India

This is an effect based on something Terry LeGerould showed me a very long time ago, but I’ve changed the idea into something much different. Additionally, it can also give you an excellent ace cutting effect which is briefly described in the Comments section.

Effect

Three cards are selected and shuffled into the deck. The performer demonstrates he has developed the knack to cut to any card simply by calling out the name of the card as he cuts to it. To demonstrate, he cuts the deck three times while saying: Nine...of...Clubs.

The Nine of Clubs is cut to the top! To further demonstrate, he then cuts to the first two selections and let’s the last spectator call out their selection as he cuts! Each time the performer is able to show the top and bottom cards of the deck.

Method

Haver three cards selected and control them to the top, but make sure they are on top in the order in which they were selected. You’ve probably already guessed that I use the Cardini Multiple Shift, however almost any deceptive method will work here as long as it’s quick and retains the order of the selections. Glimpse the bottom card without letting the spectators see it-- I get the glimpse during an all-around square-up-- this is described in the Sleights section. This will put you in the following position: you know the identity of the bottom card and you have the selections on top in the order in which they were selected.

Double cut the bottom card to the top and start the pitch:

“You know, over the years I’ve developed a certain knack that is unique. OK, it’s just a little weird, but it works for me. Let me show you what I mean...”

As you say this, execute the Straddle Faro Glimpse as follows as described in the Sleight Descriptions at the end of these notes.

You’re now in the following position: You have a small number of cards on top of the deck, the key card you glimpsed during the Straddle Faro, followed by a known card and the selections in the order which they were selected.

“See, I can call my shots. I can cut to any card I need with three cuts of the deck. Now I’ve shuffled the deck, so to tell the truth, I don’t know where your cards are-- let’s make sure they’re not on top.”

Push off a few face-down cards into your right hand and tilt them toward you so both you and the audience can see the faces. Ask “Not here, are they?” Keep up this procedure until the last card you push off is the card you sighted during the Straddle Faro Glimpse.

Since it’s only a few cards, you can most probably do this in one push off sequence, but if you don’t, quickly push off single face down cards, tilting them in the same manner until the last card you pushed off is the card you sighted during the Straddle Faro Glimpse.

Once you’re there, flip the deck face-up in the left hand, but as you do so, retain the card you sighted during the Straddle Faro Glimpse on top of the deck with your left thumb.

Then push a few cards off the bottom. “Not here either?” Then flip the cards in your right hand over and add them to the face of the face-up deck. Flip the deck face down.

This entire procedure should take about ten seconds. As you say the following, get a break below the top card of the deck.

“Then let me show you what I mean. All I have to do to find a card is call it out. Let’s say I’m looking for the... (act like you’re thinking...) Nine of Clubs. All I have to do is call the shot, like this...”

Grasp the deck in the right hand as in Figure 7-- the right thumb takes the over the break. Bring your left hand under the deck and riffle up from the bottom approximately 1/3 of the cards with the tip of the right thumb and cut those cards to the top. Repeat the action with another 1/3 of the deck all the while maintaining the break with the right thumb. Repeat it a third time, but this time riffle off all the cards below the break and cut them to the top. You have, essentially triple cut the top card to the bottom. Show that

the Nine of Clubs is on top and that you’ve successfully

“Called The Shot”.

Each time you cut the bottom packet to the top, call out a part of the card, i.e.

Nine...of...Clubs. Each word is said as you place the cut off packet on top of the deck. Do not overlook the riffle. It should sound exactly the same on each cut.

Look at the first spectator and ask:

Figure 7

“Get the idea? What was the name of your card?”

Using the same procedure, cut the spectator’s card to the top. After the card is shown, drop it to the table and push off the top card and show it to the audience as you say:

“See? If I was one card off, I wouldn’t have made it!”

Repeat the procedure for the second spectator but this time when you show the indifferent card, don’t use the same exact phrase. Instead say something like:

See? It’s just a knack!” or “That was close...”

Hesitate as if you have an idea and then address the third spectator:

“Wait a minute-- it occurs to me that you might think I’m cheating because I know the card before I cut. So this time, YOU call the shot as I cut...but don’t go faster than I did because my fingers need to keep up!”

Have the spectator call out her card just as you did the previous cards, repeat the procedure, show the card and drop it onto the table as you say

“OK, maybe it’s NOT unique to me... but don’t try this at home...”

Comments

Do not overlook the fact that this methodology can also be used for an in-the-hands ace cutting procedure that mimics Ed Marlo’s Estimation Aces but leaves the guesswork and the need for a table behind. If you do this, you will not need to demonstrate the procedure using a “random” card. (In our example the “random” card was the Nine of Clubs). You’ll simply need to get the four aces, in known order, to the top of the deck with an indifferent card on top of them. Then do the Straddle Faro Glimpse, show the aces aren’t on top or bottom and proceed from there, calling out each ace as you go. I prefer to make the last ace the Ace of Spades because... OK, I don’t know why, I just like it.