The Cardiste 7

THE CARDISTE "Dedicated To The Art Of Cardistry" No, 7

Rusduck, PO Box 372, Philipsburg, Pa.

April 1958

DEALER'S CHOICE; I surprised myself with Cardiste 6...After resigning myself to appearing j u s t "Once in a while" - I actually (for the f i r s t time) made a d e a d l i n e , , . Here's hoping t h i s and succeeding issues w i l l do as w e l l . . . TED ANNEMANN used to talk about his "Jinx" being a 'one-man' job from s t a r t to finish...Well, Cardiste i s - and l i t e r a l l y . Once I have succeeded in getting an issue in the mail - I find i t necessary (to make a deadline) to edit the contributions sent in - select the material to be developed - then s i t down a t the trusty mill and grind out 16 pages of layout material, a l l subject to l a t e r change for l a s t minute corrections. Next, I cut 8 mimeo stencils - trying to proof-read as I go ^"with l i t t l e ' e f f e c t as shown by the excessive numbers of typos ..which appear in the finished product). Next comes mimeo work, concentrating on inking and registration..,Now, collating (sorting and gathering), then folding, and finally addressing, stamping, and stuffing envelopes.,,Do you wonder I heave a King Size sigh of r e l i e f when the l o t i s dumped at the P, 0.1 Consequently my correspondence suffers. And another thing No Magical Manuscript can exist without material and subscribe r s , Altho I have considerable Rusduck material on hand and constantly (dream-up1) new brain-waves - the readers-mant a variety of material..,For example - RON EDWARDS wants mental , effects and I w i l l print them if they come in...Unfortunately I'm short-suited in the mental and mathematical departments and must s o l i c i t this type of material if i t i s to appear in Cardiste...No worth-while material of merit w i l l be refused. And finally to subscriptions,,.Fortunately Cardiste i s not a means of existence for me. I t was conceived as a medium of exchange of ideas relative to c a r d i s t r y , , , I have never r e ceived a dime from card entertainment as mine is purely hobby, »»Yet, I expect Cardiste to pay i t s waya The cost i s very (1)

nominal because I do all the work from start to finish and place no monetary value on my time, since it is done in myspare-time hobbywise as I get the urge and inclination. I have no incentive to promote a large circulation - and am in competition with nobody. Not exclusive but independent! At the time of my last, mailing - I was surprised to find that approximately 2% was outside the USA, with the bulk of that percentage going to England and Canada.,,Surprising in that I didn't even consider this a potential market - or attempt to slant the material in that vein at the time Cardiste was. .con-._. ^ived...It was only after WALKER FLEMING informed me that it could be sent ANYWHERE IN THE WORLD for a 2£ stamp, I wakened, SO - to wrap'it up - Don't EVER expect ANYTHING but a homespun, personalized handling and presentation in the usual manner to which you have become accustomed in Cardiste - for if the time ever comes - due to lack of interest or support - when I am unwilling or unable to carry on - Cardiste will do the pro verbial Arabian Act of Folding Its Tent and Stealing Away into the Night - BUT ,- If you like Cardiste as it is - you can do your bit by passing along the form enclosed with each issue to some budding cardiste who might fan the spark,..It is the only form of advertising and promotion aside from the reviews which have been extremely favorable except for the honest observations (Are you there, Bulgy?) anent the tardiness of the sheet.

RE: STACKED DECKS: Did'ja know that you can't purchase any kind BUT a Stacked-Deck? All Factory-Made decks are pre-arranged in suit and sequence of values...This i s the ideal stack and GENII used to record such items - and I believe PCAM held a contest annually for such effects done from a factory sealed deck...If the cardiste could disguise this obvious stack from the spectator,, he would have the only weapon necessary for performing the acme of cardistry. Obviously, Si Stebbins is an outgrowth of the new-deck stack,,,, because i t is actually the new-deck order separated by the progressing suit-chains. The new-deck order i s disguised but observation will show the ascending values and_ repetition of v cles. I developed Si Stebbins into the "Rusdux System" -.\ Inking Ring, Jan. '55 wherein'the cards run in the usual a l t ;aating rotation of suits and colors - BUT the cards DO NOT (2)

progress in steps of 3 . There is NO repetition of cycles with each set of 13 cards. The cards DO progress, following a mathematical system, and the cards in each suit follow in a progressive numerical sequence. YET - the deck will stand much closer examination than Si Stebbins will permit, I havo stated before that I would not stack a deck simply to perform a "Take-A-Card" effect. There are far too many impromptu methods to accomplish this* However, there ARE certain miracles which CANNOT be performed without pre-arrangement - even with sleight mastery - and these are FAR BETTER effects than the discovery typo - because regardless of the infinite variety of discoveries - you havo done JUST THAT and THAT ONLY - simply the same effect in the eyes of the spectator - who if ho wanted to find a card - would merely search thru the face-up deck until he located i t - RIGHT? I agree that the presence of the stacked deck should remain secret. But if you are able to perform with the spectator's deck, which has been previously handled and mixed - don't you have the edge on the commonplace "Take-A-Card" addict? In my own routine I use stacked decks thruout. I open with a "card Sense" item wherein a shuffled deck i s distributed among the spectators and recalled a la Nikola, I then do Koldex DeLuxe. From the displayed face-up cards at climax I recite "Sermonette" which arranges the cards in proper sequence for "Build-Up Bridge". This leaves the cards in new deck order for my Solitaire Deals (Phoenix 298 "3'N'l") again leaving cards in new deck order from which I can go into the "Rusdux System" or "Fantabulous" as the fancy strikes-me - and this a l l evolving from the spectator's own shuffled deck. The point I'm trying to sell i s t h i s : Don't b e l i t t l e the NU-DECK ORDER for the acme in cardistryl Personally I can't understand why some look down on stacked decks - when they are content to use gimmicked and obviously phony items which could never stand inspection, or be used in ordinary card table^routine...This seems to indicate a lack of ingenuity or plain mental laziness - for my money - I ' l l keep using proarrangement and keep trying to devise means to accomplish this starting with anybody's well shuffled deck* Remember this: The use of ANYBODY'S CARDS, anywhere, any time, any place, under any conditions i s the MIRACLE FACTOR! (3)

KOLDEX DELUXE RUSDUCK

"Hie man who can do ONE TRICK WELL i s , t o my mind, a b e t t e r Conjurer t h a n t h e man who meanders t h r o u g h half-a-dozen tricks and leaves his audience wondering what he i s supposed to have done I"- DAVID DEVANT This is of course my personal pride and joy. I t i s the result of a long period of evolution in progressive build-ups used in poker dealing. Previous efforts in the "Build-Up" series have appeared over the years in Phoenix, Genii, and Linking Ring. I have become identified with this type of effect. Continual changing, altering, developing and experimenting have gradually brought along the progressive poker deal to i t s present s t a t e approaching perfection. As I write, I have long since discontinued the award winning deal in July, 1955 Linking Ring, and recent developments have brought the effect into a much more advanced s t a t e of perfection. This you w i l l be enabled to judge for yourself. I t i s suggested that you compare i t with the Linking Ring item mentioned above, as well as the purloined version appearing in Tarbell 6. TIME MARCHES ON - TEMPIS FUGITl KOLDEX DELUXE i s a demonstration of Master Poker Dealing in which you duplicate the operation of Cdld Decking by dealing a series of Poker Hands in which the dealer always wins. In addi t i o n , the dealer's hand keeps getting progressively better., with each set of hands d e a l t . The deal i s entirely automatic and s t r i c t attention to directions -will enable you to demons t r a t e a sensational effect of pseudo-dexterity in deceptive dealing with anybody's deck, anytime and anywhere sards show. Required i s any ordinarycomplete deck of 52 playing cards pre-arranged from top to bottom, face-down, as follows: K3 - 2C - XS - 2D - JS - 5H - QS - 5C - "AS - 5S - 9H - 3S - KH 3D - JH - 8H - QH - 3C - XH - 8S - 5D - 9D - 7D - KD - 7H - 8D 7C - JD - 7S - AD - 6H - 9C - 6D - XC - 3H - 8C - 6C - QC - 6S AC - Ifi - KC - 4D - XD - 4H - JC - 4C - QD - 9S - AH - 2H - 2S Only the f i r s t 50 cards are actually used in the progressive deals - the l a s t 2 (deuces) are shown and discarded on 1st deal,

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CAUTION: Be certain that the cards are in exact order at the beginning of the routine. Take care in dealing and in picking up the cards, to follow directions EXACTLY, so that the order of the cards does not become disarranged. REMEMBER: An incomplete 'deck, or careless handling in the deal or pickup -which misplaces the order of even JUST ONE card, will completely ruin the effect. Practice the routine repeatedly. Deal or have the cards dealt into 10 face-down piles, in the usual poker dealing routine, starting at dealer1s left and continuing clockwise, dealing one card at a time with dealer last. It is preferable to have spectator make this deal, BUT make certain that the cards do not become disarranged. Turn over and show an average distribution of the cards, with dealer however, being high with 3 aces. There are two cards remaining - the two deuces. Show and discard. Comment that it is necessary to deal better than average hands in order that the players will remain in the game. State that you propose to deal several sets of poker hands, none of which will show less than a straight, with each succeeding hand beating the one previously shown, and dealer topping them allways. Pick up the hands in the order dealt, 1 to 10, turning each face-down in your hand, and placing the next pile face-down upon it. False shuffle and cut, retaining the entire order of the deck, and proceed to deal ten more hands face-down in the same manner. ALL 10 HANDS show straights or better, with each hand topping all the ones preceding it, and the dealer's beating them all, I deal the hands on table in this manner:

2 1

(Dealer) 10

8

9

Hands are picked up one at a time and placed face-down in this order: 1, 2, 3, 9, 10. k, 5, 6, 7, 8. Hand 1 is on the bottom and hand 8 is on top. This arrangement places the cards in order for the succeeding deals of five hands which immed-iately follow. The five hands containing the face-cards are thus separated from the five containing number cards only, THIS IS VERY IMPORTANTI False shuffle & Cut retaining entire order.

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deal out FIVE HANDS clockwise with dealer last. (NOTE: All hands are dealt FACE-DOl/N in KOLDEX DELUXE routine. Lay down remainder of deck and show dealt hands. All meet the required specifications of straights or better.

IJOW

Pick up each hand in order, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 and place facedown. Place remainder of deck on top. Again false shuffle and cut, retaining the complete order of deck. Again deal five face-down hands in same manner and show. Pick up as before, placing remaining cards on top. This deal is repeated for two more sets of five hands but I vary my layout in this case, So: The first set of five hands is dealt and left displayed on the table as below:

(Face-Up) 1 . 2 3 4 5 Now the 2nd set is dealt, and in showing, they are placed below the f i r s t set in this fashion: 6 7 8 9 10 1 usually conclude at this point, by picking up the cards as named in the "SERMONETTE" Lecture - but this need not be the conclusion if you so desire. Pick up piles 6, 7* 8 (the middle ones) in order and place face-down on your palm. Follow with piles 1, 2, 3, 4> 5, 9, 10 in order. (This leaves' pile 6 on bottom - 10 on top), Gne perfe'ct Faro shuffle will now return cards to their original order. Add the two discarded deuces to bottom. If you don't do the perfect riffle shuffle, the cards can be returned to their original order by picking up as shown and dealing them into FIVE FACE-DOW PILES, collecting them in the order 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 and AGAIN dealing into five face-down idles. The collected cards are now in ORIGINAL ORDER AGAIN I 1 perform this effect with anybody's previously well-shuffled 'leek, I ^original ly learned the set-up a la Nikola, but by constant repetition of the effect, the cards and their locations in the deck became so well associated numeraciy that each card has a designated location in the deck by number with the 1 ntal picture association Nikolawise that I now reserve the (6)

Nikola method for the impromptu challenge effect of memorizing anybody's well shuffled deck on the spot. However, you need not go to any of this trouble. My previous Koldex effect used this simple method of doing the routine with no memory work whatsoever: WITH ANYBODY'S CARDS: Type or print the KOLDEX order on the back of a business or calling card, and place in your wallet or bill-fold, so that you will always have it in your possession. Have the shuffled cards cut into several piles with each given to a spectator, which can be examined and further shuffled if desired. State that while many persons believe that gamblers always cheat when they play cards, the truth of the matter is that most of them prefer to rely more upon their memories, which in most cases are highly developed. They feel that as long as they know definitely just which cards have been played and which ones have not, they have a sufficient advantage over their less informed opponents. Most of us when playing cards do not concentrate upon the game, with the result that often we are in doubt as to which cards are still unplayed. As an example of how one's memory can be trained, this demonstration will show how thru constant practice and effort, card memory - commonly known as "Card Sense" can be developed. Direct each of the volunteers to give you a fleeting glimpse of the cards he holds. Take a quick glimpse at each group of cards and state that you will attempt to call each card in the deck without regard to sequence, value, suit, or color, at random, until all 52 cards have been called, without repeating any card once named. Retire to a far corner of the room and turn your back, stating that you do not wish to see the cards, since this would interfere with your powers of concentration. Instruct your volunteers, as each card is called, to have it placed faceupward on a pile upon the table, and indicate when this has been done. When you turn your back, fold your arms, and simulate deep concentration. Read off the cards in order from your prepared Key-Card. Yes, Cardistes - it's as simple as that 7 but for the sake of presentation, appear to hesitate and concentrate. Each card is called in proper sequence,

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TELE-MENTAL RUSDUCK

T ;

,. hile w a i t i n g f o r m e n t a l c o n t r i b u t i o n s t o come a l o n g , i n r e sponse t o RON EDWARDS' r e q u e s t , I t h i n k I w i l l k i c k - o f f w i t h a mental speller I have used on occasion.

This idea is based on one found in Greater Magic and i s made possible by cards spelling with varying number of l e t t e r s . In most versions, 9 indifferent cards are used to get to the starting point of the spell - but in t h i s one - only the cards from which the mental choice i s to be made, are used. This one even makes Rusduck happy - because a certainamount of prearrangement i s used. EFFECT:

Any of one to four spectators are handed a group of cards with instructions to REMEMBER one of them. Spectator now makes a MENTAL SPELL of his card and i t turns up on the l a s t letter* At no time does the cardiste need know the card selected - or is required to handle the cards o onco they have been given to the spectator.

METHOD: Altho each spectator is given a "hand of cards" he gets EXACTLY SIX, each respectively spelling with 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, & 15 l e t t e r s . You will, perhaps prefer pre-arrangement of the cards - but I use a well-shuffled deck and hand the cards one-at-a-time at random (?) (So I say) giving him his cards face-up in his hand. Actually they are culled in the required order,. Now in order to make his mental spell function, the cards must be given in this order (face-up): 1 3 - 1 4 - 15 - 10 - 11 - 12 - for example: QS - 9D - QD - AC - 2H - 4S : by having spectator turn cards face-down in his hand and i.iaking a mental spell of his card - taking one card from top and placing i t on the bottom for each l e t t e r , and turning up the card on the final S. I t must be his mentally selected <\ird. This i s automatic, and can be repeated infedinitely as long as the order i s unchanged and the 13 l e t t e r card i s 1 s t , (8) NOVJ

CARDISTE'S FIRST COMMANGQMENT: THOU SHALT ALWAYS HAVE AT THY COMMAND, THINE TRUSTED TABLETS OF TAROT, BE THE MASTERY OF WHICH, THOU 1JILT BE THUS ENABLED TO GO FORTH AMONG THE MULTITUDES, TO ACCOMPLISH MIRACULOUS MARVELS AND MYSTERIES THEREWITH I - Rusduck

Way back around 1930 - when I was attending Penn State University - I got my f i r s t symptoms of my insatiable and incurable mania for cardistry. One day an itinerant cardiste came to our fraternity house and proceeded too show his wares* He did a magnificent array of flourishes and some tricks of the "Take -A-Card" variety, and then offered to expose the know-how for a price. I didn't have the necessary mazuma but was none-theless bitten by the bug. In the course of his working he did the springing of cards from hand to hand, and a l l his card shuffles were done in the hands - a l l in a l l , a very astonishing display for an impressionable young freshman like myself. I started practicing the shuffle and in my confused mind, the two sleights mentioned became interwoven, and I actually believed he made his shuffles by springing the cards together from the hands. S0-0-0- I practiced this and accomplished i t . I used i t for years under the impression that i t was the accepted manner of procedure for the riffle shuffle, off the table and in the hands. At no time did I attempt to make any fal-se shuffles simply because I had never knennthey existed. I used i t in normal card playing procedure with my friends. One day I accidently discovered that this r i f f l e shuffle was NOT mixing the top and bottom cards. I was unconsciously releasing the cards irf my left hand f i r s t , and finishing with those in my right hand. Further research showed that this did did not affect only the top and bottom cards, but the top and bottom stock of cards as well. Sometime l a t e r , another accidental incident occurred which convinced me that I really had something. In springing the cards into each other,' I somehow released a l l the cards in the left hand BELOW a l l the cards in the right hand, and ingathering them found that the order of the deck was NOT

J nged in the l e a s t . I tried this again and again and .ound the shuffle completely deceptive, because the cards made the same c l a t t e r as the legitimate shuffle and the 3quaring-up process was the same - thus disguising any chicanery with an appearance of fairness and authenticity, 1 have tested this riffle-shuffle for the past 25 years even before I got into magic - and have yet to see i t written up in magical l i t e r a t u r e . I have never been called on i t - e even tho I have used i t frequently in card games in conjunction with genuine shuffles to determine if anybody would notice ihe irregulafcity. The only comments I ever received were r e garding the showiness of the r i f f l e shuffle. I am passing this along for your approbation - and would appreciate if the book sentinels like SID LORRAINE, STEWART JAMES, TOM RANSOM, ct al would l e t me know if this has ever appeared in this form - and applied to this use. Ha/Z1 ABOUT IT, GENTS? RUSDUCK

RIFFLE

RUSDUCK

This rapid, showy and deceptive riffle shuffle will do all of the following actions with an identical deceptive action: 1. Legitimate Riffle Shuffle 2* Retain Top and/or Bottom Cards. 3. Retain Top and/or Bottom Stock, 4. Retain Entire Order of Deck. Expedite the Riffle Cut. GMgUINE SHUFFLE: ' Deck is divided into halves and one-half taken in each hand with thumb at one end, and the bases of the four fingers at the other. Hands are brought within two or three inches of each other with tho extended fingers cupped below, and the cards sprung simultaneously from the respective thumbs. Cards from each hand are sprung into the released card's from the other, and are gathered on the cupped fingers below. They are then squared, and again cut with riffle being continued as desired. At first, you will i^perienoe difficulty 'in catching the cards, but as the position is learned, it becomes increasingly easy. (10)

RETAINING TOP & BOTTOM CARDS: I found that in order to facilitate the catching of the cards in the fingers below - the move was aided if I released a small group from one of the thumbs before beginning to release them from the other. By the same token, since there remained more cards in the other hand, they were the last to be riffled off, and remained intact on the top of the deck. This becomes an authomatic move in this riffle shuffle, even when you make an attempt to do a genuine riffle shuffle. This move takes care of retaining top and bottom stock of cards intact as well a single cards. . RETAINING ENTIRE ORDER: Divide deck as before. Bring hands together with fingers beneath. All cards in left hand are sprung BELOW all cards in right hand. The springing of the cards simultaneously, from both hands, disguises the fact that there is no change. The rapidity of the riffle shuffle also aids in this subterfuge. The clatter of the sprung cards is identical with that of the genuine riffle shuffle. RIFFLE CUT: Same as retaining entire order, but place half completing cut on top or bottom as necessary. It is recommended that you^ experiment to determine the proper position for holding the cards. I f you have ever sprung, cards from the thumbs in a ribbon release, you have already acquired the necessary grip. Don't be discouraged if you drop cards at the beginning. The shuffle is designed for card table procedure and should be practiced as such. Experiment will show you the proper distance the hands should be held apart, and how the extended fingers in both hands below the deck should be placed in order to catch the cards as sprung. Then test yourself as I did, in actual friendly card games, by interspersing legitimate shuffles with the phony ones (the legitimate shuffles will keep your conscience serene) and I predict that the only comment you receive will be regarding your skill and flair for flourishing in riffling. This is my idea of a universal riffle shuffle because of its speed, showiness and deceptiveness and readily replaces several of the basic sleights you have spent years to master. Why not master this ONE SLEIGHT, forgetting the others????? (11)

RUSDUCK ROULETTE RUSDUCK

S e v e r a l y e a r s ago C a r d i c i a n ED MARLO s e n t me h i s manuscript-. 1 MEXICAN SOLITAIRE - an i n g e n i o u s system f o r p l a c i n g t h e c a r d s i n a r e q u i r e d arrangement i n accordance w i t h a Card System, t didn't seriously try i t imtil recently I saw what could-be accomplished in the All-Mario Issue of IBIDEM Mo, 8. (HOUARD LYONS i s s t i l l waiting for Y O U R subscription), Ed shows sonic marvelous Poker Deals accomplished by this system used in conjunction with the faro-shuffle, I wondered if something similar could not bo done which would wind up with the cards completely set-up for the SI STEBBINS System and this i s the final r e s u l t . This display of an apparent memory feat /jill wind-up with SI STEBBINS from a well-shuffled deck. PRESENTATION:

As a new type of Solitaire in which the cards are placed in four piles so that there- i s no duplication of values in any p i l e , and each pile containing one card of each value from Ace thru King, PROCEDURE:

Have deck well shuffled and extract the k aces. Place them face-up on table in this manner: • C H D S

Take the remaining cards one at a time and place each face-up on the aces in accordance with the following system: PLACE:

2 - 3 - 4 5 - 6 - 7 8-9

On 1st pile Counter-Clockwise (R to L) from Suit Key-Card. On opposite pile of same color as Key-Ace.

-10

1st pile clockwise (L to R) from Suit Key-Ace, J - Q - K Place on same suit Key-Ace.

This should be followed slowly and carefully to familiarize yourself with the procedure in placing the cards correctly, i t i s suggested that you follow with t h i s diagram key before you in placing the cards for a few times u n t i l you become (12)

familiar -with the system.

This is not really difficult.

A few examples; JS go'es on the Spade Ace; AH goes oounterclockwise 1 pile from AH or on AS; 8D goes clockwise 1 pile from AD or on AS; 6C goes on opposite Ace of same color, or on AS« When you have gone thru the deck - check each pile to determine if conditions have been met; No duplication of values, and one card of each value front Ace> to King. Cards on AS should be 2, 3, & 4 of Hearts; 5, 6, & 7 of Clubs; 8, 9, & 10 of Diamonds; and J, Q, & K of Spades. Heart Ace should have 2, 3, & 4 of Clubs; 5, 6, & 7 Diamonds; 8, 9, & 10 of Spades; and J, Q, & K of Hearts. Club Ace should have 2, 3, & 4 of Diamonds; 5, 6, & 7 Spades; 8, 9, & 10 of Hearts; and J* Q, & K of Clubs. Diamond Ace should have 2, 3, & 4 of Spades; 5, 6, & 7 Hearts; 8, 9, & 10 of Clubs; and J, Q, K of Diamonds. Cards in each pile will be in mixed order however, and you now pick up the spade pile and start placing cards in 3 face-up piles so: A - 2 - 3; now place 4 on A; 5 on 2; 6 on 3; 7 on 4| 8 on 5; 9 on 6; 10 on 7; J on 8; Q on 9; and K on 10. Pile with Q on top is placed on K pile; and J pile is placed on all. Completed pile is squared and placed aside face-up. Continue same procedure with heart, club & diamond ace piles in turn, placing each on top of spade pile as collected. Examination will show that the cards are in SI STEBBINS order using the SHOD sequence. You will like to play around with this system even if you don't use it. The placing of the cards upon the proper key-aces will provide sufficient mental gymnastics to brush out,the cobwebs. With SI STEBBINS to hand - YOU take it from here* Perhaps next issue I will disclose my latest variation on SI STEBBINS, which I have called "TRI-QUAD"...This retains all the virtues of the parent stack and eliminates weaknesses./ilUSS/ (13)

.^cO FAVORITES; J u s t one i t e m i n t h i s department f o r t h i s

issue, and i t uses a move dating clear back to the Hoffmann Era (What's so bad about that?). ZIG ZAG RUSDUCK

I have worked out a 10 card effect of the "Follow The Leader" type, consisting of five red and five black cards. I t f o l lows the usual p l o t of cards coming out i n the r e s p e c t i v e colors as determined by "leader" cards - but also incorporates the following remarkable coincidences: 1, 2.

Cards appear matched for value. Cards appear i n numerical paired sequence.

This of course follows the plot of leading cards being t r a n s posed with subsequent cards in proper color order on appearance. Here i s how I work the effect: Ten cards are dealt off and separated for colors: - I use these cards: - A, K, Q, J & 10 of Spades and Hearts respectively^ In the color separation the cards a r e arranged into two hands thus: Spades: - A - Q - 1 0 - K - J • Hearts : - K - J - A - Q - 1 0 The spade hand i s held face-up in the l e f t hand, and the heart hand i s held i n the same manner i n t h e r i g h t . Both hands are shown to be i n mixed order without specific mention of t h i s . Now the two hands are brought together and the cards i n t e r laced by moans of the old-fashioned fan-weave which brings them into the following order: AS - KH - QS - JH - 10S - AH - KS - QH - J S . - 10H This is- done in a single move by slapping the black cards n the red ones so t h a t - t h e corners interweave. I have found oxpbr&merrfe t h a t i f I press downward on the l o f t hand cards (14) I ;

and upward with the right hand cards simultaneously - the cards buckle s u f f i c i e n t l y to create the necessary openings so t h a t tho cards may interweave for correct color a l t e r n a t i o n . Cards are How in correct order f o r the effect to continue. They are squared i n turning face-down and then separated i n t o two halves. Both halves are squared and turned f a c e up simultaneously, showing a red 10 and a black 10 on the faces of the respective p i l e s . Both p i l e s are placed side by side on the t a b l e face-down and top cards taken and placed in face-up p o s i t i o n to i n d i c a t e l e a d e r s . These are the respective aces. I n the usual p l o t procedure, the leaders are transposed and the next two face-down cards (one from each p i l e ) are shown and placed with t h e i r proper l e a d e r s . Both pi^es are t r a n s posed for each set of face-down p a i r s and effect i s completed showing t h a t the cards have followed t h e i r leaders i n a zig-zag path thru the subsequent t r a n s p o s i t i o n s ; and in addi t i o n they have appeared 'in Paired Values - and in Numerical Sequence - TRULY A TRIPLE THREAT COINCIDENCEI

HEY JOHNNY! I'm catching up. Last issue, I stated that I could accomplish the one-hand perfect riffle shuffle once'in about a hundred times...Now I find I can do it on an average of about once in twenty-five - However I'm not kidding myself that this accomplishment will put me in the same league with SCARNE...Some of us are gifted as showmen - others are not...I classify myself as an inventor and creator of effects - rather than one who has the aptitude of selling them.to an audienGe...But I don't feel too badly about it...LLOYD JONES tells me that the genius CHARLES T. JORDAN who created so many, many effects now in public domain - would NEVER APPEAR IN PUBLICll I will be sincerely gratified and flattered if any Rusduck Effects find favor with others - and there will never be any feelings of selfishness or remorse in passing along my ideas to cardistes, Personally - I derive a'complete inner satisfaction by setting myself a problem - working out a solution to.it - and passing the result along for your approbation in Cardistel

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Lii£ OTHER CHEEK: Alt ho the stature of MAX KATZ as a figure wizard i s well assured, and he certainly fy needs no defense - he certainly has backing in support of the solution he gave in Cardiste 5 for coding the stud hole card. 1 myself find this an ingenious and practical approach, and now I find support in a l e t t e r from JOHN J. CRIMMINS, JR. the eminent reviewer for Hugard's Magic Monthly, John writes in part: "Just read with considerable surprise that Max Katz1 remarkable code contribution to your issue #5 has become a controversial issue. What goes? Some find i t is not a 'true 4 card divination', others find the explanation too complicated'. Actually ONLY A CARDS ARE NAMED. The hole card is named as such, but this I think i s the most intriguing part of the code...By now you must realize that I think Max Katz has come up with one of the BEST BITS OF CARD MAGIC to appear in several years...Of course, I may have a b i t of advantage since Max explained the entire code to me some time ago with several demonstrations. I found i t extremely ingenious, very simple to understand, and easy to l e a r n . . . 1 read the instructions carefully,"~I found them complete and understandable, and have just finished dealing hands for the past 20 minutes and getting a t e r r i f i c kick out of coding them.,• I'm s t i l l enthused over i t . I think i t ' s tops I . . . " Thanks, JACK CRIMMINS, now I feel vindicated in my belief that MAX KATZ has really honored Cardiste with a top-drawer item, and can now show my face again after being forced to pull in my neck fifter the controversial Katz Item appeared.»,Guess I must develop some editorial intestinal fortitude, Hi, LLOYD? Now don't be scared off - The pages of Cardiste are open to reader's viewpoints and I welcome your criticisms - so keep sending them - and I ' l l keep writing them - It^s a l l yours1.1, CARDISTE HAS ARRIVED: Last issue I mentioned that ED MARIO was the only "Card Star" who had acknowledged receipt of Cardiste,..Now I have heard from the MAESTRO himself - DAI VERNON who says in part: "Please excuse my laxity, I very seldom write to anyone...Allow me at this time to congratulate you for some of the ingenious things voyi have come out with,..Few realize how much thought and effi't and discarding often precede a finished e f f e c t , , , I t is rprising sometimes how actually simple a thing becomes after :h groping, changing and improving.,, 0« A LESSON FROM DAJj

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