Royal Road to Card Magic The

card facing the onlookers, between the first phalanx of your thumb on one side, a little below the middle of that side, and the first phalanxes of your index and middle fingers on the other side. Rub your right fingers along the upper end of the pack, squaring it, and with the tip of your middle finger push down a small packet, making a step at the back of the deck (figure 12).

    4. Gravely rub your right index finger vigorously on your left sleeve and then apply it against the top of the deck, holding the other three fingers flexed. Lift the finger slowly and nothing happens. 'I wonder what is the matter?' you say. 'I expected your card to rise out of the deck. Of course, it must be named first! What was your card?'
    5. The card is named. Rub your right index finger on your sleeve again and apply it against the top of the deck, then straighten out your little finger so that its tip presses against the top card (the chosen card, now the rearmost card). With the little finger push the rear card upwards until it touches the index finger, then raise the right hand, maintaining the pressure of the little finger so that the card appears to cling to the index finger (figure 13).

    6. When the bottom of the rising card reaches and clears the top of the stepped packet, push its lower end forwards against the cards in front of the step, and at the same moment press your left little finger against the bottom of the stepped packet, squaring it with the deck. Flex your little finger and the card will remain protruding from the deck.
    7. Tilt the deck forwards to show that this is actually the case and invite the spectator to remove his card and the deck and to examine them carefully - and your index finger, too, if he wants to.
    The rising of a card from the deck has been a favourite feat with magicians and audiences for many generations. There are many ways of doing the trick with mechanical means, but this impromptu method will be found to create as much astonishment as the most complicated mechanical method if you present the feat as if you, yourself, really believe that the card rises spontaneously.
    A Card and a Number
    A chosen card should always be revealed in as striking a manner as possible. This effect affords a double surprise, because you divine a number merely thought of and use this number to locate a chosen card.
    1. Have a card chosen by a spectator, noted by him and returned to the pack. Bring it to the top by using the overhand shuffle.
    2. Shuffle the pack by the overhand method, running the chosen card to the bottom and back to the top.
    3. Address a second spectator. 'Will you please think of a number between five and twenty? You have one? When I turn my back whisper your number to the person who selected a card.' Turn your back, turn the top card - the selected card - face upwards and dig your thumbnail into it near the two index corners. This will make a bump on the back of the card which you will feel with your right thumb when dealing the cards. Replace the card face down on the top.
    4. Turn around and give the pack to a second spectator. 'I want you to deal, silently, cards to the number of which you are thinking. This will impress the number on your mind and help me to get the right impression. I will turn away as you deal.' Do so. When he announces that the deal is completed, instruct him to replace the dealt cards on the rest of the pack.
    5. This done, face the front again and take the pack. 'My trick is this,' you say. 'I shall attempt to read your thoughts and so get the number of which you are thinking.' As you speak, shuffle the cards - using the overhand shuffle control, retaining top stock to keep the upper half of the deck unchanged.
    6. Continue, 'As I deal the cards, please think intently of your number.' Deal the cards, one by one, counting them aloud, until you feel a bump under your right thumb. Let us say that this is the sixteenth card. Remove it, holding it in your right hand face downwards.
    7. Announce that this is the number he thought of and when he agrees ask him, 'Do you know how I knew that is your number?' He will admit that he does not know. Turn to the spectator who chose the card and ask him, 'What was the name of the card you selected?' When he names it, slowly turn up the card you hold. It is that very card!

CHAPTER 2

The Riffle Shuffle

    This is the shuffle ordinarily used by card players, but in spite of its almost universal use it is rarely done neatly or even