by Maya Ansari

This one took me some time to figure out, considering the conditions, but using the skiils I already knew, I applied them together to create this method, which I thought to be the only logical and understandable way to accomplish this effect. For this method, I had to change the effect just a bit, but the overall effect is the same as the one stated in the challenge.

Effect:
The magician asks the spectator for a deck of cards. Now, the magician spreads the cards in his hands, and proceeds to pull out two matching court cards, say these cards are the two red kings. The kings are placed on the table, and can be checked by the spectator at that point to make sure that there truly are only two cards there. At this point the spectator is asked to name ANY card from the deck at all, (suppose the spectator says Four of Hearts), then the magician immediately puts the deck away. The two kings on the table are picked up by the magician to be shown to be only two cards. They are then place back on the table, and with a snap, the magician instructs the spectator to spread the kings over, miraculously a face down card has appeared between the kings! Now the magician asks the spectator to take out that card, and turn it over, only to be shown to be the Four of Hearts! (the selection) Everything is examinable at the end.

Method/ Intructions-

Phase 1 : The Beginning

Long effect yes, but off course an even longer tutorial to come! To start off, make sure that you will be performing this effect in an area with a table or flat surface (ie. A bar, pub, restaurant, at someone's house) Walk upto your spectator, and ask them if they would like to see a miracle, most will say "sure". Ask them for a new deck os cards, or a deck which they haven't used, tell them this is so that everyone knows that you nor the spectator NEVER touched the deck, thus eliminating the thought that this effect was accomplished with a stooge etc. in the end.

Take the deck and spread in your hands face up to take out the two red kings or the court cards you chose. Now when you are taking the cards out, memorize the order of the deck. Meaning, since the given deck is a new deck, it should be arranged in Spades, Hearts, Clubs. Diamonds order.So while looking for the red kings, look at: what suit is on the top of the deck, what suits are in the middle, and what suit is in the end. Use some technique to remember the order of these suites, (ie. cHaSeD order). Remember, all suits start are arranged in the following order: King, Queen, Jack, Ace, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10. So you should be able to remember the order by simply looking for the court cards and taking them out. To the spectator it merely looks:you go through the deck and pull out the red kings. This done, you're done Phase 1 of the trick.

Phase 2: The Name Call

Now you should have the deck face down in your hand, with the two red kings on the table. At this point you can ask your spectator to inspect the kings to make sure that there really are only two cards. This done, ask the spectator to name out ANY card from the entire deck. Say the call out, the 10 of Spades. Now you already know the order of the deck, so you should know where all the spades are, ask your spectator question like why they chose the the 10 of Spades, while you are pattering with your spectator, quickly thumb count the cards over to your other hand, in order to get to the 10 of spades, all the while counting in your brain the number of cards you've just thumb counted over.

When you get to the 10 of Spades, still pattering casually place this card on the bottom of the deck. This whole thumb count sequence should take maximum 15 seconds to happen. Now, with the selection on the bottom, square up the deck, and catch a break above the bottom card. Lift the whole deck above the break, an using the deck as a cover, curl in all the fingers holding the selection in your left hand, thus the selection should be in somewhat of a horizontal palm , with a bit of the card sticking out. Now, take this hand and turn it sideways, thus the card becomes completely invisible in the audience perspective, and so the index finger and thumb part of your hand is showing. Put the deck away, at this point. Pick up the kings with your free hand and quickly but casually bring your hand containing the palmed card up, and very quickle, place the kings atop the selection. To the audience it looks like you merely brought your other hand up and place the kings in that hand. Now take the top king and place it on the bottom, saying: "So now I will use the two kings...", the position of the cards should now be: king, selection face-down, king. Do a block pushover with the top two cards to reveal the bottom king. Thus, it looks like there are only two kings. Place this packet of three on the table, and patter about how you never forced the spectator to choose the 10 etc. Then ask them to spread the kings apart, doing so will cause the third face down card (selection face-down) to come into view. Now ask them: what was you card? When they say 10 of Spades, ask them to turn the face down card between the Kings over, and let them scream, because the face down card is offcourse their selection!

But I found a picture hosting site, which was able to hold all my pictures, of the method. Make sure you start looking at the pictures from the last one to the top, because the pictures are in reverse order, so the first picture is the image of what the last stage of the trick should look like etc. Here it is.