Card Riser

By Richard Robinson Card magic books seem to be authored by those who have two favorite phrases: 'first, force a card' and 'bring the selected card to the top of the deck.' Neither of these phrases and the work they imply are likely to inspire those who desire to do card tricks. If the reader knew how to bring a card to the top of the deck or force a card, the odds are they might not have purchased the book to start with.

Working The Room Although rarely noted, there are two approaches to card magic. One is to become a super finger flinger capable of boring civilians but able to maintain a reputation among other flingers. The other is to entertain an audience using what works. Even if what works only raises a smirk among the flinger crowd. It is interesting to note that the flingers can be fooled badly by something as simple as a competent deck switch, so flinging is not always a guarantee of omnipotence to the flingee. Illusions With Cards A case in point is getting the selected card to the top of the deck without the spectators being aware that you've done so. There are lots excruciatingly difficult ways to do this and one rather simple method. The simple method relies on presentation and how you treat the spectator who has selected the card. Once the deck has been shuffled, you've spread the cards for the spectator to select one and the spectator is having a look at the card, you set up the deck by squaring it up on the left palm, then cutting off about half the deck and holding it in the right hand. Reminding the spectator to remember the card, tell the spectator to put the card 'back where it came from' at the same time moving the left hand toward the spectator. Do not ask the spectator to put the card 'back in the deck' as they may be inclined to shove it into the deck anywhere. What you want them to do is put the card on top of the pile of cards you have in your left hand. As soon as the card is placed on top of the half deck in your left palm, your right hand places the remainder of the deck on the cards in the left palm. Well, almost. You're going to hold a break so that the cards from the right hand are slightly separated from the left hand stock. Often this is done by placing the end of the left little finger on the top (selected) card and then placing the cards from the right hand onto the left cards. A more subtle and less detectable method is to catch some of the fleshy portion of the base of the left thumb between the bottom and top stock as you reassemble the deck.

The deck is cut for the return of the selected card (here the Three of Spades). The card is placed on top of the bottom stock. As the top stock is put back, a break is held at the base of the left thumb. The right hand takes hold of the top stock at the break, lifting and turning it faces toward the spectators. The left hand turns up, the bottom stock falls against the left fingers so the faces are also toward the spectators. The right hand stock is over hand shuffled down onto the left hand stock, the top (selected) card of the left stock is left undisturbed to become the top card of the deck when the shuffling is completed.

What is really important is that you don't stop after the card has been put back on the bottom half of the deck and the top half of the deck replaced. You must keep moving at a medium pace to create an effective illusion of the card being lost in the deck. The right hand releases its hold on the top stock only long enough for the complete deck to be visible in the left hand. Then the following moves are executed: The right hand moves back over the deck, then takes hold of the stock above the break being held by the left hand. The right hand moves back at the same time the left hand turns up and to the right so that the back of the left hand is momentarily facing the audience. The right hand rises above the left hand, taking the top stock with it. The stock in the left hand falls back against the left fingers so that the face card is visible to the spectators. The right hand turns back so that the face card of the stock it is holding is also visible. Then the right hand lowers that stock in front of the stock in the left hand. The left thumb presses lightly against the stock, the right hand rises, bringing most of the cards it holds with it, although some are held back by the left thumb and join the left stock. This is repeated about three times. It appears you have just shuffled the deck. In reality you have only shuffled the top half of the deck, leaving the left stock intact and the selected card as the face down card on the top of the deck. Don't watch yourself while you do this. Look at the spectator. Be casual and move right along. You've just rather easily managed to bring the card to the top of the deck.