FalseShuffle

Biddle Trick Card Trick

by Elmer Biddle, Tony Kardyro, and Ed Marlo

Effect

The magician spreads the cards, allowing the spectator to take one and memorize it. The magician then places the spectator's card back in the middle of the deck and cuts the deck of a few times. The magician then splits the deck into two halves and estimates which half the spectator's card is in. The magician gives the spectator the half of the deck that he doesn't think has the spectator's card. He then estimates that the spectator's card is one of the top five cards of the other half. He counts the top five cards and turns them face up on top of the packet. He then shows the spectator the top five cards. He asks if the spectator saw her card. She says that she has. Then, the magician gives the spectator the rest of the deck as he takes the top five cards in his hand. He counts them again, face down and exclaims that he knows the spectator's card. He names the spectator's card and then invisibly palms it and makes a motion as if he threw it into the spectator's hand. He asks the spectator to spread the cards she is holding face up in her hand, and she finds a face down card. It is her card.

Method

  1. Spread the cards, and have the spectator choose and memorize one.
  2. Split the deck whereever the spectator pulled out her card, keeping the top packet spread out.
  3. Extend the bottom packet towards the spectator, and ask her to place her card on top of it.
  4. Place the top packet of cards on top of the spectator's card, but as you do, drop the bottom card of the top packet on top of the spectator's card, catch a pinky break above it, and then close the remainder of the spread. It should look like nothing out of the ordinary occurred. Dropping the bottom card of the top packet shouldn't be difficult because the top packet should be spread out before you place it on top of the spectator's card.
  5. Perform a double undercut.
  6. Split the deck into two halves, holding each half in a different hand.
  7. Take the bottom half of the deck, and give it to the spectator, saying, "Your card is not in this half."
  8. Tell the spectator that you think her card is one of the top five cards in the half you are holding.
  9. Deal the top five cards of your packet face down into your other hand.
  10. Turn the five cards face up as one, and place them on top of the packet you are holding.
  11. Now, count the five face up cards into your free hand as you perform the Biddle move on the second card, loading it onto the bottom of the half of the deck you are holding. As you steal the second card (the spectator's card), memorize its suit and value.
  12. Ask the spectator if she saw her card. When she says that she has, place the remaining half of the deck that you are holding on top of the half of the deck that the spectator is holding. This action should bury the spectator's card face up in the deck.
  13. Take the four cards that you are holding, and turn them face down as one.
  14. Now, deal the four cards into your free hand one at a time, performing the Biddle move on the second card. Count, "1, 2, 3, 4, and 5," out loud as you perform the move. The effect of this action is that you count the second card twice, making it look like you have five cards. Since you perform the counting face down, the spectator shouldn't suspect anything.
  15. Now, announce the spectator's card (you memorized it earlier).
  16. Pretend to palm the top card of the packet (in actuality, palm nothing).
  17. Turn your palming hand face up to show that a card is invisibly palmed.
  18. Make a throwing motion towards the deck in the spectator's hand.
  19. Reveal that you are holding four cards now.
  20. Ask the spectator to spread face up through the cards in her hand. She will find one face down card. It is her card!

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