Deal Away

There is nothing more surprising to the layman than to be allowed to find his own selected card under conditions over which he seems to have complete control. That is what seems to happen in this self- working feat.

1. Having shown the trick we have just described , and having replaced the dealt packet at the bottom after reversing its order –so that the arrangement of clubs at the bottom runs from ace to king, the ace being the face card–say, "Perhaps you are unwilling to believe that there is such a thing as mental control. I can assure you that there is and that one person can dominate the thoughts of another. For instance, I am now thinking of one of the cards, and I am projecting my thought to you. I want you to make your mind a complete blank and then name the first card that comes to mind. That card will be the card I am projecting to you. Are you ready? All right– quickly ! Name a card!"

"The seven of hearts."

" Right! " you exclaim. No matter what card he names, you tell him he has named the correct card. "Why, it's marvellous!" Look quizzically at him, and everyone will be amused at your swindle.

2. After a moment, say, "Ah, you don't believe I projected my card to you. Very well, I'll offer you proof that there is such a thing as mental control. Here, please take a card." Spread the pack and have one removed from the upper three-fourths. Square the pack and place it on the table; have the card shown to all and then placed on the top of the pack, after which you invite the spectator to make one complete cut, thus burying his card at the middle, with the arrangement of clubs directly above it.

3. Pick up the pack and make an overhand false shuffle , which will not disturb the order of the cards. "I give you my word of honour that I do not know the position of your card in the pack at this moment," you say. This is true. "But I do not need to, because I am not going to find your card. You're going to find it yourself." Hand him the pack. "Please deal cards face downwards on the table, ten or twelve or fifteen, as many as you like. When you feel an impulse to stop the deal, stop."

4. The spectator deals a number of cards and stops the deal. "Kindly turn over the last card you dealt," you say. Let us assume that it is a four of diamonds. "You stopped on a fourspot. Very well, deal four cards." He deals four cards, and you have him turn the last card face upwards as before. It is, say, the eight of clubs. You then know that, if he deals eight cards and turns the last card dealt, it will be his chosen card. In other words, soon or late he will turn a card of the club suit face upwards, and whatever its value, if he deals down that many cards more, the last card dealt will be his card.

5. You therefore announce, "You are being guided as inevitably as if by destiny itself. You have turned an eight-spot. Deal eight cards." He does so. "Now name your card." He does so.

"Look at the last card you dealt." He turns it face upwards and it is his chosen card!

Pick up all the cards and idly give them a riffle shuffle , thus removing any possible clues to the feat. As in the preceding trick, jacks, queens, and kings are valued at eleven, twelve, and thirteen respectively.