Effects that get away from the all too common “Take a card” theme are none too many. This is very much on the usual lines where a packet of red cards changes place with a packet of black cards, but the changes are numerous and more confusing.
Ten (say) red cards are shown, but attention is not called to their number. They are placed face down on the left hand, the third finger being inserted under the two top cards. Ten black cards are shown and apparently placed on top of the red cards for a moment while the right hand pushes the remainder of the deck to one side as it is not used again. Unknown to the audience, the left fingers have tilted the two top red cards open bookwise and the black cards were dropped on the remaining (8) red cards, the left fingers immediately closing and depositing the two red cards on top of the blacks. This move was first brought out in Charles Jordan’s Bewitched Aces and is smooth in action.
The positions of cards from back to face are two reds, ten blacks, 8 reds. The remainder of the deck having been pushed aside, the performer fans the entire left hand packet faces towards him to separate the colors, as far as the audience is concerned, but he cuts so that the top two of each packet is of the opposite color to the remaining ones. Both piles are placed side by side face upwards. Now, in order to convince that each pile contains cards of one color only, he goes through the following moves which are explained in Stanley Collin’s Four Ace Trick.
Each pile is taken in turn face down in left hand. The cards are dealt from the bottom of pile with right hand until six have been dealt face up. Then comes an important move. The 7th card is drawn back by the 2nd finger of left hand and the right hand takes the 8th, 9th and 10th cards as one and deals them on the face up pile. The remaining card is carelessly flicked and placed face up on pile. The two piles are now arranged thusly: Pile 1 (from back to face) 6 red cards, 2 blacks, 2 reds. Pile 2 – 6 black cards, 2 red, 2 black. Any other moves which might bring about this position could be used.
The face card of each pile is now removed and placed, still face up, in front of its pile. The two piles themselves are now turned face down, and it is explained that the two face up cards have a great influence over the piles and they are always in sympathy. First the two face up cards are transposed. Then the two piles are picked up in turn, put face down in left hand, and by means of the glide, the second card from the bottom of each pile is dealt face up to apparently prove the packets have followed their indicator cards and also changed.
The exposed cards are transposed again, but this time it is only necessary to deal the bottom cards to prove again that the packets have done the same. This is repeated once again, and still it works. For the last time the performer then transposes the exposed colors, and causes them to change, this time turning over the packets and letting the rest of the cards be seen in each.
It is suggested that no distinctive cards such as Aces, Kings be used, and at no time is attention called to the number of cards in use. After the “glide” there is no further use of sleights, it working by itself. For large audiences a small display stand can be used, and the placing of this used as the excuse for combining the packets at the start.
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