Royal Road to Card Magic The

forefinger at the face card, saying, 'You see the card has changed,' as if you thought they hadn't noticed it.
    You should never appear deliberately to sell the onlookers. They don't like it and may take their revenge on you at an awkward moment.
    Double Colour Change
    In this transformation, two cards change simultaneously.
    1. Take the pack in your left hand, holding it as for the colour change with the faces of the cards to the spectators.
    2. Move the upper half so that it projects for about half of its length beyond the lower portion.
    3. Call attention to the two cards, the faces of which can be seen. Place the right hand over the cards, concealing both packets, once or twice.
    4. Palm the bottom card of the upper packet as described under the colour change, bring the right hand downwards below the pack and again call attention to the two face cards (figure 95).

    5. Bring up the right hand and deposit its card on the face of the upper packet. At the same moment engage the rear card of the upper packet with the tip of the left index finger and push this card inwards until it is flush with the lower packet.
    6. Remove the right hand and show that both cards have changed.
    The Changing Card
    In this intriguing conclusion to a trick, one card changes to another before the spectator's eyes. The change is useful when concluding another 'location' feat.
    1. Have a selected card replaced and control it to a position second from the top of the pack, using any method of control that has been previously described.
    2. Facing left, hold the pack in the left hand face outwards as for the colour change, the sides of the pack parallel to the floor. Draw the top card inwards towards yourself with the right thumb and fingers, so that about half its length projects and everyone can see its face. Secretly engage the outer end of the second card, the spectator's card, with the tip of the left index finger.
    3. Tap the projecting card with the tips of the right fingers and claim that it is the spectator's card. When this is denied, move the right hand back to grasp the protruding card at the points marked X in figure 96.

    4. An instant before the extreme tips of the right fingers and thumb grasp the protruding card, push the second card inwards towards yourself and flush with the protruding card, by a swift thrust of the left index finger. Close the right fingers and thumb on both cards at their ends, keeping them in alignment. Instantly withdraw the right hand a few inches so that the full face of the changed card is visible. The effect is that the protruding card
visibly
changes into the chosen card.
    5. Place the cards, as one card, face outwards on the face of the deck.
    Self-cutting Deck
    1. Hold the pack in the left hand with the tips of the middle, ring and little fingers at one side and with the thumb at the other. Place the index finger against the lower half of the pack at the outer end (figure 97). Hold the pack with its sides parallel to the floor.

    2. Snap the index finger inwards sharply, propelling the lower portion into the right hand, which is held against the body about 15 cm (6 in) from the pack, back upwards, thumb and fingers separated ready to catch the flying packet.
    A Pretty Cut
    1. Hold the pack in the left hand, between the middle and ring fingers at one end and the thumb at the other. The cards are held from above, the palm arching above the pack. Place the right index finger at the inner right corner (figure 98).

    2. Lift and swing the upper half in a semicircle outwards, the other end pivoting on the left second finger, continuing the movement until the packet drops into the right palm (figure 99). Drop the other packet on top.

    This is a genuine cut and a pretty one.
    Pop-up Card
    Here is an amusing way of revealing a chosen card that has been brought to the top of the pack.
    1. Hold the pack in the left hand, face outwards, with the thumb lying flat along the upper side, with the middle, ring and little fingers at the other side, and with the index finger curled up against the top card at the rear.
    2. Separate the end of the top card from the other cards with the tip of the left index finger. Request that the chosen card be named; when it is, snap your right fingers, saying, 'Card, rise!'
    3. Press inwards and then upwards on the card with the left index finger, making it turn between the ball of the thumb and the pack until it swings into the position shown in figure 100.

    A Bit of