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Versatile Card Magic

1983 Hardcover

Other Editions: 2002 Hardcover

Frank Simon

Author

Editor:
- Mike Caveney
Publisher:
- Magical Publications
Photographer:
- Frank Simon

Contents

Search Contents

#	Title	Type
I	Introduction	Introduction
3	Preface	Preface
7	Part One: Versatile Spread Controls	Section
12	Versatile Outjog Control	Technique
Spread control sleight: selection culled under the bevel spread to the bottom while an indifferent card remains outjogged as a decoy. Foundation for all other techniques in the book.
19	Pass the Sandwich	Trick
Two face-up matching cards placed on top and bottom of a deck. Spectator touches a card; a riffle pass causes the face-up cards to vanish and reappear in the middle surrounding the selection.
21	Catch the Sandwich	Trick
A matching pair is placed face-up on top and bottom; selection left outjogged. Deck thrown to other hand, leaving the face-up pair with the selection sandwiched face-down between them.
23	Toss the Sandwich	Trick
Two face-up cards are tossed into a dribbling deck and catch a selected card between them, either sailing through to the spectator or emerging buried in the spread.
27	A.P.E. Rich Marotta	Technique
Clarified handling for a card through handkerchief effect. Spectator's card is left protruding from the deck. A silk scarf is draped over the deck, then gently shaken. The selected card visibly penetrates through the scarf and emerges at the bottom.
31	Versatile Even Control	Technique
Spread control without any outjogged card; selection culled to the bottom as the deck is spread openly. Used when the Outjog Control has already been seen recently.
32	The Card that Finds Itself	Trick
A secretly reversed card finds the spectator's selection by counting its own face value down from a central position in the deck.
32	Cut and Count	Trick
Spectator cuts to a card; that card is not their selection. The face value of the card they cut to counts down to reveal the selected card.
33	Casual Control	Technique
Fast, informal spread control suitable for seated or standing performance. No outjogged card; selection rides under the spread as hands come together. Ideal for multiple selections.
35	The Informers	Trick
Two cards on either side of a touched card are called "informers." Deck riffled; the informers reverse themselves and are found sandwiching the selection face-up in the middle.
37	Versatile Re-Entry Control	Technique
Extension of the Outjog Control: selection placed at a chosen depth in the deck during spreading, then brought to the top through a series of cuts from the table or in the hands.
39	You Shuffle as I Shuffle	Trick
Spectator remembers a card in the upper half and reverses a number card in the lower half. Both halves are shuffled independently and combined. The selection is found exactly as many cards below the face-up card as its number value.
42	Odds on Triumph	Trick
Deck shuffled face-up into face-down. Through cuts and a story about improving odds, all cards right themselves — except the selection, which remains the only face-up card.
47	Handmade Triumph	Trick
Impromptu, table-free version of Odds on Triumph. Deck mixed face-up and face-down using a one-handed fan; snapping the fingers restores all cards except the selection.
50	Part Two: Varieties	Section
51	Benihana Aces	Trick
Four Aces produced one at a time with escalating theatrical flair, themed around a Japanese Benihana restaurant chef. Three different revelations — pivoting, snapping, and simultaneous production.
58	Pirandello False Cut Jeff Semel	Technique
Three-phase swing cut that appears to be a triple cut but is actually a double cut leaving the deck in its original order. Very deceptive; spectators cannot distinguish the visual from reality.