Max Maven - Mockingbird

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A deck of cards is shuffled by a spectator, then cut into four piles, each of which may be re-shuffled. While the performer's back is turned, any pile is chosen and a card selected from it. (The spectator may choose with the cards face-up or face-down, as desired.) The selected card is pocketed, and the chosen pile replaced on the table. The performer turns to face the spectator. It would be easy at this point, he explains, to locate the selected card-it is in the spectator's pocket! However, locating the mate of the selection (i.e., the card of the same color and value) is rather more difficult. Indeed, the spectator does not have any idea as to which pile contains the mate card. One at a time, the piles are fanned for the spectator's perusal. participant is instructed to look for the mate card, but not to give any indication as to when it is seen. Despite this lack of help, the performer is able to "sense" the spectator's reaction, identifying the proper group. From this, he continues by locating the thought-of mate card.

The cards are ungimmicked, but they are arranged, in what we might call a Palindromic Rosary Stack. The simplest way to achieve this is to arrange the pack in a standard Rosary set-up, such as Eight Kings or Si Stebbins. The suits are immaterial, but the colors must alternate. Now, reverse the order of one half of the pack. Thus, for example, if you set the deck in an Eight Kings rotation, starting with a black eight, and reversed the order of the bottom half, the top card would now be a black eight as would the last (52nd) card. The second card would be a red king as would the next-to-last (51st) card. The 26th card would be a red jack as would the 27th card. At the start of the routine, false shuffle if you wish. Now, cut the pack into two equal halves. (If you are not blessed with the ability to cut a perfect twenty-six, you may wish to crimp that card as a key. Alternatively, you can spread the cards face-up to show them as being all different, and get a break between the two mates at center.) The spectator is directed to Riffle Shuffle the two halves together. This done, you state that you will divide the pack into four "approximately equal" groups. In fact, you must separate the cards into exact units of thirteen cards. I prefer to do this by thumb-counting, but spreading off cards will suffice. There is no need to be subtle about this. The top thirteen cards are tabled; the next thirteen are placed to the right of the first pile, the next to the right of that, the last to the right of all. Offer the spectator the opportunity to re-shuffle any or all of the four piles. The spectator will now select a pile, and from it remove one card. Your back will be turned during this. if you wish, you can allow the pile to be chosen after you've turned your head. If so, you will have to make careful note as to the precise position of each pile on the table, so that when you tum back around you will know which pile was used, as it will not be in the exact position it originally held. (If you're working on a patterned surface, it's easy to find some detail of the pattern to use as a point of reference for each pile.) Frankly, I find this unnecessary, and simply have the spectator pick up a pile just prior to turning my back on the proceedings.

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As per the effect description, the spectator removes a card from the chosen pile, pockets the card, and replaces the pile on the table. You now tum to face the spectator. Explain that you will show the participant each of the groups in tum, and that he/she is to look for the mate to the selection, without giving any discernible reaction. The pile which you display first must be the same one from which the spectator made the selection-but your choice of this pile should seem arbitrary. Fan the cards face-up, allowing the spectator to look them over. As this is done, you are also scanning the cards. Now, despite the fact that the pack was initially shuffled, thanks to the Gilbreath Principle each pile is composed of one each of the thirteen values. Thus, whatever the value of the spectator's card, it is now missing from the group of twelve you are currently displaying.

It is not a difficult task to determine the missing value as you look at the spread. Given that you are assuredly more familiar with playing cards than your average spectator, you will ascertain the missing value before the spectator is finished examining the cards. When you know what value is missing, tum your head away. The impression you wish to give is that the faces of the cards are unimportant to you. Close the fan. Stare at the spectator for a moment, then announce that you perceived no reaction; the mate card was not in that group. You are, of course, correct, and the spectator will tell you so. The position of the first-shown pile in the tabled row determines which pile is shown next. If the piles are considered as being A-B-C-D, then A corresponds to B, and C corresponds to D. Thus, for example, if the first pile displayed was C, you would now display D. At this point you know the value of the spectator's card, but not the suit. The card of the appropriate value in this next-shown group will be of the opposite cotor to the selection (and mate-card). Fanout the pile for the spectator's observation. Here, since you know that the mate card will not be in this group, you can fan the cards with their faces away from you. Let the spectator look over the cards. Announce that you sense no reaction; the mate card is not in this pile. The spectator will confirm this. As you close this fan, allow yourself a glance at the faces. It will take but a moment for you to spot the card of the ascertained value as you close the fan. You now know both the color and value of the card you seek, although you do not yet know in which of the two remaining piles it resides. Pick up either of the remaining piles, and fan it for display. If the mate card is not contained therein, say so, and work with the final pile. If you do see it there, make that pronouncement-but remember, you are apparently reacting to the spectator's reaction, not to what you see in the fan. Having determined the correct pile, divide those cards into blacks and reds. Ask the spectator to think of the group which contains the mate card. As if responding to the spectator's thought, discard the color set that does not contain the mate card. Divide the remaining cards into suits, and again have the spectator make a mental assignation. In response, discard the set without the mate card. Requesting the spectator to concentrate on the exact identity of the thought-of mate, remove that card from the packet, tabling it face-down. Discard the other cards. Have the spectator retrieve the selection from hislher pocket. Tum up the tabled mate to reveal your success. .q,