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CHRIS CHARLTON

The "Three Card Monte" effect has stood the brunt of many variations, and this method is one of the more convincing ways of performing it. Simply borrow three cards from any deck in use, preferably two spot cards and one picture card, and you are all set to entertain impromptu with the following baffling routine.

If you are adept at this game you may "throw" the cards several times in the regular way and then resort to Charlton's method for your climax, saying that perhaps it will be a lot easier to follow if the cards are kept face up.

Hold the three cards face up and squared. The left hand does this by holding the packet from above with the four fingers along the left side and the thumb on the right side of the cards. The forefinger rests at the pip of the exposed card, and the lower left corner of the packet rests in the crotch of the third and little fingers. The thumb rests about an inch and a half from the outer right end of the cards. Thus the left third finger, underneath, is in a perfect position to execute pressure on the under card. It will be seen that this is about the

same position as used for the familiar "glide" sleight, except that in this case it is more practical for the under finger to exert a little backward pressure as the thumb and first finger tighten on the sides and push the loose cards (top two) a bit forward.

To experiment with this sleight, perform the move and take the two top cards as one by grasping them at the front end with your right thumb or forefinger. Slide them under the card (apparently two cards) left behind in your left hand. Keep repeating this over and over until you do it with no concern or hesitation. It will be seen that the three cards show up, one after the other, in what appears to be a normal rotation.

Take the cards given to you (we will assume they are the Jack, Nine and Three) and say, "I'll show you the cards very slowly, and ask you to remember their positions. When I turn them over face down, pay close attention and note further that I do nothing to deceive you." Keeping the set in whatever order they happen to be, hold them as described and call the value of the top face up card as you move it fairly to the bottom. Name the next card that shows up and move this one fairly to the bottom. Now name the third face up card and likewise move this one fairly to the bottom. As you do this, the first card named naturally comes back into sight. Now turn the left hand over, bringing the packet face down, while the right fingers deliberately spread the cards into a fan. "Where is the ....?" you ask, naming the last card shown and moved to the bottom just before the packet was turned backs upward.

There will be no hesitation on the spectator's part as he selects the top or right hand card of the face down fan. And he will be right!

Remark, "I asked for a spot card that time as they always stay pretty well where they belong. Picture cards, exercise their noble perogative and are hard to depend upon. This time watch the Jack."

As you say this, cut the packet so that the Jack is at the bottom of the face up heap, and rests on tip of the left third finger which is curled around and under the packet. You are holding the packet face up, as described, and you now name the top card as before. This time you perform the sleight and draw off two cards as one with the right hand, and move them to the bottom of the packet. The Jack comes into view and is named. Again you perform the sleight, transferring two cards as one from top to bottom, and the second spot card comes into view. Perform the sleight once more, and the original card makes its appearance as the top card of the packet. Everything now appears to be exactly as in the beginning, so you turn the packet face down and fan the cards. The Jack, so far as the spectators are concerned, should be in the center, but it isn't. When this card is pointed out as the Jack, withdraw it and show it to be one of the spot cards. Do not show where the Jack is, just replace the card being held by the right hand on top of the face down packet.

Offer to repeat the moves once more. Turn the packet face up and go through with the three "double" moves. The Jack now shows up third, and after being named is moved (two cards as one) to the bottom of the packet. Turn the packet face down, and fan it once

more. This time the Jack should be at the right end, but it isn't—it's in the middle! The three cards are now handed back to one of the spectators to be shuffled back into the deck in preparation for any ensuing tricks you may want to do.