Royal Road to Card Magic The

place the next card aside.
    8. Point out that the card has been selected in the fairest possible manner. 'Before you even touched the cards,' you say, 'I wrote the name of a card on a slip of paper and thereafter never touched it.' Lift the pencil with the slip on it and offer it to the spectator. 'Will you read what I wrote?' He reads aloud the name of the card. Slowly turn the card face upwards. It is the card that you predicted!

CHAPTER 3

Flourishes

    Flourishes are certain movements with the cards that do not come under the heading of sleights, since they are done openly. In general they are used to show elegance in handling the cards. Sometimes, however, they serve a more useful purpose, that of misleading the audience as to the moment when an effect is really brought about. Used in moderation they are a decided asset to the card conjuror, but when carried to extreme lengths they defeat the very object that the magician should always have in mind, namely, that the effects he or she produces are done by magic and not by skill. A series of brilliant flourishes leaves only the impression of juggling skill on the minds of the onlookers, and the performer's feats are dismissed by them with the remark, 'He's clever with his hands.' The simple flourishes which follow are legitimate, for some of them are already in fairly general use among card players.
    Displaying the Top Card
    A. For Intimate Performances
Instead of taking the card off the pack with the right hand to show it to the onlookers, make the following moves:
    1. Hold the pack in the left hand in dealing position.
    2. Push the top card off about 25 mm (1 in) to the right with the left thumb.
    3. Bend the top phalanx of the index finger under the card, near the upper right corner, and bend the same phalanx of the middle finger on the back of the card, which is thus gripped between the two fingers (figure 20). Insert the tips of the ring and little fingers under the card and with them grip the rest of the pack.

    4. Extend the index finger and middle finger, carrying the card away to the right and turning it face upwards in the action. At the same time press the thumb on the back of the pack
(figure 21).

    This pretty little flourish can be used to good advantage for counting off a small number of cards when it is necessary to name them as they are counted. Each card is taken by the right hand as it is flicked off and turned face upwards by the left hand.
    B. For Intimate Performances
When a chosen card has been found, for example after dealing to a certain number or on the last letter after having spelled its name, the following is a neat method of displaying it.
    1. Push the card off with the left thumb and take it by the middle of its right side between the top phalanxes of the right middle finger on its back and of the ring finger on its face (figure 22).

    2. Place the tip of the right thumb on its face and turn the card to a vertical position between the tips of the thumb and middle finger, bringing the face of the card towards you (figure 23).

    3. Place the tip of the index finger on the face of the card and move the thumb to the back. Release the middle finger and revolve the card with your thumb, bringing its face outwards and towards the spectators (figure 24).

    This intriguing little flourish provides a momentary pause and thus heightens the climax, which is the revelation of the card. Also, since it brings the face of the card towards you first, you gain a precious moment in the event of a mishap (which should be a very rare occurrence, but accidents will happen to the most careful of card conjurors).
    C. For Platform Performances 1. Push the card off with the left thumb and grasp it at the inner top corner between the right thumb and index finger, holding as little of the card as possible.
    2. Move the card slowly to your right, so that it does not obscure your face. Hold it at about shoulder height, turning it vertically to face outwards.
    The Ruffle
    The object of this flourish is to produce a crackling sound with the cards at the moment some feat of magic is accomplished. The purpose is to mislead the audience into the belief that the feat is actually done at that moment.
    A. With Both Hands 1. Hold the pack in the left hand, as for dealing, but with its outer end protruding about 25 mm (1 in) over the index finger.
    2. Press the left thumb firmly down on the middle of the back of the top card and with the tip of the right middle finger