Royal Road to Card Magic The

casually thus disposing of the indifferent card.
    Mastery of this feat will convince the student of the great value of the double lift and turnover. Again we urge that it must not be used too often but only for certain tricks that depend upon its use.
    The 'Trey'
    Bits of byplay are useful when interspersed among more pretentious card tricks. The following is amusing.
    1. While running over the faces of the cards, as if merely toying with them, spot a three-spot. Look up and make a remark to someone, at the same time dividing the deck at that card, taking it and those to the right of it with your right hand. Separate your hands about 30cm (12in), making a gesture with your right hand, for example; then bring your hands together again, but this time with the right hand
under
the left. The three-spot will now be at the top.
    2. Make the double lift and turnover, calling attention to the card thus brought into view, whatever it may be.
    3. Turn the two cards face downwards and remove the top card, the trey. Holding it face downwards, ask someone, 'Would you like to see me turn this card into a tray?' Receiving an affirmative answer, take a cigarette and knock the ash on to the back of the card. 'You see, it's an ash tray!'
    4. Continue, saying, 'Really, that's more than a pun!' and turning the card over show that it is a
trey
.
    Ambitious Card
    A favourite trick with audiences is that in which a card, placed in the deck, mysteriously comes to the top over and over again. The feat is suitable for either intimate or platform work, and when done with good humour it is very amusing and intriguing.
    Before you start, run through the cards and cut the eight of clubs to the top, then find the nine of clubs and place it above the eight.
    1. Shuffle the pack overhand, retaining the eight and nine of clubs at the top. Explain that you have found that in every deck there is one card that is more ambitious than the others. It likes to be 'top dog' and always pushes its way to the top of the pack.
    2. Make the double lift and turnover, showing the eight of clubs; then turn the two cards face downwards as one, saying, 'Apparently the eight of clubs seems to be the ambitious card in this deck.'
    3. Remove the top card, the nine of clubs, and without showing its face thrust it into the outer end of the deck at the centre, leaving about 25 mm (1 in) of the card protruding. Put the tip of your right middle finger on the face of the card, covering the index, and tip the pack upwards so that the face of the card is 'accidentally' exposed. With the index concealed, the nine will appear to be the eight.
    4. Push the nine flush into the pack. Tap the top card, turn it over and show the eight of clubs. Be sure to turn the card in exactly the same way as you did in making the double lift. Pause just
a moment for the effect to sink in, then turn the eight face down.
    5. Now, undercut the pack for an overhand shuffle, run one card, injog the next and shuffle off. Form a break at the injog, shuffle to the break and throw the remainder on top. This action places the eight of clubs second from the top.
    6. Continue, 'Let's try with another card.' Make the double lift and turnover, and again show the eight of clubs. Pretend to be surprised and then recall that it is the ambitious card. Turn the two cards downwards as one, remove the top indifferent card and thrust it into the centre of the deck. Do not allow its face to be seen.
    7. Tap the top card, turn it face upwards with the same action as before, and show the eight of clubs once more.
    8. Next, shuffle overhand, running the top card to the bottom and shuffling off on to it. Retain this card at the bottom during a second shuffle.
    9. Tap the top card saying, 'It isn't here.' Turn it, show it and turn it face downwards again.
    10. Turn the pack face upwards and say, 'Here it is! On top of the bottom,' showing the eight of clubs.
    11. Holding the pack face upwards, prepare for a double lift. Take the two cards as one, face upwards, and thrust them into the centre of the deck at the outer end. Call attention to the eight of clubs, which protrudes for about half its length.
    12. Grasp the pack by its inner end, between the right thumb on its face and the fingers on the back, and turn it face downwards. Place it in the left hand, taking it by the sides - between the thumb on one side and the middle, ring and little fingers on the other - with the forefinger curled underneath.
    13. Tilt the pack