Down to the Last
Cards
Original Author: Unknown
After Spectator chooses a card at random, deck is cut
several times. Magician sorts through entire deck trying to
locate card. The Spectator or another is asked to select
another card. This card is also lost. By cutting the deck and
removing packets of cards, the magician holds 2-5 cards in his
hands and presents the lost cards.
PREPARATION: Shuffle cards in front of Spectator,
get a look at the bottom card of the deck, THIS WILL BE
YOUR KEY CARD!
METHOD: Fan out deck and ask Spectator to select a
card and show it around.
Hindu Shuffle off about half the deck (if you
didn't get to see the bottom card yet, tilt the deck towards
yourself and tap it against the packet in your hand.)
Tell the spectator to place their card onto the top of the
packet. Drop the rest of the deck on top of their card.
(Either cut the deck 3 times and restack or false overhand
shuffle to pretend to lose the card.) Look through the deck
and cut to the top a packet or 2 of cards.
When you arrive at your KEY CARD, their card is the next
card BEFORE your KEY CARD. Cut a packet to the top leaving
their card on the bottom of the deck. This card now becomes
your New KEY CARD.
Fan the cards again and apologize for losing their card and
ask them to select another (maybe a court card they have EYES
and can help find the missing card).
Hindu Shuffle the deck again and have the Spectator
place the card on the packet and drop the rest of the deck on
top. (cut or false overhand shuffle again) Once again look for
the card(s). Cut packets then finally cut a packet which
leaves both cards on the bottom of the deck.
Explain that this never happens and you cut the deck in
half to aid you in finding the missing cards. (Keep track of
where you put the half with the 2 cards on the bottom). Ask
them to point to ONE of the two stacks. Remove the one NOT
containing their 2 cards.
Count the cards in the stack by peeling off the bottom card
then follow by placing the next card on top of that and so on.
This count will move their cards to the top (getting them out
of the way for the next phase) What ever the count is say,
"Give me a number between 4 and (the count minus 4)". [i.e.
the count is 20 so you say "Give me a number between 4 and
16")
Count off as before from the bottom what ever number they
give. Discard THESE cards! Now count the remaining cards using
the bottom to top count. Once again what ever the count say,
"Now give me a number between 3 and (the count minus 3)".
Count off these cards using bottom to top count. Discard
leftover cards! Count the cards again bottom to top. Now their
cards are back on the bottom.
Ask for another number this time between 2 and (the count
minus 2). If they say 2 end the trick by pointing out that out
of 52 cards you hold only 2 cards. Make a big deal about their
freedom of selections.
If they pick a number greater then 2 pick off that many
cards using the bottom to top count and discard the rest.
Eliminate extra cards by asking questions about color or
suits.
When you have 2 cards, point out that out of 52 cards you
hold only 2 cards. Make a big deal about their freedom of
selections and present the cards to them.
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