Intuition with Cards

The key cards which have been discussed thus far have been those in which it is necessary to see the faces of the cards. There are many tricks in which this is not desirable, and we shall now explain how the key-card principle may be used when only the backs of the cards are seen.

Using a pack with a white border, take a soft pencil and place two small, light dots on the back of the card at the upper left and lower right corners (Fig. 47). You can find this card easily and quickly in running through the pack, for you know what to look for. Your audience will never notice the dots.

The dotted key card may be used in place of the face key card in many tricks, and we leave it to your ingenuity to make use of the idea. The following feat is an example of the use to which it can be put:

1. Let us say that you are about to perform with a borrowed pack. Surreptitiously remove any two cards and place them in your pocket, then find an excuse to leave the room for a moment. Place the key pencil dots on the back of one of the cards and write your initials on the face of the other. Remember the name of the latter card. Returning to the room, replace the cards at a propitious moment, with the dotted key card at the bottom and the initialled card just above it.

2. Riffle shuffle the pack without disturbing the two cards at the bottom. Place the pack on the table and have a spectator cut off a portion from the top. Take this packet and invite him to take the other packet.

3. Ask him to turn his back to you and to remove any card from the middle of his packet and place it face upwards at the top. Tell him that you will do the same thing and that both of you must synchronize your actions and thoughts if the test is to succeed. Instruct him to write his initials on the face of his card while you do the same with your card. Pretend, for the benefit of the others present, to initial your card but actually write nothing. The spectator, on the other hand, actually initials his card.

4. Next ask him to turn his card face downwards on his packet as you do the same thing with yours. Finally have him make one complete cut, as you also make a cut. His cut places his initialled card one card below the dotted key card.

5. Turn to face him and request him to visualize his card, explaining that you are forming a mental picture of your card. "This is an experiment in sympathetic action," you comment, "and if it is to succeed you must conscientiously try to make it succeed by obeying your first impulse from now on." Spread your cards face downwards on the table. "I will ask you to remove any card from my packet. Place your forefinger on any card and draw it from the spread." When he has done this, continue, "Now take that card and, without looking at it, thrust it in the middle of the cards you hold."

6. This done, tell him that you will remove one card from his packet. Take his cards and spread them ribbonwise, face downwards, from left to right. Pass your forefinger over this spread of cards, find the dotted key and drop your finger on the card to its left. This will be his initialled card. "I will take this card." Draw the card from the spread, thrust it face downwards in the middle of the cards you hold, without showing its face.

7. "Now," you say, "if our thoughts have been attuned, you have drawn my card, the four of spades–" (here you name the card you initialled) "–and I have drawn yours. Let's see if this is the case." Spread your cards face upwards and push out the card which he initialled. Have him spread his packet and he finds the card with your initials!