ALL YOU NEED TO KNOW A PRACTICAL HANDBOOK with complete instructions for a routine of card tricks performed using the cards as they are removed from the manufacturer's sealed carton. The book is designed to guide the beginner in card magic through all the procedures required to produce effects that will delight; surprise; and amaze an audience. Full explanations are given of all the handling required and the tricks can be performed with the minimum of manipulation and; if wished; without the use of any sleights-of-hand.

OUT OF THE BOX

AMAZING CARD TRICKS FROM A SEALED PACKBy STUART LEE

Trafford Publishing

Copyright © 2012 STUART LEE
All right reserved.
ISBN: 978-1-4669-4588-3

Contents

INTRODUCTION......................................viiTHE CARDS.........................................1THE ROUTINE.......................................3ALTERNATIVE PACKS.................................17ADAPTATIONS.......................................19ADDITIONAL TRICKS.................................25HANDLING AND SLEIGHTS-OF-HAND.....................43SOURCES AND BACKGROUND............................65

Chapter One

THE CARDS

IT MIGHT WELL BE said that performers of card magic are spoiled for choice by the variety of playing cards available to them. There are giant-sized cards and miniature cards, triangular cards, and circular cards. They have plain backs in a full spectrum of colours or patterned backs in as many styles and designs as there are manufacturers. However, the majority of performers prefer to use either the "Poker-size" card or the "Bridge-size" card, the former being the larger of the two sizes.

A popular example of the Poker-size pack of cards is the "Bicycle Rider Back" pack produced by the U.S. Playing Card Co. It has two indexes on the face of each card (ie, the value and suit of each card are shown at the top left and at the bottom right corners) and it can be obtained in a variety of colours for the backs. Of particular interest to some performers is the fact that the packs can also be obtained with blank-faced, blank-backed, double-faced, double-backed cards, and in a miniature size with red, blue or green backs in a design identical to the full-size packs. Additionally, they are available as specially prepared packs to perform particular tricks and effects.

Examples of the Bridge-size packs are the "No 1" pack of the Waddington Playing Card Co. Ltd. (Winning Moves UK Ltd.) and the "Standard" playing cards produced and sold by W.H. Smith. They come either Red-backed or Blue-backed and are four-indexed cards with the value and suit of the cards show at all four corners of each card. Waddington also produce a four-indexed "No 1" Poker pack.

For completeness it should be noted that W.H. Smith produce and sell miniature "Patience" packs in identical back design and colour to their "Standard" packs and also a Poker-size pack—this latter pack being a card with two extra-large indexes on the face of the card.

A fourth range of playing cards merits attention and that is the "Classic" design produced by the Austrian company Piatnik. They are Bridge-size cards available in back designs in red and blue and also in special packs (ie, blank backs, blank faces, etc.). However, because of their order in the sealed pack they are not suitable for use in the routine described in the chapter "The Routine". It should also be noted that the descriptions of the handling set out in the chapter "The Routine" assume the use of the "Bicycle Rider Back" pack. The handling required for the Waddington "No 1" pack and the W.H. Smith "Standard" pack are given in the chapter "Alternative Packs".

THE ROUTINE

Opening The Pack

Start with the sealed carton of cards on the table. Invite a spectator to remove the wrapping, break the seal, and to take the pack out of the carton. Take the pack from the spectator and remove the Joker cards and any other extraneous cards. In doing so do not disturb the order of the pack.

The sequence of the cards in the "Bicycle Rider Back" pack is (when the pack is face-down): Ace to King (Hearts)—Ace to King (Clubs)—King to Ace (Diamonds)—King to Ace (Spades). However, it would be prudent to check the sequencing by examining another pack from the same production run. This precaution applies equally for the alternative packs.

Mixing The Pack

If you do not intend to use a bridge card or sleights-of-hand in the performance of the routine proceed directly to the next section of this chapter, "Arranging the Pack". If you are using a bridged card and wish to give the impression to the spectator that you are mixing the pack proceed as described in the next paragraph.

With the Ace of Spades as the bridged card you may allow the spectator or any number of spectators to cut and complete the pack, provided that, finally, you cut the bridged card to the bottom of the pack. Additionally, using the bridged card you may perform a false mix of the pack. (For details of how to produce the bridged card and how to use the bridged card see the relevant section in the chapter "Handling and Sleights of Hand" and for an explanation of the term "cut and complete" see the "Introduction".)

Arranging The Pack

If you wish to arrange the pack without using a bridged card begin by stating that it would be as well to make sure that all the 52 cards are there in the pack. Count out the first 13 cards from the top of the face-down pack and place them on the table. Do this without reversing their order, ie, as you count the cards off the pack each card is placed beneath the one or ones already counted. Continue counting off the next 13 cards (again without reversing their order) and place these cards on top of the cards already on the table. Continue counting out the rest of the pack (still not reversing the order of the cards) and when the count is completed pick up the cards from the table and place them on top of the cards in hand.

The sequence of the cards is now: Ace to King (Clubs)—Ace to King (Hearts)—King to Ace (Diamonds)—King to Ace (Spades).

To rearrange the sequence of the cards using the bridged card (Ace of Spades) begin by asking a spectator whether he or she would like to have the top half of the pack or the bottom half. Irrespective of the reply count out the first 26 cards from the top of the face-down pack and place them on the table. Do this without reversing their order as described in the preceding paragraph. You then place the remainder of the pack (without counting them out) by the side of the cards already on the table.

Finally, you instruct the spectator to take the part of the pack that he or she chose and to place it either at the top or at the bottom of the other half of the pack. The spectator may then cut and complete the pack as many times as wished, provided that, finally, you cut the bridged card to the bottom of the pack. The sequence of the cards is then as stated above.

Setting The Pack

State that in order to make sure that the pack is thoroughly mixed you are going to deal it out into four piles.

Deal out the cards from the top of the pack face-down into four piles, placing a card in turn on each pile to give:

Pile 1—Pile 2—Pile 3—Pile 4.

Reconstitute the pack by placing Pile 4 on Pile 3 and then those cards on Pile 2, and then all those cards on Pile 1.

Repeat the procedure described in the two preceding paragraphs one more time.

First Trick: "Cards And Numbers"

1. If you are not using a bridged card proceed directly to paragraph 3.

2. If you are performing the routine using a bridged card (Ace of Spades) you should note that this card is now at the bottom of the pack and you may, therefore, if you wish, allow the spectator to cut and complete the pack, provided that, finally, you cut the bridged card to the bottom of the pack.

3. Now deal out from the top of the...