Magician Makes Good
(Michael Vincent and Simon Aronson)

Effect:

The performer offers to find four-of-a-kind, each in a magical way. To make things harder, the particular four-of-a-kind will be determined by a random cut of the cards. The deck is cut and the card cut to is turned over to reveal, say, a Nine. The performer then successfully produces two more Nines, but on his final attempt he fails, producing a Two instead. Undaunted, the performer instantly changes the first three Nines to Twos, thus successfully meeting the challenge of producing a four-of-a-kind.

Working:

This effect is made possible by the fortuitous positions of three of the Nines, each of which is immediately preceded by a Two, in the Aronson stack. This will become clear in the following description. To prepare, with your deck arranged in Aronson stack order, secretly crimp one corner of the 3C. You’re ready to begin.

1) False shuffle, as you explain the nature of the challenge to your audience. Optionally, you may want to cut the deck to centralize the crimp. Cut the deck at the crimp, sending the 3C to the face (see comment 1 for alternative procedures). Double turnover to reveal the 9H, and announce that this means you’re "going for Nines." Turn the double face down and deal the top card (really the 2S) face down off to the side of the table.

2) Give the deck one or more false cuts (a double undercut works fine) and explain that since you’re going for Nines, you’ll count to the value, Nine. Count off nine cards from the top, using the Basic procedure (left hand thumbs off the cards singly face down into the right hand, each going under the previous one so that stack order is maintained). At the conclusion of the count, drop the right hand’s nine cards in a pile on the table. Double turnover the "next" card, to reveal the 9D. Turn the double face down and deal the top card (really the 2C) face down off to the side of the table, partially overlapping the 2S. Drop the balance of the left-hand cards onto the tabled nine cards, and pick up the entire deck.

3) Say, "We don’t have to count to Nine. Instead, we could spell Nine." As you explain this, give the deck another casual false cut. Then spell N-I-N-E, again using the Basic procedure to take four cards into the right hand, and drop them in a pile on the table. Double turnover the "next" card, revealing the 9S. Turn the double face down and deal the top card (really the 2H) face down to the table, overlapping the other two Twos. Pick up the tabled pile (of four spelled cards) and replace them back on top of the left-hand cards.

4) Ask, "That’s three Nines so far, one more to go. Do you happen to remember which suit is left?" As you wait for a response, or supply it yourself, double undercut the top card of the deck (it will be the 9D) to the bottom; this action should conform to the false cuts you’ve done previously. Say, "We still need the Nine of Clubs. Let’s spell its full name." (Happily, at this point the entire deck is now in complete Aronson stack order, minus the three removed twos). Spell N-I-N-E-O-F-C-L-U-B-S using the Basic procedure to take eleven cards into the right hand, and drop them onto the table. Act triumphant, as you turn over the top card of the deck (just a single here, no further doubles are needed). It will not be the expected fourth Nine – instead, it will be the 2D. Look distraught, as you take the face up 2D into your right hand.

5) Suddenly remember the original challenge: it was to magically produce a four-of-a-kind. Use the 2D to flip the three overlapping cards (supposedly three Nines) face up all at once, revealing that they’ve now changed to Twos! You have successfully produced all four Twos.

Clean Up:

The effect is over, but it’s fairly easy to get back into Aronson order. First, replace the 2D (which you’re still holding) on top of the left-hand cards, pick up the tabled spelled cards, and drop them on top. With your left thumb casually push off the top few cards to the left, just enough so that you can obtain a break below the third card from the top, and square up. As you do this, pick up the 2H with your right hand and insert it into the deck from the rear, apparently sticking it into the center of the pack, but actually inserting it into the break. Pick up the 2C with your right hand as you obtain a break above the bottom card of the deck with your left hand (buckle, or pinky pull down); then similarly insert the 2C back into the deck, really inserting it in the break, above the bottom card. Finally insert the remaining 2S back into the deck, really inserting it immediately below the crimped 3C. You’re back in Aronson order.

Comments:

(1) In step 1, you can arrive at the first Nine (which supposedly determines which four of a kind you’re going for) in several different ways. Instead of cutting to it yourself, you could let the spectator apparently determine the card, by riffle forcing. Or, pre-set the deck by cutting the 3C to the face; then, put the deck on the table and use the Cross Cut force.

(2) The spelling and counting productions in the text are virtually automatic, but if you’re willing to introduce some modest sleight of hand, there are many other visual ways of producing each of the (doubled) Nines; I’ll leave it up to you to apply your own favorite productions. Credit for noticing the happy pairings of the Nines and Twos belongs to my friend Michael Vincent, of London. Michael wrote me of this discovery while Try the Impossible was already at the printer; he had a quite different way of using these paired cards. I worked out the above productions and routine and showed it to Michael on a recent visit to London. He liked it a lot, and our joint work is a happy combination.