DEVIL'S DECK STACK

By Lionel Scott

The alliterativeness of the "Devil's Deck" has prompted a significant number of magicians to create a card trick with that title. What follows is one of the earlier stacked decks given that name by magician Lionel Scott.

Scott describes the effects possible with the deck as follows.

The demonstrator, having cut an ordinary pack of 52 cards (each one different from the other,) permits a spectator to select any card (no forcing) and, having noted what card it is to replace it anywhere in the pack. This done, the performer may immediately without glancing at the pack of cards, name the selected card, or make further use of this knowledge by naming what card it is in any one of the many different ways already known. This may be repeated, and after the pack has been thoroughly shuffled (by a spectator if desired), the 52 different cards may be examined.

The pack is prepared as follows: the four Aces, Duces, Threes, Fours, etc. are placed together in separate piles on a table.

Then two red Aces, the Ace of Hearts and the Ace of Diamonds, are picked up.

Next the two remaining Aces, the Aces of Clubs and Spades; then two black Deuces; next the two red ones which are left, etc. Until a full deck of 52 cards is arranged in black and red pairs.

The above is given to make all clear, though the pairs in the pack are not supposed to follow one another in numerical order. They must be mixed.

Example: pair of a red Deuces, pair of black Kings, pair of black Nines, pair of red Jacks, etc.

Handling

A spectator is permitted to select a card. While he is noting it, you look at the two bottom cards.

If they are different from one another, the card on the very bottom belongs to the selected one in order to make up the pair - hence the selected card in the hand of the spectator is thus known. For example: if the bottom card should prove to be a Six of Hearts, you will then know that the card selected is the Six of Diamonds.

But should the two bottom cards represent a pair identical in color, you are then aware that the top-most card of the pack is the mate of the one selected, and a glance at it too will enable you to ascertain the name of the selected card, i.e. If the top card is a Queen of Clubs, the selected card will be the Queen of Spades.

Handling Notes

This deception may be repeated, and the cards may afterwards be shuffled and given for examination. Previous to performing, the cards may apparently be shuffled which adds to the effect. Improve upon it yourself.