Ambitious Card

A favourite trick with audiences is that in which a card, placed in the deck, mysteriously comes to the top over and over again.

The feat is suitable for either intimate or platform work, and when done with good humour it is very amusing and intriguing.

Preparation. Run through the cards and cut the eight of clubs to the top, then find the nine of clubs and place it above the eight.

Procedure.

Part One:

1. Shuffle the pack overhand, retaining the eight and nine of clubs at the top. Explain that you have found that in every deck there is one card that is more ambitious than the others. It likes to be "top dog" and always pushes its way to the top of the pack.

2. Make the double lift and turnover , showing the eight of clubs; then turn the two cards face downwards as one, saying, "Apparently the eight of clubs is the ambitious card in this deck."

3. Remove the top card, the nine of clubs, and without showing its face thrust it into the outer end of the deck at the centre, leaving about an inch of the card protruding. Put the tip of your right middle finger on the face of the card, covering the index, and tip the pack upwards so that the face of the card is "accidentally" exposed. With the index concealed, the nine will appear to be the eight.

4. Push the nine flush into the pack. Tap the top card, turn it over, and show the eight of clubs. Be sure to turn the card in exactly the same way as you did in making the double lift. Pause a moment for the effect to sink in, then turn the eight face down.

Part Two:

1. Undercut the pack for an overhand shuffle , run one card, injog the next, and shuffle off. Form a break at the injog, shuffle to the break, and throw the remainder on top. This action places the eight of clubs second from the top.

2. Continue, "Let's try with another card." Make the double lift and turnover , and again show the eight of clubs. Pretend to be surprised and then recall that it is the ambitious card. Turn the two cards downwards as one, remove the top indifferent card, and thrust it into the centre of the deck. Do not allow its face to be seen.

3. Tap the top card, turn it face upwards with the same action as before, and show the eight of clubs once more.

Part Three:

1. Shuffle overhand, running the top card to the bottom and shuffling off on to it. Retain this card at the bottom during a second shuffle.

2. Tap the top card saying, "It isn't here." Turn it, show it, and turn it face downwards again.

3. Turn the pack face upwards and say, "Here it is! On top of the bottom," showing the eight of clubs.

Part Four:

1. Holding the pack face upwards, prepare for a double lift. Take the two cards as one, face upwards, and thrust them into the centre of the deck at the outer end. Call attention to the eight of clubs, which protrudes for about half its length.

2. Grasp the pack by its inner end, between the right thumb on its face and the fingers on the back, and turn it face downwards. Place it in the left hand, taking it by the sides–between the thumb on one side and the middle, ring, and little fingers on the other –with the forefinger curled underneath.

3. Tilt the pack upwards a little to show that the eight is actually in the centre, then slope it downwards slightly. Grasp the protruding cards with the right hand–the thumb at the top, the forefinger pressing against the outer edges, and the middle finger on the face– and push the two cards, always as one, into the deck about half an inch. Draw the upper card outwards again, so that the tip of your left forefinger can engage the outer end of the lower card. and push it flush into the deck. This action is hidden from the spectators by the upper card and by the sloping position of the pack.

4. Push all the cards under the protruding card inwards half an inch. Grasp a few cards at the top of this packet with the right thumb and middle finger at the inner end. Draw these cards away inwards, then drop them on the top of the pack as you say, "We'll put the eight of clubs a little deeper in the deck." Actually this action has brought the eight of clubs to the top of the pack.

5. Push the protruding card, supposed to be the eight, flush and square the pack.

6. Tap the top card, turn it face upwards, showing that it has arrived on the top again. After a moment, turn it down again.

Part Five:

1. Shuffle overhand by undercutting the deck, injog the first card, and shuffle off. Undercut below the injog and throw on top, returning the eight of clubs to the top of the pack.

2. Take the lower half of the deck in your left hand. Give it to a spectator, asking him to shuffle the cards. As he does this and while all attention is on him, palm in your right hand the top card of the portion you still hold, and hold the packet in that hand. A moment later take these cards with your left hand and give them to another spectator on your left , asking him to shuffle them.

3. "Let's see if the eight of clubs will be ambitious when you handle the cards," you say. Have each of the two spectators turn the top card of his packet. Neither of the cards is the eight.

4. "The eight wouldn't perform for you because you didn't treat it with kindness. You shuffled too roughly altogether," you say. "Another reason is this: Here's the card!" Place your right hand with the palmed card under your coat on the left side and produce the card at its finger tips as if you drew it from your vest pocket. "I told you–it's an ambitious card."