CARDS COUNTED

By Richard Robinson

Despite turning his back on the spectators the magician repeatedly knows how many cards a spectator moves from the top to the bottom of a packet of cards.

Props

A deck of cards. No gaffs, gimmicks, or sleights.

Setup

The ten cards involved in the effect are on top of the deck, the 10 at the top.

The ten cards are dealt one at a time off the top of the deck which reverses their order so the Ace is at the top.

Presentation

Demonstrate to the spectator what is to be done. In doing this tell the spectator to create a mental image as he moves each card: one airplane, two magicians, three watermelons, and so forth.

As you show the spectator what to do, actually move three cards from top to bottom of the packet. This makes 3 the first number you must remember.

Handling Sequence

The packet of cards to be used in the effect is face down on top of deck: 10 to Ace (10 top card, Ace bottom card).

Deal the top ten cards off one at a time into pile. Place the remainder of the deck aside. The dealt off packet order is now Ace to 10 ( The Ace the top card, the 10 is the bottom card.)

One at a time, take top card of packet and place it under the packet so it becomes the bottom card of the packet. Do this with three cards (the 3 is now the bottom card of the packet)

Hand the packet to the spectator. Turn your back. Tell him to move some cards one at a time from top to bottom, then to hand you the packet behind your back.

Take hold of the packet, move three cards one at a time from the bottom to the top of the packet.

Forget this number.

Bring the packet into view from behind your back. Peak the bottom card. Its value is the number of cards moved from the top to bottom by the spectator.

Remember this number.

Turn your back. Tell the spectator to one at a time move cards from the top of the packet to the bottom, then hand you the packet behind your back.

One at a time move the remembered number of cards from the bottom to the top of the packet.

Forget this number.

Bring the packet into view, peeking the value of the bottom card. It is the number of cards the spectator moved from top to bottom.

Remember this number.

Again turn your back. Tell the spectator to one at a time move cards from the top of the packet to the bottom, then hand you the packet behind your back.

One at a time move the remembered number of cards from the bottom to the top of the packet.

Forget previous number.

Again bring the packet into view, peeking the value of the bottom card. It is the number of cards the spectator moved from top to bottom.

Remember this number.

Repeat this handling until everyone is properly amazed.

Performance Notes

The math that works this effect was deciphered from a nearly unintelligible explanation in combination with the type setter having a pronoun free day of a card trick called "Discovered Again!" by a magician using the pen name 'Hermalin' published in The Magazine Of Magic, October 1916, London.