Lightning Card

There are few tricks from which so much entertainment can be got as from the trick about to be described. A spectator sees his chosen card among a number he holds, and a moment later it vanishes to appear elsewhere!

1. Take a shuffled pack and ask someone to think of a small number, larger than five but less than fifteen. "A long trick is a dull trick," you explain. "We'll keep this one brief."

2. Holding the pack uptight and facing the spectator, thumb cards from the left hand into the right without reversing their order, counting them aloud. Have the spectator remember the card which falls on his number. Count to fifteen and replace these cards on the pack.

3. Cut away the top half of the pack with the right hand, and in doing this backslip the top card on to the lower portion, which you place at your right.

4. Riffle the upper portion and ask the spectator if he sees his card. He says that he does but, unknown to him it is now one card higher in the packet than he thinks it is.

5. Hand him this packet. "Your card is among those you now hold?" you ask.

"Yes."

"If you're not absolutely sure of that, look again."

"No, I know it's them."

"Very well. Now, what was the number of which you thought? Not the card, just the number."

"Nine."

"Better and better," you exclaim. "You couldn't have thought of a more fortuitous number!"

6. "You have your packet of cards with your card among the others," you say. Tap your packet of cards on the table at your tight. "I have my packet over here." Pick up the top card of your packet. "I'll count to your number in my packet, you count to it in yours." Place the card face downwards in your left hand, counting "One."

Extend your left hand and have him place the top card of his packet on top of your card. Remove the next card from your packet, placing it on those in the left hand, counting "Two," and similarly have him place a second card in your left hand, all the cards being face downward.

7. Continue to do this until you reach the number that is one less than the number he named, which in the illustration we have cited would be eight. The last card he places in your left hand will be his chosen card, although he believes that it is the top card of those he still holds. You say, "The next card, the ninth card, is your card. Kindly place it face downwards on the table." When he does this, no matter how he places it, have him turn it so that it is at right angles to its original position, as if this were important, which it is not.

8. As everyone's attention is misdirected to the adjustment of the card on the table, place your right hand casually over the cards you hold in your left hand and palm the top card, the spectator's card. "Ah, I think the trick will work," you exclaim. "You have placed the card absolutely correctly! What is the name of that card?"

9. He names his card, and you say, "I don't think it is. Will you turn it face upwards?" As he turns the card and all attention is misdirected toward it, move your right hand with the palmed card at a normal speed to the packet at your right, drawing it inwards and adding the palmed card. Rest your fingertips on the centre of the card and continue, "You see, it isn't your card. You thought you saw your card among those you were holding, but actually it has been at

the ninth position in my packet all the time. Look–here is my ninth card!" Turn the top card of your packet and show that it is his card.