#20

Three-Card Monte Cristo

by Helder Guimarães

A three phase routine of three-card monte. Inspired by Juan Tamariz’s version taught
in many of his lectures, the following version was developed as a study to handle the
double card and apply many philosophical ideas of Arturo de Ascanio about this.

Material: For this routine, you will need four cards. Three of them can be used from
your regular deck of cards: the Three of Clubs, Three of Spades and Queen of Dia-
monds. The other card is the double-facer Queen of Diamonds / Three of Clubs sup-
plied in this package.

Preparation: From the top of the face-down packet, place the four cards in this order:
Queen of Diamonds, Three of Spades, Three of Clubs and double-facer Queen of Dia-
monds / Three of Clubs (with the Three of Clubs on the same orientation as the backs).

NOTE: As I read the original writing of this routine, I felt that the best setting for it would
be to have a spectator seated to your right and the rest in front of you, like a formal close-up
setting where one spectator is seated at the table. This will help cover some of the moves and
make it all more natural.
PHASE 1

Start with the packet face-down in left hand dealing position. With your left thumb,
push the top card of the packet to the right.

Your right hand palm up, with your first, second and third fingers under and your thumb
on top, grab this card and take it out of the left hand.

The next card is approached the same way. The left thumb pushes it and — the right
hand keeping the card it already holds — grab the card with your first and second fin-
gers below the first card slightly spread, creating a small fan.

The third card (a double) is also grabbed in the right hand below the spread. This action,
however, is interesting as the small detail of the left thumb is applied. The left thumb
bends again, simulating the push position of the first two cards. At the same time, the
right hand approaches the double in the left hand in the same position as before and
the fingers of the left-hand let the right hand fingers grab the double. As the right hand
takes the double as the “third” card, the left thumb simulates the action of the previous
two take actions by extending the left thumb in a simulation action. With the cards
held like this in the right hand, pause a little bit and give time for this image to sink.

The right hand again approaches the left hand and the border of the double card touch-
es the right fingers. Use the right hand to flip the cards face up into left-hand dealing
position. For that, the cards should not be square and then turned face-up, but rather
use the gravity to let the cards finish square. With some practice, it is possible to have
this done in an apparently casual action.
Immediately, spread with your left thumb the Queen of Diamonds to the right and, like
before, grab this card in the right hand, first second and third fingers below and thumb
on top. Follow this by spreading with your left thumb the top card of the left hand pack-
et to show the two black threes in the left hand. As you focus your attention towards the
Queen of Diamonds, explaining its importance as the money card in the game, the left
hand casually turns and shows the backs of its cards.

Turn the left hand palm up again, so the faces of the threes are visible. The right hand
will now openly swap the Queen of Diamonds with the Three of Clubs, keeping the
double squared and without any movement.

To do that, the right hand approaches the left hand and places the Queen of Diamonds
on top of the other cards, feeding it below the left thumb that holds the Three of Clubs
in place. At the same time, the right second finger grabs the Three of Clubs and pulls
it on the right fingers till its face contacts the right thumb. As soon as these condition
are met, the right hand takes away the Three of Clubs, leaving the Queen of Diamonds
in the left-hand spread to the right. The right hand will now grab all the cards from
the left hand as a unit creating a fan of three cards with the Queen of Diamonds in the
middle. For that, the right fingers enter below the “two” cards of the left hand (actually
three) and the second finger grabs the entire unit in place and moves it away from the
left hand. Again, pause for a moment to let this image sink in.

The right hand moves again to the left hand to turn the packet face down, that will end
squared on the left hand in dealing position. This is a similar action to the one done be-
fore to turn the packet face up. The only difference in this case, is that the casual nature
of this action should be done even more slowly so that there is no doubt of the position
of the Queen in the packet. So, please, although this action may be apparently simple,
make sure that it’s done slowly and without exposing the Three of Clubs side of the dou-
ble-facer as you turn. Once the packet is face-down in the left hand dealing position,
push the top card with the left thumb and take the card in the right hand. Explain that
nobody would bet on this card. So, place the card face-down onto the table. As the right
hand is doing this, the left second finger buckles the bottom card of the left hand cards,
creating a gap between the bottom and the top two cards. After the right hand leaves its
card face down on the table, it’s free to return to the left hand and grab the double in the
right hand. However, it’s important to stop and understand the correct position of this.
The right first finger is position on the right edge of the card, the third finger is on the
inner end of the double, the right thumb on top and the second finger on the face. There
is some pressure in holding this card in this position, because that will be important in
a moment. This would be the supposed money card. Acknowledge that. Then, the left
fingers move below the single card that it holds and move it to the finger tips.

Now, very gently, you will twist the cards enhancing their singularity while the right
hand also keeps the double aligned. For that, the right hand third finger extends itself
at the same time the right first finger bends in. With pressure from the right thumb, the
double will twist to the right and say aligned. The fingers of the left hand create a mirror
action and movement, twisting its card towards the left. It’s important to notice that
the right hand second finger is independent of this grip and this action. Meaning that,
at the end of this choreography, you can use it to grab the left hand card below the dou-
ble in the right hand. Pause a moment in this position. At this moment, the spectators
should assume that the top card is the Queen of Diamonds.
As you place the cards, once more face up in the left hand, they will again fall square face
up in dealing position as before. The right hand, in a slightly modified Biddle Grip, ap-
proaches the packet and raise it from the left hand. This modified position should have
the third finger on the outer edge of the packet and the left thumb on the inner edge, so
that in a moment you can perform a Stuart Gordon Double Lift. The left thumb drags
the face card of the packet into the left hand. Once the card is complete dragged, you
will move the left hand card and the right hand double to a vertical position. Your right
hand performs a Stuart Gordon Double Lift, always keeping the visible Three of Clubs
face to the audience (while hiding the double face side, the other Three of Clubs). For
this, your right second and first fingers add pressure on the face as the left thumb runs
across the back (in this case, the “other” Three of Clubs). At the same time, the right
hand moves up and hold the double in front of you.

Simultaneously, the left hand card is also raised to a vertical level using the thumb and
remaining fingers in the left hand. The second and third fingers of the left hand pressure
the card from above, raising it form the palm so that the left thumb can enter the gap
formed and turn the face of the card to the audience as the left hand adjust its position.
At this point, the audience realizes that the Queen is no longer in your hands. Place the
right hand double behind the card in the left hand, to free your right hand to turn the
tabled card face up. This will reveal the Queen and will end the first phase.

PHASE 2

While the reaction from the first phase is still occurring, the right hand grabs the
Queen palm up, with the thumb on top and first and second fingers below. The Queen
will now be twisted and turned while the hand move up to met the left hand and its
cards. The second finger moves from the back of the card and its nail touches the face
of the Queen of Diamonds. Exercising a small pressure on top, the right thumb moves
now to the back, so that the card so slowly twists between the first and second fingers.
The right hand pressure on top of the back, holding the card between the right thumb
and second finger,so that the right first finger can move to the face of the card. This
action is done simultaneously with raising the right arm. Now, place all the cards in the
left hand in front of the card in the right hand in a small fan display. All this is done in
a few seconds, as the reaction to Phase 1 dies down.

As the two hands join together, the cards are squared and the packet is turned around,
the arms lower again to a horizontal position and faces always stay facing the audience.
Next, you will apparently count the cards and reverse their order. In reality, while you’re
doing this, you’re positioning the cards for the second phase using a move that can be
found in Magie Duvivier. Your right hand approaches the left hand packet to grab it in
Biddle Grip. At the same time, the left second finger buckles the bottom card, creat-
ing a break between it and the top three cards. The left thumb is positioned on the top
of the cards, so that the flesh of it is contacting the face of the Three of Spades. Then,
when the right hand grabs the top three cards in Biddle Grip, the left hand moves to
the left dragging the top and bottom cards aligned as one. Once the two cards in the
right hand are taken out from the middle of the two cards that remain in the left, the
buckle initial created vanishes and the double will be held squared in left-hand dealing
position. Without any pause, the hands rejoin and the left thumb drags the Three of
Clubs and keeps it spread to the right of the double. The Queen of Diamonds (actually,
the visible face of the double-facer) is placed on the face of the fan. Once again, pause
in this position for a moment.
The right hand, using the first and second fingers, approaches the fan below and drags
the middle card (Three of Clubs) out of it and once the face becomes visible again after
it crosses the Queen of Diamonds, the left thumb is placed on its face. Take out the
Three of Clubs completely and say that you’re creating a little help by turning the card
over. Using the same finger action explained at the beginning of Phase 2, turn the card
face down and place it on top of the spread in the left hand, as you take all the cards in
the right hand.

Slowly, square the cards and turn them around in the left hand, so they end up squared
in left-hand dealing position. With your left thumb, spread the top card and grab it
with the right hand, thumb on top and fingers below. Then spread the next card over but
don’t grab it in the right hand. In reality, place the right hand card individually on top of
the “two” card spread (actually three cards) in the left hand. Pause in this position and
let it sink. Grab the top card, and place it face down on the table, acknowledging that it
is a black card. Your right hand is free and moves back to grab the face down card from
the left hand. As you take it, use the same turning actions to turn this card end by end
showing that the card is actually black. Now, perform a very simple display that helps
create the idea of total fairness. As both hands turn palm down, the fingers are spread
out. The double will be held by the long edges, left thumb on one side and left second
finger on the other one, as the single will be held with the right thumb on the face and
right first finger on the back. Without a pause, return the hands to the original position
and drop the single card of the right hand face up on top of the double card held by the
left hand in dealing position. This will free the right hand to turn the table card face up,
showing once again the Queen of Diamonds. This display ends Phase 2.
PHASE 3

Now, to start Phase 3, there is only one small repositioning done in only one action. As
the right hand approaches the left hand to take one of the black cards and show them
individually in each hand, the left second finger buckles the bottom card so that the
right first and second fingers can enter the gap and take the middle card out. Once the
face of the Three of Clubs is slightly visible, the left thumb can grab it and fully take it
out. Be careful to do this in a way that the top and bottom card remain aligned in the
left hand. After a small pause in this display, place the right hand card on top of the
double in the left hand and hold it in place with the left thumb, slightly spread to the
right. The free right hand approaches the Queen of Diamonds that is face up on the ta-
ble and grabs it palm up, with the thumb on the face and first and second fingers on the
back. This is the scenario that you explain to people that it’s three cards you have to fol-
low, so let’s simplify by getting rid of one card. Your left hand moves to the center of the
table and drops the top single card (double-facer with the Three of Clubs side up). You
will now perform the Wild Card Move using the right hand Queen of Diamonds and
the double-facer on the table. Introduce the Queen of Diamonds below the “Three of
Clubs”. As the Queen is almost completely under the Three of Clubs, the right thumb
gets a hold of the double-facer, grabbing both cards. The right hand now moves to the
right, while at the same time turning palm down. Using the right fingers and thumb,
you switch the relative position of both cards. Leave the now face down card on the ta-
ble and take away the visible side of the double-facer, the “Queen of Diamonds”. Your
left hand moves towards the right and the right moves towards the left and places the
“Queen of Diamonds” spread on top of the left hand double card. This is held in place
by the left thumb. The empty right hand moves towards the tabled face-down card and,
gesturing towards the spectator, asks him to place his right finger on top of the card.
Once he has done that, the initial conditions for Phase 3 are met to start it, although
most of the dirty work is already done.

The palm up right hand approaches the left-hand cards and gabs them as before, thumb
on top and fingers below, keeping the “two” cards (actually three) in a small spread. Don’t
pause too much, as you move the cards back to the left hand, turning them face down
and squaring them in left-hand dealing grip in the process. Use the left thumb to spread
the top card to the right showing two backs, explaining that now it’s easier and it’s only
a 50/50 chance. Say that to make it slightly more fair to you, you will change the game a
bit. Your left thumb pulls the top card to the left but also outwards. It’s important that
the final position allows you to see both corners of the right edge of the double card.
At the same time that the top card shifts its position, the right hand approaches in the
modified Biddle Grip position explained earlier, to grab the double from underneath
and turn it face up using the Stuart Gordon Turnover. Place the double underneath the
left hand card and square everything. Now explain that you will turn the packet three
times and the spectator needs to guess if the card is face up or face down. As an example,
do this process one time. Grab the packet by the outermost right corner, thumb on top
and fingers below. Turn the packet end over end. Repeat this action two more times, to
complete the three turns you explained earlier. Once they are complete, grab the packet
again in modified Biddle Grip and use your left fingers to retrieve the bottom card and
keep the double in the right hand. This will show a black Three of Clubs. Turn your
right hand palm up, keeping the card in Biddle Grip and show the Queen of Diamonds.
Turn the right hand palm down again and drop the double on top of the left-hand card,
letting them square in dealing grip. Repeat the end by end turnover of the packet three
times and ask if the spectator thinks the Queen is face up or face down.
Whatever the answer is, your right hand approaches the left hand and again grabs the
packet in modified Biddle Grip and, using your left fingers to retrieve the bottom card,
shows the Three of Spades and keep the double in the right hand. After a small pause,
using the Stuart Gordon Turnover, turn the double card face up and show the Three of
Clubs. In a symmetrical action, turn both hands palm down and then back palm up.
This emphasizes the vanish of the Queen of Diamonds. Shift all your attention to the
card the spectator is pinching against the table. While doing this, drop the right hand
double onto the single card in the left hand and square everything in left-hand dealing
position. Ask him to turn the tabled card face up. When he does, everyone will see the
Queen of Diamonds and that is the finale of Phase 3 and of the routine.
 ‘
H elder ,s Notes
- If I would perform this routine as a separate item from the deck
in use (which we will talk about later), I would have the cards
wrapped with some bills and in a money clip. As I would explain
about the famous Three-Card Monte game in the streets, I would
introduce the idea of money and leave it on the table, towards my
right on the lower corner of my working surface. I would then pro-
ceed with the routine and, right as the Queen of Diamonds is turned
face up by the spectator, the left thumb pushes the top card of
the left hand packet to right slightly and pulls it back getting a
left little finger break. Under the applause or audience reaction,
your right hand approaches the left hand to grab its cards in Bid-
dle Grip. When the hands meet, the top card is secretly palmed in
the right hand that also takes the remaining cards. The right hand
tables the cards that it holds visibly on the table, in front of
the spectator on the right and moves back grabbing the money and
placing it in pocket with a kind and witty comment like: “And this
is exactly how I got this money.” This way, you will end with the
three normal cards in their hands and no trace of the double-facer.

- Another simpler idea I had was to have the cards in a small

leather wallet and remove the cards and place the wallet back in
your inside left jacket pocket. Now, after the palm is executed,
leave the cards on the table and remove the wallet again to place
the three cards back in it. When the right hand is in the inside
left pocket of your jacket, leave the palmed card there and take
out the wallet. Simple, but also effective. Another option, would
be to use a Kaps/Balducci wallet and actually load the double-fac-
er in the secret compartment. This way, you can ditch the card but,
if you then place the three cards back in the zipper compartment
in the right orientation, you may reset the routine again. Maybe,
this can even be a good way to practice your Card to Wallet load-
ing sequence without any heat, so you feel comfortable when you
actually need to do it.

- Another option, for the more advance students, is to perform a

Lowe Palm and grab the cards in the right hand, as you move them
away from the left hand. Place the cards in front of the specta-
tor and then, casually, place both the left and right hands in in
your pants front pockets. This technique can be also coordinated
with the money idea of having a small leather wallet in your left
trousers pocket.

- Another idea I had was to incorporate this routine so that it

did not work as a packet trick, but something that can be performed
at a given time in a session, using a regular deck. In order to
do that, I simply add the doubler facer to the face of the deck,
making sure that none of the normal cards that you need are near
the bottom of the deck. This can be done using a palm, or sim-
ply by having the double-facer from the beginning of the routine
secretly hidden in the card case, placing the deck in it in the
context of the previous routine. The Queen of Diamonds side of the
double-facer should be in the same orientation as the backs of the
remaining cards. With the faces towards you and the backs towards
the audience, spread the deck and up-jog the three normal cards
you need. As you square the deck in left-hand dealing position
with these up-jogged cards, get a break below the face card of the
deck. Your right hand is free to strip those cards away and play
with them, placing them in the order you need them to be, something
very easy because only three cards are involved. The cards will
now be turned face down into the face-up deck, at the same time
that you lower your hand. Your right hand in Biddle Grip picks all
the cards above the break (four cards) and places them face down
on the table. Place the deck to one side and you’re ready to start
the routine.
- One of the advantages of this is that the rest of the deck can
be placed in the card case and the card case placed in your inside
left jacket pocket. So, the secret removal of the card can be done
as you grab the deck again to continue your act. In this action,
you cannot only ditch the double-facer, you can also switch decks.
Definitely, one of my favorite options.

- I think this routine contains some really interesting ideas that

should be pointed out. First, I feel that the first and second
phases although similar, have very interesting deceiving compo-
nents to each one. The use of the double-facer in the second phase
is an unusual use of a gaff because it produces the effect but not
in a direct way. Only in the third phase, the gaff card is directly
used, making that final switch very clever and efficient because
it’s not used in the previous phases. Also, the double card is very
protected under the all structure, so the single cards take most
of the heat and can be handled very freely. When needed, the dou-
bles play an important part but just for a brief moment, before the
attention is shifted away again to a single card. For the student
that is handling doubles for the first time, this is a great rou-
tine to feel comfortable about it and to learn a good application
of this subterfuge.

- For the perfectionists that want to make sure that the center pip
of both Three of Clubs’ faces line up so that there are no discrep-
ancies in the second phase (only phase that could be seen), then
just start the preparation by having them point to opposite sides.
If you follow the instructions precisely, they will be pointing to
the same direction when they need to be.