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Lord of the Rings
Andrew Loh Shang Hai
Lord of the Rings A Card Effect based on the “Lord of the Rings” Story
Written by Andrew Loh Shang Hai
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I came up this routine by using the four Kings due to I am a big fan of Lord of the Rings story. I have been performing this effect for quite some time in my repertoire. I hope you enjoy. Effect: Four cards are freely selected which represent the evil rings. Performer claims that among the four cards, only one card will represent the genuine ring and the performer attempts to mix the cards randomly in order to find out which card represents the ring, let's suppose the Three of Spades. Some gestures, all the four cards magically transformed into the death knight (Kings). The fake ring cards seem to have vanished and they are found in the centre of the deck! The only genuine evil ring card is found in the card case which was placed full‐ view on the table before the routine is started. Sleight used:
Elmsley Count Gambler's Cop Vernon Add‐On Krenzel Mechanical Reverse JK Hartman's Secret Subtraction
PREPARATION Place the red Fives face down on the bottom of the face‐down deck and have the four Kings in alternating colours placed on top of the deck. Place the card case with its half moon facing up, the flap is closed and placed it on your right.
WORKING Start off by giving the deck a few false cuts or false shuffle. Secretly hold a break below the top four Kings and execute the Krenzel Mechanical Reverse from the break as you turn the deck face up. Another alternative is executing the Braue Reversal. At the same time, your left pinky secures a break above the four face‐down Kings on the bottom of the face‐up deck. Spread the deck between your hands and request the spectator to touch any four cards and outjog them. Once the four cards are outjogged, strip them out by means of the Vernon Add‐On. Place the blocks of cards face up on top of the face up pack but secretly hold a break below the top eight cards. It is important that your right fingers cover the front edge packet of cards to conceal the thickness. Your right thumb secretly pick up the single face red Five, keep the thumb break above it and the packet of cards is now held in your right hand Biddle Grip. You will carry out the J.K. Hartman Secret Subtraction. Here’s the method: The first card is drawn onto the deck by using your left thumb (Fig.1).
Fig.1
Fig.2
Fig.3
Use the edge of the right hand block to flip this card face down (Fig.2), and it is retaken beneath the right hand packet. The right thumb still maintains the small thumb break and the seven cards above it. Your right hand rotates or turn palm up to show the first card is now at the bottom of the packet (Fig.3). It is vital that you emphasis the suit of the cards as you show the face card packet. Repeat this step as detailed above with the next two cards. When the hands come together for the fourth card, the four cards beneath the packet are secretly loaded back onto the deck. The subtle change from Five of Hearts to Diamonds will not be easily noticed as due to the constancy the card on the face of the pack. Flip the fourth card face down and taken beneath the packet in the same manner as before.
Thus the order of the face‐down packet is now from top: King ‐ King ‐ King ‐ King ‐ random fourth card Casually cut the deck and complete the cut. Place the deck face down on the table. Situation Check: Three face‐up cards are now in the middle of the face‐down deck. The packet of cards is still held in your right hand Biddle grip, mixing up the cards and patter to the spectators that you are going to find a random card which will represent the evil ring. It is important to note that although you are mixing the cards in the process, the only stipulation is at the end, the cards must maintain its original order. Once you have completed the process, hold the cards in your right hand Biddle grip, your left thumb peels the cards one at a time into your left hand, the last two cards are held as one and place the double on top. Double turnover to show the card (name it) which you state that this card will represent the ring. To enhance this effect, it would be better to have the spectator signed the face of this card. Double turnover face down and deal the top card face down on the table. Your left thumb pushes the top three cards into your right hand as a block and your right hand transfers the block to the bottom. Snap your fingers and double turnover to show the card has transformed into the same card. Patter: "The ring is very powerful and now it seems manipulate your mind. Let's us try again with other cards." Double turnover the cards face down and deal the top card on top of the tabled card. Again, left thumb pushes the top two cards and bring the double to the bottom. Double turnover to show another transformation. Turn the double face down and this time, your right hand picks up the top two cards as one and places it on top of the tabled cards. Saying: "Do you know who hunts for the ring in that story? The death knights, am I right? Once upon a time, they were the Kings." Execute the Vernon Fist Flourish to show the King. Saying: "Of course, these death knights are still angry because..."
Place the King face up on top of those face‐down tabled cards. Pick up the packet, turn it face up and execute the Elmsley Count (a variation to John Bannon’s idea) as you outjog the face‐down King to show the cards have magically transformed into the Kings. Remove the outjog face‐down King and turn it face up, place it on the face of the packet. Do another Elmsley Count to emphasise that the ring card has gone. Saying: "... they fail to find the ring here." Your left hand secretly Gambler's Cop the bottom card (ring) as your right hand lifts up the four Kings and spread the Kings face up on the table. Pick up the main deck, your right hand ribbon spreads the deck face down to show that the three face‐up cards (represent fake rings) are found in the centre of the deck. "I know what you are thinking; you are thinking where is the ring card? Am I right?" Pick up and grasp the card case by its sides using your right hand, place it on top of your left hand copped card which is hidden beneath the card case. It is important that the copped card is aligned under the case. Your right hand lifts up the case including the copped card and left thumb opens the flap. It is vital that the mouth of the case facing slightly toward you so that the spectator would not sense something amiss inside the card case. Left thumb enters in the card case (Fig.4) and fingers contact the hidden card which is hidden beneath the case. Your left hand Fig.4 Fig.5 pulls the card out from under the case, creating the illusion that you pull the card out from inside the card case. (Fig.5) Hand the card to the spectator to conclude the whole routine.
END NOTES This routine is a combination and variation by Ed Marlo's "Elevator Cards" theme and card to card case effects. J.K. Hartman's Secret Subtraction first appeared in "Secret Subtraction" manuscript (1970) and later in "Card Craft" (1991).
Thank you I hope you enjoyed the materials. ~ Andrew Loh Shang Hai Copyright © October 2006