Of the many mathematical card effects, this will be found to be of the very
modern type. A spectator selects any 16 cards, shuffles, cuts, mentally
selects one, and remembers it.
Take the back and shuffle it. Hold up the top 8 cards in a fan and ask the
spectator if his card is among them. If he says “Yes”, count one (1) to
yourself and remember it. If he says “No”, count nothing. Return the 8
cards on to the top of the other packet.
Now deal alternately from the top into two piles, turning each card face up
as you lay it down, and counting to yourself until 8 cards have been dealt,
4 in each pile. Then lay number 9 on number 8, number 10 on the first pile
and so on alternately until all are dealt.
Now show the 8 cards in the second pile. If the spectator says his card is
among them, add 2 to your previous mental count, otherwise add nothing.
Turn both packets over and lay pile 2 on pile 1. Deal alternately as before,
except this time deal alternately until card twelve is laid, then lay number
13 on 12, 14 on first pile, and the rest alternately.
Again show spectator the second pile. Perhaps by this time the spectator
will be able to tell already whether or not his card is in the first or second
pile. If in the second pile, add 4 to your mental count. Turn piles face
down; lay pile 2 on 1.
Now deal the packet into two piles as before except that this time put card
15 on the second pile and 16 on the first. For the last time, show the cards
in the second pile and add 8 for “Yes”.
Now turn the piles face down, lay pile 2 on pile 1, and then move the
bottom card to the top. Turn the packet face up and count off cards to a
number corresponding to your mental sum. This card will be the chosen
card and may be revealed in your own manner.
If it so happens the spectator says “No” every time, his mentally chosen
pasteboard will be number 16, the card you move from the bottom to the
top of the deck at the end of the dealing and computations.
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