ORTIZ Joe Mckay's AskAlexander Collection February 27, 2011
For Research Purposes Only (C) 2005-2010, Conjuring Arts Research Center http://www.askalexander.com
ORTIZ Table of Contents Genii Vol 56~1_S_19384_56_1-12 Page 300...........................................................................3
Darwin Ortiz
The Paper Chase
I devised these three marked-deck locations back in the days when my main interest was fooling other magicians. They are methods of locating a selected card under impossible conditions all based on the same principle, the subtle use of a marked deck. Properly performed, I guarantee that they will fool virtually anyone, even very shrewd card men. The possibility of a marked deck won't occur to them since the back of the selected card is never exposed to the performer. Although these methods were devised for other magicians, they are also effective for laymen. The last handling, in particular, provides an extremely convincing demonstration of mindreading for a lay audience. For each of these you will need a deck in which every card is marked for both value and suit. Any kind of marking that you can read easily will do. The Ted Lesley type of deck (with the small white numbers and letters) is ideal. FIRST HANDLING: The spectator begins by shuffling the deck. He then cuts off a portion of the deck and shuffles it also. He then looks at the card at the bottom of this cut-off portion and remembers it as his selection. (Obviously, with all the shuffling, no one could know what this card is.) The spectator then replaces this cutoff portion on the remainder of the deck. He may then, if he wishes, give the deck a couple of cuts. (My own practice is to let the spectator give the deck a cut, then I give the deck a couple of cuts. Finally, I allow another spectator to cut.) You now take the deck, spread through it, and instantly remove the selected card. The secret is a very subtle way of obtaining a key card by means of the marked deck. When the spectator cuts off a portion of the deck, you read the back of the top card of the remainder of the deck. That is your key. Later
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the selected card will end up directly above this card. When you spread through the deck at the end of the effect, simply remove the card above your memorized key. If you are feeling brave, you may even let the spectator shuffle the deck after the cut-off portion is replaced on the deck. The selection and key card are unlikely to be separated during the kind of shuffle a layman is likely to give the deck. Even magicians will usually only shuffle superficially if given the option in this situation because they are already so convinced that you could not find their card. Use your judgment in each case. If your layman victim is a bridge champion it is best to skip the shuffle. If your magician victim is already looking puzzled as he is instructed to replace the cut-off portion, it is safe to let him shuffle. If the spectator does give the deck a more thorough shuffle than you had anticipated, you can usually still bring the effect to a successful conclusion. The selected card will almost certainly be one of the five or six cards directly above the key. Use any pumping methods or multiple-out techniques to conclude the effect. SFCOND HANDLING: This is a simple variation of the above you can use if you wish to repeat the effect. The procedure is sufficiently different from the previous one to further throw off anyone trying to reconstruct the effect. The spectator cuts the deck into three or four piles. The exact number can be left to him. He then shuffles each pile. Next he selects any pile he wishes and memorizes the bottom card. He then gives this pile a cut to bury his card in the middle. Finally, he gathers up all the cards in any order he wishes and gives the entire deck a cut. You pick up the cards for the first time, spread through them and immediately remove the selected card. After the spectator has shuffled each packet and replaced it on the table, have him point to whichever one he wishes to use. When he points to one, read the back of the top card of that packet and remember it as your key. Later, when he cuts the packet to bury his selection, this card will end up directly below the selected one. From that point, everything can be handled as described above. THIRD HANDLING: This final version enters the realm of the truly miraculous. It is as effective for laymen as for magicians. The spectator shuffles the deck. He then cuts off a small packet and shuffles it also. He then memorizes the bottom card of this packet as his selection. Now he shuffles this packet again. He then buries this packet anywhere in the middle of the deck. Next he shuffles the entire deck as thoroughly as he wishes. Finally, he places the deck back in the cardcase. You now read his mind and, without any kind of fishing or equivocation, name his card.
Genii Vol 56~1_S_19384_56_1-12, page 300
GENH, The Conjurors' Magazine
