Paul Gordon - Gold Dust Finale

Paul Gordon Gold Dust Finale
GOLD
DUST
FINALE
The Very Best of
Paul Gordon
PAUL GORDON
Gold
Finale
The Very Best Of Paul Gordon
ISBN: 978-0-9561421-4-6
Natzler Enterprises
Worthing, West Sussex
United Kingdom
www.PaulGordon.net
Copyright © 2015 by Natzler Enterprises & Paul Gordon. All

rights reserved. No part of this publication may be copied,
translated or reproduced by any means whatsoever.
www.PaulGordon.net
3
Magic Books by Paul Gordon

Paul Gordon Lecture Notes 1 & 2
The Card Magic of Paul Gordon
Paul Gordon Strikes Back
Paul Gordon's Card Thoughts
Trilogy (the above three books bound)
Fantasy Gambling Demonstration
The Complete In(Jogshuffle)
X-periments 1
X-periments 2
Nocturnal Creations
Protean Card Magic
Cause And Effect
Professional Card Magic Miracles
Card Magic Companion
Explorations
Carbon Footprints
Rusduck's The Cardiste
Percy Naldrett; Conjuror & Poet
Victor Farelli; A Magical Memoir
The Second 16th Card Book. Vol 1
The Second 16th Card Book. Vol. 2
Cardistry
Cool Card Stuff
R. W. Hull The Complete Eye-Openers
Edward George Brown; A Magical Memoir
Ed Mario in The United Kingdom
The Complete Eddie Joseph Dumbfounders
Pack Up Your Cards 1, 2 & 3
Card Trickery
Card Collective
Carbon Footprints
The Keeper Card Book
The Unplanned Card Book
The Real Secrets of Card Magic
Card Marvels
Gold Dust
Gold Dust Companion
Gold Dust Finale
4
Packet Tricks by Paul Gordon

The Corner of Piccadilly - Spectrum - Dazzler
Killateral Damage - FlimFlam - Twin Peeks
The Gordon Diary Trick - Psychedelic Foursome - Killer OMG
Flushed Oil Slick - Magician's 'Shoe' Insurance Policy
Triple Kick Monte - Carnival Con - B'rilliant
Dog's BX - Bamboozler - Sexy Time - TKM Deluxe
Oil & Water Rainbow - Emulsion Cards - The Four Brothers
The Red Herring - Bedazzling Colours -Effin' Cannibals
Credit Card Theft -Boom Baby Boomer - Four-Card Fooler
Jim Nastic Jokers - Apex Aces - All Backs Triple Kicker
Jeepers Creepers - The Ultimate Sting - BMW
Killer Observation Test - Copwaked - Copwak
Sa-Vile - Every Inch A Lady (redux) - The Muldoon Match
Magic Videos & DVDs by Paul Gordon

Deck In Hand
Powerful Impromptu Card Magic Vol 1
Powerful Impromptu Card Magic Vol 2
The Second 16th Card Book
The Two Lectures DVD
Live In Action 2-Disc Set
Paul Gordon's Card Startlers 3-Disc Set
Card Rarities
Paul Gordon's Card Startlers 2-Disc Set
Thirty-Five Useful Card Sleights
Blockbusters With Cards 2-Disc Set
Killer Card Stuff
The Gold Dust Sampler
5
Acknowledgments
Over the years, I've been inspired by many talented

magicians. Without them, this book would not have been
possible. I'd like to thank the following talented magicians:
Harry Lorayne, Ed Mario, Dai Vernon, Rufus Steele, John
Fisher, Walt Lees, A1 Smith, Roger Curzon, Kevin Fox, Nick
Trost, Terry LaGerould, Jon Racherbaumer, Jack Carpenter,
Bob Hummer, Gene Finnell, Dave Campbell, Stephen
Hamilton, Jerry Sadowitz, Jack Parker, Jacob Daley, Roger
Crosthwaite, Fred Braue, Jean Hugard, Aldo Colombini, Peter
Duffie, Roy Walton, Alex Elmsley, J. C Wagner, Peter Kane,
Richard Vollmer, Larry Jennings, John Bannon, Rovi, Ken
Brooke, Martin Breese, Paul Harris, Henry Hay, Karl Fulves,
Jack Avis, Paul Hallas, Michael Vincent and C. Goodliffe
Neale. Other credits and acknowledgments are noted
throughout this book.
Judy in 2014
Dedicated to my most wonderful Wife

Judy Gordon
"My Sweetheart Girl"
6
Other Thanks
As this is the final book of the trilogy I'd like to thank the
following people who played very important roles in my life.
None of them are magicians (aside from the Dutchman), but
all have helped me in various ways. My Great Uncle Reg
Nichols who showed me an amazing coin trick forty-eight
years ago; my eyes widened to the size of saucers. Mr.
Hoffmann was a Dutch magician who gave me my first magic
set when I was five years old. My Aunt Vera who bought me
no end of tricks and gags from the local joke shop. My school
master who wrote this oddly motivational phrase on my final
report, "Paul Gordon seems happy to sit at the back of the
class and vegetate. He'll amount to nothing!" Martin
Thomson for being a very good teacher, personal mentor and
friend. (Martin was my first boss in the theatre business
thirty-six years ago.) Steve Piper, Allan (and Lorraine) Wren
for aiding (and abetting) the wonderful journey. My second
boss who was so dreadfully inept he inadvertently
encouraged me to become a professional entertainer. The
myriad of Aunts and Uncles who watched, probably under
sufferance, my early magic shows. Aside from my wonderful
wife Judy, I'd also like to thank my late parents Jean and Luis
Gordon and my brother Luis and sisters Alex and Vicky. I'm
lucky to have such wonderful siblings. My father used to take
me to my local magic club meetings when I was in my early
teens. It was his way of stopping me producing stink bombs
and explosives with my chemistry set. My mother was a very
inspirational strong woman and I still live by her standards.
When she was dying she said something like, "Live your life
the way you want to and the way that you shouldV' I love my
immediate family very much as I do my numerous in-laws
(and outlaws) nieces, nephews, great-nieces, great-nephews,
cousins and my step-children Byron, Tasha and Max.
7
Paul Gordon 2014

"Make My Day"
8
Contents
Introduction ......................................................................... 13
Surprise Jazz ......................................................................... 15
75% Confident ...................................................................... 17
Double Gemini ..................................................................... 18
Petween The Balms ............................................................. 20
One-Millionth O'Henry ...................................................... 21
Kaneaces ............................................................................... 25
Acid DNL ................... ........................................................26
Soggy Sandwich .................................................................. 28
Invisible Ink .......................................................................... 29
Grasshopper ......................................................................... 31
Miss Terry Card ................................................................... 32
TUP(A)CT ............................................................................. 34
Shocked Aces Sans Selections ............................................ 36
Four-Ace Opener ................................................................. 38
The Deaf Dealer ................................................................... 38
Tribute To Roger Curzon ................................................... 39
Undoing Simon .................................................................... 40
Predictable ............................................................................ 42
The Eye-Popper ................................................................... 43
Not Too Far .......................................................................... 45
Killer Mystery Card ............................................................ 46
Recollecting .......................................................................... 47
Minding Your P's and Q's .................................................. 49
Sneaky Switch ...................................................................... 51
The Sad Tale of Great Uncle Reg ....................................... 53
Jack-Ro-Aces ........................................................................ 55
Flippin' Aces ......................................................................... 57
The Aces Capitulate ............................................................ 58
Smack In The Face ............................................................... 62
Roily Flush...... ... ................................................................. 64
Illogical Trost ....................................................................... 65
Marked Cards ...................................................................... 66
9
Amazing, Isn't It? ............................................................... .. 67

Heavenly Roads ................................................................... 69
Aurora Borealis ................................................................. ...70
Fixed Reset............................................................................ 71
Universal Powers................................................................. 72
Mirror-Skill ......................................................................... 74
The Red Herring Strikes Back ............................................ 75
Startling Location ................................................................ 77
Royal Double-Backed Flush ............................................... 79
Tenkai Sandwich ................................................................. 80
Carbonated Footprint.......................................................... 81
Painful Aces.......................................................................... 82
Omega Surprise ................................................................... 83
Kingly Aces .......................................................................... 84
Double Heilmans ................................................................. 85
The Famous Fives ................................................................ 87
Supersonic Flush.................................................................. 89
The Somersaulting Aces Collect ........................................ 89
Flushing The Four Kings .................................................... 91
Play It Poker ......................................................................... 92
Illogical And Discrepant Collectors .................................. 93
The Fraces Trick ................................................................... 94
What The Heck! ................................................................... 96
The Aces Collect .................................................................. 97
Hey Presto ............................................................................ 98
Predictable Kaps .................................................................. 99
Visitations ........................................................................ ...101
Black Gold .......................................................................... 102
Bamboozled ..................................................... .................. 103
Aces Spell Kings ................................................................ 106
Guard Of Honour .............................................................. 107
Blackjack And Poker ......................................................... 110
Royal Poker .......................................................................... Ill
Surprised Johann ............................................................... 113
Kick The Spectator On Stage ............................................ 115
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Fairground Attraction #2 .................................................. 117

BMW .................................................................................... 118
Strolling Hofzinser ............................................................ 121
Cardcase Killer ................................................................... 122
F ascin( ace) tion................................................................. 123
Last Word ........................................................................... 127
f
12
Introduction
If you've already read Gold Dust and Gold Dust Companion, the
introduction(s) and last word(s) still apply here. The only
'new' thing to say is that Gold Dust Finale contains new
material only; plus quite a few gems I never got around to
publishing. To be frank, I didn't want to publish them. I
wanted to keep a few things to myself. I succumbed to both
the requests (from you) and my desire to complete the circle.
I'm really pleased with the material in this book. I know I'm
biased, but I really do think it's Gold. Pure Gold! As I have
said on many occasions, do read and try everything. If you
don't, somebody else will fool you with it making you wish
you had read and tried it all. There are only a handful of
illustrations in this book because most of the moves and
techniques have been fully described in the first two volumes.
Also, you'll find all the moves used here taught on the
internet. I've, however, described the actual tricks fully so as
to leave nothing to the imagination. The presentation and
patter is sparse because I want you to use your imagination.
I'm offering you the "nuts and bolts" here. It's up to you to
make the tricks "play". See the "last word" for more on this.
Gold Dust and Gold Dust Companion are in the hands
of over two-thousand magicians worldwide. The hundreds of
kind emails, calls and texts I receive yearly is/are truly
appreciated. I'm honoured that so many of you use my magic.
Let's hope Gold Dust Finale is just as well received. All of the
tricks have been "tried and tested" in the so-called "real
world". They are all laymen pleasers; and some are magician
foolersl Okay, enough already!
Thank you all for your continued support. It's truly
appreciated. The last fifty odd years have been great. So,
here's to the next fifty or more. Cheers!
Paul Gordon, January 2015
13
"It is rare to see a magician who can entertain an audience that much with just a
deck of cards. But Paul Gordon is one of them! His shows are as funny as the magic
he performs is strong. Paul perfectly knows what the spectators enjoy and deliver it
to them with great humour and killer effects. " - Boris Wild
"Paul Gordon held some fifty people enthralled as he demonstrated some items from
his books. In situations like this, his command is phenomenal. With his
showmanship and personality power he makes card tricks entertaining and
meaningful. He has them hanging onto his every word; not just for a few minutes
but for an hour or so! Paul has all the attack of a Ken Brooke or a Rovi! Watch his
DVDs to see how card magic should be performed!" - Walt Lees
"Your depth of experience and passion for the art came shining through, and I like
where you pitch your work for lecture audiences - not ultra-advanced and finger-
flingy, but not so simple as to be trite. It's all smart and practical, and you present
it all brilliantly." - Ian Rowland
"Dear Paul. Your lecture was excellent and your performance thrilling! Also, the
stuff you showed me in person was quite staggering!" - Jack Parker
"Paul Gordon is one of the best creators, best writers, best lecturers and best card
magic entertainers ever! He knows how to 'buzz' an audience." - J.C Wagner
"I love your card work. Really wonderful! Great ideas-great magic!"
- Harry Lorayne
"Paul Gordon is a gem. Great ideas. Great writer. Funny energetic entertainer."
- Aldo Colombini
"Corner of Piccadilly is a very strong monte routine that uses un-gaffed cards. Its
kicker is truly astounding, and all can be examined. If ever Ihere was a "worker,"
this is it." - David Regal
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Surprise Jazz
This is kind of Peter Kane's Jazz Aces with a surprise. In fact, I

showed Peter this once and actually got him to smile!
You require two packets of cards. The first packet
contains the Queens in black, black, red, red order from face to
rear. The second packet contains, from face to rear, three
middle value black spot cards, black King, red King, red King.
Both packets are face up and squared on the table.
Pick up the 'spot' packet and perform a Jordan Count
to display four black spot cards. Flip the packet face down
into dealing grip. As the right hand reaches for the Queens,
catch a pinky break under the top card of the inhand packet.
Place the face-up Queen packet onto the spot packet and
spread over three Queens to display four. Close the spread
and pick up the five-card block from above (all the cards
above the break) in right-hand Biddle Grip. You now
re-display the Queens using the Braue Add-On. Briefly: The
left thumb peels off the face Queen and the left edge of the
right-hand packet flips it face down onto the left-hand packet.
This is repeated with the next two Queens. The third Queen (a
double) is dropped face up on top and then its (a single card)
flipped face down. Spread off the top four cards, take them in
the right hand and table the left-hand spot packet face up. A
spot card is seen so all looks copacetic. Flip the Queen packet
face up, perform an Elmsely Count (to show four Queens) and
table the packet face down. Return the tabled spot packet into
left-hand face-down dealing grip. Fiere's the routine proper:
Say, "I'm going to place the Queens one by one with
the spot packet - call them plebs if you will - and they will
instantly and magically leave. You see, Queens and plebs just
don't mix." (Say the word "plebs" tongue in cheek.)
Take the top card off the tabled packet (a supposed
Queen) and drop it face down onto the inhand packet. Flip
15
!
the packet face up and do an Elmsely Count to show four spot

cards. Turn the packet face down and deal the top card to one
side. It looks like a Queen has vanished and that you've placed
a spot card aside. Take the top card off the tabled packet (a
Queen, which you can flash) and drop it face down onto the
inhand packet. Flip the packet face up and do a Jordan Count
to show four spot cards. Turn the packet face down and place
the second-from-top card onto the placed-aside card. (Here you
just slightly spread the packet and take out the second card.) It
looks like the second Queen has vanished and that you've
placed another spot card aside. Take the top card off the tabled
packet (a Queen which you can flash) and place it to
second-from-top of the inhand packet. Flip the packet face up
and do an Elmsely Count to show four spot cards. Turn the
packet face down and deal the top card onto the two
placed-aside cards. It looks like the third Queen has vanished
and that you've placed a spot card aside. Take the last tabled
Queen and drop it face down onto the inhand packet. Flip the
packet face up and do a Jordan Count to show four spot cards.
Turn the packet face down and place the second-from-top card
onto the three placed-aside cards. It looks like the last Queen
has vanished and that you've placed a spot card aside.
Flip the inhand packet face up and perform an
Elmsley Count to show four spot cards. Flip the packet face
down and casually cut the top three cards to bottom. Say, "If I
have the spot cards here, the Queens must be here." Turn over
the tabled cards to show that is the case. More applause.
Continue by saying, "But Queens don't mix with the
plebs...they mix with Kings!" Flip the inhand packet face up
and do a Jordan Count to show four Kings. This ought to fool
all and sundry!
During the rapturous applause, put all the cards back
into the deck and do something else.
16
75 % Confident
Every month, Jack Parker and I would get together for a

'magic & curry' session. One of the many tricks he showed me
was his 100% Confidence. (See 52 Memories.) It's a wonderful
trick but, as I mentioned to Jack at the time, I feel that the
working packet is too thick and might only fool the myopic.
(Jack laughed.) My solution was to simply remove a phase
and cut down on the convincers which I felt a tad unnecessary.
I also simplified certain aspects of it. But, imho, the trick is just
as strong. In fact, it's a startler!
There's an easy-to-remember set-up. From the top
down: JC, 10S, AS, KS, QS, JS, JD, rest of deck. Jogshuffle the
deck retaining the top seven cards in situ and then riffle force
the top two cards. Leave the two force cards (10S and JC) face
down on the table in a pile. The JC is uppermost. As of yet, the
spectators don't know the identity of the two cards.
Say, "I also need three indicator cards to indicate
what your selections are." Push off the top three cards off the
deck and, as you patter, catch a pinky break under the top two
cards of the deck. Return the three cards and pick up the block
of five. Hold the face-down packet in dealing grip and table
the face-down deck.
Take the first 'selection' and flip it face up to reveal
the JC. Place it face up on the inhand packet. Say, "I thought
you'd choose the Jack of Clubs because my indicator cards are
the other Jacks." Flip the packet face up and perform an
Elmsley Count outjogging the face-down card as you come to
it. Remove it and flip it face up onto the face of the packet.
Four Jacks have been cleverly displayed. (This is John
Bannon's Discrepancy City Display.) This is a strong moment.
Flip the packet face down and cut the bottom two
cards to top and retain a break under them. With the right
17
hand in Biddle Grip, pick up the top card (a double) flash its
face (JC) and casually place it (them) face down onto the deck.
The spectators (especially other magicians) will assume you
are going to repeat the same actions with the second selection.
Drop the packet onto the tabled face-down 10S and pick up
the whole. Flip the packet face up to reveal the 10S. Say, "I
know what you are thinking. You think I now have the other
three Tens. I don't, but anyone for poker?" Here you slowly
deal the inhand cards face up onto the table to magically
reveal a royal flush in Spades. The revelation of the royal flush
is both magical and startling!
Double Gemini
I've long been fascinated by Karl Fulves's Gemini Principle

since I first came across it about thirty years ago in More Self
Working Card Tricks. I've published many handlings over the
years. Caused Effect and Effected Cause are two of my best.
18
\
(See Gold Dust & Gold Dust Companion.) The latter, by the way,
is a favourite of Justin Higham's. Anyway, Fve never seen the
principle used like this before. It's unusual.
Place the two red Aces face up to your left and the
two black Aces face up to your right. Have two cards chosen
and controlled to the top. Then, after a few jogshuffles,
doublecut one to the bottom. The top selection should belong
to the spectator nearest the red Aces on the left. The
face-down deck is in dealing grip. Okay, standard Gemini
stuff now.
Deal cards from the top of the inhand face-down
deck onto the table and have the first spectator (the one
nearest the red Aces) stop you where she wants. Ask her to
drop the face-up red Aces onto the tabled packet. You then
drop the inhand deck on top and pick up the whole. Again,
deal cards onto the table and have the second spectator (the
one nearest the black Aces) stop you where she wants. Ask
her to drop the face-up black Aces onto the tabled packet. You
then drop the inhand deck on top and pick up the whole. The
selections are now directly above each pair of Aces.
Pick the deck up and spread through to the second
pair of Aces; the black pair. Using the Hofzinser Cull (see
below), cull the card directly above the pair (the selection) to
between the Aces. Repeat the spread and cull the card directly
above the red Aces to between them. Finally, table- spread the
deck to reveal the two sandwiches. Reveal the two 'caught’
selections with dynamic flair. It's strong magic.
The Hofzinser Cull: As you spread and reach the
face-up Aces, the left thumb touches the back of the card
above the selection and the right fingers (below the spread)
touch the face of the selection. The fingers pull the selection
rightward until its left long edge ’clears' the right long edge of
the uppermost Ace. When clear, the selection is fed between
the Aces.
19
Petween The Balms
Alex Elmsley invented Between The Palms and I have a

popular handling in Gold Dust called A Divine Palms
Departure. Petween The Balms is a mix of my earlier routine
and a Peter Duffie idea from Richard's Almanac.
You need three blank-faced cards with backs to
match the deck. One of the blanks is atop the deck and the
other two are squared face up on the table. Jogshuffle the deck
and leave it half finished. In other words, leave the deck with
an injogged card above the centred blank-facer. The deck is in
dealing grip. As if reaching for a random card, the right
forefinger pushes into the rear of the deck (I look away as I do
this) by pushing up on the face of the injogged card. You then
pull out the blank.
Say, "I'm going to leave a mystery card on the table.
Please cover it with your hand. None of know what it is.” The
spectator covers the face-down blank-facer. Table the deck and
pick up the squared blanks. Using the Stanyon Count (it's like
an Elmsley Count), show the two blank- facers as three blank
cards. Briefly: Hold the packet as if about do an Elmsley
Count. Peel the first card into the left hand and steal it back
(into the right fingertips) as the left hand takes the second
card. Then peel the original first card as if it was a third. Three
cards have been shown.
Turn them face down to position on the table as you
say, ’’These are invisible personal guards. We’ll use them
shortly." From the deck have a card freely chosen (signed if
you wish) and returned to the deck. Control it to top. Palm it
off the top and add it to the face-down blank-facers. As you
add the palmed card, slightly spread the packet. Three
facedown cards are seen so all looks kosher. Pick them up and
show them as three blanks using the Flushtration Count. This
brings their selection to third from top.
20
Say, 'They are going to guard the mystery card." Lift

the spectator's hand and drop them face down onto the
mystery card. Replace their hand as you say, "Your card is in
the deck and my three guards are guarding my mystery card.
Remember I placed it there from the start." Pause for effect. (It
may be wise to reiterate what's happened up to this point so
as to give you a rationale for shortly removing the packet.)
Reach under their hand and slowly remove the four-
card packet. You are shortly going to do a very easy bottom
deal. Don't fret, it's very easy. Say, "Three blanks - guards -
and my mystery card!" (The packet is in dealing grip.) As you
say this, the left thumb pushes off the top card and it's
gripped in the right hand; thumb on the back (on the right
long edge) and fingers underneath. Deal it face up onto the
table. Repeat with the second card. On the third count, a la
Elmsley Count Grip, take the bottom card and deal it face up
on the table.
Say, "The real mystery is that my mystery card...is
your card!" Slowly turn the inhand card face up to reveal the
selection. Watch the jaws drop.
One-Millionth O'Henry
This is probably the toughest trick in the book and one of the
most interesting. It's only the second time ever that I've
worked on the O'Henry plot. The reasons are twofold. Firstly,
I never used to like the plot. Secondly, I've only just been able
to work out a method I really like. The plot is of an unusual
assembly wherein two surprises occur. The Aces (or Queens)
don't assemble in the expected packet; they magically
assemble elsewhere; and then magically leap back to their
individual positions! Most creative cardmen I know
21
have published O’Henry routines, but mine is technically quite

different than any other I've read. The packets don't 'kiss' and
there are a few golden discrepancies which make it work. To
be frank, I only do this for other magicians as a magician
fooler. Why, you ask? Why not!? Okay, enough already. Let's
get on with it.
You require the four Queens and fourteen black spot
cards. Place the face-up Queens (in S, C, H, D from face to rear)
on the face-up spot cards. Spread the combined packet
(between the hands) to display. Don't linger too long as you
don't want the spectators counting the spot cards. As you close
the spread, catch a pinky break under the sixth-from- face
card. The right hand (in Biddle Grip) takes the supposed
Queens-only packet as the left hand flips the spot packet face
down back into dealing grip. Place the Queens packet (actually
six cards) onto the face-down spot packet but catch a pinky
break under it. The left thumb then pushes over the face three
Queens to display all four. Say, "I'm going to lay out the
Queens in the traditional manner; the Queen of Spades being
the leader." The right hand takes the QS and tables it face
down in front of you. The right hand then takes the QC and
tables it face down to outer right position. The right fingers
then push the QH square with the QD and instantly flip the
block of four face down onto the packet. Without pausing, the
left thumb pushes off the top card (supposed QD) and tables it
face down to the left of the face-down QC and then the
supposed QH is thumbed off to the left of the supposed QD.
For clarity, let's call the leader packet A (nearest you) and the
other piles, from left to right, B, C & D (nearest the audience).
Flip the inhand packet face up into right-hand Biddle
Grip and catch a thumb break above the bottom card. You now
appear to peel off four groups of three cards and drop them
face down on each packet. Here's what you do.
22
The left thumb peels off the face spot card into left-
hand dealing grip. As it peels a second card, the card beneath
the break (the QD) is dropped onto the face of the first card.
Keep the packets 'tight' so the QD isn't exposed. Peel a third
spot card and drop the four-card packet (supposed three spot
cards) face down onto the leader packet at A. Again, catch a
right thumb break above the bottom card (QH) of the face-up
packet and repeat the peel sequence loading the Queen as
before. Drop this four-card packet (supposed three spot cards)
face down onto the QC at D. Using the same actions, you peel
three cards (for real) and drop face down onto C and then peel
the final three cards and drop face down onto B.
Say, "The Queens are going to leave these three
packets [point to B, C, & D] and join the leader here." Point to
A. Snap your fingers for effect and pick up pile B. Flip it face
up to show four spot cards. Flip it face down to position. Pick
up the leader pile into face-up dealing grip. Push over the face
three cards to display the QS followed by two spot cards and
then the QD. Keep the last two cards squared as one. Say,
"Queen number one has flown!" The right hand takes the three
face cards and the left hand inserts its double under the QS.
Square the packet, flip it face down and table it back to
position A. Snap your fingers for effect and pick up pile C.
Flip it face up to show four spot cards. Flip it face down to
position. Pick up the leader pile into face-up dealing grip.
Perform an Elmsley Count which shows the packet containing
three Queens. Then tilt the packet face toward you (so that the
spectators can't see its face), spread it (careful not to spread the
last card; a double) and make the following quick adjustment.
Switch the positions of the two central cards (QD & spot card)
and place the rear double to face. Flip the packet face down
and place back to the leader position at A. Snap your fingers
for effect and flip the leader packet face up back into dealing
23
t
grip. Look perturbed and say, MOh, its all gone haywire."
Perform an Elmsley Count to display four spot cards. This is an
unexpected surprise and very magical to boot!
Say, "Where the heck are the Queens?" Flip the
inhand leader packet face down and immediately palm the
top card (QD) into the right hand. With the card palmed, drop
the face-down leader packet back to A as your left hand scoops
up pile B. The right hand adds the palmed card to the top of
pile B as it turns it face up into left-hand dealing grip. (This is
easier than you may think and is covered by the following
action.) The left thumb pushes off the face three spot cards to
display four. The last card is a double. All looks copacetic. (It's
a nice touch.) Say, "We know they’re not here." Square the
packet and flip it face down to B. Pick up pile C, flip it face up
and spread it to show four spot cards for real. Flip it face
down, slightly unsquared, to C. (You'll see why you leave it
unsquared later on.) Say, "They're not here, either!" Pick up
pile D in face-down right-hand Biddle Grip. Say, "They must
be here then." (Pile D contains, from top; spot, QH, spot, spot,
QC.) You are now going to display this packet as containing
four Queens like this: Perform a double lift to show the QH.
(Make the lift look like a block push-off that you'll be doing
next.) Flip it face down onto the packet and deal off the top
card to position D as you say, "One Queen." Casually place the
top card of the packet to bottom and then do a block push-off
triple lift (like I do in Diminishing Not Likely from Gold Dust)
to show the QC. Flip the triple face down and deal the top
card onto the card already at D as you say, "Two Queens." Flip
the inhand packet face up into dealing grip (to display the QH
again). The left thumb pushes it off and the right hand deals it
face down onto the cards at D. "Three Queens." Without delay,
the right hand takes the QC (a double) from the left hand and
turns it face down onto the cards at D as you say, "And four
Queens!" Handle the display smoothly and the
24
alternating QH-QC display will pass as all four Queens. They

think it's all over so relax during the applause. Relaxing takes
the heat off the following actions.
Using the top card as a scoop (i.e., place it to bottom)
pick up packet D and hold in face-down right-hand Biddle
Grip. This action should look like a ’toying’ squaring action as
if you are tidying your work space. Palm the top card into the
right hand and as you drop the squared (tidied) packet back at
D, the left hand picks up the 'messy' pile C. The right-hand
palmed card is added to top of C as you square (tidy) it up. If
you know it, use Vernon's allround square-up action. To end
say, "Maybe I should start again with a Queen on top of each
packet!?" (This is discrepant because the Queens should be on
the bottom of each packet.) Regain attention, snap your
fingers and turn the top cards of each packet face up to
display the four Queens. That's it.
Kaneaces
Seca Alabbak appeared in The Magic Circular some twelve

years ago or more. It was based on Peter Kane's Kabbala Aces
from Kabbala and Kane. My new handling is ever so simple but
ever so powerful. It's a worker.
All you require are the four Aces and a Kaps
(loading) Wallet. The wallet is in your inner left jacket pocket
with the slide up. (I just know this routine will make you use
your wallet if you're a nervy palm-loader!) In this routine, you
’openly’ load the wallet in a one-ahead fashion. It's very
sneaky.
Okay; have the Aces signed by the spectator. Hold
them face down in dealing in grip in C, S, H, D from top to
bottom. Perform a block push-off triple lift to display the
25
AH. Flip the triple face down and push off the top card; the
supposed Heart. Supposedly place it (don't flash its face) into
your inner left jacket pocket, but actually slide it into the
wallet. As you say, "Look, the Heart goes in my pocket",
casually switch positions of the top two cards of the packet.
Then perform a block push-off double lift to display the AS.
Flip the double face down and push off the top card, the
supposed Spade, and place it on the spectator's palm. Say,
"You hold the Spade. Watch. I'm going to make the Spade and
Heart switch positions."
Palm the top card off the two-card packet (into your
right hand) and reach into your inner jacket pocket. Remove
the card and show it as being the Spade. The spectator will
instantly turn her card over to find she has the Heart. This is
all very magical and will garner much applause. All the while,
hold the single card in your left hand as if it were two cards.
Say, "That leaves me with the Club and Diamond. I'm going to
make the Club vanish!" Flick the inhand card and turn it face
up to reveal just the Diamond. Say, "The Club has just flown
around the room three times, gone up my trouser leg, across
my chest, down my sleeve, into my pocket and into my wallet!
Yes, into my walletl" Pull out your wallet and slowly reveal the
signed Club in the zippered section. It's an eye-popping
moment. Excuse my excitement, but this is such a good and
unusual use for and of the Kaps Wallet and one I think you'll
use a lot.
Acid DNL
Magicians worldwide have been using my Diminishing Not

Likely (from Gold Dust) for nearly twenty-seven years.
Methinks they'll shortly be adding Acid DNL to their
repertoire.
26
Prior to performance, the Aces are atop the deck in B,

R, B, R order. Perform a straddle Faro shuffle (see Gold Dust)
and strip out to top so that from top you have Ace, X, Ace, X,
Ace, X, Ace. If you don't want to do the straddle Faro, simply
start with the cards set as above. The X cards are unimportant.
When ready to perform, push off the top four cards
off the deck and secretly add the fifth to the bottom of the
packet. Don't make a move out of this. Do it casually whilst
pattering. Table the packet and casually slip-cut the top card
of the deck to centre. Table the deck and pick up the packet.
Position check: There is a red Ace atop the deck and the
facedown inhand packet, from top, is A, X, A, X, A. Let's
assume the first X card is the 4S and the second X card is the
5D.
Say, "When I first got into magic I visited the local
magic shop and asked to see the four-card trick. The magician
showed me one, two, three and four Five of Diamonds." Here
you do a block push-off (as in Diminishing Not Likely) of four
cards to display the 5D. Flip the block face down and table the
supposed 5D. Perform another block push-off of three cards to
display another (?) 5D. Flip the block face down and table the
supposed 5D onto the just-tabled card. Perform another block
push-#ff of two cards to display another(?) 5D. Flip the block
face down and table the supposed 5D onto the two tabled
cards. Drop the inhand double (keep it squared) as one onto
the tabled packet. Pick up the packet into dealing grip and
show the top card as a fourth 5D and flip it face down to top.
Say, "I said to him I can't do much with four Five of
Diamonds?"
Repeat the whole of the above sequence to show four
4S's as you say, "He said, could you use four Four of Spades?"
This is all very magical.
Casually cut the bottom two cards to top as you say,
"I asked him if he had the four-Ace trick. He replied, why
didn't you say that in the first place?"
27
Flip the packet face up and do an Elmsley Count to

display four Aces. This is startling. Drop the packet face down
onto the deck so that all four Aces coalesce. The four Aces are
now under the 5D and 4S. You can either complete cut the
deck and end, or lose the top two cards any way you know
how and continue with a four-Ace trick.
Lecturing In Sweden
Soggy Sandwich
Lin Searles is one of the creators of the Parity Principle. This

routine of mine (utilising Searles' move) was a favourite of
Aldo Colombini’s and was to appear on a new DVD of his.
Sadly, we lost Aldo far too soon.
Openly place a face-down mystery card between two
face-up tabled black Jacks. Say, "A mystery card guarded by
the black Jacks. Now, please give me any number from one to
ten. Then to randomise it further, double it." This procedure
ensures the final number is even. So, if they say seven the final
calculation will be fourteen. Deal fourteen cards onto the
tabled sandwich. Now, because the sandwich is covered a
little time-misdirection will/might
28
help the spectators momentarily forget about its existence; but

it doesn’t matter if they don't forget it.
Spread the inhand portion, have a card selected and
control it to the top. Pick up the tabled block and drop it onto
the inhand portion. If you can, jogshuffle the deck retaining
the top half in situ. Say, "The Jacks are now going to perform
some magic. Watch." Push off the top two cards (together; as a
pair) and table them. Repeat again forming a tabled pile; each
time pushing off and tabling a pair at a time. When you have
gone a few cards past the Jacks, stop and say, "Have you seen
the Jacks yet?" When they say yes, table-spread the tabled
portion to reveal the sandwich. Say, "Do you recall the
mystery card I placed between the Jacks at the start? Well, the
mystery card is ...your card!" Reveal it to be so.
Invisible Ink
The credits here include Bob Walker, Larry Jennings, Alex

Elmsley and John Bannon. This trick is based on my own
Psychedelic Foursome from Gold Dust Companion. The kicker
is quite startling. You require the four Aces from a red- backed
deck and a red/red double-backer to match.
On the back of the AC write Ace of Clubs. On the
back of the AH write Ace of Hearts. On the back of the AS
write Ace of Spades. Don't write on the AD. On one side of the
double-backer write Ace of Diamonds. Use a thick- nibbed
Sharpie pen. From face to rear the four Aces are face up in
CHaSeD order. The marked side of the double-backer is on
bottom with the marked side upward.
To perform, flip the packet face down into dealing
grip. Say, "When I was a boy, invisible ink was all the rage if
you had a chemistry set. It only appeared when heated.
29
Look, I have four marked magical Aces here." Flip the packet
face up and do the Flushtration Count to show four
red-backed Aces. The last card is a double so be gentle with it.
As you place the double on the packet (AD shows) catch a
pinky break under it. The packet is face up in dealing grip.
Say, "The Ace of Diamonds is the leader. Whatever it does, the
others do too." Flip the double face down onto the packet. A
red back shows. Pause for time misdirection and say, "One by
one the Aces will turn face up. Watch. Here's the Club."
Perform an Elmsley Count and upjog the AC as it appears.
Remove it and place it face up to second from bottom of the
packet. To achieve this easily, the left forefinger buckles the
bottom card at the outer right comer thereby forming a break
at the rear. "Now here's the Heart." Perform another Elmsley
Count and upjog the AH as it appears. Remove it and place it
face up to the bottom of the packet. "Here's the Spade."
Perform a Jordan Count to reveal the AS. Don't upjog or
remove it. Slide out the bottom card, flip it face up (to show
it's the AD) and place it on top. As you do this, say, "And of
course the Diamond is the leader." Pause for more time
misdirection. Place your right hand over the packet (to warm
it) and say, "I did say they were marked...with invisible ink
didn't I!? Well, if you warm it like this..." Remove your hand
and flip the packet face down into right-hand Biddle Grip.
The left thumb peels the top three cards into the left hand
forming a spread/fan and the final card (a double) is placed
on top to the right. The left thumb clamps it in position. Four
marked cards are magically displayed. This is very strong.
Continuing say, "... The writing becomes visible!" Pocket the
packet and do something else.
"Paul Gordon is one of the most exciting card entertainers we've enjoyed
since Lorayne hit it big in the 60's." - Billy McComb
30
Paul Gordon and Harry Lorayne in 1994
Grasshopper
Grasshopper first appeared in my book, X-periments 2. This is

a new handling. It's a packet trick for workers and it's a real
fooler. The patter and presentation should reflect a super-fast
transposition.
You need two Jokers (the faces needn't match) and
five blank-faced cards. The backs of all seven cards must be
the same. To perform, openly display all seven cards and then
hand the two Jokers to a spectator. Ask another spectator to
sign the face of any blank card and place it face up between
the face-up Jokers. Place this three-caid fan onto the face of
the four remaining blanks and flip the packet face down. As if
to reiterate the scenario, casually place the top card to bottom
and using the block push off (as used in Diminishing Not
Likely in Gold Dust), flip the top seven cards face up (as one)
onto the bottom card. Immediately spread over the two face
cards to display the sandwich of the signed blank between the
two Jokers. Close the spread and flip the block of seven face
down (onto the bottom card). Without pausing, push over the
top three cards (assumed to be the sandwich) and table them.
Ask the spectator to place her hand over them. Using the
Flushtration Count, display the inhand four cards as four
blanks. Everything looks
31
copacetic. Position check: The three tabled cards are actually

blanks and the four inhand face-down cards are the sandwich
with a blank on top. I simply say here, "Look. You are
guarding the two Jokers who themselves are guarding your
signed card. I have the other blanks! Watch! Please raise your
hand." To end, palm off the top blank off the inhand packet
and add it to the tabled pile as you spread it to show four
cards. Reveal them as four blanks and then reveal the inhand
three cards as the sandwich. End!
Miss Terry Card
Some twenty years ago I created a trick entitled The Main

Thrust. It first appeared in my 1997 book, Protean Card Magic
and was based upon an August Roterberg concept from New
Era Card Tricks. Well, I've twinned my routine with a Terry
Lagerould effect from Pasteboard Presentations 2 and Miss
Terry Card is the result. It's a Mystery Card effect.
There is a four-card set-up. From top: 6S, 9C, 6C, 9S.
Note that the first two cards look similar to the next two cards;
which is the basis of the trick.
To perform, jogshuffle the deck retaining the set-up
and say, "For this little miracle, I need a mystery card. A
random card!" Here you place the top card (6S) face down to
one side without revealing its face. (I spin it out from the
apparent centre using the Benzais Spin Out.) Say, "I also need
you to choose a card and sign it." Flere they choose a card
from the deck and after they sign it, you control it to top above
your (now) three-card set-up.
Catch a break under the top two cards and perform a
Braue Reversal which brings the entire deck face up with the
selection and 9C face down at the rear. Say, "I need two
helpers now!" Here you spread the face-up deck between
32
the hands (being careful not to flash to two rearmost cards)

and upjog the 6C and 9S which will be about centre. As I do
this, I make a silly joke: "Yes, these will do. In fact, can I
ask...on a scale of one to one-hundred how immature are you?
I'm sixty-nine!" This risque joke is both funny and
misdirectional as you will soon see. Strip out the 6C and 9S, flip
them face down and place them to the bottom/rear of the
deck. Then flip the deck over into dealing grip. The deck is
now face down with the following four cards face up on top:
9S, 6C, 9C, Selection. During the laughs, catch a pinky break
under the top four cards. With the left thumb, push off the 9S
to show both the 9S and the 6C. Now, appear to flip them face
down onto the deck but flip all four over. (If you know the
subtle Zarrow Add-On, use it!) Deal the top two cards,
thereby reversing their order, onto the tabled mystery card.
The spectators assume these cards are the just- displayed 6C
and 9S. Place the deck aside and pick up the tabled three-card
sandwich. As I do these actions, I look at the spectators and
with a twinkle in my eye I say, "Soixante- neuf. Get it?" It's
both funny and affords time-misdirection. After a pause, turn
the top and bottom cards face up. The pseudo-mates (the 6S
and 9C) are seen but no one will notice the discrepancy;
especially bearing in mind you rfiade them laugh. Laughter is
good misdirection as I noted above! (Another discrepancy
here is that you placed the Six and Nine onto the mystery card
and it appears in the centre. Believe me, no one will notice if
you pause for misdirection! But, if you are nervous about this,
deal the top card, then do a bottom deal. The remaining card
will appear to be your mystery card.)
Then ending is nigh and it's all theatrical build up.
Say, "Don't forget I placed the mystery card aside before you
chose your card! True? True! Well, how about this for a
mystery?" Turn over the sandwiched card to reveal it as the
signed card as you say, "The mystery card is your card!"
33
TUP(A)CT
This is a variation of my own Flushed Surprise from Gold Dust

Companion. It's truly utilitarian in as much that the ending
kicker depends on your own imagination. I suggest you read
and absorb the trick before you write on the cards. TUP(A)CT
stands for The Utilitarian Packet Card Trick.
You need five special cards: A regular blue-backed
black spot card, two blank facers (with blue backs) and two
blank backers; the faces of which are the same as the regular
card.
The set-up from face to rear: spot/blank backer (spot
side showing), regular card (spot side showing), the two blank
facers (blank faces showing), spot/blank backer (spot side
showing).
The writing on the cards: At the denouement of the
trick, the patter is, "Give Me A Kiss!" It could be, "Go Buy The
Book," or "Buy Me A Drink", or something stronger! Use your
imagination. So, going from face to rear (of the packet set as
above) write ME on the back of the first card. Write KISS on the
face of the third card. Write A on the face of the fourth card.
Write GIVE on the back of the fifth card. Note: The orientation
of the cards is important. During the trick you must always
turn the packet over sideways and not end for end. Bearing
that in mind, the writing on the back of the first two and fifth
cards must 'face' the audience. The writing on the faces of the
third and fourth cards must face you the performer. As I
hinted at earlier, try the trick with blanks first and you'll see
and understand the whys and wherefores!
The performance: Best perform this for someone you
know or for someone you have developed a good rapport
with. Okay; whilst casually chatting about Oil and Water (not
mixing etc) to the audience, perform an Elmsley Count (whilst
the packet is face up) to show four black spot cards.
34
Say, "The black faces represent Oil." Flip the packet face down
(turn it sideways) and casually place the top card to bottom.
Perform another Elmsley Count to show four blue backs as
you say, "...And the blue backs represent water." Flip the
packet face up (by turning it sideways) and then hold it
face-up in right-hand Biddle Grip (from above). Say, "I'm now
going to mix them face up and face down representing the
mixing of oil and water." Okay, read/try carefully: The left
thumb peels off the first spot card into the left palm. The right
hand turns over so the left thumb can peel the face-down
(rear) card onto the first spot card. The right hand turns over
again so that the left thumb can peel the next spot card face
up onto the two cards in the left palm. Finally, the right-hand
double is placed (as one) face down onto the left-hand cards.
Say, "So, oil and water are mixed. But, I'm a magician. Watch.
If I snap my fingers I have separated them!" Here you do a
modified Elmsley (type) Count like this: Using the standard
grip, peel (and deal) a single, another single, then push off a
double and then a single. This count displays two face-up spot
cards followed by two face-down cards. Applause. Hold the
face-up packet in dealing grip and spread over the first three
cards to show four; two face-up spot cards followed by two
fece-down cards. The fourth card is a double so hold it
carefully. Casually place the bottom card (the double) to the
face of the packet as you close the spread. Say, "But, if I snap
my fingers again, all the cards turn face down. Oil and water
just don't mix!" Here you perform another Elmsley Count to
show four face-down cards. More applause. The assumption
is that the spot cards are on the other side as they ought to be.
Say, "If you want to know how this trick is done you can give
me a kiss!" (Say this with a wink.) Turn the packet over as you
continue, "...No, really..." Here you deal the cards into a
tabled pile (the last card is a double) to reveal the
35
words GIVE ME A KISS. Scoop the packet away as you

receive your well-earned smacker on the lips!
Important notes: If you can find the correct fakes,
you could reveal the four Aces instead of the writing on the
blanks. I, however, prefer the comedy approach. If you want
to end clean, you could "cop" or palm the regular card just
before you deal the cards to the table at the denouement. I
don't think it's particularly necessary.
After my 1997 Tannen's Lecture with Ken Krenzel, Howie

Schwarzman, Harry Lorayne & Michael Vincent
Shocked Aces Sans Selections
This is based on my own Shocked Aces from Gold Dust. It

eliminates the selections and the Reverse Faro. It's a powerful
quickie.
Lay the Aces face up in a left to right row in S, H, C,
D order from left to right. Flip them face down as you say,
"Have you seen the trick where the magician puts a few cards
on top of each Ace?" Some folks will nod in recognition.
"Well, we still have no idea as to why they do
36
it!" (This is a funny in-joke because it's true; why do we do it?)

Here you spread off three cards off the inhand deck and table
them on the first Ace. You repeat this for the other three Aces.
(If there are magicians present, I often feign a false add on just
as a throw off.) So, each face-down Ace is now covered with
three face-down X cards.
Continuing, "Then, they re-gather the piles. Why?
We don't know that either!" Here you gather the piles by
dropping the AS pile onto the AH pile. Then the combined
two piles onto the AC and then all three onto the AD pile. (If
you know the Harry Lorayne pile-gathering subtlety I use in
Shocked Aces, use it.) Drop the sixteen-card block onto the
deck and jogshuffle retaining the block in situ.
Say, "But, here's what we do know! Watch. I'm going
to spell to the Ace of Diamonds." Here you deal/spell (one
card per letter) to the table, T-h-e-A-c-e-O-f-D-i-a-m-o- n-d-s.
Turn the final 's' card over to show the AD and place it aside.
Also, the deck is no longer required. Place it aside.
Pick up the tabled fifteen-card packet and cut the
bottom card to top as you say, "For Clubs, I can just spell the
suit." Here you deal/spell, C-l-u-b-s. Turn the 's' card over to
show the AC and place it with the AD. Drop the inhand
portion onto the small tabled four-card portion and pick the
whole lot up. Say, "To find the Ace of Spades, I can spell
anythingl" Pause for three beats and then spell/deal, A-n-y-t-
h-i-n-g. (It's a funny gag.) Turn over the 'g' card to show the
AS and place it with the AD and AC. Drop the inhand cards
onto the tabled seven-card pile and pick the whole lot up. The
AH is now tenth from top. To locate it, I spell my name (Paul
Gordon) because it has ten letters in it. If you cut one card
from bottom to top, you can spell Abracadabra or Ace of
Hearts. They both spell with eleven letters. My advice is to
find a spectator whose name you know spells with ten letters.
You'll floor him; especially if he doesn't realise you know his
name!
37
Four-Ace Opener
For those who asked, here's my first version of Diminishing

Not Likely. (See Gold Dust.) It's a packet trick. It first appeared
on my 1989 video, Deck In Hand. The set-up from top: Ace,
Ace, Ace, Jack, Ace. Okay, the face-down packet is in dealing
grip. Perform a block push-off turnover (of four cards) to
show a Jack. Flip the block face down (onto the single inhand
card) and deal the supposed Jack to the table. Repeat the
above two more times. It looks like you've tabled three
duplicate Jacks. Keep the inhand double squared and drop it
on top of the tabled packet. Show the top card as a (fourth)
Jack and place it to the bottom as you scoop the packet up.
Perform a Flushtration Count to show four Jacks. To end, flip
packet face up and deal the four Aces (the third is a double)
face up onto the table. (Or do an inhand Ascanio spread.) It's a
killer quickie! The patter is, "I asked the man in the magic
shop for the four-Ace trick. With that he showed me four
duplicate Jacks. I asked him how I could do the four-Ace trick
with four Jacks. Easy, he said. Snap your fingers and bingo!"
Version two follows wherein four duplicate Jacks change into
four duplicate Ace of Spades and then into four regular Aces.
The Deaf Dealer
From the top: Ace, Ace, Ace of Spades, Jack, Ace. Do an

inhand Diminishing Lift (as in Diminishing Not Likely)
display to show three Jacks and place last card (a double) on
the top of packet. Flip the top card, the Jack, face up; and leave
it face up. Four duplicate Jacks are seen. Perform a reversing
Through the Fist flourish to show the AS. This is magical.
With a block push-off, flip the top four over (as
38
one) and deal the top card to the table. Slide out the bottom
card, flip it face up onto packet (it's the Jack) and do a
reversing Through the Fist flourish to show 'another' AS. Flip
three cards over (as one) and deal the top card to the table.
Slide out the bottom card, flip it face up onto the packet to
show the Jack. Perform a reversing Through the Fist flourish
to show yet another AS. Flip two cards over and deal the top
card to the table. Hold the last card (a double) face down in
right-hand Biddle Grip. Turn the right hand palm up to show
the face of the double (the Jack). As you turn the right hand
palm down, the left fingers push the Jack into full right-hand
palm. Load it into your trouser pocket as the left hand places
the AS onto the table. To end, show the four tabled cards as all
four different Aces.
Tribute To Roger Curzon
Excuse immodesty, but this is a packet killer! I received a very

nice note from Roger about this. He tells me his original was
based on a Phil Goldstein (Max Maven) trick from the 1970's.
Set-up from face to rear: Three face-up red-backed Jokers,
R/B double-backer (blue side upward). Place this packet in
your pocket.
From a blue deck have two cards chosen, removed
and signed. Leave them face down on the table in a pile.
Remove the Joker packet from the pocket and spread it face
up to show three Jokers. Keep the last two cards squared as
one. Flash the three(?) red backs and drop them face-up onto
the face-down tabled packet. Say, "These are my protector
cards. They are going to protect your selections." Pick up the
combined pile into dealing grip and push over (with the
thumb) the top three cards and take them into the right hand
in a face-up spread. Flash the red backs if you wish. The left
39
hand holds three face-down cards; supposedly two. The left

thumb deals/spreads off the top card and it's slid between top
two Jokers of the right hand. Next, the left-hand double is slid
(as one) between the bottom two Jokers. Say, "From face we
have, Joker, Selection, Joker, Selection, Joker. Well and truly
protected!"
Bottom palm (into right palm) the bottom three cards
and load them into your wallet. Or, cop them in the left hand
and load them into your jacket pocket. Show the packet as
being "Joker, Selection, Joker, Selection, Joker" using the
Hamman Count (do the switch on the count of three). It's a
great display. To end, do a reversing Through The Fist flourish
and then spread the packet to show just three red backs;
presumed Jokers. Say, "The Jokers are not so good at
protecting after all. Probably ex MI5!" Casually pocket the
packet. Finally, produce the two selections from the
pocket/wallet leaving the other Joker behind.
Undoing Simon
When Simon Aronson published his Undo Principle in Try

The Impossible, I started toying with other possibilities. This is
my favourite. (I sent this idea to Simon himself. He liked
certain aspects of it. I like it all.) It’s an unusual face-up
handling and prediction.
Prior to performance, take a business card and place
it blank side up on the table. Have the 52-card deck shuffled
and spread it face up (from left to right) on the table. Say,
"Everyone has a unique shuffle and with that in mind, Fm
going to make two unique predictions." Stare at the spread as
if examining their shuffle. As you do, mentally note the third
and seventh from top cards. Assume, for this explanation
only, they are the two black Queens. Square the
40
deck and openly write "The Queen of Spades and Queen of

Clubs” on the tabled card. Leave the prediction on view. Pick
up the deck and jogshuffle it retaining the top seven cards in
situ. Then perform two straddle Faro shuffles (and slough
offs to top) which brings the black Queens to 9th and 25th
from top. Table the deck face down.
Have two cards chosen in the standard (UnDo/Prior
Commitment) way. Briefly; the first spectator cuts off about a
third of the deck and remembers the face card of the packet.
He retains the packet whilst the second spectator cuts deep
into the remainder. He too remembers the face card (of the
packet) and retains his packet. Then, the first spectator
returns his packet onto the tabled third followed by the
second spectator replacing his packet on top. In essence, both
packets have been transposed. To continue, flip the deck face
up and ribbon spread it from left to right.
Say, ”Do you recall the two predictions I made before
you both chose a card? Well, you didn't have to remember
them because I wrote them down." Push the two black
Queens out of the spread and form three piles by separating
the deck at the juncture of the Queens (or whatever your
predictions are) and then square each of the three mini
spreads. Casually reform the deck by placing the rightmost
packet on the leftmost packet and then the (new) right packet
on the just-combined left packet. Flip the deck face down. By
this stage, the spectators will assume you are hinting that the
black Queens are their selections. Say, "No, I know they're not
your cards but they will help me." Pick both Queens up and
hold one to your left ear and one to your right ear. (Act as if
they are whispering information to you.) As you re-table
them say, "They predict fifteen and forty-two." To end, pick
up the deck, count to the fifteenth card and place it aside.
Whilst still holding the deck, resume the count at sixteen and
place the forty-second card aside. Reveal them as the
selections.
41
Predictable
This is based on the old "clock" trick; a concept that has

inspired many routines of mine in my various books over the
years. On the rear of your business card write "Count to the
25*h card". Leave the card 'business info upward' on the table.
Have the deck shuffled and state that you need two
predictions. Flip the deck face up toward you and reverse
count the cards from the face into your right hand mentally
counting as you do. Note the thirteenth card (assume JC) and
then locate and table (face down) any Jack and any Club.
When done, square the deck so that the JC is now thirteenth
from top of the face-down deck. The face-down Jack is to your
left and the face-down Club is to your right. Say, "Everyone
has a favourite hour of the day. One o'clock might be
lunchtime, three o'clock might be teatime, six o'clock might be
dinner time and so on." Whilst pattering, jogshuffle the deck
retaining the top thirteen cards in situ. Table the deck and say,
"Please take the deck and, whilst my back is turned, deal an
amount of cards from the top that correspond to your
favourite time of day. Then, hide the cards from view and
hand me the deck. Thank you!" So, assume they deal off five
cards. (My patter is structured so that they don't take cards
from elsewhere in the deck thereby ruining the effect.) Take
the face-down remainder and swiftly deal the top twelve
cards into a face-up overlapping left to right row. Say, "Please
note the card in the spread that corresponds to your number."
Here, point to the rightmost card (the leftmost from their
viewpoint) and call it 'one'. So, they note the fifth card which
is the JC. Say, "Are you done? Good!" Scoop up the spread,
flip it face down and drop it on the deck. Then ask them to
drop their packet on top of all. Thanks to the clock force, the
JC is still thirteenth from top. Perform one Straddle Faro (and
slough off to top) which brings the JC to twenty-fifth from top.
To
42
end, turn over the leftmost prediction. Say, "This card tells me
your card was a Jack. Correct?" Turn over the rightmost
prediction and continue, "And this card tells me it was a Club.
The Jack of Clubs. Correct?" They think it's all over. Pause
and say, "You see my business card? Please turn it over and
read it out." Here they read your prediction. Ask them to
count to the twenty-fifth card; and watch them fall off their
seat with amazement. End.
The Eye-Popper
In trying to iron out an issue with Dave Campbell’s All

Change from The Campbell Legacy, I not only succeeded in my
mission, I ended up changing the whole trick and finale.
Dave's original used five cards, mine uses six.
You need three red duplicate court cards (assume
QH) and three black duplicate spot cards (assume AC.) All
the backs need to be different, but it’d be ideal if one had a
standard well-known design like a Bicycle Rider back. The
set-up from face to rear is Q, A, A, A, Q, Q. All the cards are
face up. On the back of the fourth-from-face card (an Ace)
write a mock up of an Optician's eye chart. The back of the
sixth-from-face card should ideally be the Bicycle back. This,
however, is not vital. Turn the packet face down and pocket
it. To perform, remove the packet (subliminally showing the
Bicycle back) and flip it face up. Casually place the face card
(a Queen) to the table and then the (new) face card (an Ace) to
rear.
Perform an Elmsley Count with the packet to show
four Aces as you say, "Four Aces in my hand and one Queen
on the table!" Whilst holding the face-up packet in left hand
dealing grip, turn the hand palm down and point out the
tabled Queen; which subliminally shows the Bicycle back
43
again. Turn the left hand palm up again. Say, "Using magic,
I'm going to turn these Aces into Queens one by one!" Regrip
the face-up packet in right-hand Biddle Grip and using the
Flushtration Count (which reverses the order of the cards; the
last being a double), show three Aces and one Queen. Four
regular Bicycle backs are also seen. Re-grip the packet in
right-hand Biddle Grip. For the second change, reverse deal
the packet back into the left hand (last card is a double) to
show two Aces and two Queens. Casually cut the bottom two
cards to face. Grip the packet in Elmsley grip and tap the
tabled Queen. This gives you a good rationale for changing
grips and subsequent count. Okay, for the third change
perform an underground (last card goes to the bottom of the
packet) Elmsley Count (to show three Queens and one Ace).
Say, "If I switch this Ace for the tabled Queen, I will end up
with the exact opposite to what I started with." Openly switch
the face Ace and the tabled Queen. The Ace is therefore now
tabled. Perform another underground Elmsley Count with the
packet to reveal four Queens. This, supposedly, is the end of
the routine and will gamer much applause. But, you have two
kicker surprises to reveal. (Advanced workers can now palm
off the face Queen and lap/pocket it and then continue with
the following patter.) For non-advanced workers say, "Some
folks think I use marked cards. Well, I do! Look!" Flip the
packet face down and reverse-deal to the table (or from hand
to hand) to show four very different backs. The last card is a
double, the top one of which is hiding the (fifth card) Bicycle
back. Flandle the double carefully. This reveal is astonishing.
Scoop up the packet and pocket it. To end say, "If you missed
or didn't see those markings, you need to get your eyes
tested!" Turn over the tabled Ace to reveal the eye chart!
Dropped jaw time! End. Note: As it's a utilitarian concept,
instead of the eye chart you could write your business details
and end with the line, "If you missed the markings, give me a
call!" Trade
44
show workers will definitely use this to promote the

company they are working for. To be frank, you are only
limited by your imagination.
Not Too Far
There are many versions of Stewart James's Further Than

That (The James File) in print. In fact, I've published a few
myself. A favourite of mine is in Gold Dust Companion. Many
of the variations have complex set-ups, this one doesn't. This
first appeared in my Tannen's '97 lecture notes.
From the top of the deck: 10, J, Q, K, A of Spades, X-
card, 2, 2, 2, 2S. The patter is the standard 'further than that'
patter. So, using the ten to twenty force, force the 2S. In other
words, ask the spectator to name a number between ten and
twenty. Assume she says fifteen. From the top of the deck
deal fifteen cards. Place the deck aside and pick up the
fifteen-card packet. Seeing as one plus five equals six, deal six
cards and have the spectator remember the top card (the 2S)
of the tabled packet. She returns it and you drop the inhand
remainder on top. Pick up the fifteen-dard packet and drop it
onto the deck. Jogshuffle the deck retaining the top stock in
situ. Name their card as being the Two of Spades. This is
magical. Then spell t-w-o (three cards) to the table on your
right. Slip cut the top card of the deck to centre or double-cut
it to the bottom. Then, to the table on your left, spell s-p-a-d-e
(five cards) and deal the sixth card (the last 's' of Spades) to
the middle of the table. Reveal this card as the 2S and then
reveal the other Twos and the royal flush by turning over the
two tabled packets. This is a very direct handling of James's
original. Like Mirror-Skill (in this book), it's another trick that
Allan Slaight had wished he had known about for inclusion in
The James File.
45
Killer Mystery Card
This is directly based on Jack Carpenter's Mysterious from

Modus Operandi, 1992. I first devised this in the late 90's and
after I wrote it up, I immediately forgot all about it. Well, I
wish I hadn't. It is, excuse immodesty, a killer. It's also unique
in concept. The Mystery Card is on display from the start.
Okay, place the QD face down on a wine glass and ensure that
no one sees its face. You need to remove it from the deck in
such a way that it appears random. I control it to top and
simply cut to it. Say, "I'm going to leave a mystery card right
here." Continuing, spread the deck face up toward you and
upjog the other three Queens and the JD. Place them on the
face of the deck so that, from the face, you have the QH, black
Queen, black Queen and JD. With care, you can spread the
face four cards so that, with good finger covering, the JD will
pass off as the QD. Usually, my left thumb tip masks the J of
the JD. Anyway, re-square them and pick up only three cards.
Table the supposed four Queens in a face-up pile. Table the
deck. Perform an Elmsley Count with the Queen packet (to
show four Queens) and turn it face down. All looks kosher as
all four Queens are supposedly displayed. To continue, have a
card chosen from the deck and signed. Have it returned and
control it to the top. Top palm it and add it onto the Queen
packet as you pick it up. Say, "So remember. We have a
mystery card on the glass, a signed card in the deck and the
four Queens here. Well, to ensure I can't get to the mystery
card, I'll let the black Queens guard it." Perform a block
push-off triple lift to show a black Queen. Flip the triple over
and thumb off the top card and slide it under the mystery card.
Casually place the bottom card of the packet to top and do a
block push-off (double) to show the other black Queen. Flip
the double over and thumb off the top card and place it on top
of the mystery card. Reiterate the situation and then say,
46
"Being a magician I can make the Queens swap places!"

Perform a magical gesture and show the two black Queens
are now in your hands. Slowly pick up the three cards on the
wine glass and hold in Elmsley Count pinch grip. The free
hand takes the top card and flips it face up. It's placed under
the packet spread to the left. The packet is transferred into
pinch grip in the other hand and the top card is turned face up
to position and spread to the right. There is one card face
down in the centre. To end say, "Here are the red Queens
guarding the mystery card. Well, the mystery card happens to
be...your card!" Reveal it with flair. This is strong magic.
Recollecting
Jon Racherbaumer's Recollectors from Richard's Almanac is

one of my favourite routines. To my way of thinking,
however, it's a tad over-handled. And, passing off a very thick
packet of cards as only four is not to my liking. Here is my
solution which I hope you like. (I received a very nice "well
done, I like it" email from Jon himself about this handling of
mine.)
Before you begin, the four Aces are face down to
your left and the four Kings are face down to your right. You
can openly do this as it's not a secret as to the identity of the
cards. The deck is face down in the left hand with a pinky
break under the top four cards. Turn the left hand over (palm
down) and pick up the four-King packet. Turn your hand
over again so that the four Kings are now face up atop the
face-down deck. Your pinky break is now under eight cards.
Pick up the eight-card block in right-hand Biddle Grip and
catch a thumb break at the rear of the packet above the bottom
card. You are now ready to do Mario's ATFUS. Briefly: The
left thumb peels off the face
47
(face-up) King and places it to the bottom of the packet. This is

repeated with the next two Kings. As you place the third King
to the bottom of the packet, you allow all the cards beneath the
break to fall square atop the deck. The right hand now holds
three face-down cards with the fourth King face up on top.
Place this (supposed four-King) packet on the table. (Slightly
spread it to show four cards but don't spread past the white
borders.) Flip the deck face up and double undercut the
bottom card to face. Or, use a to-the- table HaLo cut. The deck
is face up with three face-down Kings at the bottom/rear.
Spread the face-up deck (taking care not to reveal the reversed
Kings) and have three cards freely chosen. Table the face-up
selections and drop the faceup deck on the face-down Ace
packet. Immediately scoop up the deck and flip it over into
dealing grip. With the assistance of the right fingers, spread
over the face three Aces to display all four. During this
spread/display action, catch a pinky break under the
third-from-face King. In other words, the break is under the
seventh card. Close the spread of Aces and turn the block of
seven cards over onto the deck (using the right hand) by
turning them end-for-end. Doing it this way will allow the
right hand to mask the thickness of the packet. Once turned,
retain the pinky break. Similar to above, spread over the top
three cards (assumed to be Aces). The right hand now picks
up the face-up selections and inserts them face up between the
supposed spread Aces. This is the standard
sandwiching/collectors display. Slowly push them flush and
turn (end for end) the whole ten-card block over onto the
deck. No break is required this time. Reiterate that the
selections are trapped between the Aces.
To end, slowly deal the top four face-up Aces to the
table to reveal that the selections have escaped. (Very
magical.) Drop the deck onto the face-up 'King' packet and
pick up the whole lot into dealing grip. As you remind the
audience that the Kings have been on display since the start,
48
casually get a pinky break above the bottom three cards of the
deck. The following actions should be smooth and flowing.
Okay, the right hand picks up the top half of the deck and
places it into the break (above the bottom three cards) as if
merely cutting the deck. Immediately table- spread the deck
to reveal three cards sandwiched between the four face-up
Kings. Reveal the sandwiched cards as the selections and take
your well-deserved bows. Yes, I know the handling feels (and
reads) contrived, but it's a lot smoother in practice.
Minding Your P's and Q's
Back in the nineties I marketed a slightly different version of

this trick. My original, as is this, was and is based on Max
Maven’s Ascension from Harry Lorayne’s Best of Friends I. The
comedy version is detailed at the end, but until then:
You require three duplicate black court cards
(assume three KCs) and three duplicate red court cards
(assume three KD’s.) You also need the four Aces. To set, hold
the black Kings face up and place any Ace fate up third from
face. Place this four-card packet, squared, face up to your left.
Hold the red Kings face up and place the other three Aces face
up third, fourth and fifth from face. Place this six-card packet,
squared, face up to your right.
To perform, pick up the black packet and perform an
Elmsley Count to show four KC’s. Flip the packet face down
and table it from whence it came. Pick up the red packet and
perform an Elmsley Count to show four KD’s. Flip the packet
face down and hold it in dealing grip. Patter about oil and
water (not mixing etc) and say, ’Til leave one red King here
and switch in a black King." Push off the top card off the
inhand packet and table it face down to your
49
right. Pick up the top card of the tabled black Kings packet
(this card is actually an Ace) and place it atop the inhand
packet. Casually transfer the bottom card to top. Snap your
fingers (for effect), flip the packet face up and perform an
Elmsley Count to show you still have four red Kings. Flip the
packet face down and deal the top card onto the tabled single
card. Pick up the top card of the tabled black Kings packet and
openly place it to third from top of the inhand packet.
Casually transfer the bottom card to top. Snap your fingers
(for effect), flip the packet face up and perform an Elmsley
Count to show you still have four red Kings. Flip the packet
face down and deal the top card onto the tabled two cards.
Pick up the top card of the tabled black Kings packet and
openly place it to third from top of the inhand packet.
Casually transfer the bottom card to top. Snap your fingers
(for effect), flip the packet face up and perform an Elmsley
Count to show you still have four red Kings. Flip the packet
face down and deal the top card onto the tabled three cards.
Finally, pick up the top card of the tabled black Kings packet
and place it atop the inhand packet. Casually transfer the
bottom card to top. Snap your fingers (for effect), flip the
packet face up and perform an Elmsley Count to show you
still have four red Kings. Say, "You see, reds and blacks just
won't mix. If I have all the reds here, what do I have here?"
Casually pocket the inhand red packet as the spectator says,
"Four blacks!" Say, "No. Do you want to see an Ace trick?"
Reveal the four Aces and watch the jaws drop.
With the comedy version, you need ten blank-faced
cards. On the face of three of them write the letter P. On the
face of three more write the letter Q. On the other four draw,
in green ink, a handful of green blobs to represent garden
peas. Set the "peas" cards as in the setting of the Aces and
place the P pile to your left and the Q pile to your right. The
handling is the same but the patter goes like this. "When I
50
was a boy my mother told me to always mind my P's and Q's.

To this day I have absolutely no idea what she was talking
about. Well, not only did I mind them I kept them to show
you!" You now perform the routine and the kicker line is, "If
I've got all my Q's here, what have I got here? My P's? Well
yes...of the garden variety!" Here you show the four "Peas"
cards. It's both novel and unique.
Sneaky Switch
I’ve always liked the Simon Aronson/John Bannon Among

The Discards/Watching The Detectives routine(s). See Art
Decko and High Calibre. My first thought was, ’Could this be
turned into a strolling packet trick?’ Why, you may ask. Well,
why not; and to be frank, the card magic world could always
do with more strollers! Anyway, not only did I turn it into a
packet trick, I changed the effect totally.
You simply require the four Aces and the two black
Queens. (Instead of the Queens, sometimes I use blank-faced
cards with my web address written across the faces. I then
hand them out as souvenirs at the end.) The four Aces are on
top of the Queens. All the cards are face down and the AS is
the top card.
To perform, flip the packet face up to display the
cards and then flip it face down again. Say, "Using the two
black Queens and four Aces, I’d like to show you how
gamblers cheat.” Flip the AS face up onto the packet and
explain that it’s generally know as the leader Ace. Casually
flip the packet over into dealing grip as you ask the spectator
to hold her hand palm up. At this stage, the AS is face down
on the bottom of the face-up packet. Gently steady her hand
and ask her to keep it still. This interaction affords you ’time
misdirection’ because you want the
51
audience to forget that the AS is reversed. To continue, push

over the face face-up Queen to display two face-up Queens. As
you say, "I'd like you to hold the Queens”, square the packet
and instantly flip (using the standard block push-off multiple
lift technique) all the cards above the reversed AS face down to
position. (This is John Bannon's PDFBS.) Without pausing,
deal the top two cards (presumably the Queens) onto the
spectator's palm. Flip the packet face up to display the AS as
you say, Til let the Queens guard the leader; The Ace of
Spades." Flip the packet face down, perform a Jordan Count
(which looks like you're bringing the AS to top) and then
perform another block push-off multiple lift to show the AS.
Flip the block face down (onto the single card) and push off the
top card; the supposed AS. Take it into the right hand and
insert it between the two supposed Queens. Reiterate the
situation that she holds the Ace/Queens sandwich and you
have (in your left hand) the other three Aces.
Casually spread your three inhand face-down cards.
Say, "Here's how gamblers switch cards. Watch!" As you
resquare your packet, the left fingers push the central card (the
AS) into full right palm. (This is akin the Adrian Plate Change.
See Gold Dust.)
Momentarily drop your right hand (with the palmed
card) to your side. Hold your left hand about two feet away
from her outstretched hand and wiggle your hand for
dramatic effect. Then, bring your right hand over her
palm-upward hand. Just before you add/drop the palmed
card (onto her inhand cards), spread (in a flourishy manner)
the cards in your left hand to show only two. Once this is
revealed, immediately add/drop the right-hand palmed card
onto her cards and spread them to reveal four cards. It's an
instant and magical change. Say, "Was that fast or what!? The
switch is done!" Turn over the cards in your left hand and the
ones in her palm to reveal the transposition. End!
52
Performing a math-based self-working card trick from Gold Dust

Companion. Who said math-based tricks aren't entertaining? .
The Sad Tale of Great Uncle Reg

I watched Jack Carpenter perform his unpublished Uncle Joe
trick and instantly devised a way to end so that everything
was examinable. In achieving that, I realised I could add a
kicker surprise, too. It’s a really fun packet trick quickie.
You need a royal flush in Spades and two extra Ten
of Spades; both with different backs that contrast with the
backs of the flush. From top down, set the cards like this: A, K,
Q, J, 10 followed by the two odd-backed Tens.
The only sleight used is the extended Elmsley Count
(The Omega Count) which goes as follows. Hold the packet
face up in readiness for a regular Elmsley Count. You’re going
to be showing the packet as five duplicate Tens. Okay, peel
the face Ten off the packet and place it to the rear on the count
of one. Without pausing, perform a regular Elmsley Count
one the count of two, three, four and five. Simple!
53
So, here's the routine with the comedic patter

described at the end. Set the cards as described and hold the
packet face down. Casually spread over four cards to show
five regular backs. The last card is a triple so keep it squared.
Close the spread and flip it face up. Perform the Omega Count
to show five Tens. Flip the packet face down and deal the top
card to the table. Flip the packet face up and do The Omega
Count to show five Tens. Flip the packet face down and deal
the top card to the table; on top of the already- tabled card.
Flip the packet face up and do The Omega Count to show five
Tens. Flip the packet face down and deal the top card to the
table; on top of the already-tabled cards. Flip the packet face
up and do The Omega Count to show five Tens. Flip the
packet face down and deal the top card to the table; on top of
the already-tabled cards. Flip the packet face up and do The
Omega Count to show five Tens. Now, whilst the packet is
face up (now only three Tens), slide out the bottom card and
flip it face down onto the tabled packet. Here's the killer
ending: Perform a reversing Through-The- Fist flourish (or any
other move that turns the inhand packet over) to show the two
different backs. Then turn the tabled packet face up to reveal
the royal flush. It's a stunning ending and it resets instantly.
All can be examined.
Here's the patter. "Can I tell you how my great Uncle
died? It's a sad tale. He was playing poker one Saturday night
and was acting suspiciously. [Spread the face-down packet to
show five regular backs then flip it face up.] They asked him
what he had and he said he had five Ten of Spades. They said
you can't have five Ten of Spades so he lost one. What have
you got now, they asked. Five Ten of Spades he replied. Look,
you cannot have five Ten of Spades. Oh, he said and he lost
another. What have you got now, they asked. Five Ten of
Spades he replied. Look, you really cannot have five Ten of
Spades. Oh really, he said and he lost another. So, what on
earth have you got now, they
54
asked. Five Ten of Spades he replied. Look, were telling you

that you cannot have five Ten of Spades. Oh I see, he said and
he lost another. For the last time, what have you got now, they
asked. Five Ten of Spades he replied. Look, you definitely
cannot have five Ten of Spades. Oh I follow, he said, and he
lost another. Finally they said he was holding five more Ten of
Spades. He said he only had two. One from Thursday's game
[show the first odd back] and one from Friday's game [show
the second odd back.] They then asked him what was tabled
and when he revealed the royal flush...they shot him!" This is
a funny and magical routine.
Jack-Ro-Aces
About twenty years ago I marketed Jim Nastic Jokers. It now

appears in Gold Dust. At the same time I created the routine
you're about to try. Here it is in print for the first time. It's
based on a David Britland trick.
Prior to performance, set the Aces on the top of the
deck with the fourth-from-top Ace face up. I simply achieve
this whilst toying with the deck. Flip the deck fac£ up and
upjog the four Jacks. Strip them out, flip them face down and
place them to the rear of the face-up deck. Flip the deck over
into dealing grip. Spread over the top three face-up Jacks to
display the four Jacks. Rearrange the Jacks so that the colours
alternate. As you display the Jacks, catch a pinky break under
the four Aces. This is made easier due to the face-up Ace.
Square the Jacks. LJsing the right hand, pick up the eight-card
block in right-hand Biddle Grip. You are now going to display
the Jacks and switch out two of them using J. K Hartman's
Secret Subtraction. Briefly: The left thumb pulls off the face
Jack and revolves it around the left long edge of the packet.
The Jack is revolved face down to the
55
bottom of the packet and a right thumb break is held above it.
Peel the second Jack in the same manner so that the right
thumb has a break over two cards. As you go to peel the third
Jack, the two Jacks under the thumb break are dropped onto
the deck. In the same action, the third Jack is revolved to the
bottom of the packet. No break is held. Finally, the top face-up
Jack is flipped face down onto the packet. The switch is
complete. Table the deck and hold the packet in face-down
dealing grip. Position check from top: J, A, A, A, face-up A, J.
Okay, here's the routine. Pull out the bottom Jack, flip
it face up and injog it about an inch and a half from where it
came. Flip over the top Jack and outjog it about an inch and a
half from where it came. It looks like you've sandwiched two
face-down Jacks between two face-up Jacks. Slowly square the
packet, flip it over and perform an Elmsley Count to show four
face-down cards. It's a magical moment. Repeat it like this:
Flip over the top Jack and place it injogged about an inch and a
half on the bottom of the packet. Flip over the top Jack and
outjog it about an inch and a half on the top of the packet.
Again, it looks like you've sandwiched two face-down Jacks
between two face-up Jacks. Slowly square the packet, flip it
over and perform an Elmsley Count to show four face-down
cards. Again, it's very magical.
Here's the kicker: Perform another Elmsley Count
and upjog the face-up Ace as you come to it. Remove it and
place it face-up onto the packet. Whilst the surprise sinks in,
catch a pinky break above the bottom three cards. Place the
face face-up Ace (with the two face-down Jacks squared
beneath it) onto the deck (to lose the Jacks). Finish by slowly
dealing the other three inhand cards face-up onto it (and onto
the deck) which now magically appear as the other three Aces.
It's an instant change of Jacks to Aces. You end clean, too. The
patter and presentation is your call.
56
Flippin' Aces
I’ve created many similar tricks over the years (see Gold Dust)
as have many other Magicians. This oldie of mine has got a
new dress. Remove the Aces and flip them face up onto the
deck. Arrange them in black, black, red, red order from the
face. As you display them, get a break under the fifth card.
Square the Aces and pick up all five cards. Table the deck and
hold the packet in dealing grip. Spread over the face three
Aces to display four. Make sure you keep the last two cards
square. The right hand approaches the spread palm down.
The right hand then grips the two black Aces so the thumb is
on their backs and fingers on their faces. Turn the right hand
palm up thereby turning the black Aces face down. Now, it
looks like you're going to sandwich the red Aces between the
black ones. Here's what actually happens. As you turn the
black Aces face down, the left forefinger pulls in on the outer
right corner of the bottom card of the left-hand packet (the
face-down X card) creating a small break at the rear of the
packet. The bottom black face-down Ace slides into the break
and the top black face-down Ace slides above the face face-up
red Ace. Square the packet. Perform an Elmsley Count to
show one red Ace has turned face down. Perform another
Elmsley Count to show the second red Ace has turned face
down. Perform a reversing Through-The-Fist flourish (the
packet is secretly turned over). Perform another Elmsley
Count to show a black Ace has turned face up and then
perform another Elmsley Count to show two face-up black
Aces. It's all very magical. To end, push over three cards to
display two face-up black Aces between two face-down red
Aces. Carefully remove the black Aces and flip them face
down onto the packet. All the Aces are now face down with a
reversed X card on the bottom. The packet is in left-hand
dealing grip. Turn the left hand over (palm down) as you
reach for the tabled deck.
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With the cards still in dealing grip, cut off half the deck to one
side. Drop the packet onto the bottom half of the deck (you've
just cleverly turned the packet over) and return the top half.
Spread the deck to show all four Aces have magically turned
face up. The end.
The Aces Capitulate
Jim Swain's Capitulating Queens from Don't Blink is a

wonderful packet trick. Its only flaw really is that it doesn't
end clean; unless, as suggested in the book, you unload the
double-backer on the deck. I'd rather keep the trick self-
contained. This, therefore, is my handling which not only
ends clean it has an instant reset. I use Aces so that my
clean-up makes a tad more sense.
You need four Aces with four different back designs
and colours. You also need a double-backed card. One side
must match the AS (assume it's blue) and the other side can
match any of the other three Aces. In my set, it matches the
AC. The set up is like so: From face, Red Ace (assume AH),
Red Ace (assume AD), AC, AS and double-backer. The side
of the double-backed card that shows, whilst the packet is
face up, must match the back of the AC (which is third from
face). When fully conversant with this trick, the setting up
becomes second nature.
Hold the packet face up in dealing grip and push
over the three face cards to reveal four Aces. The last card is
a double. Hold it carefully. Say, "I have three blue-backed
Aces here and one odd-backed card. Please give me a
number from one to four." Here you are going to force one
of the face two Aces; the AH and AD in this example. If they
say one or two, you count from the face of the packet. If they
say three or four, you count from the rear of the packet. So,
58
let's assume they say two. Point to the second Ace (AD) and
openly remove it and place it to the face. If they had said one,
you would leave the AH in situ at the face. Say, "Okay, you
want the Ace of Diamonds." Flip the packet face down. As
you do an Elmsley Count (outjog the odd-backed card as you
come to it) say, "Look. They are all blue except for one!"
Remove the upjogged card and turn it face-up to display the
AD. Use it to flip the packet face up into dealing grip. During
the gasps, openly slip the face-up AD to second from face of
the face-up packet. Point to the AH and say, "Yes, you are
wondering what would have happened had you picked the
Ace of Hearts!" Flip the packet face down. As you do an
Elmsley Count (outjog the odd-backed card as you come to
it) say, "Look. They are all blue except for one!" Remove the
upjogged card and turn it face-up to display the AH. Use it
to flip the packet face up into dealing grip and place the AH
to face. During the gasps, openly spread the packet (last card
is a double) and slip the AC to the face of the face-up packet.
Point to the AC and say, "Yes, I know; you are wondering
what would have happened had you picked the Ace of
Clubs!" Flip the packet face down. As you do an Elmsley
Count (outjog the odd-backed card as you come to it and
slightly injog the last card) say, "Ijbok. They are all blue
except for one!" Remove the upjogged card and turn it
face-up onto the packet to display the AC. Utilising the small
injog, catch a break under the top two cards and flip them
face down onto the packet as one. A red-backed shows as it
should. Flip the packet face up into dealing grip. During the
gasps, openly spread the packet (last card is a double) and
slip the AS to the face of the face-up packet. Point to the AS
and momentarily take it off the packet to flash its blue back.
Return it face up to the face. Say, "Yes, you are wondering
what would have happened had you picked the Ace of
Spades bearing in mind we know it has a blue back!" Flip the
packet face down. As you do an Elmsley
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Count (outjog the odd-backed card as you come to it and

slightly injog the last card) say, "Look. They are all now red
except for one blue one!" Big gasps! Remove the upjogged
card and turn it face-up onto the packet to display the AS.
Utilising the small injog, catch a break under the two top
cards.
You are now going to do an easy switch that's
slightly reminiscent of Mario's KM move. Read this carefully:
Tilt your left hand (the one holding the packet) toward you so
that it's nearly vertical. Widen the break by pulling down
with the little finger (which is holding the break). Your right
fingers grasp the AS (double) with thumb on its face and
fingers on the rear (of the double). Your left thumb is also on
the face of the AS. Your left thumb grips it as your right hand
pulls out the double-backer (supposed AS). Your left hand
turns palm down as this happens. You are left holding a card
(the double-backer) in your right hand (it's almost vertical)
with its blue back facing the audience. All looks copacetic.
Say, "The Ace of Spades has another trick up its sleeve. If I
place it in my pocket, look what happens!" Slide the
double-backer into your breast pocket and then transfer the
face-up packet into right-hand Biddle Grip. Reverse deal the
cards into a left-hand spread/fan. The last card is face down.
Say, "The Ace of Spades leaps back at will!" Point to the
face-down card. Turn it face up to reveal it as the AS and
place it to the face. To end, flip the packet face down and deal
the Aces onto the spectator's palm (thereby reversing their
order) to reveal four different backs. As you do this say, "And
all this with just [name your set] a black Ace, an orange Ace, a
red Ace and a blue Ace." With each phase and kicker(s) the
gasps should get louder and louder! To re-set, pocket the
facedown packet by sliding it onto the red side of the pocket
double-backer. That's it. As I said at the start, this is Jim
Swain's routine. I've just added a nice clean up.
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61
Smack In The Face
This trick really should smack your audience right in the

face. The kicker surprise is astonishing. Okay, I've devised a
lot of colour-changing packet tricks and most end clean.
Although this doesn't end clean, it's worth the try and the
practice. I do it as an interlude quickie. The cards are
pocketed during the screams and standing ovation!
Okay, you need two double-backed cards and four
duplicates. Assume for this description the duplicates are
four Three of Clubs. All four backs must be different but one
must be a blue-backed Bicycle card. The two double-backers
must have blue Bicycle backs on one side and different backs
to anything else. To achieve this, use the double-backers in a
Magic Makers rainbow deck.
The set up from top down (all cards backs showing):
Double-backer (blue Bicycle back upward), double-backer
(blue Bicycle back upward), 3C (with blue Bicycle back) and
the other three 3Cs. Hold the face-down packet in readiness
for an Elmsley Count.
To perform say, "I've got five duplicate blue-backed
Three of Clubs here. There's not much you can do with them,
but let's try something." Whilst pattering show five blue
backs using The Omega Count. It's an extended Elmsley
Count. Briefly; Peel the first card and steal it back under the
packet on the count of one. Without pausing, do a regular
Elmsely Count on the count of two, three, four and five. Five
blue backs are seen. Flip the packet face up and perform
another Omega Count to show five 3Cs. It's a good display.
Transfer the face-up packet into right-hand Biddle
Grip. Say, "I'm going to turn over every other card and show
you something amazing!" The left thumb peels the face card
into the left fingertips. The right hand turns over and the left
thumb peels the rear face-down card onto, but
62
over-lapping to the right, the left-hand face-up card. The

right hand turns over again and the left thumb peels the face
card onto the left-hand fan. The right hand turns over and
the left thumb peels the rear face-down card onto the left-
hand face-up three-card spread. The right hand turns over
again and the left thumb grips the face-up (double) card onto
the left-hand fan. This, too, is a good display. From face to
rear it looks like you have five cards; face-up 3C, facedown
3C, face-up 3C, face-down 3C and face-up 3C. There is
actually a face-up 3C hiding behind the face face-up 3C.
Let the display register and then close the fan.
Casually remove the rear/bottom 3C and place to face.
Pause for effect and say, "If I snap my fingers, all the Three of
Clubs turn face up. Watch!" Snap said fingers and do another
Omega Count to display five face-up 3Cs. To laymen, it's
astonishing. Spread over the face two 3Cs and casually cut
them to the rear/bottom.
Say, "But you can't have five Three of Clubs in one
deck, can you!? Well, I haven't. These all came from five very
different decks!" Flip the packet into face-down right-hand
Biddle Grip. The left thumb immediately peels off (creating a
spread/fan), into the left hand, four cards and the last card
(a double) is gripped onto the fan with the left thumb. Five
very different backs are displayed and no blue-backed
Bicycle is seen. As you peel/spread say, "This one came from
a black deck...this one from an orange deck...this one from a
green deck...this one from a gold deck...and this one from a
white deck!" (Name your set, obviously!) You can now
pocket the cards (during the gasps, applause and ovation) or
do this sneaky display. Grip the spread with both hands and
jiggle the cards (don't split the top double) so that the third
from bottom card is nearly aligned with the second from
bottom card. Don't make a big deal of it. You can now tip the
fan face up and four 3Cs will be seen. Not five (as it should
be), just four! But four duplicates create the illusion
63
of the packet being all 3Cs. Now you can pocket the cards. I
performed this trick on T.V recently and the producers told
me that it was responsible for hundreds of "how did he do it"
emails and letters from viewers. I usually get "why do you do
it" emails and letters! ©
Roily Flush
I’ve published quite a few Oil And Queens style routines

over the years. Roy Walton is the originator of the concept.
Roy's is basically Mario's Oil And Water with a kicker
surprise. This routine of mine is my favourite of all. I do it as
a packet trick. (This trick was first published in a Martin
Breese newsletter in the late eighties.)
You require a royal flush in Spades, three black spot
cards and three red spot cards. The spot cards should be a
mixture of middle-value cards. Cards that blend in
appearance when quickly displayed. The set-up from face to
rear is; black, red, black, red, black, red, royal flush.
To perform, hold the face-up packet in Biddle Grip.
Perform a Hamman Count doing the switch on the count of
six (showing ten cards alternating in colour) but the final
card counted (on ’ten’) is a double. Position check from face
to rear: red, black, black, red, black, red, royal flush. Flip the
packet face down and deal the top five cards onto the
spectator's hand saying, "Black, red, black, red and black."
Casually place the top card of the inhand packet to the
bottom and then do an Omega Count placing the last card of
the count to the bottom of the packet. As you do the count
say, "And I have red, black, red, black and red." Flip the
packet face up, snap it for effect and do another Omega
Count to show five red cards. This is startling to laymen. As
you pocket the packet say, "If I have the five reds, you must
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have the five blacks. Well, you do have five blacks...but, I

wouldn't want to play poker with you!" Here they turn their
cards face up and...scream. A royal flush!
I know the trick isn't new in any way, but the use of
The Omega Count is. It works well here. The Omega Count is
basically an extended Elmsley Count. Hold a packet of five
cards in Elmsley Count grip. Take the first card and steal it
back to beneath the packet on the count of one. Without
pausing, do an Elmsley Count counting, two three four and
five. That's it!
Lecturing at 4Fs in New York
Illogical Trost
I sent this simple variation of Nick Trost’s Eight Card

Brainwave to the man himself but am unaware if he ever
published it. He did, however, like my idea. This is a very
short write-up but it's a very powerful trick. You require any
three red-backed cards and any three blue-backed cards.
Hold the six-card packet face up. The three red-backed cards
are at the face. You ask the spectator to choose any one of
them (it’s a free choice so stress that) and slide it face up
65
onto the table. If he chooses one of the three cards at the face
(red backs) you are good to continue. If he chooses one of the
three rear (blue backs) cards, casually cut the packet (after the
card has been slid out) bringing the three red backers to
rear/top. Say, "The card you freely chose is odd. Yes, look."
Flip the packet face down and do an Omega Count to show,
say, five red-backed cards. Turn his selection over to show a,
say, blue back. That's it. Simple but sweet.
Marked Cards
Speaking of Nick Trost, here's another handling of one of his

tricks (Trick Kards) he liked. Nick wrote, "Yes Paul, reversing
the concept gave more conviction and I agree with the
elimination of the illogical display of four red Aces. Thank
you!" It's a very strong multi-climaxed affair.
You need four red-backed Aces and a blue-backed
Ace of Hearts. On the back of the red-backed AC, AS and AD,
draw a big cross. The set-up from face to rear: Face-up AC,
face-up AS, face-up AD, face-up red-backed AH, facedown
blue-backed AH.
To perform, hold the face-up packet in dealing grip
and push over the face three Aces to display four Aces. As
you close the spread, catch a break under the face two black
Aces and cut them to the bottom. Transfer the face-up packet
into right-hand Biddle Grip. (It looks like the Aces turn face
down one by one each time replacing a different Ace. And,
the Aces appear to have blue backs.)
Okay, here's how: Using the left thumb, peel the
Aces into the left hand (forming a spread/fan). The last card
is a double (hold it carefully) and the AS appears to be face
down. Square the packet. Transfer the face-up packet into
right-hand Biddle Grip. Again, using the left thumb, peel the
66
is a double (hold it carefully) and the AD appears to be face
is a double (hold it carefully) and the AC appears to be face
is a double (hold it carefully) and the AH appears to be face
down. Retain the double in the right hand (the AD shows)
and use it to flip the blue-backed card face up. The AH shows
as it should. As it turns face up, let it fall slightly injogged on
the packet. Drop the right-hand double (as one) onto the face.
As you square the packet catch a break beneath the injogged
card and casually cut the face three cards to rear. Show all
four Aces to be blue backed using the Flushtration Count (the
last card is a double). Then flip the packet face down and
perform a Jordan Count to show four marked (X) cards. End. I
think the patter is fairly obvious here but if unsure, just say at
the end, "If you are wondering how I do this...I use marked
cards!"
Amazing, Isn't It?
I published two handlings of this trick in Cardistry. Both tricks

were/are favourites of Paul Hallas. Here's my favourite which
has never been published before. It's based on Mario's "nine"
principle. See The Unexpected Card Book, 1974. It's an
"impossible location" type trick and mostly hands off.
Have a pack of cards shuffled and cut into four equal-ish
piles. If the spectator does this properly, there will
67
be about thirteen cards in each packet. But, there must be at

least eleven and no more than nineteen. If you feel she's cut
badly, just say things like, "Put a few more here...take a few
away from here" etc. Then say, "Either way, neither of us can
possibly know exactly how many cards are in each packet.
True? True!" Then ask the spectator to choose a packet. As she
takes it you gather the rest of the deck into one pile. Whilst
your back is turned, ask her to shuffle her cards and count
how many she has. If she has, say, fifteen cards she's to add
the digits. I say, "In this way you really do end up with a
random number." So, she adds one plus five to get six. Ask her
to look at the card that lies at her new number (from the top of
the packet) and then leave it in situ. So, she looks at the
sixth-from-top card and leaves it in position. Whilst she does
all this, casually crimp the top card of the deck. (I spread the
deck and crimp an inner corner of any card, using my right
little finger under the spread, and then cut it to top.) Shuffle
the deck and table it. Give it a few genuine cuts and then cut
the crimp back to top. Ask her to table her packet and drop the
deck onto it. Ask her to cut the deck a few times. You finish by
cutting it once (or twice) more thereby bringing the crimp
back to top. Her packet is now the bottom portion of the deck.
Ask her to now cut the deck into three piles. Watch where the
original bottom section goes. Using equivoque, force the
bottom section on her and ask her to pick it up and deal it onto
the table; thereby reversing the order of the cards. Say, "Yes, I
think that's enough cards. You cut well. You cut about a third
I'd say." (This patter affords a rationale for the spectator
dealing her packet onto the table.) Due to the principle used,
her card is now tenth from top of the packet. Ask her to pick it
up and slowly deal cards onto the table. Mentally count them
as she deals. When she deals (and is still holding onto) the
tenth card shout, "STOP!" This will wake the room up. Ask her
to turn it over and take your well-deserved applause.
68
Heavenly Roads
I really liked Jim Steinmeyer's Eleven Roads To Heaven from

Subsequent Impuzzibilities but felt that the denouement was/is
weak. Although my handling requires a set up, I feel that it
makes it much stronger. Although you can set the cards on
top of the deck, I do this as a packet trick. In other words, I
have the following eleven cards in my wallet.
You require the following: 10H, 10S, IOC, AS, AH,
6C, 6S, 6H, 2C, 2H and 2S. Ask the spectator to shuffle the
packet and hold it face up. Ask her to deal two face-up piles
by dealing the cards alternately. One pile will contain five
cards, the other six. Say, "I'd like you to pick up either pile,
spread it and think of any card. But, don't think of the top or
bottom cards; it's too easy for me. When done, drop the
faceup pile on the tabled pile. Now, pick up the face-up
bundle and deal two face-up piles again. When done, check
which pile contains your card and again, drop that pile on the
other pile. Okay, pick up the face-up bundle up one more
time and deal two face-up piles. Check which pile contains
your card, drop that pile on the other pile and hand me the
bundle." (I refer you to Steinmeyer's bool^ for the
presentation.) If you hold the packet face down, the selection
is always going to be eighth from top. As you may have
realised, all the Spade and Heart cards spell with eight letters
in the singular. (The word 'of is not used.) The Club cards
spell with eight letters in the plural. So, you can say, "What
was the value?" Deal three cards off the top for Ace, Two, Six
or Ten. Then say, "Was it a Club, a Heart, a Spade or a
Diamond?" If they say Heart or Spade you deal off four cards
and then the fifth (the eighth card of the full spell) is their
card. If they say Club say, "Okay, Clubs" and deal as in the
Spade or Heart. That's it. It's a pretty good magician-
fooler...in my humble opinion.
69
Aurora Borealis
Here's another Trost inspired trick. Nick told me he often

used it. It's based on his Maxi-Twisto. It's also a close cousin
to my Twister routine from Gold Dust.
You need three blank-faced cards with different
backs but one must have a blue Bicycle back. You also need
two double-backed cards. One side is a blue Bicycle back and
the other must be different too. In other words, all four
non-Bicycle Backs must contrast. The set up: Hold the three
blank-faced cards face up with the blue Bicycle card at the
rear. Hold the two double-backed cards with the blue Bicycle
backs uppermost and place them third and fourth from face.
Flip the packet over. To perform, hold the packet 'face down'
to show a blue back. Flip it face up and patter about the
mystery of the four blank cards. Perform an 'underground'
Elmsley Count (last card goes to the bottom) to show four
blanks. Say, "If I flip one over, one by one they follow." Flip
the face card face down to position. Perform an Elmsley
Count to show two cards are now face down. Repeat the
Elmsley Count to show three are face down. Repeat the
Elmsley Count to show four blue backs. It's a great display.
Say, "They can turn face up by magic too. Watch." Flip the top
card face up to position and then pull out the bottom card and
place it to face. Instantly do an Elmsley Count to show four
blank-faced cards. Catch, however, a break under the last two
cards of the count and casually cut them to rear. Say, "This
isn't the only trick these cards can do. They can change their
appearance. Not the faces...the backs!" Flip the packet face
down into right-hand Biddle Grip and, using the left thumb,
peel/deal three cards into a left-hand fan (the fourth is a
double; clamp it with the left thumb) to show four very
different backs. Pocket the packet during the fainting and
rapturous applause.
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Fixed Reset
Reset is the creation of Paul Harris. Fixed Reset is a

combination of ideas by yours truly and Nick Trost. It's a
tidy-up of a Trost routine and one he had planned to publish
in Subtle Card Creations 5.
You require the four Aces and four Kings. The setup
from face to rear: Four Kings in alternate colour order, two
red Aces, two black Aces. To perform, spread the packet to
display. As you square the packet into dealing grip catch a
pinky break above the third-from-bottom card. Complete cut
the packet at the break and flip the packet face down. It looks
like you’ve merely cut the Aces to the face. Catch a pinky
break under the top two cards. The right hand comes over the
packet and picks up the double in Biddle Grip and in the
same action, the left thumb pushes over the next three cards
to beneath it and spread progressively to the left. The right
hand then turns palm up to display four spread Kings. The
right hand now turns palm down and appears to square the
spread packet above (not onto) the Ace packet in the left
hand. Well, it actually does square it but the bottom two
Kings are dumped onto the Ace packet and the right-hand
squared three-card packet is tabled. Position check: The
tabled packet (assumed to be the Kings) has an Ace on top of
two Kings and the left-hand packet (assumed to be the Aces)
has two Kings on top of three Aces. Okay, flip the inhand
packet face up and perform a Jordan Count to display four
Aces. Flip the packet face down, re-grip in right-hand Biddle
Grip and use the left thumb to reverse deal the cards (the last
is a double) into the left hand. As you do the reverse deal,
catch a break above the first two cards and casually cut the
top two (actually three) cards to bottom. You are now going
to display these cards as the four Kings using a Bernard Bilis
display I use in my Totally Baffling Card Control from Gold
Dust. Hold the face-down packet in right-
71
hand Biddle Grip. The left thumb peels of (reversing their

order) the top three cards into the left hand and then the left
fingertips touch the back of the right hand double and swivel
it face up onto the left-hand packet sidejogged to the right.
The left thumb clamps the double onto the packet. A King is
displayed. The right hand flips the double onto the packet and
then deals the top card (supposed King) onto the table. Again,
hold the face-down packet in right-hand Biddle Grip. The left
thumb peels of (reversing their order) the top two cards into
the left hand and then the left fingertips touch the back of the
right-hand double and swivel it face up onto the left-hand
packet sidejogged to the right. The left thumb clamps the
double onto the packet. A second King is displayed. The right
hand flips the double onto the packet and then deals the top
card (supposed King) onto the tabled card. Again, hold the
face-down packet in right-hand Biddle Grip. The left thumb
peels of the top card into the left hand and both hands turn
over to display two Kings. Turn the hands over and place the
right-hand face-down double onto the left-hand face-down
single. Drop this packet onto the just-tabled two cards. It’s a
cracking display of four Kings. Pick this packet up, flip it face
up and do an Elmsley Count to show Four Aces. Applause!
Flip the packet face down. Slide the tabled King packet onto
the inhand packet, catch a break above the bottom three cards
and instantly complete cut the packet at the break. Flip the
packet face up to show four Kings and four Aces. That's it.
Presentation is your call.
Universal Powers
I’ve published many variations of this particular concept. A

few are in Gold Dust and some in the Second 16th Card Books.
Two popular ones are in Nocturnal Creations and Fiarry
72
Lorayne's Best Of Friends III. It's a real favourite of mine.

Credits are due Richard Vollmer (Earthly Powers), Alex
Elmsley and Karl Fulves. This is the easiest of all of them and
eliminates the Faro. I'm very happy doing the Faro, but I
know that some of you find it tricky. Anyway, here it is:
Prior to performance get the four Aces to the top of
the deck. Jogshuffle retaining them there. Spread the deck
between the hands for a selection to be made. As you do this,
slightly injog the seventh-from-top card. Once the card is
chosen and removed, square the deck and catch a pinky break
under the injogged card. Take the selection and 'lose' it into
the deck by Tilting' it to eighth from top. It looks like it has
been lost to centre. Say, "To find your card I need a few
choices." Casually push over twelve cards and table the deck
out of play. (Here, I push off three blocks/spreads of four.)
Don't reverse their order. You are now going to 'whittle
down' the cards to magically locate the selection. You use the
(Moracle) Elimination Reverse Faro like so: Perform the
Reverse Faro (upjogging the 2nd, 4th, 6th, 8th, 10th and 12th
cards). Strip out the outjogged section and table the inner
packet to the left at position B. (You'll be forming pile A later
on.) Say, "Yes, I think it's here but still too many choices."
Repeat Moracle by upjogging the 2nd, 4th and 6th cards of the
inhand packet. Strip out the outjogged section and table the
inner packet to the right of packet B to position C. Repeat
Moracle by upjogging the centre card of the inhand packet.
Strip out the outjogged card and table the inner packet to the
right of packet C to position D. The single card is placed to the
right of packet D to position E. With each elimination say
things like, "Yes, I think it's here but still too many choices."
As an afterthought, pick up packet B and repeat Moracle by
upjogging the 2nd, 4th and 6th cards. Strip out the outjogged
section and place the two packets at position A and B. You
now have five left to right piles. To end, 'cast a
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shadow’ (with your hand) over each packet and finally

'choose' the single card at E. Reveal it as the selection. As a
kicker, turn over the top card of each packet to reveal the four
Aces as you say, "...Anyone for Poker?" It's a killer ending.
Receiving a standing ovation in France
Mirror-Skill
I published the bare bones of this in Gold Dust Companion, but

here you have it in its entirety. Allan Slaight, author of The
James File, wrote to me in 2005. "Dear Paul. This is a new idea. I
wish I had had it for the book. Very good." Mirror- Skill is a
way of handling Stewart James's wonderful Mirraskill from
Hugard's Encyclopedia of Card Magic and Slaight's own James
File. (See, also, Not Too Far in this book.)
You need to make a written prediction. I write it on
the inside flap of the cardcase. Write, "You will end up with
two more blacks than reds." When ready to perform, have the
spectator shuffle the deck. Take it back and spread it face up
between your hands. If you see two reds on top (far left end of
the spread) you're good to go. If not, casually complete-cut the
deck bringing two reds to top. The
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rationale for spreading the deck face up is, "Yes, you're a good
shuffler." Flip the deck face down, catch a break under the top
two (red) cards and do a Braue Reverse as you turn the deck
face up again. The two red cards are now face down on the
bottom of the face-up deck. Your rationale for turning the
deck face up again is, "I was going to do this with the deck
face down. But, let's try it this way. I'm going to ask you to
push over two cards. If they are two blacks, place them face
up on the right side of the table. If they are two reds, place
them face up on the left side of the table. If, however, they are
two different colours, flip them face down to the bottom of the
deck." Here, you demonstrate by doing about four/five pairs.
Firstly, it's a helpful demonstration. Secondly, you need to get
at least two pairs to the bottom of the deck to blend with your
hidden red pair. Okay, hand the deck to the spectator and let
him finish. All the while say, "Yes, that was a good shuffle.
Yes, keep going. You're doing well. The denouement depends
on your random shuffle." At the end, there will be two tabled
piles (one red and one black) and he will be holding a packet.
Ask him to place aside his inhand packet and then ask him to
count the two tabled packets. The black packet contains two
more cards than the red packet. Reveal your prediction and
take your bows.
The Red Herring Strikes Back
One of my most popular novelty packet tricks is The Red

Herring. It's unusual, comedic, magical and practical. It's an
end-clean stroller. Using the same cards, I recently came up
with this new routine. If you don't have a Red Herring set, I'll
give you an alternative later on.
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So, you require a Red Herring set which consists of

two duplicate AS, one QH and a blank-faced card with an
image of a Red Herring on it.
On the back of the QH, draw a big cross. From top
down: AS, AS, RH, QH. The patter is about three-card monte
of Find the Lady. Hold the face-down packet from above in
modified Biddle Grip. In other words, the right hand thumb is
at the inner right corner and the right second fingertip is at the
outer right corner. Using the left thumb, peel the top two cards
into the left palm and drop the third (a double) on top. Three
regular backs are seen. Flip the packet face up and hold in the
modified Biddle Grip again. Using the left thumb, peel the top
two cards into the left palm and drop the third (a double) on
top. Two AS followed by the QH are seen. Say, "In this game
of chance, the Queen of Hearts is the money card; the one to
watch." Flip the packet face down into dealing grip. Openly
place the top card to bottom as you say you will centre the
QH. Say, "If you put money on it being in the centre you’re
sure to lose. It's on top!" Perform a block push-off triple lift to
show the QH (presumably) on top. Flip the triple face down.
Openly place the top card to bottom as you say, "Look, I'll
place the Queen of Hearts to bottom." Flip the packet face up
and show it's not on bottom. Say, "It's hard to track the
Queen." Push over the face two Aces to show the Queen at the
rear/top. Careful not to split the rear double. Square the
packet. Take the face Ace into the right hand and appear to
slide it under the packet (a Tilt-like action) but slip it to second
from bottom. To aid this, the left forefinger buckles the bottom
of the outer right corner of the packet causing a break at the
rear. Say, "You're not sure, are you!" To ease the doubters,
push off the face two cards to show the QH centred between
two Aces. Square the packet and flip it face down into dealing
grip. Perform a block push-off triple lift to show the QH
(presumably) on top. Flip the triple face
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down. Flip the packet face up and push over the face Ace to
show the Queen is actually centred. Say, "It’s really hard to
follow the Queen, isn't it." Place the Ace to rear.
Into the killer ending now. Table the face-up Queen
and flip the packet face down into dealing grip. Say, "I'm
often accused of having an extra card but it's really just a red
herring." Here you spread the cards to reveal you have three
cards. Turn over the centre one to reveal the gag card. It's very
magical and funny. Then say, "The Queen should have been
easy to follow because it's marked. Look." Flip the tabled
Queen over to show the cross. It's very, very magical.
You end clean and the reset is instant. All can be
examined. Now, if you don't have a Red Herring set, use a
blank-facer and write EXTRA on its face. Then change the
closing patter to, "I'm often accused of having an extra card
and it's true, I have!"
Startling Location
Although there's nothing much 'new' here, it's a pleasing

routine that has fooled many a knowledgeable rHagician. It
uses a very clever Jon Racherbaumer handling of the Balducci
Cut-Deeper force and an easy handling of the Hofzinser Cull.
(I have to assume you're familiar with the cull. As I, and
possibly you, find it hard to cull four cards together, this
handling is pleasing to both of us.)
Take a thoroughly shuffled deck and demonstrate
the following procedure to your spectator. Say, "In a moment,
when my back is turned, I'd like you to cut off a small packet
like so and turn it face up onto the deck. As you can see, a
random card is staring you in the face. But, let’s go further. I’d
like you then to cut deeper - a bigger bunch - and turn it face
up onto the deck. As you can see, a
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doubly-random card is staring you in the face. That'll be the

one to remember. Then, flip the face-up bunch face down onto
the deck. Okay?" Here you spread over the face-up bunch and
remember the last card of the spread. It's your key card. Flip
the spread face down onto the deck. This demonstration has
both demonstrated (what he's to do) and given you a key card.
He now does the cutting procedure (whilst your back is
turned) which brings your key card on top of his card. Now,
here's something I've noticed. After all this cutting, the
selected card will mostly be about fifteen to twenty cards from
top. Give the deck a complete cut near centre thereby bringing
his card to near the bottom of the deck. Okay, into the ending.
Flip the deck face up and spread it between the hands. Look
for your key card. The card to its left is the selection. Assume
it's the 7D. Using the Hofzinser Cull, cull it under the spread
until you reach another Seven. Close the spread at that
juncture bringing both Sevens together. Table this section face
down. Both Sevens are on top of it. Continue spreading the
deck and cull the third Seven until it meets the fourth Seven.
Cut any remaining cards to the face of this packet and table it
face down. There are two Sevens on top of it, too. Perform a
tabled slip cut with both packets so that you have four tabled
packets with a Seven on top of each. Say, "Please turn over the
top card of any packet." If he turns over the 7D, bingo. If he
turns over another Seven say, "Was it a Seven?" When he
affirms, turn over the other three Sevens as you say, "I didn't
take any chances." Now, in the first outcome it's tempting to
reveal the other Sevens. Don't! Leave it as is. To other
Magicians it's a startling location. To laymen, it's a darned
miracle.
"Paul Gordon is a master of his craft. Not only are his tricks good, his
performance is tops. He's my preferred entertainer at my numerous house
parties. Him and Terry Seabrooke!" - Martin Breese
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My favourite way of performing and lecturing
Royal Double-Backed Flush
For this quickie, you need a royal flush in Spades and an X

card. The set-up from top down is face-down 10, Q & A. Then,
face up, the X, K & J. Say, "I was playing poker last night and
found these factory misprints in the card box. Backs both
sides.” Here you perform an Omega Count showing five
face-down cards. (The Omega Count is an extended Elmsley
Count. The first card is peeled to the bottom on the count of
one and then, without pausing, you do an Elmsley Count on
two, three, four and five.) Flip the packet over and repeat the
Omega Count to show backs on the other side. Transfer the
packet to right-hand Biddle Grip. With the left thumb, peel
the top card into the left hand. Turn the right hand over (palm
up) and, using the left thumb, peel the new top card onto the
left-hand cards. Turn the right hand over (palm down) and,
using the left thumb, peel the new top card onto the left-hand
cards. Turn the
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right hand over (palm up) and, using the left thumb, peel the
new top card onto the left-hand cards. Turn the right hand
over (palm down) and, using the left thumb, grip the new top
card (a double) onto the left-hand cards but catch a pinky
break under it. Then, as yet another double-back convincer, flip
the double over onto the packet. Say, "Being a magician as well
as a poker player I snapped my fingers and got..." Flip the
packet face up to reveal the KS. Then openly pull out the rear
card and place it (the AS) to face, "...the King and Ace of
Spades." Transfer the face-up packet to right-hand Biddle Grip
and immediately, using the left thumb, peel the Ace, King,
Queen, Jack and Ten (the last 'card' is a double) into the left
fingertips forming a fan of the royal flush. Say, "...in fact I got a
complete royal flush!" End.
Tenkai Sandwich
When I forgot to publish this in Gold Dust I promised to

publish it in Gold Dust Companion. Well, I forgot to publish it in
Gold Dust Companion, too. This first appeared on my Deck In
Hand video in 1989. (A video I try to forget I ever made.)
Prior to performance, table the two black Jacks face
up. From the shuffled deck have a spectator choose a card.
Once noted, control it to the top. Say, "The black Jacks are
going to search the deck for your card." Catch a pinky break
under the selection (top card) as your right hand reaches for
the Jacks. Place the face-up Jacks on the deck and instantly
pick up all three cards in right-hand Biddle Grip. Using the left
thumb, peel the face Jack onto the deck but catch a pinky break
under it. Drop the two right-hand cards (as one) onto the deck
and instantly cut all three (supposed two) to the bottom. As
you do the above say, "The Jacks are on their way...but let's
make it hard for them."
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Here you get ready for the Tenkai Optical Revolve

like this: The face-down deck is in dealing grip with the
sandwich on the bottom. The right hand in Biddle Grip lifts up
half the deck about two inches above the bottom half. As the
right hand turns/revolves to the right the left hand turns over
and places its half injogged on the face of the right- hand half.
Table the deck as is. (See my website for a video demo of the
move.) Move the bottom face-up section to the right and the
top supposed face-down section to the left in readiness for a
tabled riffle shuffle. It's a very deceptive subtlety. Riffle
shuffle the deck but make sure the top three cards of the
left-hand section fall last. It's a wonderful illusion of cards
being shuffled face up and face down. Continuing, turn the
deck over (another back is seen) and complete cut the deck as
you say, "The Jacks have got to find your card in this mess.
But, not only have they found it...they've straightened out the
remainder!" Spread the tabled deck to show a straightened
deck and two face-up Jacks sandwiching one card. Reveal it as
the selection using all of your dramatic prowess.
Carbonated Footprint
My booklet Carbon Footprints contains some really unusual

entertaining puzzlers. A few of them appear in Gold Dust.
Carbonated Footprint is another use of the concept and was
inspired by Peter Duffie's Triple Hummdinger. From a
shuffled deck, ask the spectator to deal eight cards onto the
table. The deck is no longer required. Ask him to shuffle the
packet. Spread it face up on the table and mentally note the
fourth-from-face card. Assume it's the 6D. On a slip of paper,
write Six of Diamonds. Fold it and place it to one side. Pick up
the packet and hold it in the right hand in face
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up Biddle Grip. You are now going to give the cards and
(apparent) random face-up/face-down mix like this: Using
the left thumb, peel the face card into the left palm. Turn the
right hand over and peel the face-down card (original bottom
card of the packet) onto the face-up card in the left hand. Turn
the right hand over and peel the face-up card onto the cards in
the left hand. Turn the right hand over and peel the face-down
card onto the cards in the left hand. Turn the right hand over
and peel the face-up card onto the cards in the left hand. Turn
the right hand over and peel the facedown card onto the cards
in the left hand. Finally, turn the right hand over and place the
face-up double onto the cards in the left hand. Then,
double-cut the face card (the 6D) to the bottom. It looks like a
genuine mix. Keep the packet square so the spectator can’t see
the precise orientation of the cards. You can now use the 'deal
or reverse' handling from Gold Dust, or use the Cut And Turn
Over (CATO) handling. I use the latter here. So, hand the
packet to the spectator and ask him to push over two cards,
flip them over and complete-cut the packet. He then repeats
this (CATO) as often as he wants. Then ask him to deal two
piles in an alternating fashion. Finally, ask him to turn over
either pile and place it on the other. He then spreads the
packet and only one card is reversed. Stress the shuffling
procedure and then reveal the prediction and reversed card to
be one and the same.
Painful Aces
This is a simplified version of Peter Duffie's Pain In The Ace. It

eliminates a five-card lift. This is a fast trick and a short
description. It's probably best performed as a bluff trick for
other magicians.
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The Aces are set on top of the deck; the third and
fourth ones are face up. I achieve this whilst toying with the
deck. Spread the deck between the hands taking care not to
expose the face-up Aces. Have a card selected. Whilst it’s
being shown around, cut the deck and catch a break between
the two halves. Place the card into the break from the rear (a
la Tilt) and re-catch the break above it. Cut (or, Pass) the cards
beneath the break to top. (This fake action will puzzle
magicians.) Perform a magical gesture and show the card on
top. (Mimic your double lift as you turn it over.) Take the card
in the right hand and catch a pinky break under the top two
Aces of the deck. Ready them for Tilt. Place the face-down
selection into the break and as you square the deck, catch a
pinky break above the selection. Say, "Let's do it again."
Perform a double lift to show an Ace. Leave the double face
up on top as you say, "Oh, failed! Let's try something else,
then." Complete-cut the deck at centre and table-spread it to
reveal four face-up Aces sandwiching one card. The instant
revelation of all four Aces is strong. Show the sandwiched
card to be the selection. End.
9
Omega Surprise
This is very unusual but a real favourite. From a shuffled

deck, push off the top five cards and secretly add a sixth.
Table the deck face up. Shuffle the packet and then hold it
face down in dealing grip. Say, "As I work my way through
the cards one by one, stop me anywhere you wish." Here you
place cards one-by-one from top to bottom and ask the
spectator to stop anywhere. This procedure stops people
noticing there are six cards instead of five. Hand her the
selection to look at. Once done, take it back and insert it to
second from bottom; aided by a left forefinger buckle of the
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bottom card at the outer right corner; which gives you a break
at the inner end. Transfer the face-down packet to right-hand
Biddle Grip. With the left thumb peel the top card into the left
hand. Turn the right hand over (palm up) and, using the left
thumb, peel the new top card onto the left-hand cards. Turn
the right hand over (palm down) and, using the left thumb,
peel the new top card onto the left- hand cards. Turn the right
hand over (palm up) and, using the left thumb, peel the new
top card onto the left-hand cards. Turn the right hand over
(palm down) and drop the double on top. It looks like you've
mixed the cards alternately face up and face down. Well, you
have; sort of. Position check from top down: FD, FD, FU
(selection), FD, FU, FD.
Place the bottom card to the top and show they have
magically all turned face down using the Omega Count. (The
Omega Count is an extended Elmsley Count. The first card is
peeled to the bottom on the count of one and then, without
pausing, you do an Elmsley Count on two, three, four and
five.) Don't, however, place the last card to the top. Place it to
second from bottom using the buckle technique discussed
earlier.
Drop the face-down packet onto the face-up deck.
Cut and complete it (this loses the extra face-up card) and
ribbon-spread it to show four face-down cards in the centre of
the deck with one card face up in the centre of them. It's the
selection. End.
Kingly Aces
After any other four-Ace trick place the Aces on top of the
deck and quickly cut or shuffle four cards on top of them.
Then, whilst toying with the deck, get the four Kings to top.
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Say, "There are only five magicians worldwide who can do

the following. I've just joined the so-called Secret Six. It's so
secret, I don't know who the other five are!" Here you
jogshuffle the deck adding four cards to top and then false
cut. Then quickly deal four hands of four cards each. "It's
taken me years to learn how to locate the Kings!" Pick up the
first pile and perform a block push-off triple lift (see
Powerhouse in Gold Dust) to reveal a King. Turn the triple
down and table the top card; the supposed King. It's actually
an Ace. Drop the three-card packet atop the deck and repeat
the same actions with the other three piles. Do it fast. No
delays. You've shown four Kings (which is impressive) which
you've supposedly tabled into a pile. Say, "But I've now learnt
that if you snap your fingers over the Kings you can change
them to...Aces!" Turn over the tabled pile and watch the jaws
drop.
Signing autographs with Bob Sheets
Double Heilmans
This is another routine I thought I'd published in a major

book. I hadn't! Francis Haxton asked to use it for the 'organ' of
The Sussex Magic Circle in 1979 where he named it Loving
Royals. The routine is mostly Persi Diaconis's (aka
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Sid Spocane) Royal Lovers from Deck-Sterity. I've just added a

convincer. My new title is due to the similarity of my
Heilman's Aces from Gold Dust.
You need the four Aces on the top of the deck. The
third and fourth ones are face up. Here's how: During the
applause from the previous trick (whatever that may be),
simply push off the top two Aces and use them to lever over
(face up) the next two Aces. Job done!
Flip the deck face up and remove the two black
Kings. Flip the deck face down into dealing grip and catch a
pinky break under the top card. I use the Pinky Count. (Or,
drop your hand to your side, whilst the right hand displays
the Kings, and push off - and pull back - the top Ace to catch
your break.) Place the face-up Kings onto the deck, pick up all
three cards above the break in right-hand Biddle Grip and
perform the standard 'sandwiching' technique. (I.e., the left
thumb peels off the face King and slides it to the bottom of the
packet.) Place the squared Kings (actually three cards) face up
on the spectator's palm. Your right hand waves over the Kings
("casting a shadow") whilst your left pinky catches a break
under the top three cards. Spread the Kings to show a
face-down card between them. Reveal the Ace and place it the
spectator's other hand. The first Ace has just been magically
revealed.
Place the face-up Kings on the deck but slightly injog
the second (lower) one. Still with the King injogged, flip the
block of five cards over onto the deck and, with the right hand
in Biddle Grip, push down on the injogged King with the right
thumb so you can easily grip the three-card packet; again in
Biddle Grip. Slide the top face-down card (assumed to be a
King) face down to the bottom of the packet using the
standard sandwiching technique and place the face-down
packet on the spectator's palm. Your right hand waves over
the supposed Kings ("casting a shadow") whilst your left
pinky catches a break under two cards.
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Spread the Kings to show a face-up Ace between them. Place it

on the spectator's other hand with the first Ace. The second
Ace has been revealed.
Drop the supposed face-down Kings onto the deck
and flip the four-card block face up onto the deck. Catch a
pinky break under the block. Spread over the face King to
show two face-up Kings and then flip the block face down.
Immediately push off the top two cards (supposed Kings) and
slide the top card to bottom mimicking the sandwiching
technique. (This might fool some magicians.) Place the two-
card packet (which they might think contains three cards)
onto the spectator's palm. Cast a shadow and spread the
face-down cards. Look disappointed that no Ace has
appeared. Pause for effect and then turn the Kings face up to
reveal they've changed into the last two Aces. All four Aces
have been magically revealed.
The Famous Fives
"You’ve probably heard of The Famous Five. Well, shortly I’m

going to tell you about The Famous Fives. The black Fives to
be precise." That’s the opening gambit for this trick. I’ve
always liked Ronald Wohl’s The Australian Sixes (Reputation
Makers). My books are littered with unusual variations. This is
a new handling which simplifies the setup and eliminates the
deal and duck procedure.
Prior to performance get one black Five to top and the
other black Five to bottom. Okay, false shuffle the deck
retaining the set-up. Easy to do with a tabled riffle shuffle. (Or,
start with both Fives on top and after a jogshuffle, cut one to
bottom.) Hold the face-down deck in dealing grip and start
dealing cards onto the table. When you’ve dealt at least
four/five, say, "Please stop me when you want." Deal fairly
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slowly so he stops you sooner than later. Once he stops you,

ask him to look at the top card of the tabled packet. Once
peeked (he leaves it in situ) you drop the inhand remainder on
top and pick up the whole. Again, hold the face-down deck in
dealing grip and start dealing cards onto the table. When
you've dealt at least four/five, say to a second spectator,
"Please stop me when you want." Deal fairly slowly so he
stops you sooner than later. Once he stops you, ask him to
look at the top card of the tabled packet. Once peeked (he
leaves it in situ) you drop the inhand remainder on top and
pick up the whole. Give the deck one complete- cut near
centre. Say, "Let's let the black Fives find your cards." From the
top of the face-down deck, deal cards into a face-up pile. When
you see a black Five, deal it face up in front of the first
spectator and deal five cards (because of it being a Five) face
down next to it. Continue dealing cards face up onto the tabled
face-up pile until you reach the second black Five. Deal it face
up in front of the second spectator and deal five cards (because
of it being a Five) face down next to it. Flip the inhand
remainder face up and drop on the face-up tabled pile. Push
this large block to one side so it's out of the performance arena.
Into the ending.
Pick up the first five-card packet and perform Harry
Lorayne's Reverse Faro Ending like so: whilst spreading the
packet, upjog the second and fourth cards. Strip them out and
flip them over onto the top of the packet. Spread the packet
again, upjog the second and fourth cards. Strip them out and
flip them over onto the top of the packet. Again, spread the
packet, upjog the second and fourth cards. Strip them out, flip
them over and place them under the packet. Call this the
Famous Five Shuffle and do it quickly. Spread the face-up
packet to reveal one card face down at centre. Reveal it as the
selection.
To end, repeat the Reverse Faro Ending with the
second spectator's packet. That's it
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Supersonic Flush
There's nothing much new here, I imagine, but it sure does

play well as an opener. You need the royal flush in Spades on
top of the deck in K, A, 10, J, Q order. The Ten is face up.
Say, "It takes years of practice to be able to
thoroughly shuffle the deck and do this!" Here you jogshuffle
the deck retaining the top five cards followed by giving it a
complete-cut at centre. Snap your fingers for effect and spread
the deck in the hands to reveal the face-up Ten. Split the deck
at that juncture so that the Ten is on the bottom of the
right-hand portion. Leave it protruding to the left. Move the
right hand to the table and let the Ten fall to the table. Place
the right-hand half under the left-hand half thereby bringing
the Jack and Queen to top and the King and Ace to bottom.
Swiftly get the deck ready for the Reinhard Muller
Four-Card Toss: The deck is face down at the left fingertips;
fingers underneath and thumb on top. The top card is
sidejogged to the right and the bottom card is sidejogged to
the left. The thumb is on both the top and second-from-top
cards and the fingertips are on both the bottom and second-
from-bottom cards. Toss (a jerky action) the deck into the right
hand so you end up with four cards in the left. Turn them face
up one by one onto the Ten to reveal the royal flush. It's a real
quickie!
The Somersaulting Aces Collect
This is based on Roy Walton's Collectors and an unusual

Hippie Torrales version from Apocalypse. Hippie's count
wasn't easy or convincing. This is. The Aces are tabled prior to
performing. Have three cards chosen and control all three
89
to top. Whilst reaching for the Aces with your right hand catch
a pinky break under the top three cards of the inhand deck.
Flip the Aces face up onto the deck and immediately pick up
the block of seven cards. Table the deck face down. Say,
"Before I locate your cards, the Aces want to perform for you;"
Hold the face-up packet in right-hand Biddle Grip. Using the
left thumb, peel the first three Aces into the left hand and then
drop the final Ace (four cards) on top. (The thick block is
invisible when the peel-deal is handled casually.) Flip the
packet face down and do an Elmsley Count. All looks
copacetic. Perform a reversing Through The Fist flourish as a
magical gesture. Say, "That oughta do it! Say," One by one the
Aces will magically turn face up. Watch." Perform an Elmsley
Count to show the first Ace has turned face up. Perform a
second Elmsley Count to show the second Ace has turned face
up but hold the last card in the right hand. It appears as if you
now place it to the bottom of the packet, but you actually place
it to second from bottom. This is achieved by the left forefinger
buckling the outer right corner of the bottom card which
causes a break at the rear. The card is easily inserted here.
Perform a third Elmsley Count to show the third Ace has
turned face up. You now make the following adjustment:
Catch a pinky break above the third-from-bottom card as you
square the packet. The left thumb holds onto the face Ace as
the right hand (in Biddle Grip) pulls the top block of three
cards to the right. The Ace held by the thumb stays aligned
with the three-card block beneath it. The right-hand three-card
block is dropped on top of the left-hand block. Finally, cut the
bottom two cards to top to show the fourth Ace has turned
face up. So far so good. To end, casually cut the top three cards
to bottom and place the face-up packet on the facedown deck.
Complete-cut the deck and spread it to reveal three caught'
cards. Reveal them as the selections. Practice to make the Ace
reveals (and secret displacements) smooth.
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Flushing The Four Kings
This is a fun pseudo gambling display. You only need six

cards for this. You need the royal flush in Spades and the KD.
From face to rear: KD, A, 10, J, Q, KS. Flip the packet face
down and hold it in right-hand Biddle Grip. Say, "I once
played poker with a fella who seemed to be holding out. Fie
showed me four Kings.” The left thumb peels the top three
cards into the left hand and the final card (three cards) is
revolved (by the backs of the left fingers) face up onto the
packet. The KD is shown. Flip the triple face down onto the
packet and deal the top card to the table. (See Totally Baffling
Card Control in Gold Dust for this display.) Re-grip the packet
in right-hand Biddle Grip. The left thumb peels the top two
cards into the left hand and the final card (three cards) is
revolved (by the backs of the left fingers) face up onto the
packet. The KS is shown. Flip the triple face down onto the
packet and deal the top card onto the tabled card. You are now
supposed to be holding two cards but don't fret if the
spectator's suspect something; it's all part of the routine. Cut
the packet bringing the bottom two cards to the top as one.
Take the top card in the right hand and turn both hands palm
down to show two Kings. (It's a wonderfully discrepant
display of four(?) Kings.) Turn both hands over again (palm
up) and place the right-hand card onto the left- hand card(s)
and then drop the packet onto the tabled cards. Say, "I said to
him, you've got five cards!" Fie retorted, "Okay, you got me. I
have got five cards...the best five cards there are...a royal flush
in Spades!" Pick the packet up and flip it face up in right-hand
Biddle Grip. The left thumb peels off the face four cards (make
a fan in the left hand) and the fifth (a double) is placed on top.
Cut the packet into the deck and do something else. As you
see, don't fret about the packet thickness; it's all part of the
presentation.
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Play It Poker
There are a few handlings of John Bannon's Play It Straight

concept in Gold Dust. Here's another.
Start with the royal flush in Spades on top of the deck
in any order. Jogshuffle the deck retaining the five-card set-up
as you patter about poker. Perform two Straddle Faro shuffles
(See Easy Ace Estimation in Gold Dust) and pullouts thereby
placing the flush every fourth card. Deal four hands of poker
in a left to right row.
Say, "From a thoroughly shuffled deck I've dealt four
hands of poker." The five flush cards are in the first pile. Say,
"This is my pile (the flush pile). You three gentlemen can
choose a pile each. Okay. Please shuffle your cards face
down." All four of you shuffle your packets. It's merely
window-dressing. It means nothing in actual terms but means
a lot in perceived terms. All four packets are tabled face down
to position in a left to right row from whence they came.
Turn the second and fourth piles face up and say,
"Here's another weird shuffle. It mixes all the cards." Riffle
shuffle your face-down pile (the flush pile) into the face-up
second pile. (Or, better still, let a spectator shuffle.) Turn the
combined pile over and riffle shuffle into the face-down third
pile. Finally, turn the combined pile over and riffle shuffle into
the face-up fourth pile.
To end, table-spread the combined twenty-card
packet. Five cards only will appear face down. Push them
halfway out of the spread. Say, "Remember this. I shuffled the
deck at the start. Yes? I dealt four hands. Yes? You all shuffled
your packets. Yes? You then shuffled the cards face up and
face down. Yes? Do you play poker? Yes!" Flip the spread over
(standard procedure) thereby bringing the flush face up (it's
really magical) as you say, "Thank God for that, then." It's a
real fooler.
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Illogical And Discrepant Collectors
This is both illogical and discrepant, but I love it. It's also a
collectors routine where no cards are chosen. In other words,
it's unusual. The basic mechanics aren't really original. Mario's
ATFUS is used plus parts of routines by Jon Racherbaumer
and Nick Trost and my own Twister from Gold Dust. At the
end I offer a really pretty Royal Marriages handling.
The Aces are on top of the deck (in any order) from
the start. Flip the deck face-up and openly remove the four
Kings. Flip the deck face down into dealing grip and as your
right hand display the Kings, your left pinky gets a pinky
break under the top two cards of the deck. Flip the Kings (in
any order) face up onto the deck and pick up all the cards
above the break (six cards) in right-hand Biddle Grip. As you
do the 'pick up', however, pick up the new top card of the deck
(the seventh card if you will) to beneath the right- hand packet
catching a thumb break between it and the six cards above it.
Here's Mario's ATFUS: The left thumb peels off the face King
onto the right long edge of the deck. The right hand (holding
the King packet) appears to square the just-peeled King to
beneath the packet, but actually drops the 'broken' card above
it so both the King and face-down card are now atop the deck.
The left thumb then peels the second King off the packet and
slides it to the bottom of the packet and this is repeated for the
third King. The fourth King stays on the face of the packet.
Ostensibly, you've just displayed the four Kings.
Table the face-down deck which has two face-down
Aces on top with a face-up King between them. The face-up
inhand packet contains three face-up Kings with two
facedown Aces under the face King. Flip the packet face-down
and say, "Here's the famous four-card trick." Perform an
Elmsley Count to show four backs. Now perform a reversing
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Through-The-Fist flourish. Say, "One by one they will turn face

up." Perform an Elmsley Count to show one King has turned
face up. Perform another Elmsley Count to show two face-up
Kings. The following count is similar to the Elmsley Count.
Hold the packet in Elmsley Count grip and peel a single, a
single, push off a double and then the final single which you
place to the bottom of the packet. Three face-up Kings have
been displayed. Here's the illogical and discrepant bit. Drop
the face-up packet on the deck and give it a complete cut. Say,
"The fourth King flips face-up when I snap my fingers." Snap
your fingers and table spread the deck to show four face-up
Kings. After the applause, pause. Remove the face-down cards
to the left of each individual King. With flair, reveal them to be
the Aces. End.
What I like is the fact that the Kings and Aces are in
any order at the start and that all four Kings are actually
displayed. The illogicality of the fourth King appearing in the
deck flies by laymen and is actually quite magical in itself. The
surprise of the Aces is the real pay off!
The Royal Marriages: Set the Queens atop the deck in
reversed CHaSeD order so that the QD is on top followed by
the QS, QH and QC. Then hold the face-up Kings in CHaSeD
order from face to rear. It's an easy mnemonic. Do the routine
and the pairs will match once sandwiched. It's really pretty.
This is the presentation I use mostly.
The Fraces Trick
This is just a novel way of doing an old standard. I believe that

the originator was Nick Trost. I named it The Fraces Trick
because of a magician I watched on a recent DVD. His diction
was so bad he kept saying Traces' instead of The Four Aces. I
thought it'd be a good title for a trick.
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On top of the deck have any Five-spot followed by

the four Aces. Catch a break under the top five cards and
perform the Braue Reverse. Cut one card from face to rear and
flip the deck face down. The four Aces (and Five) are face up
beneath the top face-down card of the deck. All of the above is
done prior to performance. I do it during the applause of a
trick prior.
Hold the face-down deck in right-hand Biddle Grip
and 'dribble' the cards into your left palm. Ask the spectator to
stop you where she wants. Ask her to take the top card of the
left-hand portion. You then drop the right-hand portion on
top of the left and re-grip the deck in dealing grip.
Whilst she's showing her card around, get the top
card of the deck ready to do Mario’s Tilt. (Btw, you have the
card chosen in the above manner so as to not expose the
face-up block.) Take the selection and insert it into the Tilt
break. Square the deck and then lose the top card by
doublecutting it to the bottom. Table the deck face down.
Ask the spectator to cut off half the deck, turn the
cut-off section face up and place it on the bottom half. (If you
are nervous about the spectator exposing the face-up block,
you do the ’turning’ after she has cut off the top half.) Say, "I
believe you've cut to your own card."
Pick the deck up and spread it until you reach the
first face-down card. Flip the face-up right-hand spread face
down and place it to the bottom of the deck. Flip over the top
card of the deck to reveal the Five. When she says it’s not her
card casually lose it by inserting it into the centre of the deck.
Say, "But the Five indicates something. It indicates that your
card is fifth from top. And, if I snap my fingers it’ll turn face
up. Look." Here you deal four cards to the table to reveal her
card face-up at the fifth position. It’s very magical.
To end say, "Do you like four-Ace tricks by the way?"
(This is a rhetorical question.) As you say this, flip the four
tabled cards face up to reveal the four Aces.
95
What The Heck!
I showed this trick to a magician friend who responded with a

slight variation of the title of this trick. You require five
duplicate Jokers which you keep in your wallet or pocket. The
top two are face up and the bottom three are face down.
From a shuffled deck have three cards selected and
noted. Ask the spectators to leave their selections face down
on the table. Place the deck face down near you. Say, "I have
three Jokers who are going to assist me here." Remove the
squared Joker packet so that the two face-up Jokers are
uppermost. Perform a Stanyon Count to show three Jokers.
Briefly: hold the packet as if about to do an Elmsley Count. As
in the Elmsley Count, peel the first card and steal back beneath
the packet immediately then pushing off a block of four and
then peel/deal the last card. Do it casually. Three Jokers are
seen. Hold the Joker packet in dealing grip and catch a tiny
pinky break under the top two face-up Jokers. Say, "The Jokers
are going to read' your cards." Take the first selection and
insert it, from the rear, into the break. Square the packet.
Perform an Elmsley Count outjogging the third (face-down)
card as you get to it. Remove the facedown card (a switched-in
Joker) and table it. Catch a break under the top two face-up
Jokers and repeat the above with the second and then the third
selections. You now have three tabled face-down Jokers
(assumed selections) and in your hand you have two face-up
Jokers with three face-down selections beneath. It's a
wonderful switch. (John Hamman created this switch using
the Elmsley Count.)
Say, "Not only have the Jokers told me what your
cards are...they are your cards!" Here you perform the J. K
Hartman Blow Change with the inhand packet. (It's a magical
way of turning the packet over. See Powerhouse in Gold Dust
and/or my Card Startlers DVD.) Immediately drop the packet
on the deck (to lose the Jokers) and spread off the
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three face-up selections. Watch the spectators leap on the three

tabled cards. They will find three Jokers as opposed to their
cards. As my friend sort of said, "What the heck!"
To reset, drop the three face-up Jokers on the deck
and pick up the top five cards. Turn the packet over as you
return it to your wallet.
The Aces Collect
Here's an unusual, but powerful, quickie of mine. I've never

seen an Ace Assembly combined with The Collectors like this
before. Lay the four Aces face up in a left to right row on the
table. Control three chosen cards to sixth, seventh and eighth
from the top of the deck by controlling them to top and adding
five cards during a jogshuffle. Deal, rotationally,
97
three cards onto each face-up Ace as if dealing in a game of

cards. Pick up the piles going from left to right. I.e., first pile
onto the second; combined onto the third and the then the
combined three onto the fourth. As if further mixing the cards,
Reverse Faro the packet by spreading and upjogging every
other card starting with the second card. Strip out the
outjogged cards and place them on the inner packet. Drop the
whole bunch on the deck and jogshuffle retaining the top ten
cards in situ. Complete cut the deck at centre. Spread the
face-down deck on the table and the three sandwiched cards
between the face-up Aces are the selections. Reveal them with
flair. Methinks you'll use this a lot!
Hey Presto
Aldo Colombini used this a lot. Start with any 10D on top of
the deck. Deal two packets of ten cards dealing from left to
right etc. The Ten is now the bottom card of the left-hand
packet. Pick this packet up and slip shuffle retaining the Ten
on the bottom. Whilst you do this ask the spectator to shuffle
the other packet. Table both packets face down. Ask one
spectator to peek at the top card of the left-hand packet and
the second spectator to peek at the top card of the right-hand
packet. They both remember their cards and leave them in
position. Place the right-hand packet on the left and then ask
the spectator to complete cut the packet a few times. Say, "I
need a helper." Spread the packet face up between the hands
and table the 10D (face up) then complete-cut the packet at the
point of removal. Flip the packet face down. Say, "My helper is
a Ten and a Diamond. Watch." Deal ten cards one by one to the
bottom of the packet and table the next card. Then repeat by
spelling D-i-a-m-o-n-d-s and place the next card aside. Both
cards are the selections. Reveal them with flair.
98
Predictable Kaps
Card to wallet tricks suffer from the same problem. There's no

real reason for bringing out the wallet from your pocket.
Charles Reynolds fixed that problem years ago and I
published a popular handling in Nocturnal Creations some
twenty years ago. This new handling of mine is my favourite
of this type. I can visualise workers using this often.
You need two small 'pay' envelopes, two business
cards (or any bits of card to fit the envelopes), a Sharpie and a
Kaps loading wallet. On one of the cards write, You Will
Locate The Three Mates Of Your Signed Card. Place this in
one envelope and mark the envelope Prediction 1. On the
other card write, Furthermore, Your Signed Card Is In The
Zippered Section Of This Wallet. Place this in the second
envelope and mark the envelope Prediction 2. Place both
envelopes in the front 'open' section of the wallet so they are
on view as soon as the wallet is opened. Place the wallet in
your pocket with the slide up.
Prior to performance, get any four of a kind to top
with an X-card above them. Assume the four of a kind are the
four Twos. Try and make sure that the uppermost Two is a
red one. This is so that the signature shows up well.
Jogshuffle the deck and say, "I'd like you to sign a
card for me please. This'll do." Flip over a double onto the
deck revealing your red Two. "Please sign it. Thanks. By the
way, I made two predictions earlier!" As you say these words,
flip the double over onto the deck and slowly/obviously slide
the top card (your X-card) into the centre. As you table the
deck, top palm the signed card and load it into the wallet as
you remove it. (What I like here is the fact that the signed card
is seen to be slid into the deck. It's a convincer.) Hold the
wallet as you say, "Please take the deck and deal cards into a
pile. Yes, that's it. And stop where you want. Ok. Pick up the
dealt pile and deal three piles
99
rotationally as if dealing three hands of cards. Well done." So,

the spectator does as asked. Reiterate the fairness of
procedure. Say, "Remember the deck was shuffled and you
dealt and stopped where you wanted to. A random place!"
After all this the other Twos are now on top of the three piles.
Open the wallet to reveal the two envelopes. Take out
Prediction 1 and ask the spectator to open and read it. She
does so. Ask her to turn the top cards of the piles face up.
Applause. The other three Twos are displayed.
Pause for effect and time-misdirection. Say, "Oh yes,
I've got a second prediction. Here, please read it." When she's
done that, slowly unzip the wallet and dramatically remove
their signed card. Applause and dropped-jaws time. It's that
strong.
Please note that I don’t predict the actual card for two
reasons. Firstly it’s too pat. Secondly, not predicting the same
card means I can repeat the trick whilst table-hopping.
Doing My Thing
"The Gordon Diary Trick is a superb addition to the genre!"

- Jamy Ian Swiss
100
Visitations
This and the next two routines are much better handlings
(and write-ups) of three routines I published in the 90's. The
first is a Larry Jennings 'Visitors' style routine. Presentation is
your call. Okay, openly remove the two red Jacks and place
them face up on the face-down deck. (Assume, for description
purposes only, the JH is uppermost.) Table the deck and then
pick up half of it placing it into left-hand dealing grip. Spread
over the Jacks and catch a pinky break under the top card of
the deck. Perform the standard sandwiching sequence so that,
from the top: JD, X card, JH, half deck. You now appear to
place the two face-up Jacks (which at the moment is actually
three cards) on top of the tabled half, but you actually only
place one card, the face-up JD. This you do by riffling up on
the rear of the half-deck with the right thumb and then
picking up only the JD in right-hand Biddle Grip. A little
acting (not over-acting) will do fine here; you appear to grip
two cards. Spread the inhand half (careful not to expose the
face-up JH that is second from top) for a selection to be made.
As the card (assume 3C) is being viewed, catch a left pinky
break under the top card in preparation for Tilt. Take back the
3C and place it into said break. As you square the deck, catch
a left pinky break under the top card and doublecut it to the
bottom. Your right hand, in Biddle Grip, reaches for the
(apparent) two face-up Jacks on top of the tabled half but, in
reality, only picks up the face-up JD. Your right thumb riffles
up on the rear of the deck as if picking up two cards. More
subtle acting called for here. The JD (assumed two Jacks) is
placed onto the inhand half. The right hand, still in Biddle
Grip, reaches for the tabled half deck and places onto the
inhand half. Spread the whole deck to reveal a sandwich of
one card between the red Jacks. Remove it and show it to be
the chosen 3C. It's a very simplistic Visitors routine.
101
Black Gold
This is an old Oil And Water routine of mine that first

appeared in Protean Card Magic with a different handling.
Prior to performing, cut any black spot card to the face of the
deck. Then openly outjog any four red spot cards followed by
any four black spot cards. Use Sixes, Sevens, Eights and
Nines. Strip out the outjogged cards and place them onto the
face of the deck. Spread off the red and black cards (eight
cards) plus one more and pick up all nine cards. Place the
deck aside as it's not used again.
Once again, spread the cards to display the eight
(actually nine) face-up cards but keep the last two aligned as
one. As you close the spread, catch a left pinky break under
the sixth-from-face card. Square the packet and lift up the
six-card packet (assumed to be all reds) placing it face up onto
the table. Pick up the remaining cards (assumed four blacks),
also in right-hand Biddle Grip, and place them onto the
already-tabled red cards. Say, "Four reds and four blacks."
Scoop up the packet and flip it face down into
left-hand dealing grip. Deal off, onto the table (reversing their
order), the top four cards; assumed to be four reds. Casually
cut (or openly displace) the bottom card of the inhand packet
to the top. Flip the packet face up and perform an Elmsley
Count to show four black cards. Flip the packet face down
once more.
You now appear to alternate reds and blacks into one
new packet like this: Pick off the top red card off the tabled
packet and place it aside. Then deal off a black(?) card onto it
from the inhand packet. Repeat this alternating-card deal for
all the cards. However, the last inhand card is a double card.
The double coalesces as it "hits" the tabled packet. As you do
the dealing say, "Red, black, red, black, red, black, red and
black."
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To end, pick up the packet, flip it face up and deal

the cards, one by one, onto the table showing all four red
cards together and all four black cards together. As before, the
last (black) card is a double. Don't fret though, just do the deal
casually! End by saying, "Oil and water really don't mix do
they!"
Performing with Boris Wild, Woody Aragon and others
Bamboozled
Four red cards and four black cards are mixed, and then
magically separate. For a kicker ending, the cards that the
spectator holds instantly change into the four Aces! Fiarry
Lorayne once told me that this would have been a "front
cover" item for Apocalypse had his magazine still been
published. The write-up (and handling) may seem long-
winded, but in reality it's a pretty quick trick. I've published
many routines of this type over the years but wanted to
record this one again as it was a favourite of Harry's.
103
Arrange two packets of cards like this: Red packet

from face to rear: 9D, 7D, AD, AH, 6H. Place this packet face
up to your left. Black packet from face to rear: 7S, 6C, AS, AC,
9C Place this packet face up to your right. (You can use any
middle range spot cards that blend during the various counts,
and the Aces can be in any order and in either packet too.
However, to keep my description clear, use the above cards.)
Pick up the red packet, perform an Elmsley Count to
display four red cards and flip the packet face down to its
original position on the table. Repeat the above actions with
the black packet. Say, MA mystery using four red and four
black cards. Birds of a feather flock together! The same thing
goes for playing cards.” Remember, both packets are now face
down.
With each hand, openly pick up the top card of each
packet and swap their positions. I.e., place the top red card on
the top of the black packet and vice versa.
Flip the red packet face up and perform a Jordan
Count to display four red cards. Flip the packet face down
onto the table. Repeat this with the black packet. Four blacks
are shown in the black packet. Say, "By pure magic, birds of a
feather do flock together. Let's do it again."
There should now be two face-down packets on the
table. Say, "Maybe we can do this two by two? Surely it can't
be possible!"
Pick up the top card of the black packet and use it as
a scoop to pick the packet up. (I.e., the top card is displaced to
the bottom.) Hold the packet in left-hand dealing grip. Openly
remove, with the right hand, the top two cards (two Aces) of
the black packet, and place them to one side near the
spectator. The spectator will naturally assume these two cards
to be black cards. Say, "Two blacks." Careful not to spread the
remaining inhand cards too much. There should only be two
cards, but in fact there are three cards. Place the
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remainder of the black packet back to its position on the table.

Using the top card as a scoop (placing it to bottom),
pick up the face-down red packet placing it into left-hand
dealing grip. Then transfer the packet into right-hand Biddle
Grip. With your left thumb peel off, one by one, the top three
cards into your left hand. The card in your right hand is a
double. Place this card(s) onto the tabled 'black' packet. (Not
onto the two Mplaced-aside-cards", but onto the ones left at
their original position.) As you place it, however, you turn
your right hand palm up to show a red card. Your right hand
then turns palm down and places the card(s) onto the tabled
packet. In the same action, your right hand picks up the
combined packet and turns palm up to show a black card at
the face. Then the cards are returned face down to position.
You then take the top card of left-hand packet, flash its red
face and place it onto the tabled 'black' pile. As you do this
say, "Look. Two blacks and two reds."
The two remaining cards (two Aces) in the left hand
are placed onto the two cards near the spectator. Hand these
four cards to the spectator. Once again say, "Yes, two blacks
and two reds." *
Pick up the tabled six-card packet and casually cut
(or openly displace) the bottom card to the top of the packet.
Say, "Let’s see if the magic works this time." Flip the packet
face up and perform an Elmsley Count to display four black
cards. Casually place this packet onto the deck and then cut
(and complete the cut) so as to "lose" the evidence of there
being six cards.
Say, "Goodness! If I’ve got all four black cards you
must have all four red cards." The spectator turns over his
cards to display the four Aces! End.
"I've not seen such a good card entertainer in years!" - Kevin Fox
105
Aces Spell Kings
This is quite startling. From the top of the deck: AD, AC, KD,
AH, AS, KC, KH, KS, rest of deck.
Start jogshuffling the deck and as you patter, run
eight cards (in two runs of four cards) to the top of the deck.
The patter goes like this: "I was playing cards and someone
set a challenge. They said it was impossible to spell to the four
Aces from a shuffled deck." I said, "If you let me shuffle, can I
give it a go?"
Here you spell to the AC. One card per letter; A-c-e-
O-f-C-l-u-b-s. Deal the ten cards from the top of the deck, and
deal the last card face up to reveal the AC. Place it aside. Pick
up the tabled nine-card packet, place it back onto the deck
and perform a quick jogshuffle retaining the set-up.
Now spell to the AH. A-c-e-O-f-H-e-a-r-t-s. Deal the
eleven cards from the top of the deck, and deal the last card
face up to reveal the AH. Place it aside with the AC. Pick up
the tabled ten-card packet, place it back onto the deck and
perform a quick jogshuffle retaining the set-up.
Now spell to the AS. A-c-e-O-f-S-p-a-d-e-s. Deal the
eleven cards from the top of the deck, and deal the last card
face up to reveal the AS. Place it aside with the AC and AH.
Pick up the tabled ten-card packet, place it back onto the deck
and perform a quick jogshuffle retaining the set-up.
Now spell to the AD (thirteen cards) in the usual
fashion but this time you’ll turn up the KS. Say, "Don't fret
folks, the KS is an indicator card. Watch!" Place the face-up KS
to one side and return the twelve-card tabled portion to the
top of the deck. Perform one more jogshuffle. You now spell,
one card per letter, the KS (twelve cards). The last card is the
missing AD. Place the AD with the other three Aces. This
time, drop the deck onto the tabled cards and pick up the
whole. The other three Kings are now on the bottom of the
deck. Swiftly deal the deck into three piles.
106
Turn over the top cards of each pile to reveal a King as you
say, "Seeing as we have the King of Spades, let's get the
others!"
With Tommy Wonder, Boris Wild, Jorg Alexander,

Thorsten Strotmann, Dave Solomon, J.C Wagner & Zoe Ball
Guard Of Honour
This is my handling of Larry Jennings's Changing The Guard

from The Ultimate Secrets of Card Magic. This first appeared in
my 1998 book Cause And Effect. Here is an improved handling
and much better description.
Before performing, set the AH, AC and AD on the
top of the deck with the AH on top followed by the Club and
then the Diamond. Jogshuffle the deck, catch a break under
the Aces and, during a cutting sequence, perform a Braue
Reverse of the Aces. The deck is now face up with the three
Aces reversed at the rear. Spread through the deck (between
the hands) and upjog any three cards excepting the AS. Strip
them out of the spread, turn them face down and place them
to the rear of the deck. Then flip the deck over. The deck is
now face down with six cards face up on the top; three X
cards followed by three Aces.
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Spread off the first two X cards to show three X cards.

Assume they are the, from the face, 3S, 6C & JH. I suggest you
rehearse this using these cards so you can easily follow my
instructions. Point them out as you say, "Look. The 3S, 6C and
the JH. Let's do some magic!"
As you point these cards out, you catch a left pinky
break under the lowermost Ace. This you can do aided by the
natural curvature of the face-down deck against the faceup
cards.
Close the spread of three cards and flip the whole
(six-card) block face down. Immediately deal off the top three
cards (Aces) onto the table in a left to right row. Say, "I need
the AS for this trick." Here you turn the deck face up
performing a Braue Reversal of the top card (the JH) of the
deck. The deck is now face up with the JH reversed at the
top/rear. Spread the deck from hand to hand and outjog the
AS. Strip it out and flip it face down to the rear of the deck.
These are the same actions used for the three X cards. Flip the
deck over (face down) revealing the AS once more. Pick up a
face-up double in your right hand (AS & JH) from the top of
the deck.
The face-up double is held by the right hand with the
thumb on top and fingers underneath at the inner right comer.
Table the deck face down near you. Use the AS/double to
scoop the supposed X card at the left end of the row. Place the
cards into the left hand and perform a reversing
Through-The-Fist flourish. Transfer the packet into right-hand
Biddle Grip. Use the left fingers to pull out the AH from
bottom. This is very magical. The AH is placed onto the
face-down AS (double) for a moment and the packet is
transferred into left-hand dealing grip. Then, with the left
thumb, push off the AH, grip it in right-hand Biddle Grip and
drop it face up onto the table. Flip the double (AS & JH) face
up into the left hand (easy to do if you relax).
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Use the AS/double to scoop the supposed X card at

the centre of the row. Place the cards into the left hand and
perform another reversing Through-The-Fist flourish. Transfer
the packet into right-hand Biddle Grip. Use the left fingers to
pull out the AC from bottom. Another magical moment. The
AC is placed onto the face-down AS (double) for a moment
and the packet is transferred into left-hand dealing grip.
Then, with the left thumb, push off the AC, grip in right-hand
Biddle Grip and drop it face up onto the tabled AH. Flip the
double (AS & JH) face up into the left hand and scoop up, as
you did with the first two Aces, the card at the far right. Here
you perform a non-reversing Through-The-Fist flourish.
Transfer the packet to right-hand Biddle Grip. With the left
fingers pull out the JH and place it on top. It appears as if
you've failed to find the last Ace. Transfer the packet into
dealing grip. The left thumb pushes off the JH and the right
hand places it face up to the bottom of the packet. Say, "I
thought the JH would be difficult. Let's try again." You now
perform a reversing Through-The-Fist flourish. Transfer the
packet into right-hand Biddle Grip. The left fingers slide out
the bottom Ace, the AD. Success! You've found the last Ace.
Place it onto the AS (double) and transfer the packet into
left-hand dealing grip. Thfc time you thumb off a double card
(AD backed by the face-down JH) onto the already-tabled
face-up AH & AC. All the heat will be on the face-down
inhand card. Slowly flip it face up to display the single AS.
Casually drop the AS onto the tabled Aces and pick all four
(actually five) cards up.
Cut the bottom two Aces to the face of the packet and
drop the whole lot onto the face-down deck. Spread over the
four face-up Aces (the JH has coalesced with the deck) and
continue with your next miracle. This, in my opinion, has
greatly enhanced the conviction of Larry's routine. My
handling irons-out a couple of problems which, if you think
about it, are quite blatant in Jennings's original.
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Blackjack & Poker
This is going to be both a fast trick to explain and a fast trick to

perform. It's a new/better version of a trick in an old book of
mine. A small set-up is required. From the face/bottom of the
deck: AH, AC, QC, KD, AS. The AH is the bottom card.
False shuffle the deck (I use centre Hindu shuffles)
retaining the bottom five cards in order. Say, "Any of you
good folks play Blackjack? Good. We need four cards
selected!" Here you spread the face-down deck and have a
spectator touch - which you then outjog - any two cards.
Continuing the spread, you have another spectator touch -
which you then outjog - any two cards. Using Derek Dingle's
No-Lap Switch (see Gold Dust), switch them for the five set-up
cards. Hold these five cards (supposed four) face down in
dealing grip. "Let's see how you both did."
Show the top card (AS) and place it face down to the
bottom of the packet. Say, "Good start!" Show the new top
card (KD) and place it face down to the bottom of the packet.
Say, "Wow! Well done. Blackjack." Show the next new top
card (QC) and place it face down to the bottom of the packet.
Say, "This is getting spooky!" Finally, show the next new top
card (AC) and place it face down to the bottom of the packet
as you say, "I'd hate to play cards with you. Two Blackjacks!"
Casually place the next card to the bottom of the
packet as you say, "You won at Blackjack, but, you won't win
at Poker!" (The revelation of two Blackjack hands is quite
surprising; bearing in mind they 'freely' selected four cards!)
Flip the packet face up and perform an Elmsley
Count to show four Aces! The AH shows twice, but no one
will notice. Cut the packet into the deck and quickly segue
into your next effect.
110
Royal Poker
How this trick came to being is quite interesting. I created it

whilst waiting for a train. You should have seen the faces of
the other passengers on the platform whilst I was toying with
the cards. A magician friend phoned me (about twenty years
ago) and asked if I could devise a nine-hand poker deal
culminating in a royal flush. At the start, he wanted the
spectator to be able to lose the royal flush themselves. I rose to
the challenge and here is the routine I'd long forgotten about.
It uses both the Free-Cut Principle and three perfect 'in' Faro
shuffles. (See also Miracle Ace Spell in Gold Dust Companion.)
Lay the royal flush in Spades face up in a left to right row on
the table. Beneath this row, you need to cut the deck into five
face-down piles so that, from left to right, the packets contain
9, 10, 9, 10 and 9 cards. See Fig. 1. I simply push off the cards
and eye-count the correct amount. Or, deal the five piles
rotationally and place the final two cards on B and D.
10S JS QS KS AS
9 10 9 10 9
cards cards cards cards cards
A B C D E
Fig. 1
Patter here will be a personal thing, but I simply do it 'matter

of fact' as a demonstration of card control. So, have
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the spectator cut some cards from pile A, and hand them to
you. Ask him to then drop the 10S face down onto the tabled
remainder of pile A. He then cuts some cards from pile B and
places them onto pile A. (As this happens, corner crimp the
bottom card of your inhand packet. If you don't like crimps,
I'll offer another way later.)
Ask him to then drop the JS face down onto the
remainder of pile B. He then cuts some cards from pile C and
places them onto pile B.
Ask him to then drop the QS face down onto the
remainder of pile C. He then cuts some cards from pile D and
places them onto pile C.
Ask him to then drop the KS face down onto the
remainder of pile D. He then cuts some cards from pile E and
places them onto pile D.
Ask him to then drop the AS face down onto the
remainder of pile E. You then drop your inhand cards onto
the top of pile E.
You now need to gather the piles by placing pile E
onto D and the combined onto C. Then this (bigger) pile onto
B and the whole onto A.
The spectator cuts and complete-cuts the deck as
often as he wants. You follow with one more cut, bringing the
corner crimped card to the bottom.
You now need to perform three perfect (cut at 26) 'In'
Faro shuffles. After the third shuffle, you need to doublecut
one card from the bottom of the deck to the top. That's it! The
royal flush is set to fall at every ninth card. So, if you deal nine
hands of cards, you get the very best hand in a game of Poker!
To eliminate the crimp, simply eye-count (by spreading the
cards) how many cards he hands you in the initial cut.
Assume five. Then, when you eventually drop these on pile E,
simply doublecut the five cards to the bottom of the deck once
you've assembled the five piles.
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Surprised Johann
This routine adds a nice twist to the, so-called, Hofzinser Ace

problem. My routine was inspired by a couple effects of my
own from Protean Card Magic. I don’t think this ending of
mine has been utilised before for the Hofzinser plot thereby
making this trick quite unusual.
The four Aces help locate a chosen card (assume an
Eight spot). The Ace of the same suit reverses magically and
is then revealed as the chosen card! To even more gasps, the
other three Aces change into the remaining Eights.
On the top of the deck you need any four of a kind
and in any order. Assume, for description purposes only, the
four Eights are on top in CHaSeD order with the Club on top.
Whilst toying with the deck, casually flip over the 8D so it's
face up fourth from top.
Perform a jogshuffle retaining the set-up and force
the top card (the 8C) using the Slip Cut Force. Take back the
8C and control it to third from top using Tilt. As you square
the deck, pick up a break under the top four cards (the Eights)
and Braue Reverse them to position as you turn the deck face
up. The Eights are now on the bottom of the face-up deck
(three are face down) with the 8D being face up on bottom.
Spread through the face-up deck and outjog the four
Aces. Strip them out, flip them over and place them to the
rear (top) of the deck. Then, flip the deck face down. Spread
the face-up Aces and arrange them so that the AC is fourth
from face. The fifth from top card, the 8D, is face down, so
everything looks copacetic. As you display the Aces in your
right hand, get a left pinky break under the lowermost Eight.
Place the Aces back onto the deck and flip all eight cards over.
You now appear to spread off the four Aces like this: Push
over the top Ace(?) and hold it in right-hand Pinch Grip
(thumb on top and fingers underneath). Push over,
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with the left thumb, the second card and take it under the first
one. Catch a pinky break under the top two cards of the deck
and take these two (as one) under the first two cards. Finally,
take one more and place it under the first three (actually four)
cards. The right hand holds the cards in a fan; thumb on top
and fingers underneath. Place the deck aside as it’s not used
again.
Square the packet and casually cut the top two cards
to bottom. As you do the cut catch a left pinky break above
them. Flip the top three cards (as one) face up onto the packet
to display the AC. Say, "This card tells me that your chosen
card was a Club."
Perform an Ascanio Spread Variation so that the AC
is now second (actually third) from top of the fan. Briefly: The
packet is held from above by the right hand with third finger
at outer right comer and thumb at inner right corner. Your left
fingers slide out the bottom card and drags along the
second-from-bottom card too. As that happens, the left thumb
contacts the face of the AC and drags that onto the two
left-hand cards. The right-hand double card (face-down 8D
and face-up 8C) is placed onto the AC. The illusion is that you
simply spread four cards which are now in the left hand with
the thumb on top and fingers underneath. Square the packet
and repeat the Ascanio Spread as above to magically reveal
the face-up 8C. Say, "In that case the 8C must be your card."
This revelation of their chosen card will elicit much surprise
and applause. However, there is more to come!
With the right fingers still grasping the 8C (double
card) place the face-up 8C onto the deck (to lose the AC).
Slowly turn the inhand cards face up to reveal the other three
Eights! This is a big kicker surprise! Brian Glover once wrote
of this trick, "I saw Paul do this at the Close-Up Symposium
some twenty years ago. It was/is a blockbuster!"
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Kick The Spectator On Stage
This routine is a kicker to Randy Wakeman's Spectator On

Stage from Apocalypse. Okay, secretly cull the four Aces to the
bottom of the deck and follow with a couple of good false
shuffles. Have four cards chosen from the deck but be sure
the bottom four cards remain intact.
Control the first card to the top and then doublecut
two Aces from bottom to top. Now control the second and
third selections to the top followed by double cutting the
bottom two Aces to top. Finally, control the fourth selection to
the top. Position check from the top: Selection, Ace, Ace,
Selection, Selection, Ace, Ace, Selection, rest of deck.
Perform another jogshuffle retaining the stack and
finally doublecut the top four cards to the bottom. The deck is
face down in dealing grip. You now segue into Randy
Wakeman's Spectator On Stage (with a few changes) like this:
Say, "The usual thing is for the magician to locate the
chosen cards. However, tonight you are going to locate them
and I'm also going to teach you about estimation. Estimation
is a card cheating ploy. I'd like you to cut the deck into four
equal piles like this. Try and estimate ten cards per packet. Let
me show you what I mean." The deck is face down in dealing
grip. To demonstrate, you slip cut the top two cards (one by
one) to about eleventh & twelfth from top. I.e., the right hand
lifts up an approx twelve-card packet and the left thumb
holds onto the top card which it slides onto the left- hand
packet. You then slide off another. Your covering patter is,
"This...no this is ten cards!" Return the cut-off cards and catch
a pinky break above the just-slipped cards. Say, "Look, this is
about ten cards. Can you try it without riffling or
fiddling-with the cards? Try and cut a ten-card packet." As
you say these words, you casually cut off the top packet
(above the break) to the table. Place this cut-off
115
packet to one side (near you) without paying any attention to

it. It's your demonstration packet.
Hold the hand containing the rest of the deck
towards the spectator and have him cut off a packet of (ten)
cards. (He'll be eventually forming four piles which he tables
in a left to right row.) You hold the deck as he does this. This
cut-off packet is placed to the left of the table. As you peruse
this packet (say, "Yes, very good!"), your right hand casually
picks up the demo packet and returns it to the top of the deck.
You now ask the spectator to cut off a second packet as before.
He does so and places it next to his first packet. Again,
congratulate him. As you peruse this packet, doublecut the
bottom two cards to the top.
Let him now cut off a third packet and place it next to
the previously cut off packet. Say, "You're good at this aren't
you!" Finally, overhand shuffle the remaining cards bringing
the bottom two cards to the top one by one. Let him now cut off
a fourth packet and place it next to the previously cut off
packet. To reiterate, each time he cuts off a packet, comment
on it. Say things like, "Yes, very good!" Or, "Hmm, not
great...try again." I often make it comedic by taking the mickey
out of the spectator and their attempts at cutting. I, obviously,
do it tongue in cheek.
You are left holding a small packet of cards and there
is now an Ace on top of each of the four tabled packets.
Openly count the cards in the small packet you hold and say,
Say, "I've got eight [or whatever] left which leaves forty-four.
Hmm. That'd be about eleven per packet. Well, you haven't
cut ten cards in any of the packets, but...you've...cut to the four
Aces!"
Turn the top cards of each packet face up to reveal
the four Aces. Slide the Aces to just above their packets. Then
say, "And you also cut to...your cards!" Turn the "new" top
cards of each packet face up to reveal the selections. End.
116
Fairground Attraction # 2
This is a much better handling of a three-card monte trick I

published in Cause And Effect in 1998. There's a small set-up.
From top: Ace, X, face-up X card, Ace, Ace.
Jogshuffle the deck whilst pattering about three-card
monte and then catch a pinky break under the set up. Perform
a Braue Reverse (with the five-card set up) as you turn the
deck face up. Spread through the face-up deck and upjog the
two black Tens and the QH. Remove them and place the
Queen behind the Tens. Flip them face down and place them
to the rear/bottom of the deck and then flip the deck face
down into dealing grip. Catch a pinky break under the face
five cards and thumb over the two Tens to display the two
Tens and the QH. Close the spread and flip all five face down
onto the deck and immediately push off the top three cards
which you table into a face-down row. The QH is at the left
and the Tens are actually Aces.
Whilst pattering, catch a pinky break under the top
five cards of the deck. Pick the Queen up and flip it face up
onto the deck. Say, "This is the one to watch." Flip the block of
six cards face down onto the deck and table the top card
(supposed face-down QH) back to from whence it came.
Slide the tabled cards around and ask the spectator
to guess where the Queen is. Turn over whatever card she
points to. It's now an Ace. Show the other two cards as Aces
and end by saying, "You can never win this...ever!"
If you know it, you can "tidy" the top four cards of
the deck using Mario's KM move. If you don't know it, merely
tidy them later on.
"Paul's lecture was a highlight for me. He is energetic, enthusiastic and

funny. Very nice magic, too!" - Tommy Wonder
117
BMW
This is a new handling of one of the very first tricks I

marketed way back in the eighties. I published another
handling in my 2005 book, Pack Up Your Cards. The BMW in
the title stands for (Mike) Bowden, (Jerry) Mentzer and
(Larry) West. These three gentlemen published a nice routine
(Marked) in Card Cavalcade II in 1972. In 1987, I thought of a
'kicker' and other handling ideas.
You require three blue-backed black court cards
(assume JC, KS and QC), a blue-backed Joker and a red-
backed red spot (assume 2D) card. On the back of the 2D write
(with a fat felt-tip marker), in big bold black letters, 2D. You
also require a pack of odd-backed cards (possibly a rainbow
deck) that have the JC, KS, QC, 2D and Joker removed. Set the
packet of cards (face down) on top of the deck like this: Three
picture cards, Joker and then the 2D. Case the deck in a blue
case.
I perform this trick when somebody says, "Do you
work with marked cards?" Or, "Are those cards marked?" I
reply, "No, but these are!" I then bring out the BMW deck. You
now have a good rationale for using (introducing) a
new/different deck.
Remove the deck from its case and casually spread
over the top three cards to show four blue-backed cards. Your
patter could be, "These cards are marked...you can barely see
the markings, though!" Flip the deck face up and hold in
preparation for a Hindu Shuffle. With the left hand, pull off
bunches of cards from the face (back into the left hand) and
every now and then, turn the right hand over so as to point
(using the right-hand half) to the face card. Your patter (and
rationale) could be, "These markings are obvious. Look, the
Ace of Hearts [or whatever]...the Two Of Spades [or
whatever]. Just kidding!" This procedure quietly 'proves' the
blue-back situation. Never say, "As you can see,
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the backs are blue!" Finally, place the remaining right-hand

section back to the bottom/rear of the left-hand half. (Or,
place it to the face, catch a break and doublecut it to the
bottom.) The deck is back with the set-up on top.
With the deck still face up, hold it in right-hand
Biddle Grip. Here comes a John Bannon procedure. It looks
like you a randomly choosing three cards: With the right
forefinger, kick-cut over about ten cards into the waiting left
palm. Turn the right hand over and peel the face-down card
(with the left thumb) onto, and outjogged, the left-hand
packet. Repeat the above actions twice more so that you have
three outjogged (supposedly random) blue-backed cards in
the deck. The remaining packet in the right hand (Joker and
2D on top/rear) is placed onto the face of the deck. The Joker
and 2D are now about fifteen cards from the face.
With the right hand, strip out the three face-down
outjogged cards and table them into a face-down pile as you
say, "Let's prove this with just a few random cards!"
Continuing, say, "Oops, I think I saw a Joker!" Here you run
through the face of the deck until you come to the Joker. Table
it and complete-cut the deck at that juncture thereby bringing
the 2D to the top/rear. With the right hand, casually flip the
Joker face down (a subliminal glimpse of blue) and place it
with (or in) the cardcase. Pocket the cardcase to clear the
working area!
Say, "Here, you locate another card!" (Don't say
'choose'.) You now use my 'new' force idea (let's call it The
Gordon Illogical Force) that is akin the Trevor Lewis bluff
force: Still with the deck face up in left-hand dealing grip, run
the left thumb down the left corner of the deck and ask the
spectator to call 'stop' at any time. When she does, the right
hand comes over and the right forefinger kicks the cards
above the 'stop' point into the left hand and the right hand
retains the original bottom/rear section. Immediately,
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the left fingers contact the bottom/rear card (2D) of this

right-hand section and pull it back onto the face of the left-
hand section, but outjogged. The right-hand portion is
slapped on the face of the left-hand cards. That's it! The
outjogged card is the force card. It looks like it came from
centre. Its face wasn't seen too early, and its back still hasn't
been seen. Continuing...
Strip out the force card (2D) and drop it (face up)
onto the tabled face-down three card packet. Place the faceup
deck to one side. Pick up the four tabled cards and casually
flip the bottom three cards face up (to position) and then flip
all four cards face down. Say, "Can you see the markings?
Look carefully. One in particular is very different!" Perform a
(slow) Jordan Count to show four blue- backed cards. "Did
you see it? No? I'll do it again!" Perform an Elmsley Count
(slowly) to once again show four blue- backed cards. "Still
can't see it?" Flip the packet face up and spread the cards as
you say, "Actually, I've been kidding you. The one you
located, the Two of Diamonds, is the odd one. It is a red spot
card and these are black court cards!" First surprise. Flip the
three black court cards face down onto the table retaining the
face-up 2D in your hand. Say, "In fact, it really is very odd. Its
back is slightly different and it has an almost invisible
marking. You don't believe me? Look!" Dramatically flip it
face down to display its red back and giant marking. Second
surprise!
Pause as if it's all over and then spread the face-up
deck on the table as you say, "If you think that's funny.. .look
at this!"
Ribbon spread the deck face up and flip it over (in the
usual fashion of turning a spread deck over) to display your
final kicker (third surprise) of multi-coloured rainbow cards.
120
Strolling Hofzinser
This bears little resemblance to any Hofzinser plot, but it does

remind one of Hofzinser's Ace Problem. This effect is for
strollers and cabaret workers. It's a little illogical, but it plays
well. Inspiration comes from a Roy Walton effect I saw
someone do a long time ago. It's easy to do, very visual and
requires no surface.
All you need are three Jumbo Queens; the Diamond,
Club and Spade. Plus, you need a Jumbo, say, 5H. This is a
force card. You may wish to carry a couple of other Jumbo
heart cards for repeat performances etc. Hold the three Jumbo
Queens face up in QD, QS, QC order and then place the
Jumbo 5H face down third from face. Pocket these so that when
you withdraw them, they appear face up.
From your regular deck, casually cull the 5H and QH
to the top so that the 5H is uppermost. Force the 5H using the
Slip-Cut Force and once noted (by the spectators) have it
openly placed on top of the pack as you ask them to
momentarily hold the deck. The 5H is back on top with the
QH second from top.
Remove the Jumbo cards from your pocket as you
say that you've got four Queens in your pocket. Perform an
'underground' (last card goes to bottom) Elmsley Count to
show four face-up Queens. Leave the packet face up and ask
someone to hold it. (Don't worry, they won't spread it.)
Take back the deck in dealing grip and with your
right hand take off and show them the 5H. Tap the Jumbo
packet with the regular 5H and hold it in readiness for a top
change. Say, "The Queen of the same suit as your card will
flip face down. Watch! Please spread the packet." As they do,
top change the 5H for the top card of the deck (QH). The
surprise of there being a face-down card is more than enough
misdirection for the top change.
121
Say, "But if I flick my card... the Five of Hearts... look

what happens." Flick (with the right forefinger) your
supposed 5H and flip it face up to reveal the QH. Watch them
turn over the face-down Jumbo card to reveal a Jumbo 5H.
End.
Cardcase Killer
Excuse immodesty, but this is an eye-popper! It first appeared

in The Budget way back when!
You need one regular Joker (from the pack in use)
and a double-facer; Joker on one side and, say, 5S on the
other. (The 5S is for description purposes only.) The regular
5S needs to be in your cardcase which is placed on the table
fairly near you. (Don't place it too far away because the reveal
at the end has to appear possible. I refer you to the Too Perfect
Theory!) The Jokers are placed face up anywhere in the
face-up deck. Try and recall which one is which.
Spread the deck face up on the table and casually
remove the Jokers and place them face up to one side with the
fake Joker uppermost. Flip the deck face down and ask the
spectator to slide out (they mustn't see the face of their
selection) one card. This is a free choice. Scoop up the deck
and leave it squared (face down) on the table.
Pick up the face-up Jokers (fake on top) and hold
them in dealing grip. Pick up, with the other hand, the
selection and place it face down on the two Jokers. Say, "I'm
going to isolate your card, the Five of Spades, between the
Jokers!" Here you do a block push-off the top two cards and
flip them face up onto the remaining single Joker. You've just
displayed and 'forced' the 5S. Flip the double over and take
the face-down 5S (actually, it's whatever card they
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really did touch) and pretend to slide it between the squared

Jokers. You actually place it to the bottom of the packet.
Place the three-card packet face up on top of the deck
and slowly place the deck in dealing grip. With your right
hand, slide the cardcase nearer to you. (The reason you do
this so as to give the final appearance an air of possibility. As
in, "Oh, that's when he did it!") Make a magical gesture (riffle
the cards etc) toward the cardcase and spread off and table
the two face-up Jokers. Say, "Your card has vanished! I know
what you are thinking." They'll be thinking it's on top of the
deck. "Go on, look at it. Look at the top card of the deck. It's
not yours, is it?" It isn't! And when they check the deck for a
duplicate, there isn't one.
Say, "You see the cardcase that has been sat here all
the while? Please look inside it." Let them open the cardcase
and watch their surprise as they find the 5S. This is all very
magical. Casually pocket the Jokers to clean up.
Note: Don't try and over-prove that you only have
two normal Jokers. Any display (Flushtration Count etc)
would attract attention you don't want.
Fascin(ace)tion
When I described this in Protean Card Magic nearly twenty

years ago, I made a couple of small typos. It made the routine
hard to learn. Well, twenty years later I believe I'm a much
better writer and teacher. This closing trick of Gold Dust Finale
is special to me. It's fairly easy, but it's a fooler with a twist.
It's not quite O'Henry, but it's close. It'll take some describing
and probably is best learnt with the deck in hand.
Place the Aces face up on the face-down inhand deck
in D, C, H, S order from face. As you spread them to
123
display, get a pinky break under the top two cards of the
deck. Close the spread and pick up the six-card block from
above in right-hand Biddle Grip. You are now going to
perform the Braue Add On like this: The left thumb peels off
the AD and it's flipped (using the left long edge of the packet)
face down onto the deck. Repeat with the AC and follow by
immediately dropping the right-hand four-card packet on
top. The left thumb then pushes over the face-up Heart and
Spade so the right hand can flip them face down onto the
deck. In the same action, the left hand pushes off the top four
cards (assumed Aces) and takes them in the right hand. As the
left hand retains the deck, the right hand places the supposed
Aces in the standard T formation on the table. Ensure the AS
goes into leader position, the AH to outer right and the two X
cards (supposed AC & AD) to middle and outer left.
Naturally, you can flash the AS and AH as you place them,
but don’t overdo the proving. The patter and presentation is
up to you. I simply say, "I'm going to show you the magician's
oldest card trick which involves the four Aces. The Ace of
Spades is the leader. Watch what happens!"
Okay, the left thumb pushes off three cards off the
deck and as the right hand takes them (thumb on top and
fingers below), the three cards are slightly squared so as to
mask the two hidden Aces above the bottom indifferent card
of the trio. Flash the face card (assume IOC) and drop the
packet face down onto the tabled AS. The left thumb pushes
off three more cards off the deck and as the right hand takes
them, flash the face card and drop the packet face down onto
the tabled supposed Ace at the outer left position. Table the
deck. Say, "These three cards guard the Ace of Diamonds. It'll
vanish from here and join its leader; the Ace of Spades!"
Here's the first vanish: Pick up the packet at outer left
position and slowly deal the cards face up to position to
124
show the AD has vanished. Pick up the AS (leader) packet

and flip it face up into right-hand Biddle Grip. The following
is a semi Ascanio Spread. The left fingers slide out the bottom
card, the AC, as the left thumb slides the face card, the AS,
onto it. The right-hand double (X card covering the AD) is
placed under the two Aces and the packet is flipped face
down to leader position. The leader packet now appears to
contains two Aces. It's a magical moment.
Okay, pick the deck up into face-up dealing grip and
casually push off the face six cards. (Don't make a big deal of
pushing off six cards.) Say, "It doesn't matter if I take cards
from the face." The right hand takes three of them and drops
them face down onto the centred supposed AC. You then
catch a pinky break under the remaining three just-
pushed-over cards. Retain the face-up deck in dealing grip.
Here's the second vanish: Pick up the packet at centre
(with your free right hand) and slowly drop the cards face up
(drop them onto the face-up outer-left packet so as to form
one bigger packet) to show the AC has vanished. Pick up the
AS (leader) packet (with your right hand) and flip it face up.
Spread the packet between the hands (whilst the left hand
still holds the face-up deck with a pinky break under the face
three cards) to show three Aces and an X card. The leader
packet now contains three Aces. Casually place the AD to face
and square the packet against the face of the deck. (The
rationale for placing the packet against the deck is that the
right hand can show the final tabled card to be the AH. It's
returned face down to position.)
As you do the above say, "The Ace of Hearts is the
trickiest one. Watch closely!" The right hand then approaches
the deck from above and picks up the face-up seven-card
block in Biddle Grip. The left hand flips the deck face down
and the seven-card block is placed on top of the face-down
deck and the pinky break is retaken beneath all seven. Spread
over the face three Aces which also displays
125
the fourth indifferent card; in this case the IOC. Say, "Look.
The Ace of Diamonds, Spades, Clubs and the Ten of Clubs.
Watch!" Close the spread and flip the seven-card block face
down onto the deck. Immediately spread over the top four
cards and square them. Flash the face card - the IOC - and
table the packet face down. (This is wonderfully discrepant
because the IOC should be on top, not bottom. It's a great
display, too; a very convincing one.) Ask the spectator to place
her hand over this packet. She believes it to be three Aces and
the IOC. The deck is still in face-down dealing griP*
Push off three cards (from the top of the deck) and as
you re-square them onto the deck, add a fourth card to the
bottom. Pick this packet up in the right hand, flash the
indifferent face card and place the packet face down onto the
face-down tabled AH. The handling is all over now so into the
killer twist ending.
Ask the spectator to lift her hand and turn her packet
face up. She expects to see all four Aces but finds four
indifferent cards. Whilst her jaw drops, drop the packet face
up onto the outer left face-up (combined) packet. Pick up the
AH packet, flip it face up and re-grip it in face-up right-hand
Biddle Grip. The left fingers back-spread the AC, AS and AD.
The right hand drops its face-up double (AH in front of an X
card) onto the face-up packet at outer left. This blends the X
card amongst the other indifferent cards. Without pausing,
drop the other face-up Aces onto it one by one. Place them
slowly as this is your "ta-da" moment. The three Aces have
joined the AH. This really is a great twist and a pretty
surprising one at that. End!
"I've said this many times, but Paul Gordon is one of the best in this
business. He's fast, funny, engaging and his magic is so darned good and
so darned practical. He's one of my favourite magicians of all time!"
- J. C Wagner
126
Last Word
Well folks. That's it! I hope you enjoyed reading and using the
items in Gold Dust Finale. There is a lot to get your teeth into
and I hope it's been fun! Maybe it's because most of this magic
is new, but I think this material is among my best ever work.
Well, if it wasn't it wouldn't be in Gold Dust Finale would it?
As I said in the introduction, the patter and
presentation is sparse because I want you to interpret these
routines to fit your style and not mine. I've never been keen on
magic books that detail all the patter and then urge you to use
it exactly as taught. Methinks that encourages cloning.
Remember, you can't be me and I can't be you!
I'd like to thank all those that have made all this
possible. To all the creators I've already credited and to others
I may have inadvertently forgotten. My journey into serious
card magic started forty years ago. What a journey!
In 1967 my great uncle Reg showed me a coin trick.
The bug bit. In 1970 I fell in love with close-up magic via John
Fisher's Magic Book. In 1976 I joined The Sussex Magic Circle
and watched some of the best in the business. In 1977 I won
(in a competition) Harry Lorayne's Close-Up Card Magic and I
fell in love with card magic. In 1979 my first tricks were
published in Abracadabra and Abracassetta. In 1984 I started
performing. In 1987 my first booklets were published. In 1992
I started lecturing and joined The Magic Circle (AIMC). In
1996 my first major book was published and since then it has
been non-stop worldwide travelling, performing, lecturing,
writing, creating and having fun. All of my books are out of
print which is how and why the Gold Dust Trilogy came about.
None of this would be possible without your support and
friendship over the years (plus a lot of darned hard work on
my part) so, thank you all dearly.
127
Gold Dust Finale is my fortieth book. It's astonishing

for two reasons. Firstly, when I look at the five-foot shelf that
houses my originals I often ponder, "Did I really write all
that?" No wonder I suffer from shoulder problems! Secondly,
it's astonishing because I'm slightly dyslexic. The whole
process of creating, writing, typing, re-writing, retyping,
proofing (numerous times) and typesetting takes me longer
than most! But, when I was at school dyslexia didn't seem to
exist. You were classed as 'thick' and made to stand in the
comer with a dunces hat on. What with the negative school
reports (see my introduction), no wonder I suffered from low
self-esteem as a child. But, being a generally positive
hard-working non-procrastinator, I haven't done too badly
over the years. Negative put-downs usually make me want to
prove the provocateur wrong. It's really just as well, then, that
so many famous magicians in the seventies told me (sternly)
that one cannot be a successful magician and make a good
living from only doing card magic. And it was my music
teacher who told me I couldn't sing. Thanks folks. You don't
realise it, but you inadvertently helped me. I've never liked
bullies, bigots, dismissive or negative people. Whatever your
dreams are, try and fulfil them. I've often said that there is no
such thing as failure. The only failure in life is not trying in
the first place.
In closing, may I raise a toast: May you all live to be
100 years old and the last card trick you read, try or use be
one of mine! - Paul Gordon
"Don't believe everything you see or read on the internet!"

- Reginald Scot (The Discoverie of Witchcraft, 1584)
128

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Paul Gordon Gold Dust Finale

Copyright © 2015 by Natzler Enterprises & Paul Gordon. All

Magic Books by Paul Gordon

Packet Tricks by Paul Gordon

Magic Videos & DVDs by Paul Gordon

Over the years, I've been inspired by many talented

Dedicated to my most wonderful Wife

Paul Gordon 2014

Amazing, Isn't It? ............................................................... .. 67

Fairground Attraction #2 .................................................. 117

This is kind of Peter Kane's Jazz Aces with a surprise. In fact, I