15 THE EMERGENCY CARD

THE EMERGENCY CARD

by Jean Devriès and Carlos Genoveses

This trick is based on “Twixt the Devil” of J.A.Bannon (Impossibilia, L.L. Publishing), but presented differently. In particular the J.A.Bannon's Mystery Card is replaced by an extra card which appears to be a prediction card in the end of the trick.

Effect. The performer shows a blue backed card and returns it to its place in his shirt pocket. He informs this card would be utilized in case of “emergency”. A card is selected from a red deck and memorized, and then returned to the deck by shuffling. The spectator divides the tabled deck into three parts and turns up their top cards. Using the three face-up cards as indicators the performer tries determining the name of the selected card. But he gives only a neighbouring solution (about colour, suit, value). Looking at his “emergency” card he obtains the right answer. Surprise: both performer's and spectator's cards have the same identity!...(see Video).

Set-up. If your deck is red backed, the back of the extra card must be different: blue for example. Furthermore this “emergency” card is made self-adhesive by application of 3M Remount glue onto the centre of its face (for that, use a hollowed card as a stencil) (Photos 1a, b). Place the extra card into your shirt pocket, face turned towards yourself.

Performance.

Have the spectator to shuffle the red deck and return it to you.

Begin to advertising:”I have, here in my pocket, an “emergency card” which would help me eventually, if I was not successful in doing my trick...” As you speak, with the finger tips take out of your pocket the card in question, showing its blue back, and immediately return it to its place.

Now, spread the cards between the hands and invite the spectator to choose one of them for memorizing (Photo 2). Have the card put back in the deck controlling it on the 2^nd position from top. For that you can use the following procedure. Begin an overhand shuffle and invite the spectator to return his card onto the left hand portion. Continue to shuffle the remainder of the deck, but in-jogging the second card (Photos 3a, b, c).

 As you square get a break below the in-jog with the right thumb or the left little finger. At this point, you can double undercut the lower portion to the top, or perform the triple cut in hands as in the video (for the explanations see the trick "6 La Grenouille", $1°). Now the spectator's card is on the 2nd position.

Put the deck face-down onto the table and instruct the spectator to divide it into three successive parts (Photos 4a, b). Remember the place of the original superior part (for example on the right end of the row). The selected card is in this packet (second from the top). Then request the spectator to turn face-up the top card of each packet (Photo 5).

Say: “I am going to need these three cards...” Begin with the central packet: maintaining it against the table with the right hand in Biddle grip, use your thumb at the inner end to lift up the face-up card and transfer it into your left hand (Photo 6a). Look at the spectator and ask him: “Is it your card?” At the same time, move your right hand, naturally, over the original superior packet, and lift up two cards together (the top card and the selected one which is face-down under it) (Photo 6b). Bring the double onto the left hand card. Ask again: “Is it your card?” Finally take off the face-up card of the remaining packet (Photo 6c).

Placing the last card into the left hand retake all the cards. Use the left fingers to draw the inferior and superior cards (Photo 7a). Then turn the hands so that the face of the three cards is oriented towards the spectator (Photo 7b).

Now specify:”I need these cards...They are indicators which can give me certain informations about your card...” While speaking glance (discretely) at the selected card which is visible on the back of the double in right hand. Memorize its identity (for example the 5H, on the Photo 7b). In the action of turning the hands backwards bring the left hand cards onto the double (Photo 7c), thus liberating the left hand so that it can stack the tabled packets (Photos 8a, b). The right hand places its cards over them (Photo 8c) and gathers the whole deck to bring it again into the left hand.

Quietly peel the superior face-up card onto the table, and pretend to be examining it attentively. Then peel the two others near it (Photos 9a, b). A present patter about these three cards according to the identity of the selected card (you had memorized). All is a matter of “comedy” between you and your spectator. Finally announce: “Y think your card was the______,... very likely (?)” Here do not indicate the exact name of the card in question, but one closely related to it (about the colour, suit or/and value).

Evidently your “error” will make the spectator react. Then, look very perplexed and say something like that: “Well...I am obliged..., I need really the help of my emergency card...” Remove the blue backed card out of your shirt pocket and hold it, face turned towards yourself Photo 10a). Looking at it display a “satisfied expression”. Then look at the spectator, and as you put, naturally, the card, face-down, onto the deck in left hand, say: “Now, I'm sure your card was the Five of Hearts!” Here indicate the exact name of the selected card.

Make sure that the blue card is aligned correctly with the deck, then discretely, press on its centre with the left thumb (Photo 10b) so that it adheres to the underlying selected card.

The spectator will confirm your “divination”. Without too waiting, peel the blue card (double) into the right hand, and gently with the finger tips turn it face-up (Photos 11a, b). Table the card near the three others (Photo 11c). To his great surprise, the spectator will realize his card had the same identity as the performer's. Then say: “Really, these cards are genial!”

Now to clean up, use the ultra card to scoop the tabled others. Bring the cards flipping them, face-down, like a book page, onto the deck in left hand (Photos 12a, b). With the left thumb buckle slightly the out left corner of the blue card, so as to dissociate it from the underlying card. Thus the right hand, palm down, can draw the card by the inner end (Photo 13) to replace it, without exposing its face, into the shirt pocket (Photos 14).