Many times I’ve been asked for a good practical method for coding cards. I’ve always been a believer in verbal codes for real practical work. Of course there are times when a silent code can be used to good advantage, but for general use I advise the verbal type and have any number of reasons to back up my views. When Mr Meyer sent in the following code, I liked it at once and think that many will make use of it. Certainly, the wife or sweetheart who is invariably cajoled into assisting won’t be able to use the common excuse that there is too much to remember!
LAYOUT OF THE CODE
“Tell us” – Diamonds
“Now tell us” – Clubs
“Tell me” – Hearts
“Now tell me” – Spades
Now for an explanation with examples. The selected card is known to the performer by whatever method he wishes. He may have it drawn from a face up deck or he may use a stacked pack and after a free selection a glimpse at the next card will give him the same information. This is no doubt best because the performer apparently never knows the card himself. The assistant may be standing or seated with their back turned. The use of a blindfold is optional.
Asking the assistant to name the card being thought of gives her some definite information, but this offhand query always sounds the same to the audience if they are acute enough to notice. After this first question by the performer, the assistant replies but always withholds part of her knowledge, and thus gains the name of the card by the performer’s answers or his silence as the case may be.
Example: Suppose someone selects the Five of Hearts. The performer says “Tell me what card this gentleman is thinking of.” “Tell me” indicates that the card is a Heart. The key word “what” indicates that the card is among the lower six in value. Had the performer said “Tell me the name of the card”, the assistant would then know that it was one of the higher six, or from the Seven to the Queen.
Knowing definitely the suit of the card, the assistant now reveals only the color. He says “It is a red card,” and waits for the performer’s immediate reply. As will be seen, the group of six is divided into two groups of three each. The performer’s reply or silence to this first statement by the assistant informs her which group of three contains the card. In this case there is no reply and after only a few seconds, she knows that the card is in the second group of the lower six, either the four, five or six. However, she remarks that ‘the person is thinking of a Heart.’
Once more she listens for the reply which will indicate the actual card. One of the three is to be transmitted as per the lower table under 1, 2 and 3. Any reply consisting of one word shows that the chosen card is the first in its final group; any reply of two words will make it the second; and no reply at all makes it the last of the group of three. In this case the performer says “That’s right”, giving her final knowledge. She finishes with “And the name of the card is the Five of Hearts.”
One more example will clarify the procedure. This time we shall take the Seven of Clubs. The dialogue is as it is given.
Performer: “Now tell us the name of this card.”
Assistant: “It is a black card.” (Knowing it to be a Club and one of the two higher groups)
Performer: “Yes.”
Assistant: “In fact it is a Club.” (Now knowing it to be the 7, 8 or 9)
Performer: “Yes.” (Which indicates the 7)
Assistant: “And I’m sure it is the Seven of Clubs.”
Kings are always sent in the initial sentence by saying “The card” instead of “What” or “The name”. Thus a King can be rattled off in the same manner but without the performer ever saying a word more.
Practice on this for half an hour will make it easy. Try to make it natural and don’t ask the questions stiffly with emphasis or make the replies as though a life depended upon them. Try to answer back immediately so that there is no break in the continuity of the assistant’s speech.
Make it look as though she reveals the card practically all at once with no delay. Watch these points and you have as nice a code as you could want. Do it four or five times. Then vary or finish by forcing a card you have both agreed upon beforehand and without a single word being spoken, she names it.
It is a little twist at the last moment that will always befuddle the wise guy who may think of a code.
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