The desire of every magician is to be
able to do one “miracle” with cards
which will stump a heckler… an effect
wherein the performer divines a card
without handling the deck or without
asking any questions whatsoever.
Here is one I use, released to JINX
readers because I promised its Editor a
mindreading effect.
I call it Smeero ! because Ted seems to like tricks ending with “o” such as
Whisko or Ghosto, etc.
While this effect may be used as part of any card routine, it is much better
to hold it in reserve until heckling starts… if it doesn’t, this effect is strong
enough to close a card show before a small group. The effect is this :

EFFECT

Any spectator shuffles the pack. The performer turns his back. The one
who shuffled the deck (or another) may select a card. Without saying a
word, the performer names it.

ROUTINE

In your right hand coat pocket have a small piece of carbon paper so
folded that no matter how you handle it you can get a smudge.
Any deck may be used. I prefer to use a borrowed one. While the pack
is being shuffled, be careful to point out that you do not touch the cards.
Instruct the spectator who is doing the shuffling to think of any number
from 1 to 45. Tell him that while your back is turned, he is to deal the
cards from the top of the deck one by one, noiselessly, face down on the
table until he reaches the number of which he thought.
He is then to look at this card, turn it face down on the table. He is now
to place the remainder of the pack on top of this pile, thus burying the
selected card. He is then to cut the deck, complete the cut and square up
the cards.
Everyone must agree by now that this procedure is fair, that the performer
has not handled the deck, and that the one who selected the card does not
even know where it now is.

METHOD

While the cards are being shuffled, at an opportune moment you put your
right hand in your coat pocket where the carbon paper was previously
placed. Dig the nail of your second finger into the carbon. You are now set.
As you finish your instructions, AFTER THE CARDS ARE SHUFFLED,
make a motion of taking the deck from the spectator as though you want
to show him how to deal the cards onto the table. Hold the deck at the left
corner nearest to you with the thumb on top and the fingers underneath.
Press the nail of the second finger which touched the carbon paper firmly
on the face of the bottom card just below the index.
Don’t take the pack away from the spectator.
Let him hold it. Don’t peek. Don’t try any sleight of hand… the finger
nail with the carbon does the work. Pretend that you have changed your
mind about taking the pack… just repeat the instructions and “deal” in
pantomime as you instruct… the dirty work is done. What you really have
accomplished with the carbonized finger nail is to make the bottom card
of the deck a “key card”.
Now, when the spectator drops the remainder of the pack on top of his
selected card, he has placed the card marked with carbon next to it. Thus,
when you take the pack after he has squared it up and cut it, all you have
to do is to run through it (make the usual request that he concentrate on
his card) and discover the marked card. You will find the mark is on the
extreme left just below the index. Obviously the card to the right of the
marked card will be the card selected.
Produce it in any way you wish… my favorite method is to bring it to the
top of the deck, palm it off and place it in my right trouser pocket. Then
pretend that you cannot find the card… ask that he announce it to the
audience… and then say “there must be some mistake about this… I had it
in my pocket all the time”.
This effect will always squelch a heckler or doubter. You can rub the mark
off the “key card” without any difficulty by simply passing your thumb
over it.
Everything is apparently fair and above board. You can toss the deck into
the audience without fear. The method beats peeks, sleights, crimps, passes
or any method wherein the performer handles the pack. It eliminates any
comeback that you have forced a card or done something with the deck.
The misdirection is perfect.