5 FOUR A'S FALLS TO YOU

                                             FOUR  A'S  FALLS  TO  YOU

                                                                  by

                                           Carlos Genoveses and Jean Devriès

          This trick is a retake of Fr. Cyprian's “Faro Flush” (Epilogue by Karl Fulves, March 1968, L.L.Publishing) after modifications in the method and presentation (in particular the second Faro shuffle is replaced by a “clip-dealing”).

Effect. The spectator shuffles the deck by two stages. Then the performer shuffles again and removes, at random, many cards he uses to deal four Poker hands. The Four A's falls to him (see Video).

Set-up. After making the Aces concave (opposite natural bend), place them followed by two indifferent cards on the face of the deck (i.e. from top down: x.......AAAAxx).

Performance.

          Hold the deck face-down in the left hand and get a little finger break above the six bottom cards (above the concave Aces). With the right hand cut off the top half of the deck and give it the spectator to shuffle (Photo 1). While he is busy with his cards, secretly reverse all the cards below your break using a half pass (Photo 2). Keep the right hand in Biddle grip.          

           Invite the spectator to put his shuffled packet, face-down, onto the table and complete cut. Then, your palm-down left hand picks up the packet and, turning palm-up, brings it face-up (be careful not to flash the face card) underneath the right hand packet (Photo 3). Immediately with the left thumb push the face-down cards of the new top half into the right hand (Photo 4a). For the spectator the card that can be seen on the left hand packet is the face card of the half he has just shuffled. In reality it's the initial indifferent face card of the deck. At this stage you can thumb push this card to let see the underlying one (Photo 4b) (Take care not to spread more, at the risk to expose the Aces !).

          The right hand packet is handed out to be shuffled (by an other spectator) (Photo 4b). As previously invite the spectator to do a table complete cut. Then take back the shuffled half and bring it face-up underneath the other (on the back) (Photo 4c). Turn the whole deck face-down.

          Finally the spectator is sure that the deck is well shuffled, since he did it himself ; which is true, except for the set-up bottom cards (!).

          Say: “Well ! Now it is my turn to shuffle the deck !” While speaking hold the deck in Faro shuffle position and cut off approximately a top half with the right hand. Bring both packets end to end partly, excluding from the contact a few face cards (8-10) of the packet in right hand (Photo 5a). In this position it is easier to mesh perfectly the six set-up cards (on the face of the left hand packet) with the opposite cards (right hand packet) (Photo 5b). Imbricate the cards for about only third their length and place the whole deck onto the palm-up left hand (Photo 5c).

          Now grasp the deck from above with your wide-open right hand (Photo 6a) and press down on both ends to cause the complete interpenetration of the packets in “waterfall”. Only the 8-10 face cards of the right hand packet (see above) are maintained in bloc beside the shuffle (Photo 6b) by a little left finger break above them. Then bring the “broken” bloc on top (Photos 6c, d), and finish squaring the deck carefully. At present the arrangement of the cards is from top down: x......., Ax, Ax, Ax, Axxxx.

          Say: “Now that the deck has been thoroughly shuffled, I am going to take off cards at random like this” Grasp the deck from above with your right hand. Clipping it between the left thumb and middle finger draw off the top and bottom cards (Photo 7a), and drop them onto the table. Continue in this way nonchalantly, but counting mentally the doublets as they are dealt (Photo 7b). Arriving at the eleventh, stop to say: “Maybe.....some cards more !” As you deliver this line, deal three doublets in addition (that is to say, fourteen in all). Set the rest of the deck aside (Photo 7c). The arrangement of the 28 card pile is, from top down: 7x, A , 3x ,A , 3x, A, 3x, A, 8x.

          Now specify your purpose pattering as follows: “Certainly you know the Poker game...with its different card schemes...Flush, Straight,.....Well ! Let's imagine a simple turn for four players...” Gather the pile and square it in left hand. Deal three cards onto the table in three distinct places corresponding to three potential players, and the next card in front of you as the fourth player (Photo 8a). Continue in that way by four other dealing cycles, each player receiving Five cards in all (Photo 8b). You have a few cards (8) left in hand ; drop them onto the discarded deck.

          Begin with the first three Poker hands turning them face-up to display the possible combinations (usually they are of low value as Pairs, Three of Kind). You can improve these Poker hands exchanging the cards not utilized for cards (in same number) from the top of the deck. Conclude turning up your five cards to show the Four A's which has fallen to you (Photo 9)...