Figuratively Speaking Card Trick

Figuratively Speaking

Figuratively Speaking' embodies the most advanced use of the key card principle. So subtly is it introduced into this puzzling effect that one would hardly suspect it of being responsible for the overall working of the trick. This is one of the best key-card tricks ever created by the magical fraternity.

Presentation

The performer states that for short periods of time it is possible for him, through intense concentration, to amplify his hearing to the point where he can detect a spoken phrase, no matter how inaudible it may appear to be. To demonstrate this uncanny ability, the performer requests a spectator ( say a lady in the audience) to whisper a number from four to fourteen into the ear of another spectator ( say a nearby gentleman). This being done, the performer explains that he will now reveal the whispered number using a pack of cards. He glances through the deck ( card backs towards audience ) stating that he is locating the card at the whispered number ( counting down from the top of the face down pack ). Picking up a pencil and piece of paper, he writes down a card value and folding the piece of paper places it to one side. He now hands the lady the deck and turning his back requests that she deal off cards, one by one, face down to form a pile that is equal in number to the number she whispered to the gentleman. This being done she is asked to look at and remember the last card dealt ( the card corresponding to her whispered number)She is then instructed to replace the dealt out pile as a unit on the main deck, cut the deck ( single cut), and complete the cut.

At this point the performer turns and takes back the deck. For the second time he glances through the deck explaining that he is locating the new card that now appears at the whispered number in the newly cut deck ( counting down from the top of the face down deck as before). Picking up a second piece of paper he writes down the value of the second card, folds the paper and places it along side the first folded piece of paper. He now hands the gentleman the deck
of cards and turning his back as before, requests the gentleman to deal off cards, one by one, in a face down pile to equal the number whispered to him by the lady.

At the end of the deal he is asked to pick up the last card dealt, remember its value, and replace it with the other cards on top of the main deck. He is then to cut the deck and complete the cut. After completion of the above routine, the performer turns to the audience and explains that since he knew the whispered number, he was able to identify the cards appearing at the whispered number ( for both the lady and the gentleman) ahead of their actual identification of these cards by a count down deal. Comparison of the cards marked down on the two pieces of paper with the cards to which the lady and gentleman counted reveal without question that the performer did indeed know the whispered number ( they are the same ). The performer can also announce the whispered number as a final verification of his unusual sense of hearing, if he so wishes.

Method

In glancing through the cards the first time ( under the pretense of locating the lady's card at the whispered number), the performer does two things. He notes ( and later writes down on a piece of paper) the value of the top card of the face down deck ( this will be the gentleman's predicted card). He also mentally notes the value of the bottom card of the deck. This latter card will be his key or locator card for the second time around. The performer now proceeds with the first half of the card routine as under presentation.

In glancing through the cards a second time ( under the pretense of locating the gentleman's card), the performer spots both his key card and the card previously written down on the piece of paper. He now does three things. He memorises ( and later writes down on a second piece of paper) the value of the card just in front of his key card ( this will be the lady's predicted card). Starting with this card he next counts the number of cards up to and including the first card already written down. This gives him the whispered number. He then cuts the deck in front of the key card and completes the cut so that the second card written down ( in front of the key card) will be at the top of the deck when placed face down in front of the gentleman for his count down deal.

Explanation

Essentially what happens in this card effect is that a packet of cards at the top of the deck is dealt out twice. In the first deal (by the lady ), the top card is brought to the bottom and the bottom card to the top of this packet. In the second deal ( by the gentleman) the packet is restored to its original arrangement. The performer brings the packet into position for the second deal when he cuts the deck at his key card. By completing this cut and in bringing his key card to the bottom of the deck, the packet becomes automatically repositioned at the top for the gentleman's deal.

From the above it is seen that the cards that are eventually revealed by the performer are the top and bottom cards of the packet dealt out by the lady. The original top card of this top packet is the card to which the second spectator ( the gentleman) will count when his turn comes for dealing ( this original top card will have been brought to the bottom of the top packet by the count down deal of the lady spectator ). Hence the performer knows the second "countdown" card even before the trick starts. It is the original card at the top of the pack that the performer hands to the lady. On the other hand, the first countdown card is only revealed to the performer at a later time when he glances through the deck for the second time and spots the card in front of his key card. Note that in cutting the deck, the lady automatically brought her "countdown" card in contact with the performer's key card and in glancing through the deck the second time they will be found next to each other in the deck. The number of cards in the top packet is obviously the same as the whispered number and this packet is bracketed, of course, by the two countdown cards. In counting these cards, both countdown cards must be included as part of the total.

• Lie Detector Card Trick
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• Figuratively Speaking Card Trick