwhile, orches over the deck ond, os the left fing-ers odiust to squore the step, fons
the deik, foces still toword you. Let your eyes wonder over the foces of the-cords os you osk the spectotor
to concentrote on the nome of hli ,eniol selection. As your goze shifis from end to end, view the
glimpsed cord ond the four cords to the left of (behind) it. You now use the fishing techniques described
below to determine the right cord.

ogging the correct cord. Close up the deck

ight hond. Pivot it foce down, soying, "Ihis
whot cord will it be?" When the
ir on rhe ,f,lltt
With o five cord universe, you will never hove to encounter three incorrect "[ishes." As bosic rules, moke
it oppeor thot you ore operoting within the lorgest universe possible,.g.uess the prevoiling c.otegory iI
theie is on", ond oim foi your list guess to be Letween two cords. Additionolly, work ropidly, without
pouses/ to convey ossuredness.

lf the cords ore of mixed colors (e.g., three reds ond two blocks), onnounce the prevoiling color: "Your
cord is o red cord. Thot is correct, ii it not" -the lost commenl mode with conviction ond os o stotement,
not o question. lf oll cords ore of the some color but mixed suits, begin. by soying, "Your cord con be o
Heort, or o Spode, or o Club, or o Diomond," ond onnounce the prevoiling suit. lf, ofter oscertoining the

t95
 J.K. Hortmon

color, you ore left with two cords of eoch suit, onnounce either suit. lf, oscertoining the color, oll cords
ore of o single suit, proceed directly to the volue. Don't onnounce o suit ot oll: os indicoted, creote the
lorgest universe possible. Similorly, if ot the outset oll the cords ore of o single suit, offer neither o color
nor o suit; proceed directly to the volue.

Through wholever poth, when you reoch the volue, define the cotegories so os to work yourself down if
possible to no more thon two cords. For exomple, if you ore left with the Two, Ten, Jock, ond King of
Heorts, define the cotegories os Court cords-Jock, Queen, King, ond Ace-or Number cords-Two
through Ten -ond guess either. (You ore oiming for your lost guess to be between two cords.) lf you ore
left with the Two, Four, Ten, ond iock of Heorts, define the next cotegory os Bridge Honors-Ten, Jock,
Queen, King, ond Ace-or Non-honors-Two through Nine (ogoin creoting two sets of two). lf you ore
left with ihe Ten, Queen, King, ond Ace of Heorts, define the cotegories os Picture cords-Jock, Queen,
King-ond Spot cords-Ace through Ten.
lf you ore left with the Two, Three, Six ond Seven of Heorts, proceed by grotuitously defining Honors
ond Non-honors (ond obviously guessing the lotter) so thot you con follow up logicolly with "Non-
honors con be Low volue-Two, Three, Four, Five-or High volue-Six, Seven, Eight, Nine." (Four
Lows ond four Highs hove o more logicol ring thon five Lows ond four Highs-which is why you
defined the grotuitous guess os Honor or Non-honor, not Number or Court.) lf this lost exomple is
voried to the Two, Three, Four, ond Seven of Heorts, grotuitously define Honors ond Non-honors os
exploined, but now follow up with "Non-honors con hove Odd volues ond Even volues ..." rother
thon High volue/Low volue, ogoin pursuont to the obiective of oiming for two-cord choices, in this
cose Two/Four or Three/Seven.

lf, on the other hond, your choice is omong lhe Two, Three, Four, ond Eight of Heorts, there is no woy of
ovoiding o Three/One situotion. After the Honor/Non-honor grotuitous guess, define High ond Low
volues, guessing the lotter. lf correct (leoving you with the Two, Three, ond Four), use Odd ond Even os
your cotegories, guessing the lotter. Under these circumstonces, if your storting orrongement consisted
of o Block ond these four cords, you hove not hod to onnounce the suit, so from the spectotors' stond-
point you still oppeor to be working within o universe of some size.

A more owkword voriont is to be left, soy, with o Two, Jock, Queen, ond King of Heorts. After
guessing Honor rother thon Non-honor, you connot creote cotegory definitions to whittle things down
further, so comment on the murkiness in the thought woves ond guess the King. lf you ore incorrect,
continue, "Not o King, but one who shores the throne with him. You're thinking of o Queen ." lf you
ore ogoin incorrect, ot leost from the spectotors' stondpoini, you ore still left with o multiple choice-
the Jocks of Heorts ond Diomonds.

When, one woy or onother, you hove wound down to two cords (e.g., the Two ond Four o[ Heorts), soy,
"Try lo creote o picture in your mind of the entire foce of your cord. Are you doing thot? lt's o little hozy,
but... I see o Two of Heorts." Announce "Two of Heorts" with finolity-not questioningly or uncer-
toinly-ond if you ore correct on this lost guess, the spectotor will reoct without prompting. lf he doesn't
do so ofter o second or two, continue os if you hod not completed your own thought, "... No! Not o Two,
but closel" Squore up the deck, run through it ogoin, upiogging the Four, ond conclude os described.

As indicoted, try to relote the two cords in your potter. lf the options ore o Six ond on Eight or Nine, soy,
"Nol Not o six, bul o number thot /ool<s like it!" lf o Three ond o Nine, soy, "No, not o Three, but one in
the some fomily!"

r96
Future Shockers
Bi-Geminy!

Shodes of Gemini

Seorch ond Decoy

Fore-Spelling

Show Stopper lll

Poir Foced

A Process of Eliminotion
 J.K. Horlmon

Bi-Oeminy!
Korl Fulves' "Gemini Twins" lMore Self-Working Cord Tricks, Fulves, p. 1) is o wonderfully direct ond
deceptive prediction occomplished vio o simple ond stroightforword sequence previously opplied os o
double key cord set, ond it hos triggered mony voriotions (see Korl Fulves' lJnderworld lssue No. 3, p.
29, ond The Fine Print #3, p. 36).
The ideo of o spectotor introducing "finder" cords into the deck hos, of course, been opplied in other
woys. ln o trick published over twenty-five yeors ogo colled "To Eoch His Own" (Super Dupes, p. 121, for
exomple, the Aces, inserted ot points presumobly determined by o spectotor, locote the Kings of corre-
sponding suits. ln "Poir Shope s" lAfter Croh, p. I 08), the deck is in the specfotor's honds throughout: he
shuffles it ond cuts off successive pockets, one on top of the other, os o King is deposited on eoch. The
cord beneoth eoch King turns out to be the motching Queen.

Whotever the incornotion, however, few versions of the plot ore os stroightforword os the Gemini
hondling, or,for thot motter, os versotile: it is copoble of extension beyond the originol duol prediction
without confusing or complicoting the mechonics. The following, the first of three opplicotions, creotes
four motches-o complete RoyolMorrioge effect-with o fifth thrown in for good meosure (olthough the
lotter is eosily dispensoble if preferred).

Required ore two not necessorily identicol Jokers. Prepore by orronging four Queens from the top of the
deck down in Clubs, Spodes, Diomonds, Heorts order (in Bridge terms, minor-moior blocks, minor-
moior reds). Then insert o Joker fourth from top-between the red Queens.

Begin by openly extrocting the four Kings ond the second Joker (toking core not to expose the Queen-
Joker set-up), depositing them on the toble in o norrow foce-up spreod in Joker, Heorts, Diomonds,
Clubs, Spodes order from foce to reor. (See Figure One.) The Joker is thus uppermost, the King of
Spodes lowermost.

As you potter to the effect thot certoin cords hove o noturol offinity toword eoch other, o phenomenon
which you will now demonstrote, execute the following Overhond Shuffle sequence. Undercut oll but ten
or eleven cords. Run one, iniogging it, then shuffle off. Undercut below the iniog, run two cords, iniog
the third, ond throw the bolonce on top. Settle the deck in the left hond, orching the right hond over it.
Form o breok obove the iniog os it is squored.

With the right thumb, lifit up the inner end of the top cord, momentorily estoblishing o second breok.
Double Undercut by cutting the block below the lower breok to the top, the originol top cord coolescing
with the deck proper, immediotely cutting the block below the remoining breok to the top. ln sliding this

r98
block on top of the deck, however, lever down on its left side with the left thumb to creote on opening
olong the right side (see Figrr" Two-stop oction), ond obtoin o left little fingertip breok beneoth os it is
otherwise squored.
, ond you will demonstrote whot thot
"Just deol the cords like this, /<eep
se strikes you." Deol until you reoch

ne of fhese cords, leove it foce up, ond ploce it right

::Hfl; : ;: 'r;li,il: tlTi:*ffi 'tl',i:

pile, setting the deck Proper on top of oll, ond
squoring up.
'O.K.,your turn," you soy. Hove the spectotor pick
tions os he follows them: "Stort deoling, keep deoli
of Heorts ond put it on top of the cords you've deolt
to ossure thot he deols ot leost three cords. When he
the other red King, concluding os before by hoving him squore up the deck.

Continuing, "Before the Kings stort getting in eoch

ure Three.)

foce to foce with it. Ihis cord ..." With this lost
thot cord still spreod, ond top its bock with the
cord determined, in o sense by your rondom
ds os o unit-the King ond the cord obove it, still
spreod. (See Figure Five.)

Resume feeding until you reoch the second revers

severol cords obove it ore spreod. At the some time
" ... olso with some cord foce io foce with it," sepo
ond top thot cord with the still spreod right-hond c
the two-cord spreod os o unit-the red King ond th
the first poir.

Settle the lowermost cord of the right-hond spreod flush onto the left-hond section, obtoining o breok
oboveit os ihe combined section is-otherwise iqror"d. As you do so, soy, "O.K., let's move on." Look up
ond osk, "All set?"

199
 J.K. Hortmon

After thi I Drop Cut by lifting off the block obove the breok ond setting
it on the the deck on top of oll. At the some time, osk the spectotor t6
pick up icol procedure with eoch of the block Kings.

Aid.him if necessory by repe-oting your instructio.ns os he proceeds. When he concludes by squoring the
deck, pick it up. ond begin feeding. cords lrom hond to hond. As you poss the Joker, soy, ']Herei th"
Joker, still wondering through the deck," ond keep feeding until you reoch the first King.'

"And here's one of the block Kings," you soy, freezing the position os before. "With some cord foce to
foce with i.t," you go.on,.seporoting the deck on" .or-d obove the King ond topping thot cord with the
right-hond section. Thumb the two-cord spreod onto the toble neor the other poirs.'

Resume feeding, reoch the second King, ond go through the some octions ond occomponying potter,
thumbing the.finol.poir onto the toble-Reossemble thJ deck by replocing the right-hond coili, ond
deposit it on the toble.

"The Four Kings ners, oll four deter eci-

sions," you soy, certoin irresistible this
lost-remork, use "ononymous portn the
perfect motings.

The trick oppeors to be over, so pouse for o

moy moke some reference to the Joker, but i
end: the Joker, tossed hither ond yon os you
on ononymous portner." As you so potter, ribbon s
forword, out o[ the spreod, the Joker ond the cord o
over the foce-down cord to reveol the finol motch.

Note thot even though you hondled the Joker originolly, its ultimote position seems to be o function of
the spectotor's rondom deoling ond beyond your control. All five motches thus oppeor to be the result of
the spectotor's unfettered octions.

Shcrdes Of Gemini
This second version of the Gemini theme exploits the foct thot by using cords with o controsting bock color
os the indicotors, the some bosic. sequence con be repockoged into oitrong multi-climox eff"ct-. A require-
ment is the Vernon Strip-Out Addition, exploined in the finol Notes to 'Triple Cross," Chopter One.

ln this cose, the performer, who hos been using o red-bocked deck, removes four cords from o blue deck.
Four spectotors select cords freely from the red deck ond return them. Eoch spectotor then deposits o blue
cord ot 9 point he determines in the red deck. Thot deck is spreod on the t,cble, ond the four poirs ore
removed-the four blues ond the cords odiocent to them. The iotter turn out to be the selections. But thott
not oll: the blue cords ore turned foce up, ond eoch motches exoctly the cord it locoted.

Either note ond remember the four cords o ofter o prior trick or control the first
four cords of ony known stock to the foc introducing the blue deck, looking
through it, ond removing the some four co r foces, plJ.lng them foce do*n oi

200
the toble in the identicol order excepf thot the lowermosl two cords ore reversed. (lf the four cords on the
botto, of the red deck ore, from top down, Ace, Two, Three, Four of Diomonds, the blue cords on the
toble ore, from top down, Ace, Two, Four, Three o[ Diomonds.)
the b/ue-bocked deck will ploy o speciol role with
rom the red deck we've been using'" Set oside the
ce down in the left hond. Feed through it, osking
for holf its length, ond continue spreoding for
n n er wi th s pecto to rs Th ree

,,.,:,5:"tl :,',?[: i:
qt
With the left little finger, pull down o thin pocket ot the bottom of the deck consisting.o[ /eost.four
.orJ.. onJ perform o"strip-out Addition, secretly odding the pulled-down block beneoth the selections.
Drop the deck on iop of the left-hond cords.

Repeot the process with Spectotor Two, then One' Leoving his
poc.ket,
.;iJ i; flo.", set the deck on the seleciion Pick up the
..rUi"I deck, set it in the left hond, ond obtoi os they ore
le Undercui to tire breok; ther the top ond
tive method is described in tl the impres-
ore scottered through the deck. Leove the deck on the toble.

the cords one oi o time into o pile on the toble.

rever he wishes. When he does so, soy 'Thot's
like this." So soying, pick up the top cord of the blue
otor set the deck on toP of oll.

severol cords obove it in spreod condition. (See Figure Two')

20r
 J.K. Hortmon

"Now it follows" you go on, "thot some cord hos ended up right nexf to it. Ih,s cord ..." With this lost
e bock, thot cord still spreod, ond top its bock
ng-, "... o cord determined, in o sense,by your
of Spectotor One, the two cords os o unit-the
igure Four.)

k, freezing the position when it is visible ond severol

"And here's the ofher blue bock..." Continuing,
spreod os before, one cord obove the blue bock,
rds. After o momentory pouse, corefully thumb off
them to drop on the toble in front of Spectotor Two.
flush onto the left-hond section, ond obtoin o breok

Go through the process with him, plocing the next cord from the blue pocket on his deolt pile ond hoving him
reossemble the deck. Perform the some series of octions with Spectotor Three ond the finol blue-bocked iord.

to hond until you reoch the first blue bock. Point out
e cord hos ended up right next to it. Thumb the two
r-the blue-bocked cord ond the red cord obove it.
ough the some octions ond occomponying potter,
tor Three. Reossemble the deck ond set it oside.
"My four blue-bocked cords with four portners, oll four determined by yourdecisions-willful or whim-
sicol," you soy. One ot o time ond in rondom order, osk eoch rp".totor. to nome his selection ond turn
over the red-bocked cord in front of him.
Pouse for o moment, then go on, "Bvl my cords ond your cords hove done more thon find eoch other!"
Using both honds, turn over the blue cords, dropping eoch next to its red-bocked mote for the climox,
concluding, "They ore eoch other!"

7 8

202
Nofe. The following is on efficient Riffle Shuffle thot preserves the top ond bottom stocks while creoting
the oppeoronce thot neither remoins in ploce.
, cut off the upper quorter with the lefi hond (see
ction ond mointoining o breok obove it with the left
row the lower holf o[ the uPper section (see Figure
bottom section.

e upper left-hond section, ollowing the lowermost

botto, section. (See Figure Eight.) Lift up with the
ore meshed together, permitting the left thumb to
the shuffle on." or. twice, then pull out the bottom
section with either hond ond set it on top to conclude.

Seclrch crnd Decoy

This finol version of the Gemini theme is quite novel, odding o touch of Elmsley for on "impossible"
. if-r" ir thot o spectotor removes three cords ot ,o=ndor, foces unseen, from o blue-bocked
""Ji"f
j".f..\afth "ffLJ
these cordson the toble, he ond two other spectotors eoch select o cord from o red-bocked
deck ond sign ond return it.

The three blue cords ore inserted os indicotors in the

deck is spreod on the toble. Two specto
bocked selections. Something oppeors
selection is not on either side of the fino
on impossibility. But thot's whot mogic is oll obout!"
of the'blue-boik"d cord. It is the missing signed selection!
ume thot the deck in use is red-bocked' Extroct the
ose, dispose of the cose, ond give the deck to o
up the ied deck in left-hond deoling position, ond
rd.

Hove the spectoior deol the top three cords of the blue deck into your ceive them
;;.; ;; if'" iirg"rt rhon in frll d"ollng position. (See Figure O!".) blue deck,
f
fo." do*n, ot o"spot on the toble well yow left. You .oi ,o indico ith the noil

2 3

203
 J.K. Hortmon

of your extended left forefinger. Soy, "The three blue-bocked cords you gove me hove o speciol role to
ploy with certoin cords in the red deck."
Approoching the left hond with the right, push off with the right thumb to reverse spreod the blue cords
onto the red deck, outiogged for onelthird to one-holf of their length. (See Figure Two.)

p the lower (rightmost) blue cord ond shift it froction-

tmost cord leftword until the three cords ore more

three cords in ploce. (See Figure Four.) Then,
the process of squoring the bluJ cords ogoinst it,
the breok. (See Figure Five.) ln the process, be

conscious.of keeping the right-hond cords low to the deck to ovoid inodvertently lifting up the top cord
of the deck proper os the lowermost blue cord slides secretly beneoth it.

re eosy to recognize, of course, becouse their bocks

r:oiil"*#,f 'i;i ru:,13: ::'i: ['Jll",ill]

ened," ot the some time performing the following
continuing octions.

ctotor Two, ond Spectotor Three ore going to se/ecf

u speok, orch the right hond over the deck ond form
ndercut o quorter of the deck from bottom to top,
round the center o[ the deck, to the left little finger-

204
tip. you will now go through o selection process thot will permit the selections to be disclosed in o logicol
order ond will oppeor to disploy o red bock on eo, h.
Execute o Riffle Force on Spectotor One. Breok the deck ot the "designolgd" spot, ond push the YPper-
,ori lord of the lefi-hond secrion to the right for holf its width, soying, 'This will be your cord." As you
then go on, "l'd like you to pick up lhot pen, ond write your initiols onpvhere on its foce, ond, of course/
remember its nome," perform the follow octions.
Lift it beneorh the right-hond section, side-iogged to the left for holf its w
thumbtip breok oboie it. (See Figure flght.) App"or to s-quore it below th
the inside of the left thumb which-stroig[tens oiong the left side of the low
but octuolly releose it onto the lower section. lmmediotely tilt the right-hon
tion ond extend the right hond toword the spectoior. At the some time, in on occomPonying oction,
ih" l"ft-hond ,J.tion somewhot, tilting its bock iust out of the spectotors' line of vision-this for
^"ltii"
consistency with o loter requiremeni.

When Spectotor One hos noted ond initioled his c

tions bock to the horizontol. Push the top cord of the

d Eleven, view from below.)

r0 il t2
ne ond note ond initiol his cord. As you so instruct

cords ot the inner (lower) end.

205
 J.K. Hortmon

When Spectotor Two hos initioled his cord, lower b

right, the left-hond section tilting os well, the oction

tip breok beneoth the top cord of the lefi-hond section

retrocting it). Lower both honds ond reossemble the
not exposed. Double Undercut to the breok, ond Riffle
(using, for exomple, the method described in the finol
tions to oppeor to be well dispersed.

Pick up the deck following the shuffle ond give it o

the deck, obtoin o breok obove the bottom cord
with the side of the lefi little finger (see Figure Twe
right thumb ot its extreme inner left corner ond th
firmly in ploce. (See Figure Thirteen-right hond

t3 14 l5
"Now lett get bock to ihose three cords from the b/ue d-e9k," you soy, ot the some time lowering the honds
toword the toble ond performing the spreod version of the Vernon Tronsfer Move, os follows."

Adiust the position of the left hond to grip the dec

ond second fingers below (See Figure Fourteen.)

As hos been observed before, the tronsfer is thoroughly deceptive even though the conceoled cord is
never completely under cover-o combinotion of its ropidir.y, the blending of plrception inherent in the
spreoding oction, ond the foct thot the spreod pile does indeed hove thJexpected'number of cords.

"You will recoll One,."thot you gove me these cords before onything else
hoppened...".A e cords one ot o ti-r", setting eoch in your left honi. Yoi ore,
in other ryord1, now is their big moment. T-hey will help eoch of you seorch
out ond find the three cords you selected."

206
Ask Spectotor (You will wo to begin
deoling cords i m to continus en to stop
*h"n"i", ond he does, exte he upper-
,ott blr" cord to the rig llft it off ond is then to
deposit the remoinder of the deck on top of oll.

Ask Spectotor Two to pick up the deck. Go through. the identicol process with him, the next blue cord
d"|.t''t;i ;tthe point'ot which he decides to stop-deoling. When he reossembles the deck, repeot the
process with Spectotor One ond the remoining blue cord.

Ribbon Spreod the deck from /ef,to right, thelower holf more widely..(See FigureSixteen.) "The blue- bocks
;;Gt pfriri"". thor oll of you deterirtned ot whim or will ond I could not htve influenced. Eoch o[ them,
b, d"finltion. is next to some unforeseeoble red-bocked cord. Ihis one, Spectotor Three, is next to this
;;ril Ar yo, ,ok" this lost remork, with your /ef forefinger touch the rightmost blue bock, then, with the
r.r" firglt buch the cord to its right (obove it), leoving your forefingeiin contoct with thot cord.

l6 t7
With your right hond, seporote the cords obove (to the right of) the cord your left forefinger is touching,
rhoriig ih"ri rlghr*ord into o rough grouping. (See Figuie Seventeen.) Ploce your left second finger on
ii" ULr!-U".kejcord, drog both .Inrlct"d co-rds to thJright ond off the spreod, then push them in front
of Spectotor Three. (See Figure Eighteen.)

'@*.U-

I8 I9

identicol sequence with the [inol poir.

207
 J.K. Hortmqn

"Now lel's see how eoch of you ond your blue helpers did." Ask Spectotor Three to nome the cord he
selected. Hove him turn over the red-bocked cord in front of him. lt is his. Pick up his blue indicotor ond
dispose,of it on top of the blue-bocked deck. Repeot the sequence with Spectotor Two, disposing of the
second blue-bocked cord.

Repeot with Spectotor One. When he turns over th

it wos on the other side." Slide out the rightmost c
turn it over. lt too is incorrect. "The only other po
obout! Whatwos the nome of your cord?" When
spectotor to turn it over. /t is his signed selection.

Nofe. The initiol steol of the lowermost blue cord is o voriotion of o Korl Fulves hondling lPocketswitches)
of o Vernon move exploined in Lorry Jennings "Tell-Tole Aces," Doi Vernon's Ultiiote Cord Secrets,
Lewis Gonson, originol edit., p. a9 $. 521.

ForG-Spelling
This routine hos its shore of illogicol-moments but enough window-dressing os well (including the num-
ber of cords required) to mokJ it effective ond deceptive. Presentotionolli, it converts o ,pjl". into o
prediction of sorts.

lf you ore fomilior with culling technique.s (Edword Morlo's Proyer Cull, Ihe New lops June I 966, for
exomple), the essentiol preporotion con be occomplished os you look through the deck for the Jokers,
disposing of them foce down to one side. The lottei oction is more thon on for the cull, incideni
"i.rr"
tolly: the trick itself should begin with the Jokers out of the deck ond off to the side, foce down, together
with the cord cose ond the odvertising cords.

The necessory obiective is to preo-rronge ol ihe top or reor of the deck six cords thot spell, from foce lo
boc( with oscending numbers of letters (ten through fifteen). An eosy woy to do so, generolly vio o
single run-through, is os follows.

Think in terms of Clubs, Spodes (or Heorts), Diomonds in thot order (considerino Spodes ond Heorts os
equivolents). Think olso of the combinotions 3-4; 4-5; 4-5.|n other words, look first for o three-letter
then look for o four-letter Spode (or Heort), then o five-letter spode (or
tter Diomond,lhgn o five-letter Diomond. The five-letter Diomond ispelling
the top cord of the deck, the three-letter Club (spelling with ten letters) the

Begin the trick itself pX folt" shuffling to preserve the set-up, fien giving the deck to o spectotor. Soy,
"Thirteen is on unlucky or,for some, o lucky number; it's o bokert Dor.i; there ore thirteen cords in o
suit-oll in oll, o speciol number. Pleose deol thirteen cords one ot o time off the top of the deck into o
pile forme, then.thirteen cords into o pile for you." Yov wont to ossure thot he deols by reversing the
order of the cords.

When he hos complied with these instructions, hove him set the bolonce of the deck oside. "l'll shuffle
my pile, you shuffle yo,Jts," you go on, picking up the pocket deolt to you with the right hond from

208
 Trickery Treots

obove. Turn the hond polm leftword, ond Overhond Shuffle by running six cords singly off the foce, then
shuffling off. Reploce the pocket foce down on the toble.

The six-cord riginol descending spelling order from iop down

(fifteen-letter top). The spectotort deol reversed the order, ond
your running se shulfle the pocket in o woy.thot does not do so
(o Chorlier S he outset in the opposite order thon indicoted.

When the spectotor hos completed shuffling his pocket, hove him set it directly on top of yours. At thot
point, turn your bock, soying, "You'll certoinly ogree thot there is no woy thot either of us could know the
nome of the cord now on top of the pile. Turn it over so thot you ond everyone else knows whot it is, ond
when you're sure you hove it well in mind, turn it bock down ogoin, ond tell me when you're done."

With your bock still turned, osk the spectotor to pick up the pocket ond give it to you, extending your left
hond for this purpose. Then soy, "Oll over there with the cord cose ore the two Jokers. Would you pick
up one of them ond give it to me, moking sure thot it's foce down like the other cords l'm holding."
Extend your right hond to receive the Joker.

Now foce front, soying, "And whot / will do is to stick the Joker somewhere in the pile; but not iust
on)ryvhere: somewhere speciol." As soon os the cords move out of view, begin the necessory
octions, the purpose of which is to tronsfer the Joker to the boltom of the pocket with one cord
token from the fop stock below it, two cords from the top stock obove it, leoving the. spectotor's
cord os the top cord. The following hondling brings obout this result in three or four seconds ot most-
o length of time thot oppeors reosonoble for doing whot you soyyou ore doing-inserting the Joker ot
some speciol position.

As you foce front, odlust the right-hond grip so the.Joker is held between first ond second fingers. (See
Figure One.) Spreod-deol three cords from the top of the pocket (i.e., do not reverse their order or count
them off seporotely), receiving them between right thumb ond forefinger. (See Figure Two.) Seporote the
honds froctionolly, then return with the right hond os the left thumb pushes off the next cord. Receive it
below the Joker-the cord squeezing obore the right second finger-os the left thumb edges o1 top of
the right-hond pockoge. (See Figure Three.) lt then holds the uppermost cord in ploce os the right hond
drows owoy the rest of the pockoge. (See Figure Four.)

Extrocting the right forefinger, tronsfer the pockoge to the bottom of the pocket (see Figure Five), the left
hond immediotely bringing forword the reossembled pocket. Toking it with the right hond from obove,

209
 J.K. Hortmon

SC*::,j

squore its right long side on the toble, twisting the pocket foce outword to flosh the bottom indifferent
cord, then deposit it foce down in front of the spectotor.

Your potter proceeds, "ln o moment, l'll turn my bock ogoin, ond when I do, this is whot you will do.
Think ogoin of the nome of thot cord you oll looked ot be[ore." [Top the top of the pocket.] "Toke o look
ot it ogoin i[ you're not sure. Then spe//the nome of thot cord-to yourself, not oloud. l[ your cord were
this one ..." [Turn over the top cord of the bolonce of the deck, situoted off to one side, e.g., the Seven
of Heorts, then reploce it foce down.] "...the SEVEN-OF-HEARTS, you would spell S-E-V-E-N, then O-
l, then H-E-A-R-T-S. Don't forget thot finol 'S.' Cleor?"
" And," you go on, " osyou spell, for eoch letter, tronsfer one cord from the top of the pile to the bofiom."
As you refer to 'top,' top the top of the pocket. As you refer to 'bottom,' corefully pick up the pocket with
the right hond from obove ond top the underside. Hond the pocket to the spectotor, concluding, "And
tell me when your done," then turn your bock.

lf he checks on his cord, it is indeed where he left it. lt thus becomes cleor thot, wherever you ploced the
Joker, it wos not the top or the bottom. When he informs you thot he hos completed his tosk, soy, "Since
there wos no woy thot I could know the nome of your cord, there's olso no woy I could know the nome
of the cord thot hoppens to be on top of the pile now. Turn it over so oll of you know whot it is.
"O.K., turn it, whotever it is, bock foce down, ond go through the some spelling process with it, spelling
its full nome ond tronsferring o cord from top to bottom for every letter, ond tell me when you're done."
When the spectotor so informs you, soy, "Set the pile on the toble. The moment of truth hos orrived," ond
foce front.

Continue, "Since both cords you spelled must be mystery cords to me, there's no woy, is there, thot I
could hove loreordoined the position you've reoched now. Agree? Whot ore lhose mystery cords? Tell
me their nomes." When he, perhops with onother spectotor's help, onnounces the nomes of the two
cords, pouse for o moment. Then turn over in ploce the top cord of the pocket, soying, "Just os I
thought." The cord is the Joker.

Show Stopper lll

Ihe Linking Ring Feb. 1997,
The precise folse deol technique in the following routine (in print before in
.l08)
The Cord Corner, p. is o refinement of the mechonics used in "Show Stopper ll" lAfier Croft, p.
2241, enhoncing thot routine modestly in terms of both deception ond effect. (The originol version wos
described in Cord Croh, p. 517.1

2to
lf you ore performing with o blue-bocked deck, hove o cord lrom o motching red-bocked deck-soy,
the King o[ Heorts-in your upper iocket or shirt pocket, foce inword. After or in the course of o prior
trick, control the blue-bocked King of Heorts to the top of the deck.

Begin with the deck foce do*n in your left hond, o breok beneoth ihe top cord. Soy thot your next trick
r"q-rir"r o speciol prop. "A.ord.fro, onother deck ...," you go on-os yo.ur.right hond. grosps.the
pocketed .ord ot its upper end ond extrocts it. Set the cord on top of the deck, iniogged for o third
of its length. filt the outer end of the deck o bit downword so thot the spectotors co.n cleorly see
the controst. (See Figure One.f As you do so, continue, "... o deck with o dilferent color."

Arch the right hond over the her fingers ot the outer end, thumb ot the
inner end of th" iniogged re ln whot omounts to o single oction, push
thot cord squore onJlift off eft hond toword o spectotor ond soying,
"The first step is for you to thoroughly shuffle the deck we've been using."

While he is complying, set the double cord in the left hond. When the spectotor completes his shuffle,
retoke the double corl with the right hond iust inword o[ the midpoint of its right side between thumb
obove ond first ond second fingeri below (see Figure Three), ond retrieve the deck with your left hold
Position your honds so thot it two or three inches obove the toble, the right ho_nd (with the double
"o.-h
cord) iust to the right of center, the left (with the deck) five or six inches to the lefit of center.

Push the top cord of the deck to the right for holf its
could hove no ideo of its identity. "Or the next one
ot o point directly below the deck, ond push the se
one," you soy, thumbing off the iogged cord, ond

Keep thumbing off cords into o rough pile, pousing for on instont in eoch cose ofter pushing o cord to
the iight for holf its width, os you .ontinu", "... o, ony of these cords, so will you decide on one of them
by soying 'stop'whenever you wish." He will do so when o cord is side-iogged to the right-iust before
you thumb it to the toble.

At thot point, move the /eF hond rightword so thot the right long edge of the designoted cord ond the left
long ed'ge of the double cord or" in inch or two oport (see Figure Four), soying, "O.K.,.this will be your
.orJ ...;Ar you then continue, "...ond this cord from the other deck is my cord," you will oppeor to toke
the spectotor's cord below yours, spreod somewhot to the left, ond ploce them both, still spreod, on the
toble. Actuolly, you perform the following octions.

2lt
 J.K. Hortmon

Move the /eF hond rrghtword, the selection sliding under the double cord until the left thumb butts
ogoinst the left edge o[ the double cord. (See Figure Five.) At thot precise point, both honds operote
virtuolly simultoneously.

The right hond moves froctionolly rightword to disengoge from the selection, then immediotely moves
forword ond to the toble, the forefinger in the process ropidly spreoding the lowermost cord of the double
leftword on inch or so, in which condition the two cords ore deposited on the toble; the /efr hond freezes its
left-to-right motion, but twists polm righword os the thumb retrocts the selection. (See Figure Six.)

These octions occur noiselessly, ond, os indicoted, virtuolly simultoneously; outwordly the spectotors see
you toke the selection in o slight spreod beneoth the red-bocked cord, then deposit the two cords, still
spreod, on the toble. Although the hond movements ore minimol, think in terms of the left hond op-
prooching the right to deliver the selection, the right hond moving owoy from the left to deposit the two
cords on the toble. The originol positioning of the honds should ossure thot the two-cord spreod is well-
seporoted from the discord pile.

Proceed by toking the bolonce of the deck with the right hond from obove ond dribbling it onto the discord
pile, soying , "Your cord could hove been ony ol these ..." Then go on, pointing toword the red-bocked
cord, " My cord wos decided on long before I come here todoy." Pouse for o moment, then tell the selecting
spectotor to turn them over ond toke o look ot them, which he does to reveol the perfect motch.

Pcrir Fcrced
in Apocolypse June 1996, p.
The following simple opprooch to o prediction effect, published previously
2665, wos triggered by Tom Dougherty's "One-Foced" (Apocolypse November 1995, p. 25731. lt
relies on o Henry Christ force voriont incorporoted in different woys in "Mentolios ll" (Apocolypse
Jonuory 1979 , p. I 55; Cord Croh, p. a54l ond "One of o Mind" (Apocolypse Jonuory I 98,l , p.433;
Cord Crofi, p. a55).

Prepore by culling two prominent motes to the top of the deck (red Aces, block Queens, etc.) Assume thot
the Ace of Heorts is the top cord, the Ace of Diomonds second from top. Begin by folse shuffling ond
cutting, osking o spectotor to loin you, focing the other spectotors. Soy, "Let's stort from the top with the top
cord, the ... Ace of Diomonds," performing o Double Turnover ond noming the cord os it comes into view.
"The Ace of Diomonds will ploy o speciol role in this next trick."

212
Hond the deck to the spectotor, instructing him to hold it behind his bock. Tell him thot in o moment he
will select o cord in o monner entirely oriof your control since you con neither see-nor touch the deck.
Then soy, "Before you do, the Ace of Diornonds is still on top o[ the deck. Toke it off, bring it out front,
ond set it on the toble."

When he hos done so, continue, "Now would you cut off o group of cords o[ ony size you wish-o smoll
group, o medium size group, o lorger group-ond turn it over, foce upt 9n top of the rest of the deck ...
Xtt t"tA You hove turnei over o group Jf .ordr ot ony point you wonted foce up on top of the rest of the
deck? Excellent. Bring the deck forword."

When the deck is in view, you go on, "ln cutting the deck the woy you did, you.reolly cut to fwo cords.
Thot's one of them ..." Poini to o-r top the uppermost cord. "... But we con oll see thot one, so run through
oll the foce up cords, toke them off, ond prt the, on the toble." Gesture with your forefinger to occom-
pony your orol instructions.

"And thot's the other one," you continue, pointing to or topping the foce down cord now on top of the
cords in the spectotor's honds. "And thot one no one con se", so thot's the one-we'll use. Toke it off
ond set it on top o[ the Ace of Diomonds." As before, use your forefinger to reinforce your directions.

Finolly, hove him reossemble the deck ond set it oside. Coll ottention ogoin to the spectotort,unfettered
f.eed", ond exclusive control in selecting the cord. Ask him to turn it foce up, reveoling the motching Aces.

A Process Of Elimincltion
The use of equivoque hos been developed to on ort form by leoding mentolists,. eclipsing by o quontum
foctor the "one of iour" techniques leorned by fledgling cordmen to orrive ot the leoder pocket in four
oce tricks. ln some coses, story:lines hove been dev-iseJ to rotionolize the vorious olternotives. See, for
exomple, Ken Krenzel's well thought out "Fired Up" (Ken Krenze.l's lngenuilies,.stephen Minch, p. 200),
his voriotion of Lorry Becker's ond Kenton Kneppner's morketed "Kolossol Killer."

The following opprooch uses o story-line with o tongue-in-cheek setting thot is highly unlikely to run the
donger of r6oilng on sensitive spe ie. lt olso eliminotes the need for multiple "outs" or
olteirotive predici'rons since it redu outcomes to o ploced
oheod o[ time olone in o cord cose i trick begins!Al leod to
this single end. The effect produced is very strong, the
ck fulfilling tem.

The olternotive potter poths ore not complex ond in

cleorly importont to convey the notion thot whot

intended to soy oll olong, resolutely developing the
oppeor to hove been foreordoined.

213
 J.K. Hortmon

To do so without o written script in front of you requires lengthy reheorsol ond memory work with
respect to the wording itself ond to the obility to move interchongeobly from olternotive to olternotive. ln
this cose, thot expenditure o[ time ond effort is not necessory: not only con the script be openly ond
comfortobly reod, but o pre-written norrotive seems to obviote the notion of improvisotion, octuolly
enhoncing the effect. There is thus no reoson to be dounted by the hick's demonds. The finol Notes
describe in detoil the script's construction ond the necessory mechonics ond techniques to present it with
moxi mum effectiveness.

As will be seen, the prediction con be ony cord. The consistent use of the some cord will, however,
focilitote your obility to novigote the olternotive response poths. The script os written is designed to
force the Eight of Heorts. Accordingly, pre-set the Eight of Heorts on top of the deck. Leove the
cord in the cord cose when you initiolly extroct the deck. When reody to perform this routine, re-
introduce the cose, plocing it on the toble in front of the spectotor whom you will involve, but do not
shoke it or in ony other woy convey thot o cord is within it.

As you will see, the oppended script is divided into porogrophs or segments, holf of which ore
preceded by Arobic numerols ,1, 2, 3, 4, elc.l, holf by Romon numerols (1, ll, lll, lV, etc.). Eoch
segment ends with o question to the spectotor with two possible onswers, ond precise directions ore
given for the number ond locotion of the segment thot either onswer requires to be reod next. lf thot
number is followed by o single osterisk (lll.), you turn to the nexf poge in the script (i.e., turn over one
poge) to orrive ot the proper segment. lf it is followed by o double osterisk (3**), you turn over two
poges to orrive ot the proper segment. lf it is not followed by either one or two osterisks, continue
reoding on the some poge. You will never be required to poge bocl<. You will olwoys poge forword.

A number of odditionol refinements ond detoils ore described in the finol Notes, but they will be
more relevont ofter the script is studied ond understood. lt is thus now oppropriote to turn to the
script itself, immediotely following the Notes below. Reod it oloud to ossure thot you hove o good
sense of its working ond wording, following whotever olternotive poths you decide on pursuont to
the instructions ot the end of the segment, trocking your woy through to the climox. Rereod it
severol times, going down other olternotive poths. Then come bock to the Notes.

Nofes. As mentioned ot the outset, ,t'," oO"" *"0,", o, . Or" *ritten script octuolly strengthens
the impression thot somehow the results ore indeed foreordoined. Moreover, reoding on opporent
foble or foiry tole covers the foct thot the potter lines ond choice of words moy not be stylisticolly
noturol for you. Although, incidentolly, reoding rother thon recitotion from memory reduces the
necessory reheorsol efforts substontiolly, it does nof eliminote the need for ossiduous proctice to
ossure smoothness ond fluidity.

While if is quite eosy to sort your woy through the vorious olternotive porogrophs os you reod the
script, you don't wont the spectotors to be owore thot you ore sifting through poges. A procedure for so
ensuring is described below. Although nof essentiol if this procedure is odopted, odditionol cover con
be provided by orronging thot your octions ore out of the spectotors' direct view.

For exomple, if setting ond ocoustics permit, you con be stotioned in on odioining room. lf the spectotors
ore locoted ot one end of o relotively lorge room, you con move to on opposite corner, focing the woll.
lf circumstonces permit, on ideol opprooch is to sit or stond bock to bock with the spectotor, the lotter
focing his cohorts, the contoct between you pointed to os on importont psychic connection. (This lotter

214
situotion, incidentolly, is o good woy of testing ihe trick with o single spectotor.) Finolly, the trick, con
even be performed or"l- o tJephone, the prediiting cord cose moiled or delivered io o spectotor who is
then osked to coll you.

ot the outset not only odds on effective element of

trick os it unfolds, leoving the spectotors off their
e cord in the cord cose grophicolly creotes o picture
eferoble meons of finol revelotion ihon o written or
illustroted messoge.

cord os the ultimote survivor (rother thon succumb-

seems to reinforce the spontoneous, rondom,
d obility to choose. lnterestingly, hoving five
ultimote pool does not reduce the need lor

ln terms of the construction of the script, you hove seen thot it consists of seven Poges, eoch poge
consisting of t*o or more complele porogrophs or segments. ln no cose, in other words, is o
segment-continued on o subsequent pog". Poges with Arobic numbered segments ore olternoted
wiih poges with the Romon numbered i"gr"ntr in such o woy os to ossure thot you ore never
required to poge bocl<.

but not essentiol.

Perfectly olign the poges ond stople them ot the outer left corner. Ploce the scripl on o toble, ond lift up
oll but the lo-st pog" oi obl on ight
corner of this Utoil. (See F nd nch
sliver ot thot corner from th og the
block now remoining, continuing in this foshion unti dt You
hove thus creoted, ofter o foshion, stoggered index tobs. (See Figure Two.)

To reod the script, hold itwith your left hond olong the left side os is normolond comfortoble..The right hond
is ot the lower right corner, thumb obove, fingers Selow (See Figure Three.) As you.begin reoding on o poge,
ollow one .orn"i to riffle off with the right th-umb. The groduoting indexes moke this on eosy process.

215
 J.K. Hortmon

F.reeze thot position, theright thumb mointoining o tiny breok below the uppermost poge, until you
determine whether it is necessory to turn over one or two poges. lf the lotter, ollow one more corner to
escope from the right thumb. ln either cose, wifh the right thumb poking under the desired number o[
poges, slide the right hond forword to the midpoint of the right side. (See Figure Four.)

Hold the script with the right hond only, ollowing th

poge ot the right side (see Figure Five), ond fold it o
ove gure Six) until the lt
the poges-olong the
the gin reoding, repeoting the process of riffling off one corner ond loying
in woit. (See Figure Seven.)

From the spectolors' view, you ore turning poges in o forword direction throughout os is normol, ond
they will not differentiote double from single turnovers.

216
 A PROCESS OF ELIMINATION

THE SCRIPT

I . Tur scrNr ts A cRUtsE sHtp lN THE MTDDLE oF THE Pactrtc OcrnN. A nucr nocur

sToRM COMES OUI OF T.IOWHERE, AND THE SHIP lS HIT AND SERIOUSLY DAMAGED BY

TURBULENT, Rorur.rc wATERs. lr usrs AND MAy BE stNKtNG. HlLr rs 52 elssrNorns,

PLAYED tN TH|S DRA ,TA BY A DECK OF CARDS/ IMMEDIATELY RUNS HELL-BENT FOR THE

LTFEBoAT, DESERTTNG THE srNKrNG sntp. WHtcn HALF sHouLD tT BE-THE Rro Cmos on

tnt Bucx Cnnos? Wnrcx GRoup RUNs FoR THE LIFEBoAT? You orctoe. Answer: [The

Reds (2).1 [The Blocks (ll').]

2. A ronruNarE cHorcE FoR THE REos, arcAUSE THE cRUlsE sHlP, SPuTING

ASUNDER, IN SECONDS IS SWALLOWED BY THE OCEAN/ CARRYING ITS REMAINING

pASsENGERS To A wATERy GMVE. Bur rHr Rro cmos oN THE CREAKING LIFE BoAT sooN

BECOME AWARE THAT THEY ARE KNEE-DEEP IN WATER, AND THE BOAT CAN NO LONGER KEEP

art 26 AFLoAT. ONLy ulLr oF THEM cAN sTAy rN THE BoAT; THE oTHERS MUsT JUMP tNTo

THE ocEAN. You orctor. Do rHr Dm,r,loNos JUMP lNTo THE ocEAN oR Do rHr Hranrs?

Answer: [The Diomonds (3..).] [The Heorts (lll.)-substitute "lifeboot" for "cruise ship."]
ll. So r ts ut Bucrc cARDs THAT RUN LIKE n,lTS FoR THE LTFEBoAT, woMEN AND

CHIIDREN BE DAMNED, BUT THEY GET THEIR JUST DESSERTS: MOMENTS LATER, WTH ALL

THAT wErcHT, THE LTFEBoAT cApsrzEs, TRAeeTNG ALL oF tts 26 eASSENGERS As rT srNKs ro

THE BoTToM. THe Henotc Rro clnos, HowEVER, TRvTNG To SAVE THE cRUrsE sHtp, sooN

BECOME AWARE THAT IHEY ARE IN TROUBLE IOO: THE SHIP IS LISTING MORE AND MORE.

ONLy HlLr oF THEM cAN sTAy ABoARD; THE oTHERS MUsT JUMe tNTo THE ocrlN. You

DEcrDE. Do rnr Hunrs JUMI rNTo THE ocEAN oR Do rnr Dm,volos? Answer: [The

Heorts (lll).] [The Diomonds (3-]-substitute"cruise ship" for "lifeboot."]

lll. ANo rxrv Do so, BELTEVE rT oR NoT, To THEIR c'ooD FoRTUNE AS THE cRUtsE sHtp

[ureeorr], FTLuNG wrTH wATER, ourcKly TURNS upsrDE DowN AND srNKs, BURvING tTS

IASSENGERS rN THE ocEAN's BoTToMLEss DEeTHS. Bur es tt HAeeENS, oNLy soME oF

rHe HeaRrs cAN swM, THE REST clN't. You DEcrDE. WHtcH GRoup ARE THE SwMMERS,

rHe Hrmr RovArry-THE TeN, hcr, QureN, KrNc, eruo Acr-on rHr Hranr

coMMoNFoLK-ut2 THRoucH 9. Answer: [The Commonlolk (1V..).] [The Royolty (4.).]

3. BUT snoLv, THEv JUMI DIRECTLv tNTo THE MIDDLE oF A scHool oF HUNGRY

SHARKS, NEXI SEEN A FEW MTLES AWAY L|CK|NG THEIR POINTED TEETH WITH VERY SATISFIED

LooKS. Tnr Hennrs, wHoM you HAVE LEFT rN THE LTFEBoAT [cnursr sHtt], moueNrnntLv

coUNT THETR BLESSTNGS, BUT SooN rHEy SEEM No BETTER oFF: THE LIFEBoAT [cnursr

sHre] rtNlLLv RoLLS oVER AND GTVES Up FoR GooD. UNrontuNnrrlY, oNLY so 4E oF

THEM CAN SwtM, THE REST CAN'T. YOU OfCtor. WuCn GROUP ARE THE SWIMMERS/ THE

Hrant novntrv-THE TEN, hcr, QurrN, K1NG, on Acr-on rHr Hranr coMMoNFoLK-

rHr 2 runouoa 9? Answer: [The Royolty (a).] [The Commonfolk (lV.).]

4. ANo stNcr THE RoyALS cAN swtM, THEv FIAUNT tT, AS FAR AND FAST AS PosslBLE/

ouT ro sEA, WEAR|NG THEMSELVES OUT/ AND/ BEFORE TOO LONG/ DISAPPEARING/ NEVER A

GURGLE TO BE HEARD AGAIN. MEANWTIILE, THE SEEMINGLY HELPLESS NON-SWIMMING

coMMoNFoLK-rur Two THRouGH NtNr-orsprRATELY GRASP oNTo PIECES oF THE

SPLINTERED LIFEBOAT/ AND DRIFT WITH THE WAVES-WHICH/ MIMCLE OF MIRACLES, TAKE

THEM TO THE SHORES OF A TINY ISLII.IO! TTIAT'S THE GOOD NTWS. TNT BAD NEWS IS THAT IT

ts AN tslAND INHABITED BY A TRIBE OF CANNIBALS, AND ONES WITH BIG APPETITES/ WHO

ryATCH THE Hrnnr co,ra,raoNFolK FLoAT ASHoRE. "ILLEE ILLEE MAKKEE/" THEY sAY To EACH

oTHER. "WALLA wALIA DoBo." WHAT THts MEANS ts, "SoME oF THEM LooK MEAI'r AND

TENDER; THE oTHERS ARE Too THIN AND BqNY." You orctor-wH,cH oNES LooK MEATY

nNo rrNorn? ls r rHr EvrN Hrlnrs -rHt 2,4, 6, lNo 8-on rHr Oaos-rHr 3, 5, 7, IND

9? Answer: [The Odds (5..).] [The Evens (V.).]

lV. Wntu rHr NoN-swMMrNG RoyALTy FTNALLy GrvES up rTs ARrsTocMTtc GHosrs To

THE MERCILESS WATERS, IHE CO{IJVIONFOLK SWM AND SWIM, AND MIRACULOUSLY, ALL OF A

suDDEN, sEE I.AND AHEAD: A TrNy lsr.qNo! TnAr's rHE GooD NEws. THE BAD NEws ts

THAT lT lS AN TSLAND |NHABITED BY A TRTBE OF CANNTBALS, AND ONES WTH Btc AppETtTES,

wHo wATcH THE HEART coMMoNFotK FtoAT AsHoRE. "ILLEE il.rEE MAKKEE," THEv sAy ro

EAcH orHER. 'lVaLu wALLA DoBo"-wHrcH MEANS-"soME oF THEM LooK MEATy AND

TENDER; THE oTHERS ARE Too THIN AND BoNy." You orctoe. Wncn oNES LooK MEATv

lNo rrNorn? ls r rne EyrN cenos-ltt 2, 4,6, lNo 8-on rHr Ooos-rxr 3, 5, 7, lNo

9? Answer: [The Evens (V).] [The Odds (5.).]

V. WHrr THE THIN AND BoNy Ooo Hemrs ARE FED To THE ANIMALS, THosE MEATv

AND TENDER EyrNoues-ttt2,4,6,lNo 8-anr BRouGHT To THE cANNIBAL HtcH pRtEST.

"EENy, MEENY, MrNy," HE BEGTNS As HE pREpAREs To MAKE Hts DTNNER sELEcfloNs, BUT

THEN HE TAKES A sH,NE To Nvo oF rxrm. Youn cA[. WHrcH Two oF 'rrrt 2,4, 6, lNo 8

DoES HE TAKE A sHrNE To-THr 2 lNo rHe 4 on rxr 6lNo rHe 8? Answer: [The 6 ond the

8 (V1..).] [The 2 ond the 4 (Vl-A..).]

5. So n s rrc Ooo Hranr commoNFolK, mr 3, 5, 7, lNo 9, mer ARE 6ARRIED oFF

AND BOttED FA Dr{\fR. Tne rntN AND BONY EVmt oNrs, :llt 2,4, 6, ANo 8, nnr

DMGG,ED tN FROhTI OF IHE CANNTBAL H;GH PR1EST. Hr tNSprCrS THEM FOR AWHILE,

DEctDtr.lG or.t Dtr FAtrE, uJT IHEN HE TAKES A sH,NE To NVo OF THEM. YOUR cALL.

WnrcH Two or nf.2,4,5, aND 8 oors HE TAKE A sHtNE To-THE 2lNo THE 4 oR THE 6

AND THE 8? Ansrer: Fh" 2 ond the a(6)1. [The 6 ond the 8 (6-A).]

6. So nr pAys IHEM IHE HTGHEsT coMpLtMENT: THIN AND BoNY oR NoT, HE EArs

rHau. Axo As HE MUNCHES AWAY/

64. So m rnr 2 aNo rHe 4 nnr CARTED oFF FoR ANIMAL FoDDER,

HE GMES ourzrcAlry AT IHE 6 mo 8, srtLl LYTNG BY THEMSELVES lN A coRNER.

SuoorNLv porNnNG To oNE oF THEM, HE cRtEs ouT lN CaNNtsaLrse, "You-c,oD-uKEl"

You rrLL ME-wHrcH oNE DoES HE porNT To, THE 6 on rHr 8? Answer: [The 6 17-.1.1

lThe 8 (Vll-A'l.I
Vl. So ar LEAST FoR THE MoMENT, HE spAREs rxr 6 aNo rxr 8 m HE DEVouRs EVERv

MoRSEL oF THE 2 aNo ut 4.

VI-A: So HT PAYS THEM THE HIGHEST coMPLIMENT: HE EATs THEM F,RSI, SPARING AT

LEAsT FoR THE MoMENT rxr 5 lNo rnr 8.

SuoorNLy HE porNTS To oNE oF THEM AND cRtES oL[ tN ClNNtsRLrsr, "You-GoD-uKE!"

You rer ur. WHrcH oNE DoEs HE porNT To, THE 6 on rHe 8?
Answer: [The 8 (Vll].] [The 6l7.l.l

Vll. So wntLr THE HIGH rRTEST FTNTsHES oFF THE 6 ron DESsERT,
Vll-A. So wnrLr THE HIGH eRTEST TAKEs DowN rHE 6 rN oxr swALLow, BoNEs AND ALL,

rT rs THE c,oD-LrKE 8, ur LAST oNE r.rFI, THAT rs CARRTED oN cANNTBAL sHouLDERs To THE

TEMPLE HUT, AND FROM THAT MOMENT ON WORSHIPPED AS ONE OF THE CANNIBAL C,ODS,

sTLENTLv pRAyrNG To Hrs owN Goo, oF couRSE, THAT soMEDAy HE wtLL BE REscuED FoR

nrru. [Conclude with Vlll ond lX.]

Vlll. Now, wHo woulD HAVE THouGHT, wAy BAcK WHEN, THRouGH ALL THESE

ADVENTURES/ DTSASTERS, CLOSE CALLS, AND NEAR M|SSES, THAT THE SOLE SURV|V|NG CARD

ouT oF FrFTy-Two wourD BE THE Lowly EtoHr or Hemrs? Wxo wourD HAVE THouGHT

THAT THAT IS WHAT YOU WOUTD MITT NAPPTN?

lX. I wouro, lNo I oro! Tlrr l LooK rN THE cARD asr. [End.]
 : --: 6 tr; HEARTS THAT THE HIGH PRIEsT THINKS THE cANNIBAL GoDs wlLL

:\] EE HAS H/M TAKEN AWAY AND BURNED ALIVE AS A SACRIFICE TO

:i --E 8 oF HEARTS AS THE lAsr oNE LEFT, wHo's ALLowED To LlvE

-a --: - 3n PRTEST AND INSTRUCTOR lN WrsrrRN TABLE MANNERS, NEVER

-:- l\: liy HE wrLL BE RESCUED FoR REAL. [Conclude with 8 ond 9.]

8. Now, r','3 ',"'c.rLD HAVE THoUGHT/ wAY BACK WHEN/ THRoucH ALL THESE

ADVENTURES, D SASiERS, CLOSE CALLS, AND NEAR MISSES/ THAT THE SOLE SURVIVING CARD

ouT oF FrFTy-Two v/ouLD BE THE Lowly EtcHr or Hrlnrs? Wuo wouLo HAVE THoUGHT

THAT THAT lS WHAT vOU WOULD ,U,qff UppfN?

9. / wouLo, aNo /otol Inrr a LooK tN THE cARD cASE.

Gcrffed Creifl
CoolFusion

Taking Turns

Drowing Cord

Cutting Corners
 Irickery Treots

Cool Fusion

Regordless of whot spectotors might loter in[er, the Ortiz routine.produces o strong.effect. The following
i
is considerobly simplifl"d oppiooch which incorporotes os cleor o disploy of the bocks of the vitol
cords os possible. A necessory il"ight is the Vernon Strip-out Addition, exploined in the Notes to "Triple
Cross," Chopter One.

Required is looded onto the bottom.of the deck. (tf you don't hove o double-
foced cord rd to work through this description.) As o precoution, the cords it
replicotes c oheod of time. Hove o morking pen in reodiness.

ith the deck foce down in the left hond. Use os your
6 ond fionc6e, or o doting couple. Feed the cords
-third of the deck, ond osk Spectotor One to point to
gth. Continue with the spreod, osking Spectotor Two

inner right corner with the right hond, the lefit hond
the lowLrmost cord with the left forefinger ond ex-
ble-foced cord below the selections. Drop the deck
eck foce up.

Point to the cord in view, noming it ond telling Spectotor Two thot it is his cord. Ask him to pick up the
morking pen. Twist the left hond fingers outwoid, deck conted downword, ond osk Spectotor Two to sign
his nome on the foce of his cord. (See Figure One.)

Retroct the deck, returning it io under the orch of th

roising it so thot you con blow on the foce cord os i
gently riffle up the inner ends of the uppermost stoc
beneoth them with the leh little [ingertip. Blow, then
deck to horizontol position os the double cord folds foce down.

225
 J.K. Hortmon

(lt is importont not to expose the foce of the cord below the double cord. An ideol technique in this
setting is the Green Lift [ProfessionolCord Mogic, Cliff Green, p.17, second lift described], os follows.
With o left little fingertip flesh breok under the double cord, hinge or clench the outer pholonge of the
little finger flot on the deck, on oction thot will ongle the inner end of the double cord leftword, creoting
on overhonging ledge ot the outer left corner. [See Figure Three.] Grosp thot ledge between the right
thumb ond first ond second fingers [see Figure Four], pull the double cord forword or upword, ond
revolve it foce down.)

The moment the deck returns to horizontol position, push off the uppermost (foce down) cord ond toke
it ot the inner right corner with the right hond. Use it to top the cord thot now oppeors focemost, noming
it ond soying thot it is Spectotor One's cord. Drop the foce-down cord on the toble, osking Spectotor
Two to give the pen to Spectotor One. Allow Spectotor One to sign his cord.

As before, orch the right hond over the deck ond roise it to blow on the foce cord, ot the some time
obtoining o breok beneoth the uppermost two cords. Lowering the deck, continue, "lt is now necessory
to orronge your cords bock to bock." As this comment is mode, perform the following sequence, oppeor-
ing to suit your octions to your words.

Pick up the tobled cord with the right hond from obove by the short ends, set it on the deck, the right
thumb mointoining o breok beneoth it but otherwise flush (see Figure Five-stop oction); hold it in ploce
with the left thumb os, without hesitotion, the right hond slides out the double cord beneoth it (see Figure
Six-stop oction); immediotely set the double cord flush onfo the deck, dipping both honds slightly os if
pressing down on the deck to pick up the foce-down cord, ond come owoy with the single uppermost
cord, on indifferent cord now in view. (See Figure Seven.)

As indicoted, this sequence tokes no longer to perform thon your potter line, ond the finol move creotes
the impression thot you hove indeed picked up Spectotor Two's foce-down cord directly beneoth Spec-
totor One's foce-up cord. (The mechonics represent on opplicotion o[ Edword Morlo! Foce Up Switch,
Ihe New Iops Februory 1964, p. 67.1
Mointoining the position of the left hond, turn the right hond polm up, presumobly disploying the other
cord of the poir. Soy to Spectotor One, "Your signed Ace o[ Heorts (e.g.) bock to bock with ..." Turn the

226
 Irickery Treots

hond polm do*n, ot the some time turning the left hond polm down ond depositing the deck to your left
ond well inword on the toble. Set the "poir" in the left hond-the ostensible reoson for disposing of the
deck-ond conclude to Spectotor Two, (".g.), "... your signed Four of Spodes."

Pouse for o momeni; then Polm position. (See Figure Eight.)

Rotole the hond, the cord with the extended left fingers, the
honds iointly rising to pr some time, soy, "Morrioge, they
soy, is'o perfect union." honds, focing ihem outword, so thot the single
cord flutters to ihe toble, your cordsl"

The spectotors will iump for the cord, exomine it, try to pull it opgr! ond become owore thot o true
fusion hos ioken ploce. Hove them stote cleorly for the benefit of the other spectotors exoctly whot
oppeors to hove token ploce.

Note thot o reuersed cord remoins in the deck second from bottom thot needs to be oddressed. For
exomple, cosuolly pick up the deck by the sides with the polm-down left hond os the spectotors
continue to exomine the fused cord. Tuin the hond polm up, the deck foce up. Double Undercut two
cords from the foce to the bock ond Holf Poss the lowermost cord foce up.

Iqking furns
This wos the title of o trick included in Epilog
Edition, p. 2a01. The performer openly turns o
with the deck behind his bock, tronsfers cords fr
ond cutting the deck. The deck is brought bock i
cords ore Iocing the some woy: the tp"itotor. hos opporently turned over the very cord reversed by
the performer.
The effect is o good one but, of course, is implicit ond is thus not os strong os its explicit. "converse:"
the spectotor, olto with the cords behind hii bock, lurns foce up o pre-identified cord (d lo Poul
Curry's "Open Prediction") or the one cord in the deck orpocketwith o controsting bock pottern.(the
first phose of "Dynomic Duo," After Craft, p. 277l.lt does, however, ollow. greoter flexibility in working
out o method, olthough the originol (impromptu) one wos not porticulorly sotisfoctory.

The "Dynomic Duo" goffed method is on obvious solution, but ot first blush the effect did not seem
worth ihe effo* since the stronger converse could be produced through the some meons. The
thought then occured thot the eflect would indeed be sufficient lo worront the method il muhiple
.ordi *er" involved, eoch one occurotely determined by the spectotor. Full-circling, thot thought,
in turn, then gove rise to the possibilihy of opplying the some extension to the explicit opprooch, i.e.,
o multiple-cord version o[ Open Prediction.
The following two versions emerged from those ruminotions. Both tricks, in foct, hove proved ex-
tremely effeciive, olwoys p"rformed olter o deck switch os o finole to o progrom which to thot point
used regulor, well-hondled cords.

l. ln this opprooch, the performer openly turns four rondomly selected cords foce up ond distrib-
utes them thiough the deck. The speciotor, with the deck behind his bock, tronsfers cords from top

227
 J.K. Hortmon

to botfom, reversing ony four in the process. He brings the deck forword ond spreods it on the toble. All
the cords ore foce down-he hos turned over the very some four cords.

Required is o double-bocked forty-eight cord deck ond four indifferent cords from o regulor deck with
motching bocks. The lotter ore foce down on top o[the goffed deck.

Begin by spreoding the deck from hond to hond, osking o spectolor to point to four cords ot rondom. As
you begin the spreod, iniog the fourth cord from the top. Outiog the designoted cords for holf their
length, closing the spreod when four hove been selected.

Arch the right hond over the deck proper in o quick ond idle squoring gesture, lifting up on the iniog
ond estoblishing o left little finger breok below it. Soy, "Four cords selected ot ronJom, ond it's noJ
neces-sory for you to memorize their nomes ..." A! the some time, pivot out the designoted cords, the
right fingers contocting their left sides (see Figure One) ond pivot-stripping them orornd the left second
finger. (See Figure Two.) Deposit them on top of tl e deck, outiogged foi o third of their length.

Conlinue, "... becouse we'll identify them by turning them foce up." As this remork is mode, orch the
right.hond over lhe deck, the second, third, ond fourth fingers ot the outer end of the pocket, the
thumb ot the inner end of the block obove the breok, the forefinger curled on top. (See Figure
Three.) ln o single oction, push in with the finr ers to squore pocket with deck ond lift ofithe
combined block over the breok. (See Figure Four.l Without hesitotion, stroddle the new pocket with
the right first ond fourth fingers, push down on its bock with the thumb (see Figure'Five), ond
revolve it over, end for end, now grosped ot the inner end (see Figure Six), depositing it directly ond
flush onto the deck.

Lift off the uppermost indifferent cord, ond inserl it obout ten cords from the bottom of the deck, still foce
up, for holf its length. lnsert the next cord obout ten cords obove the first, ond continue until oll four
cords hove been similorly distributed. (See Figure Seven.) A bock shows on top os it should, the rondom
selection process thus volidoted, in turn conveying cveroll normolcy.

228
Apporently push the four cords squore, octuolly performing o Multiple.Shift to control them to the
bottor. (See Cord Croft, pp. I00, I 04 lor oppropriote techniques.) lf thot sleight is .not in your
repertoire, on eosier pro."irr" con be substituted.'After the four cords seem to hove been turned
foce up on top of the'deck, spreod them off into the right hond. Drop three on the toble, return one
to the deck, ond Double Undercut it to the bottom. Pi.k up o second, drop it on the deck, ond
Double Undercut it to the bottom. Repeot with the remoining two.

lneithe Hindu Shuffle to obscure ony perception by the spectotor of the position.-
ing of i ve the spectotor ioin you, focing the other spectotors. Give him the deck
be-hind r to surrendering it, dig the thumb under it to turn it over.

from top to bottom one ot o time. Ascertoin thot he is

ns. Go on by exploining thot whenever he wishes, he
When he indicotes thot he hos done so, tell him to
p to bottom. He is then to do the some thing o second
ironsferring cords from top to bottom-then o third
time, then o fourth.

When he hos reversed the fourth cord, he is io give the deck o complete cut, ond let you know thot he is
done. Emphosize ihot he must operote by sense of touch olone, without looking ot whot he is doing, to
ossure thot the entire process is governed exclusively by chonce.

Since he begins to tronsfer cords os you ore giving your instructions-before he knows whot he is to
do-he will-hove shifted the uppermost lour (iegulor) cords before his first decision. As. he then pro-
ceeds, the one-ot-o-time procedure is time-coniuming ond somewhot owkword for o. loy spectolor,
guoronteeing thot he will complete it well before he cycles bock to the four regulor cords.

When he soys thot he hos completed his chores, review them to moke sure, including the finol cut;
then hove him bring the deck forword, immediotely toking it from him ond corefully plocing it on
the toble.

deck-the four cords you originolly selected ond

lf, of course , you defied the odds by octuolly re-
would there be now?" lt con be omusing to hove
er to which is six.

229
 J.K. Horlmon

Go on, "lf you reolly defied the odds, ond re-reversed two of my cords, how mony reversed cords ore
there now?" The onswer is four. Then conclude, "The odds you octuolly defied ore too osironomicol to
colculote!" So soying, cleonly ond widely ribbon-spreod the deck: oll the cords ore foce down.

Do nol, by the woy, use four Aces in connection with this opprooch. Thot odditionol effect is irrelevont ond
distrocting, but, more importont, the ideo is to convey rondomness, not control, with the designoted cords.

ll.The second opprooch is o multiple Open Prediction. The performer disploys the four Aces, inserting
them foce down ot seporote points in the foce-down deck. A spectotor tokes the deck behind his bock
ond is osked to tronsfer cords one ot o time from top to bottom. At ony point, he stops, turns the next
cord foce up, ond continues the tronsferring process. This he does three odditionol times, complete
cutting the deck when the fourth cord is turned over. He brings the deck forword. When it is spreod on
the toble, the four Aces ore foce up in the otherwise foce-down deck.

The requirements here ore o forty-eight cord double-bocked deck ond four "some both sides" double-
foced Aces. Arronge the Aces fourth, fifth, sixth, ond seventh from the top. When reody to perform this
trick, obtoin o breok under the Aces.

The four Aces should be involved in the trick you perform prior to the deck switch, ot the conclusion of
which the Aces ore cleorly lefi in ploce on top. Assuming the deck switch is executed os you seorch for
ond remove o speciol pocket from your pocket, perform the trick for which is the pocket is intended, then
dispose of it. Pick up the goffed deck, obtoining the required breok (often occommodoted by the noturol
breok below the stronger Aces).

"Let's get bock to the four Aces," you soy. At the some time, perform the following sequence. Push the
top cord to the right, toking it with the right hond olong the right side. Seporote the honds slightly, then
bring them together os the right hond tokes the second cord, spreod leftword. Repeot these octions to
toke the third cord. As the honds then come together for the fourth, the left thumb simultoneously
executes o Block Push-off of the cords obove the breok, sliding the block below the spreod, the right
hond in virtuolly the some motion moving leftword, roughly closing the spreod (see Figure Eight-stop
oclion), ond tipping the entire pockoge foce up, the cords coolescing squorely onto the deck.

This Herb Zorrow oddition technique is very deceptive, lhe continuous inverse movement of the honds
ond the blending of toke ond tipover covering the girth of the block however imperfectly squored it moy
be. Follow immediotely by spreoding off the four Aces ond dropping them on the toble, in the process
obtoining o breok below the top cord of the deck.

Pick up one of the Aces ond set it on the deck. Turn over two cords os one-o bock showing. With the
right forefinger Swing Cut o thin pocket into the left hond ond complete the cut. Reoch for o second Ace,
the left little finger obtoining o breok beneoth the top cord of the deck. Set the Ace on top, turn over two
cords os one, ond Swing Cut o second thin pocket, completing the cut. Repeot these octions with the
third ond fourth Aces. ln o noturol monner, you hove disployed both surfoces of the Aces ond hove cut
eoch Ace seporotely into the deck.

Follow with o brief shuffle to obscure the positioning of the Aces. With o spectotor properly situoted, focing
the other spectotors, give him the deck behind his bock. ln this cose, it is unnecessory to turn it over.

lnsfruct him to lronsfer cords one by one from top to boilom, stopping when he hos on impulse to do so.
At thot point, he is to turn lhe cord then on top over, foce up, ond then continue the tronsferring process.

230
 Trickery lreots

this
He is to repeot finolly, he is to give the deck o complete cut. All.his
octions, you emph without looking ot whot he is doing, to ossure thot
the entire process e.

deck forword, toking it from him immediotely ond

oice thot he hod on eoch occosion, ond potter to
cleonly ond widely ribbon spreod the
:i*:",
To cleon up, scoop up the deck. Respreod it b
deck into the leh hond, buckle the bottom cord,
Aces, secretly odding the buckled cord beneoth
under the pocket, rerolte it over, opporently foce

Drcrwing Cclrd
The quite impressive unglossed effect of this routin
with foces toword o spectotor, osking him to settle
him omong oll the others ond to designote it by touc
cord ond clot"t the deck. Exploining thot the trick d
the performer osks the spectotor to remove it ond
King of Diomonds.

The performer stotes, 'The King of Diomonds is the cord thot you were drown to, the cord thot stood out
for you omong oll the others. T-he omozing foct is thot if we put your cord bock into the deck ond let you
lool ot the foles of oll the cords ogoin, though you know whot's supposed to hoppen, the some
"=u"n
cord-the King of Diomonds-will still slond out for you ond drow you to il."

So soying, the performer returns the King of Diomonds to the middle of the deck. When he turns the
d".k io.""rp ond ribbon spreods it wideli on the toble, the King of Diomonds does indeed stond out-
the foces of oll the other cords ore blonk.

Required is o blonk-bocked deck thot includes one blonk-bocked Joker,-o motching Joker from o stol-
dord deck, ond o blonk-foced cord with o bock pottern motching thot of the stondord,lok91 Begin with
the blonk-foced cord foce down on top, the stondord Joker foce up second from top, the blonk-bocked
deck blonk side up, the blonk-bocked Joker on the bottom, blonk side up. A foce-down cord thus
oppeors ot the top o[ the deck, o Joker ot the foce.

As wos pointed out in "Toking Turns" ond os is the cose with most tricks of this sort, it is essentiol to
switch in the goffed deck ofte-r o stondord deck hos been in extended use, hondled ond shuffled by
spectotors ond openly disployed by the performer.

Begin the trick with the deck seemingly foce down in the left hond. Tilting. it upright, begin feeding cords
frJ, left hond to right, pushing off ihe top few cords os o block, to disploy their foces to o spectotor os

231
 J.K. Hortmon

you proceed with the introductory potter given obove. Becouse of your reference to o cord "stonding
out" for some reoson, the spectotor moy well decide on the Joker ot the foce of the deck, o possibility
thot occommodotes o very cleon procedure. Assume for the moment thot he does not- he touches some
other cord.

Ascertoin thot you hove the right cord, then upiog it for holf its length. Close up the spreod, keeping the
deck upright. Arch the right hond over the section behind (neorer you) the upiogged cord, forefinger
curled ogoinst the bock of the deck, in on incidentol squoring oction (see Figure One). At the some time,
lift up with the thumb on the lower end of the top cord, estoblishing o breok beneoth (in front of) it with
the fleshy mound of the left thumb. (See Figure Two.)

Move the right hond owoy from the deck, ond use it to gesture os you tell the spectotor thot in this trick
the identity of his cord does not hove to be secret "... so will you pleose remove it ond ploce it foce up
on the toble." As you soy "...remove il ...," top ihe upper end of the iogged cord with the right
forefinger, the right hond then lingering behind the deck.

After the spectotor extrocts the cord ond os he deposits it foce up on the toble, orch the right hond over
the deck, the thumb toking over the breok, lower the deck to o horizontol position, ond eiecute o Hol[
Poss ot the breok. The oction of lowering the honds should be occomplished ot o noturol, reloxed poce,
not os o sudden drop. Cover is provided by the lorger downword movement of the honds, ond misdirec-
tion by the focus of oll the spectotors on the revelotion of the selected cord.

As you proceed with the potter given obove by soying, "The King of Diomonds is the cord thot you were
drown to, the cord thot stood oul for you omong oll the others," turn the deck foce up, keeping it squore,
o Joker still in view. As you then continue, "The omozing foct is thot if we put your cord bock into the
deck ...," pick up the selection ond insert it flush into the middle of the deck.

Continue, "... ond let you look ot the cords ogoin, even though you know whot's supposed to hoppen, the
some cord-the King of Diomonds-will still stond out for you ond drow you to it. Without foil, drow you
to it." Look down, seemingly spot the Joker ond soy, "But let me get rid of the distroction of the Joker."
Pouse briefly to ossure thot the spectotors ore owore thot the Joker is ot the foce of the deck. Then turn the
left hond polm down, the deck foce down, ond thumb off the lowermost cord to the left side of the toble,
conveniently disploying onother bock. (See Figure Three.)

Soying, "O.K., we'll begin ogoin. When I turn the deck over ond show you the foces of the cords ...,"
twist the (still polm-down) left hond rightword, visible end portion of the deck inword, ond contoct thot
portion from below with the polm-up right hond-thumb ot the right long side ot the inner right corner,
second ond third fingers ot the left long side ot the inner left corner. (See Figure Four.)

232
 Trickery lreots

y cord thot stonds oul from oll the others." As you

he right hond polm down os you move it briskly
righi to left. (See Figure Five.) Only the King of
.
After o moment, scoop up the deck, squore it, turn it foce down, insert it in the cord cose, ond/or pocket
it. Do not slide out the selection; remember: oll the cords ore supposedly properly oriented, focing in the
some direction. Relotedly, note the explicitness of the potter in this finol phose. lt is importont to differen-
tiote beiween bocks ond fo.". lo ossure thot the spectotors do not think ot the end thot the selection is
reversed ond the bocl<s of the other cords hove become blonks, o confusion thot vorious eorly versions
of this trick oppeored to produce.

At the outsei, os suggested oboue, o spectotor might well select the Joker ot the foce o[ the deck. Your
potter, os indicoted, iorld logicolly leod in this direction, so ihe individuolwho might so decide is more
wog thon wise guy.

lf he does top the Joker, close up the deck, keeping it upright, ond orch the right hond over it, ihe
thumb lifting up on the inner end of the reor cord. At the some time, soy, "The bottom cord? Thot's the
one you wont?"

Then leon o bit for*ord, store directly ot the spectotor, ond osk, "Are you trying to trick me?" As the
remork is mode, lower both honds, returning the deck to horizontol posiiion, executing o Holf Poss
ot the breok. The selecting spectotor will look ot you ond his fellow spectotors ot him, providing
misdirection for the sleighr which is olso covered by the lorger hond ond orm movement.

6 7

233
 J.K. Hortmon

At the completion of the Holf Poss, the left hond is in perfect position to drow out the bottom cord which
it does immediotely. (See Figure Six.) Twist the lefi hond polm down, exposing the foce of the cord, ond
toss the cord foce up on the toble os you go on, "The Joker; I might hove knownl"

Then continue, "Cleorly in this trick the identity of your cord isn't o secret. The importont point is thot thot
is the cord you were drown to ...i' ond continue your potter olong the lines indicoted obove. At the
some time tronsfer the deck to the left hond, pick up the Joker with the right, turn it foce down, ond inserl
it in the center of the deck.

At the oppropriote time, contoct the inner end of the deck with the polm-up right hond ot the long sides-
thumb ot the inner right corner, first ond second fingers ot the inner left corner (see Figure Seven), ond
conclude os described obove by turning the hond polm down ond executing o right-to-left ribbon spreod.

Culting Corners
This routine evolved from Roy Wolton's "Teorowoy," o wonderful trick thot oppeored originolly in Pobulor,
Morch 197 5, p. 78. Thot routine wos of immediote oppeol when first encountered, ond, with o modi-
ficotion in the selection phose ond other minor refinements, become o repertoire fovorite. Personol interest
wos revived when it wos reprised in Jerry Sodowitz' The Crimp (No. 40, p.36al os o "Blost from the
Post," ond the resultont re-mulling produced the following evolution. The only necessory sleight of
substonce is the Elmsley Count (originolly exploined in "Twisting the Aces," Doi Vernon's More lnner
Secrels of Cord Mogic," Lewis Gonson, p. 5).

The effect is thoto spectotor selects two cords which, the performer exploins, represent two iigsow
puzzles to be used in o contest. The performer teors both cords in quorlers, mixes eoch set, ond
gives one to the spectotor, retoining the other for himself. "On your mork, get set, go," he soys, where-
upon eoch tries to ossemble his pieces to be the first to re-form his cord.

The performer wins eosily os the spectotor discovers thot o piece is missing from his puzzle. Sneoking it
out by sleight of hond is one possibility, the performer observes, but thot solution couldn't be opplicoble
in this cose. He osks the spectotor to remove from his pocket o seoled envelope given to him eorlier. The
spectotor opens it ond removes o section of o cord thot turns out to be the perfectly fitting missing piece.

The key oddition to the Wolton originol is the introduction of o second cord which legitimotizes the
teoring oction ond occommodotes the techniques used for creoting the impression thot the spectotor's
cord wos fully disployed ot the oulset. The lotter is on essentiol element in ony voriotion to creote o
complete ond convincing deception.

To prepore, teor o piece o shode smoller thon o quorter of o cord from ony cord of o non-index corner.
Since you wont thot piece to disploy moximum definoble colorotion, use o Ten. This description ossumes
thot the goffed cord is the Ten of Heorts.

Complete the preporotion by inserting the corner piece in o poy envelope, seoling the envelope only ot
the center of the flop so thot o spectotor will loter hove no trouble in opening it. (You do not wont him to

234
 Trickery Treots

hove to teor off on end, risking thot he will teor the piece inside.) When oppropriote, lood the goffed
cord onto the bottom of the deck, missing corner inner right.

Begin by introducing the envelope ond osking o spectotor to slip it into his-pocket. lt is for more effective
to do so ot the beginning of your progrom rother thon directly before performing this trick. The specto-
tors tend to forget obout-it for the moment, even the spectotor holding it, ond in ony event will not know
until the climoi thot this is the trick with which it is connected, so the element of surprise provides on
odded dimension.

The deck is in normol foce-down position in your left hond. You will now hove o cord selected ond
reversed in the deck, secretly positioning it belo
Business Cord Prophecy plocement lEffective
the originol bottom (goffed) cord. Exploined
(Meons ond Ends, p.8, Cord Croh, p.83). See
notes to which include o hondling of Simon Aronson's Simple Simon lThe Aronson Approoch, p. 36), itself
on excellent olternotive.

Toke the deck with the right hond ot the inner right corner-thumb obove, fingers below-ond squore its
left side ogoinst the toble. (See Figure One.)With the lelt hond, top t-he exposed end of the deck severol
times os if-to squore it further, ot the some time reloxing the grip of the right hond ond propelling the
deck itself deeper into tunnel of the right hond. (See Figure Two.) Tightening the grip of the right hond,
turn it polm up, the deck now in rrght-hond deoling position.

Begin to spreod the cords from right hond to /eF,

does so, seporote the deck with the selection on to
thot in this trick everyone will see the foce of the co
fingers ond twist the hond inword ond polm dow
surfoce with the left thumb (see Figure Three), ond r
the Six of Spodes) now foce up. (See Figure Four.)

As the selected cord comes into view, the right fingers kick the lowermost cords of the right-hond section
o bit leftword to creote o semi-spreod. (SeeFigure Five.l Coll ottention to the nome of the selected cord,
ond reossemble the deck in comfortoble conventionol foshion by sliding the right-hond section onfo the
left to reioin the two sections ond squoring up.

This sequence hos repositioned the selection below the honded feoture of the
l(mbi)-b(extrous) Foice ollows you to conclude by repl tion on top of the /er?-
hond section, creoting on oppeoronce of normolcy ond on thot the position of
the selection is unchonged.

235
 J.K. Hortmon

At thot point, osk the spectotor whether he's fomilior with iigsow puzzles, ond, if so, whether he thinks
thot he's reosonobly good ot solving them. Whotever the reply, soy thot you ond he ore going to hove
o iigsow roce. "One of the puzzles will be the Six of Spodes, ond the other will be whotever cord
hoppens to be directly obove it ..." You hove thus creoted o time deloy, rolionolizing the bifurcoted
selection process.

As you conclude the lost remork, spreod the deck from /ef to right, ond seporote it belowthe foce-up cord.
The left-hond section is squored, the right-hond section spreod with o portion of the bock of the goffed
cord-directly obove the first selection-visible. (See Figure Six.) You then continue, "... which hoppens to
be the ... Ten of Heorts." At the some time, perform the following octions.

With the left forefinger, push the left-hond section deeper in the hond to leove the first ond second
fingers relotively free. (See Figure Seven.) Twist the hond polm down, ond with those two fingers
obove ond the thumb below grosp the foce-up cord ond the cord obove it os o unit ot the outer left
corner. (See Figure Eight.).

t0

Twist the left hond in o forword direction ond polm up, revolving the two cords over end for end.
Simultoneously, push rightword ond o bit forword with the left thumb ond tug leftword or o bit inword
with the left fingers. The result, when the two cords hove been turned over, is thot the ungoffed side
portion of the goffed cord is visible, the missing quodront outer right ond hidden by the foce-down
cord obove it. (See Figure Nine.) As on immediote continuing oction, reploce the two cords be-
neoth the right-hond section, still spreod. (See Figure Ten.)

lmportontly, do not rush the turnover sequence. A sudden ropid chonge of poce will creote o furtive ond
suspicious impression-unnecessorily so since totol cover does not depend on speed.

As indicoted, iust prior to the turnover you hove soid, "One of the puzzles will be the Six of Spodes,
the other will be wholever cord hoppens to be directly obove it ...," ond your continuing potter during
the turnover is, "... which hoppens to be the ... Ten of Heorts." You now go on, "So the Ten of Heorts
is one puzzle." As you then soy, "... ond the Six of Spodes is the other," you will perform o second
turnover, os follows.

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 Trickery lreots

Twisting the left hond polm down, grosp the fwo-cord unit os before, but in this cose ot the inner left
corner. (See Figure Eleven.) Twist thL left hond in o forword direction, moking sure thot the right.side
portion of the t*o cords stoys below the spreod. When the two cords reo.ch verticol.position, you will see
ihe missing corner (see Figure Twelve), but the spectotor will not-it will be conceoled by the bock of the
second cord.

II 12

Continue to revolve the two cords to horizontol position, their right side portion still below the spreod.
As the cords orrive in horizontol position, push rightword with the left thumb ond tug leftword with the
left fingers, retoking the hvosome os the ieltmost cords of the spreod, the missing corner conceoled
throug[out. (See Figure Thirteen.) To belobor the point, don't rush the oction; don't olter the rhythm of
your ongoing oclions.

l3 t4 t5
"One of them will be your puzzle," you go on, turning the left hond polm down ond depositing its
seciion foce up on the toble in front of you."... And one of them ... will be mine," you- continue. At
the some time, with the still polm-down left hond grosp the two cords ot lhe outer lefit corner ond
repeot the initiol turnover sequence with exoctly the some octions ond ot the some. reloxed poce
osbefore. (Referto Figures Eightond Nine-disregord section of deck in lefthond.) ln this.cose, retoin
the two cords in the leh hond os the right hond squores its section, turns polm down, ond deposits it on
the tobled section io reossemble the deck proper.

Your potter now continues, "Needless to soy, one-piece puzzles oren't much of o chollenge, so we'll
creote four-piece puzzles." As you so remork, perf, rm the following octions.

Squore the two cords with both honds. Holding them momentorily olong the right side with the right
hond, twist the left hond polm down ond grosp the two-cord pocket ot its outer left corner. (See Figure
Fourteen.) Releosing the grip of the right hond, turn the left hond fingers pointing downword, the pocket
long edges up ond Jo*n, ungoffed bock outword. The missing corner is visible to you ot lower left. (See
Figure Fifieen.)

237
 J.K. Hortmon

The left hond is more or less outomoticolly in teoring position. Assume o porollel position with the right
hond, thumbs odiocent ot the upper long edge. (See Figure Sixteen.) Twist the honds in opposite direc-
tions-right hond inword ond left hond outword-to seem to teor the two cords in holf ocross their
width, your teor point oligned with the eorlier teor so thot you ore ripping off the single quorter of the
goffed cord. (See Figure Seventeen-oction in process.)

I6 17 r8
Slide the left-hond pieces onto or in front of (from your vontoge point) the right-hond pieces, the single
quorter innermost. (See Figure Eighteen.) With both honds, harist the pockoge forty-five degrees left-
word, the single quorter now to the left. (See Figure Nineteen.) Assume teoring position with both honds
olong the upper edges, ond teor the pockoge ogoin, the single quorter dictoting the teoring line.

r9 20 21

ln this cose, slide the left-hond pieces behind lfrom your vontoge point) the right-hond pieces (neorer the
spectotorsl, on index corner of the Six of Spodes visible to you (see Figure Twenty), ond releose the grip
of the left hond. Turn the right hond polm down to tronsfer the pockoge to the polm-up left hond which
tokes it olong the left edges, thumb obove, first ond second fingers below, o foce-down piece upper-
most. (See Figure Twenty-One.) As your potter goes on, "So we hove creoted two iigsow puzzles of
comporoble complexity ond comporoble chollenge," perform the following sequence.

Contoct the pockoge olong the right edges with the right hond in porollel position to the left, both honds
now ossuming o kind of fingertip Elmsley Count grip. (See Figure Twenty-Two.) Pinch off the uppermost
(foce-down) piece with the right hond. Turn the right hond polm down, the piece foce up, ond toke
below it the next (foce-up) piece. (See Figure Twenty-Three.)

Turn the right hond polm up, the pieces it holds foce down, ond toke below them the next (foce-down)
piece. Turn the right hond polm down, the pieces it holds foce up, ond toke below them the next (foce-
up) piece, ond continue in this foshion until the right hond holds the entire pockoge, oll pieces foce
down, the right hond polm up.

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 Trickery lreots

22 23 24

Without hesitotion, ond still in codence, turn the right hond polm down ond tronsfer the pockoge to left-
hond fingertip grip-the eighth "beol" in the sequence. The continuing motion of the honds ond the
covering potter will mosk the foct thot you hove only counted seven pieces.

"This will be my pvzzle," you continue. At the some time, the right hond turns polm up ond pinches off
the uppermost-four piecei one ot time ond one obove the other. Turn the right hond polm down ond
deposit iis pockoge on the toble in front of you.

A non-index corner of the originol goffed cord (Ten of Heorts) will now be uppermost. Soying, "And this
will be your puzzle," relutn with the right hond o
from left hond to right. Conclude by turning your ri
the toble in front o[ the spectotor. Ask him to hold it
is reody to do so, ond demonstrote by plocing y
Twenty-Four.)

Soy, "When I soy 'Go!' turn the pieces of your puzzle foce up, ond put your cord bock together os-fost
os you con. l'll do the some, ond'l'll beot you." Soy, "On your morkl Get set! Go!" Turn your pieces foce
up ond reossemble the Six of Spodes, ignoring the spectotor when he protests thot he is missing o piece.

Bonter with him for o moment, "Where is it? Whot did you do with it?" Eventuolly continue, "l know
whot you're thinking. You're thinking thot I wonted to win ot oll costs, thot I cheoted by using sleight
of hond to sneok out o piece of your pvzzle. But it didn't hoppen thot woy ot oll. ln foct, it couldn't
hove hoppened thot woy. Remember thot envelope I osked you to hold ond thot's been in your
pocket oll this time?"

Ask the spectotor to remove the envelope, open it, ond remove whot he finds. Soy, "No* thot looks
fomilior. just like o piece of ploying cord!" Point to ihe portiol cord in front of him ond go on, "See if
it's the piece." He will discover the perfect fit.

239