Numero Uno

This is not my idea. Frankly, I have no idea who it be- longs to. I also think it's old enough to be new. I believe that it's been overlooked, because I fool all and sundry with it. Most likely, if I demonstrated it at the lecture, I fooled you. As with all the routines and ideas in these notes, it's an anytime, anywhere, any deck, routine. There's one piece of preparation involved. You've got to put an inner-end-only downward crimp into the top 17 cards. The reason for crimping at the inner end only is so that the deck looks completely normal from the front. Also, and this is optional, glimpse the 17th card, the lowermost card of the crimped portion. Since everyone will have his own way of crimping those 17 cards, I have to leave it to you. I usually casually count that number, hold a break, and then crimp (which is instantaneous) at an opportune moment. When ready to perform, jog shuffle keeping at least the top 17 cards intact. Spread from hand to hand for a selection. All you have to make sure of is that the card is taken from below the top 17 cards. Have the spectator remember the card. Dribble cards (from the bottom) onto the table and tell him that he's to replace his card into the deck as you drop cards. Do it quickly this first time - too quickly for him to insert his card. Then, do it again, dribbling cards fairly rapidly, until you come to the crimped block. There'll be an almost automatic stop there. Stop, so that he can replace his card. This is quite simple, really; just a bit of proper timing is necessary. As soon as the card is replaced, do a face-up ribbon spread on the table, then domino turn the spread face down. Always keep the crimp toward you. Gather the deck and jog, shuffle, keeping at least the top 18 cards intact. Your spectators should be absolutely convinced that the selected card is hopelessly lost. Place the squared deck onto the table, but manage to have the 91 bottom card protruding from a side. (See Fig. 21 which also shows the position of the inner-end crimp.) Don't try to hide this, just do it. The reason will be apparent soon. Say to your spectator, "Would you give me any number between 10 and 20, make it a fairly high one."

Stated this way, the odds are he'll say either 17, 18 or 19. You'll be surprised at how often 17 is the one. If he says a number from 12 to 14, I usually say, "Come on, you're making it too easy; give me a tougher, higher, number." This, most often, does it. But - it doesn't matter. All right; let's take it step by step. First, assume he says 17, which is perfect. Cut at your crimp - this should be done with no hesitation. As a check point here, I usually glance at the face card of the packet I've cut. That's the reason for knowing the 17th card. If I see that card, I know I've cut properly. If I don't see it, I replace and cut a- gain. If you're sure you can cut right to your crimp every time, glimpsing the 17th card isn't necessary. As you cut, say, "If I can cut exactly seventeen cards, then your card should be right here." Point to the top card of the deck proper. I usually riffle the cards I've cut at this point removing, the crimp, with a remark like, "Yep; exactly seventeen!" Place the cut-off cards aside, near a spectator. Have the spectator name his card. As soon as he does, turn over the card you cut to (or let him do it) - it's his card. This is good, but here's the strength of this - someone will grab the cards you cut off to count them. Of course, there are 17! If no one grabs for them, you mention that you're sure that someone would like to count them. Now; what if your spectator says 18? Simple. Do exactly as explained, changing your patter a bit. "If I can cut exactly seventeen cards, then this (point to the top card of the deck proper) is the eighteenth card..." Continue as before= If he says 19: Here's the reason for the protruding bottom card. Pick up the deck, leaving that card on the table= Say, "Oops; is this your card?" as you flash it. He says "no," you casually place the card on top. Now cut, etc., but you'll cut 18. So, do as before, "If I can cut exactly eighteen cards, then this is the nineteenth card," etc. If he insists on any number lower than 17, the effect is just as strong. Subtract his number from 17 - assume he said 14, so you'd think 3 - pick up the deck, and say, "If you have to count cards, you'd do it like this, wouldn't you?" As you talk, deal three cards, singly, to the table, in normal "count" action. Drop the deck onto these, as you continue, "But being a magician, I count a bit differently. If I can cut exactly fourteen cards, like this..." Cut to your crimp; you'll be cutting 14- cards, of course, since you've gotten rid of three cards! Afterthoughts; Well, that's it - and a beauty it is. It sure has stood the test of time.