The Observation Test

The glide , as we have shown, is a useful sleight with which many effects can be had. Here is another use to which it can be put-one that enables you to vanish one card and make another appear in its place.

1. Shuffle the pack, have a card drawn and noted, and when it is replaced control it to the face of the pack by means of the overhand shuffle control .

2. Turn the pack with the face toward yourself, so that no one can see the cards, and run through them, removing the four twospots and placing them at the face of the pack in black, red, black, red order. "This is a test of your powers of observation," you explain. "I shall use the four two-spots to make the test."

3. Remove the five cards at the face of the pack without showing how many you take. Turn them face downwards and hold them in the left hand in readiness for the glide . The top card is the chosen card, and under it are the four two-spots.

4. "I shall ask you to remember the sequence of the colors," you continue. Remove the bottom card with the right hand and deal it face upwards on the table, calling its color, "Red."

5. Deal the card now at the bottom face upwards on the first card in the same way. "Black."

6. Glide back the card now at the bottom. Remove the two cards above it as one by grasping them at the outer end between the right thumb, above, and the fingers, below. As they are drawn from the left hand, press against their sides with the left index finger and thumb, thus keeping the two cards in perfect alignment. Deal these

two cards face upwards as one upon the first two cards, saying "Black." The cards should be dealt neatly one on top of the other.

7. Take the last card, saying, "And this naturally must be red." Show it, drop it face upwards on the other cards. You have shown four cards and all are two-spots. Pick them up, square them with the face toward yourself, and mix the cards without revealing how many you hold. Be sure that the chosen card is third from the top when you finish. "A good mixing," you say, turning them face downwards. Take them in your left hand in readiness for the glide .

8. "I'll do that again." Repeat the actions from step No. 4 through step No. 6 and you will hold one card face downwards in your left hand. This is the chosen card.

9. Place it face downwards to your right. Pick up the other cards, place them on the pack, and hold the pack in your hands. "This is where I test your powers of observation," you explain. "You see, I made you think that you should observe the color of the cards as I dealt the two-spots. That was a trick, for now I want you to tell me the suit of the last card." As you say this, idly cut the pack, thus burying the other cards.

10. The spectators may succeed or fail in naming the proper two- spot, but, no matter what their answer, you say, "I'm sorry, but you were observing the colors so closely that you failed to notice the values of the cards." Have the chosen card named, turn the card on the table face upwards, and show that it is not a two-spot, as expected, but the chosen card.