You may not care for this curious trick, but try it once to see how it goes over for you.
Glimpse the bottom card before you begin. Let us assume that it is the Three of Spades. Have the cards divided into four nearly equal piles, then spread each pile into a fan. We shall number the fans from one to four, from your left to your right.
At this point pause and tell the audience that they are about to witness what is known to the magical profession as the wonderful Three of Spades trick (naming the glimpsed card on bottom). Allude to the magical properties of this particular card, but as yet do not explain what you intend to do with it.
Ask someone to select any card he wishes by sliding it away from one of the fans. While he is looking at his card, quickly count the number of cards in one of the fans other than the first one. It is wise to choose the pile with the smallest number of cards. There should be approximately thirteen cards or under. Remember this number.
Square the fans into piles and have the chosen card replaced on top of one of the piles other than the first pile or the pile you counted. Gather the piles in such a way that the pile you counted goes on top of the chosen card, and the first pile (with the key on the bottom) on top of this. If these directions are followed the key card should be separated from the chosen card by a number which you know. Have the deck cut several times.
You may now explain that the Three of Spades is used because with it you can always locate a selected card. Fan the deck and find the Three of Spades, cutting at this point to bring the Three to the top. Show the Three and then proceed to spell out its name, spelling it in such a way that you will terminate on the selected card. This should be easy to do for the following reasons: (1) You know exactly how many cards down is the selected card, and this number is close to twelve or thirteen. There should be no need to explain here the manner in which the title of a card can be handled in such a way as to conform the number thirteen. (2) In addition to the juggling of the letters in the name of the card, you have a leeway of two additional cards. In the first place you may either terminate on the card, or you may show it as the next card after the spelling is completed. Secondly, you may show the Three of Spades and discard it, or you may replace it on top and use it in the spelling. Obviously the effect will not bear repetition because of the variations in the spelling, but it makes a clean cut effect.
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