Original Author: Unknown

Effect: A spectator inserts a card upside down in a deck and memorizes the 2 cards next to it. The performer pulls both cards out of his pockets without ever looking at the cards.

Trick:

You need a packet of 20 cards and a joker. Give the packet to a spectator and have him (or her) shuffle to ensure that no cards are in any order. Tell the spectator to slide the joker into the packet face up, anywhere. Have him fan the cards with the faces toward himself and memorize the 2 cards at the right and left of the joker. Have him square up the pack and give it back. Deal the top card onto the table. Deal the next card to the right of the first. Deal the third card on the left pile, the fourth card on the right pile and so on, alternating piles until you run out. The last card should be on the left pile (because you're holding an odd number of cards). Pick up the right pile and place it on the left pile. Repeat this entire procedure once: deal the cards into two piles, starting on the left, and then place the right pile on top of the left.

Saying "We don't need this joker any more" look through the face-down pack until you find the joker and throw it aside. Casually put the cards that were above the joker onto the bottom of the deck, making sure they stay in the exact same order. Have the spectator cut the deck in about half. Take the top half and put it in your right pocket facing toward your body. Take the bottom half and put it in your left pocket facing away from your body. Put a hand in each pocket and count off 4 cards in each pile, starting from the outside. The 5th card of each pile will be the spectator's. Bring them out of your pockets and watch the amazement. This trick is foolproof if done correctly.

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