For the close-up worker, the word to spell is “duplicates.” The code card will be laid out as follows:
DUPLICATES
A U E D S P C L T I
4 9 2 10 1 8 5 7 3 6
The code card is entitled “Magic Spell.” You will also need five red cards of any value, five black cards of any value, and two double-backed cards that match the backs of the cards that you will be using in this effect.
Arrange the eleven cards as follows: The five red cards face up; a double-backed card; the five black cards face down. The remaining double-backed card is placed away in your wallet with the code card.
The second principle used in this effect is one that I will call the “Invisible Card Principle.” I have been unable to discover who is the originator of this idea. It is related to the Henry Christ 203rd Force, and ideas related to the one used in this effect have been used by Martin Gardner and Lynn Searles. The principle is used in this effect in this way: If the packet of cards is fanned so that the face down cards are held closely together, while the face up cards are fanned out more, the fan will seem to consist of five face up cards followed by several face down cards. When the packet is turned over and fanned, it again seems to consist of five face up cards followed by some face down cards. The reason for keeping the spread of face down cards tight is so that the spectators will not be able to see that there are six face down cards, each time you spread the packet, instead of five, as there should be. You can also hold the final two cards together as one each time you display a side of the packet, to show that only ten cards are being used. In this way, the double backed card is always passed off as one of the face down cards.
To introduce the effect, remove your wallet and take out the “Magic Spell” card that is placed face down on the table. Next, remove the double-backed card from your wallet and state that it is a duplicate of only one of the cards in the packet that you will show. Place it on the table without exposing the fact that it is a double-backed card.
The packet of cards is now shown by fanning one side and holding the last two cards as one to show five face up red cards and five face down cards. Close up the packet and openly turn it over and fan it out to show five face up black cards and (again, holding the last two cards as one) five face down cards that are supposedly the red cards. As far as the spectators are concerned, you have openly shown five red and five black cards that are back to back. Ask one of the spectators which of the colors he wishes to shuffle - the red or the black. Whichever color he chooses, turn the packet over so that his chosen color is face up and hand him the five cards of his choice. You apparently shuffle the five (actually six) remain- ing cards. In the shuffle, bring the double-backed card to the bottom of the packet and keep it there while you shuffle the others freely.
Once the spectator has finished shuffling his cards, retrieve them and drop them face down on top of your face down packet. Remind the spectator that one of the cards that you are holding is a duplicate of the card previously placed on the table.
Spell the word “duplicates” using the countdown procedure, moving one card at a time from the top to the bottom of the packet for each letter. Wherever the spectator stops you, consult the “Magic Spell” card to determine the numerical value of the letter that you stopped on. Hand the packet of cards to the spectator and have him count the appropriate number of cards into a pile on the table. Have him turn the final card dealt face up. Act surprised when you see that the card has “two backs.” An appropriate line here would be, “Whoʼs been fooling with the cards?” You will certainly get a laugh as the effect will seem to have gone sour.
State that you were sure that the card randomly selected by the spectator would match the one on the table. Suddenly snap your fingers over the tabled card and have someone turn it
over. With a relieved expression tell the spectators that it is a good thing that you really are a magician. Youʼll get a nice response when they see that the tabled card also has two backs. Some magicians may not want to use this as they may feel that showing a double-backed card is exposing. It is not, in this case, as it is treated simply as a gag card, much the same as a Fourteen of Spades or the Three and a Half of Clubs might be. The sudden appearance of the double backed card comes as a real surprise and its appearance really packs a wallop.