As seems to be so often the case these days, before the trick begins you must know the bottom card. Spot it in your favorite manner, and have the deck cut into three piles. Spread each pile into a small fan and ask someone to touch any card he desires. He need not withdraw the card, merely raise a corner and glimpse the index. When this is done the three fans are closed, the piles are squared and gathered, and the pack is cut several times. You can locate the card easily, and this is the method.

If he selects a card in the first fan (that is, the fan which has the key card on bottom), then you have only to count from the key to the chosen card. If the card is in the center fan, count to it from the top of the fan, and have the piles replaced as follows. The first pile (with the key) on the center pile, then these cards on the last pile. The chosen card will then be below the key by the number of cards you counted.

If the card is in the third fan, count to it from the top as before, but gather the piles from the other end. That is, three on two on one. The first cut will bring the key card above the third fan and the card is found in the same manner as previously.

An effective version is to allow three spectators to take cards, one card from each fan. In this case you have to recall three numbers. The card in fan one is found by counting up to it from the key. The second card is found by counting down to it from the top as before. With the third card the procedure is different. You must count to it from the top of the fan, then add to this number the number of cards below the chosen card in the center fan. The piles are now gathered one on two on three. To find the cards you first locate the key. Count above it to card one, below it to card two, then below card two to card three. Very little practice makes it quick and simple.