Performing with a one-way deck has a drawback that doesn't seem to have been appreciated by performers in general. This point, however, makes itself apparent to the watchers after a trick or two and I'm surprised that the idea I'm writing of hasn't popped up before. To offset my various bad faults when working I have one good trait I am always certain about. I am able to judge an effect upon an audience and visualize myself in their position. I can always figure close to what will be going through their minds in following the actions of a performer…
I discovered this back around 1928 but, to date, it has never appeared in print to my knowledge. The discovery was quite accidental but at that time I was spending a lot of time and study on one-way back effects and chanced upon it. I can't guarantee this with any other back than the League Backs of Bicycle make. I consider that design the best one-way backed card for many reasons. Faces of cards are susceptible to the one-way principle in twenty-two instances if only the spot cards are considered. Picture cards generally have some differences that can be noted…
An extremely cute method of handling a one-way deck makes this secret of importance to those who favor such effects, and it will throw off the few who may know of the principle and possibly suspect it. There is an older subtlety invoked in many cases - that of reversing half the deck. A card is now selected and replaced after noting but it isn't necessary to reverse either the card or the deck. Simply have the card drawn from one half and replaced in the other. The deck is now cut at the center of the two sections and…