The Cardiste 2

•

THE GARDISTE "Dedicated To The ART of Cardistry"

No. 2

Rusduck, PO Box 372, Philipsburg, Pa,

May-1957

DEALER'S CHOICE: Welll We FINALLY "Doo'd It" - What? - Got past the hurdle of the "first shall be last" bugaboo...This makes the SECOND appearance of "Cardiste".,.and it will continue to appear - even if the author's copy is the only one called forl11 This project was taken on as a spare-time venture - BUT - I didn't realize at the time that SO MUCH spare time would be involved...Consequently quite a bit .of time has passed...subscribers are beginning to complain for action... and the correspondence needs answering,..I have non,worked out a budgeting of my spare time and expect to devote more of it to "Cardiste" and my loyal and enthusiastic subscribers* OF COURSE - I was waiting for the reviews - and was extremely gratified with the response...JOHN CRIMMONS in "Hugard's Magic Monthly" - JOHN BRAUN and ALVIN PLOUGH in "Linking Ring" were all very gracious and unbiased...LLOYD JONES in "Genii" - a controversial figure over the years - (he calls them as he sees them) put in a nice word - but expresses aversion to the name "Cardiste" - a coined word, Lloyd, combining CARD and ARTISTE. MILTON KORT - my druggist pal from Detroit - draws the dubious honor of becoming the first paid subscriber to "Cardiste". - SO Milt has just acquired a life-time free subscription to this endeavor...CHARLES HUDSON from St. Looey sent in the first contributed guest effect - so Charlie also - inherits a life-time •pass to "Cardiste". • • •; GENE GORDON came thru with the first multiple subscription followed shortly by LLOYD JONES...Other early subscribers are "Bud" TRACY; "Doc" McDonald; CHARLIE HUDSON and WALTER SCOTT. ED MARLO is the first "Card Star" heard from - he offers congratulations and best wishes...JEAN HUGARD, Pre-eminent patriarch of Prestidigitation sends along best wishes and warns (1)

against any expectations of a large circulation - and Jean ia certainly qualified to know whereof he speaks - but I'd like to again refer to ray statement of policy in Issue No, 1: "It is not expected or intended that this work will reach a large circulation; In the first place - it is intended exclusively for "Cardistes" - who constitute a small minority of the magical minded gentry in existence - and in addition to this - "CARDISTE" will contain ONLY such effects as are coincident to card table routine for which playing cards were originated, designed, and intended", Linking Ring Editor ALVIN PLOUGH commented that the contents of the first issue are "perfect", but suggests a wider margin for binding...I never gave it a thought that anyone might want to bind "Cardiste", but this will be corrected, starting with this issue...In asking all "Cardistes" to judge the 1st issue on contents only - I sincerely meant it,,.The issue was put together by trial and error - and I find the margins crowded with faulty reproduction, and imperfect registration,.,It is hoped that this will be improved with experience and practice, and if all readers will bear with me until I get the bugs ironed out, and for the time being judge only on the quality of the contents - I shall get "Cardiste" rolling smoothly soonUl ALL PRESENT SUBSCRIPTIONS will start with this (No, 2) Issue, The first issue was a "trial-balloon" to determine the response and need for such a venture,,,Three months have passed and shown that you "Cardistes" want it and will support it SO - I am.willing and eager to proceed with YOUR HELP, If you still like what you read - you are urged to pass along the enclosed form to any interested Cardiste so that he too can get his own copies...This is THE ONLY WAY it can grow and be accepted. THIS IS WHERE YOP-U-U do YOUR'Bit to HELPU To all who have written - some enthusiastically and encouragingly - others in doubt - rest assured that I will get to my correspondence as soon as this issue is put to bed.,,In the meantime - keep writing your thoughts and ideas and contributions for Cardiste,,.DON'T FORGET - Any acceptable contribution of merit will insure you 12 free issues of "CARDISTEt" (2)

ZENS-ATIONAL RUSDUCK

. « • • ."Many are the poker tricks, set-ups, and continuous routines that have been developed during the past few years. Some are good, and some, instead, are.just plain boring from the entertainment point of view. Generally a spectator will make a remark, "Can you deal four aces?" or "Can you deal a good poker hand to yourself?" and it is all that worries them, too. .If you can immediately deal the cards and give yourself a definitely good hand, you've accomplished the purpose, and satisfied them directly. They'll remember and talk about how you dealt the cards and gave yourself something good, long after the other fellow has fumed around with complicated buildups. Four aces, or a quick royal flush are hands that have a sort of hypnotic effect with a punch." - ANNEMANN. During the middle thirties - the late MIKE ZENS put together his classic "Quadruple Poker Trick" which has stood the test of .time for nearly a quarter-century. Those of you who don't have the original can find it explained in the "Encyclopedia of Card Tricks" (P. 369). The effect of the Zens routine was that the Cardiste was able to produce any poker hand on demand. Zens brought forth the desired hands from his pockets. This is still an outstanding effect and the purpose of this item is to adapt it to card table procedure* Here is a semi-impromptu set-up which will permit the Cardiste to deal at will - a combination of winning cards for himself - in practically any card game mentioned. REQUIRED: 13 cards gathered in the following order: K - A - A - K - A - A-Q-K-J-10-9-8 T Q (Cards Underscored must be of SAME SUIT) Observe that the first five cards form a fullhouse - Starting with the 2nd card the 5 card hand shows 4 aces - on thru the series by advancing 1 card each time the entire range of poker values is fully covered.

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Although Zens used only 10 cards - it was found that 13 cards made possible the drawing of any possible poker value - and also has the faculty of forming a complete cycle of cards by the simple provision of placing THREE INDIFFERENT CARDS betewwn each of the 13 cards in the sequence shown* This utilizes the entire 52 cards in normal deck, and by cutting one of the sequence cards to the bottom, any hand called for can be dealt, if the cards are dealt into FOUR HANDS of five cards each. This can be repeated indefinitely by returning the key cards to the deck in the correct order - with the three indifferent filler cards placed between each of the key cards. A cut of the deck to bring the proper key card to the bottom will then permit the deal of any poker combination desired. You will observe that the winning hands are the highest possible combinations of cards - a four of a kind being 4 aces; a full-house - aces and kings, etc. I deal my poker hands face-up. Thus in reassembling the deck I pick up the top card from the winning hand and replace it on the top of the deck - then three indifferent cards - the next key card - three more indifferent cards, etc. until all cards are gathered. Deck is now reassembled for dealing. This set-up is valuable for further demonstration in various card games. By dealing into 4 bridge hands you can show a perfect slam hand by separating the cards into suits. Black Jack can be shown by dealing to 4 players so that the winning hand shows one of the Ace-King combinations. Winning Rummy is shown by dealing the bridge hand and melding into winning combinations and discarding the odd card. Although a pinochle deck is not used, the key-cards will show some very effective - high scoring pinochle melds. It is hard to imagine a more effective routine with anybody's deck. Experiment in the set-up will show the most effective handling which should be developed to suit the personality of the Cardiste. This is a sure-fire utility routine which can be mastered with a minimum of preperation.

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HOCUS POKER CHARLES M. HUDSON

This is the first contribution to be used in Cardiste, of origin other than Rusduck.,.Mr. Hudson has been very enthusiastic in his support of "Cardiste", and has sent in several items of merit vihich will appear here from time to time...This effect brings back memories of the past::::!:: This effect is based upon a similar offoct, BuildUp1', by Rusduck, in issue No, 61 of the old PHOENIX. The working is the same, but the stack is different, as follows:

JH - 93 JS - KD AC - KS deals and hands for

The top 30 cards, from back to face> rum IOC 6S - 5D - 10H - 8S - AH - QD - KH - AC - 9C - 5C JC - 3S - 10S - KC - 5S - 9D - QS - 9H - 10D QH - AD - JD - AS. These 30 cards are used for all all hands, each deal automatically setting up the the next deal. Six hands are dealt each time.

1st deal: hand 1, nothing; hand 2, pair J's; hand 3, 2 pairs Q's & 9's; hands 4 & 5 nothing; dealer, 3 Tens, just . enough to beat the 2 pairs of hand 3» Hands are replaced on deck as shown, without disturbing the order of the cards: hand 1 face down on top, then hand 2, etc, False shuffles and cuts are a "must" for the best effect. 2nd deal: 1, pair J's; 3, pair K's; 4» three 5's; Dealer, a high straight. 3rd deal: 1, pair 10'SJ k, K High Straight; 5, pair K's; dealer, spade flush. 4th deal: 1, full house (A's & K's); 2, two pairs (K's & 10's); 4, Pair Q's; 5, pair J's; dealer, 4 nines. 5th deal: 1, pair 5's; 4, pair K's; 5, Straight heart flush, K High; dealer, royal flush in spades I The trick should stop here for the best climax, but for a few enthusiastic spectators, if any, three more deals can be

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added, showing how you could deal hand 1, the winning hand twice in a row to soften him up (first a pair of aces which beats your pair of Kings; then an Ace-high straight); and then, last yourself the final hand of 4 tens. But I think the demonstration ends best with the royal flush climax. This certainly brings back memories - "Build-Up" was the first of an evolving -series of progressive dealing effects which finally resulted in the purloining of "Koldex", and the resultant publicity placed upon it to win the LINKING RING AWARD for 1955-56.

ADD-ED:

The weakness in these progressive deals is that in attempting perfection, by having the cards return eventually to their original order, that the effect might be repeated too often, there is no effective climax, or a point at which to break it off...Mr. Hudson is correct in stating that the effect should be concluded at the highest point of interest]

In the initial issue of "Cardiste"- I declared that only rare reference would be made to the "You-Lose-It-I-FindIt" type of effect - and then only if it had exceptional merit...LESLIE P. GUEST (apparently to show me what I am missing - in his own whimsical way - sent along a copy of the GuestJudah card creation - "U-NAMEIT-I-FINDIT" - not for publication in Cardiste, however, Leslie writes: "Your stacked decks always have fascinated me, and long may you wave. And just to let you know, that along with pal Judah, we once perpetrated a Stacked Deck of our own, happy to enclose a copy. It has fooled many magiians, including WALTER GIBSON, but I have quit using it, because I have to put on my glasses to read the chartI" The Guest-Judah effect is ingenious, with an apparently haphazard arrangement of the cards...Card is located by Bans of a locater thru various trick spellings for the indiv.dual cards...RALPH Wt HULL put out his "NAME-O-CARD" about, the same time with a system involving considerable memory ork.,.EDDIE CLEVER tells me he still uses this system with the aid of the Roth Memory Course of Mnemonics for Cards,

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Several years ago, "HEN" FETSCH, the Baltimore Bamboozler, set the magic world on its collective ear, with the introduction of a perfect spoiler, which he demonstrated at the conventions, resulting in much publicity and fame for the originator..»I have not to this day seen Hen's effect, nor have the faintest idea how it is accomplished...After reading the effect, I devised the following version for my own use and sent it along to EDDIE CLEVER for possible use in his "Parade". I told Eddie, of my inspiration from the reading of Hen's Miracle...and that if in his opinion..,it might tread upon the heels of the original.,,to discard it...Well, the item never appeared and I never asked Eddie about it - but the original effect has had its well-earned run of popularity - SO: there should be no hard feelings in the release of this effect: NUDECK SPELLER RUSDUCK

The deck is in "New-Deck" order - that is from Ace to King in any suit rotation, but preferably in the alternating .color arrangement found in the factory packed item... This is what makes this a grand opener for the occasion when a brand new deck is used for demonstration. The spelling is actually a combination of spelling and counting - a method which, has come into vogue since the era of the GUEST-JUDAH-HULL miracle spellers - and eliminates the necessity of complicated trick spelling for the various cards..,For Example: In spelling the FIVE OF SPADES the Cardiste would say "Ace - Two - Three - Four - Five 0 - F S-P-A-D-E-S" taking each card singly from top and replacing on bottom of deck as called...and turning over to show the selected card on the final count. By this method, any card in any suit can be called by this same manner, and deck is ALWAYS IN ORDER to repeat at will simply by cutting at proper key starting points.

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H&RE IS THE GIMMICK: To spell any Spade Card, using this counting and spelling combination - it is necessary to start the count at 8 CARDS ABOVE the first spade (Ace) in order to cover the spoil "0-F S-P-A-D-E-S" (8 letters). The card at this point should be bridged or crimped to make a key for'' uasy cutting to this point. Only four key cards are required - one for each suit. The spelling "OF HEARTS" also has 8 letters - "OF CLUBS" has 7 - and "OF DIAMONDS" 10. Several effects are possible, making a varied routine: 1. Using an unopened deck. (Know your brand namesthis •will work only if cards are packed from Ace to King). 2.

Spelling to any named card,

3. Spectator spells to his named card, 4.

Spectator THINKS of a card - All Cardiste must know is the chosen suit.

A simple variation of this effect is to use the following count and spell combination: EXAMPLE: (5 of Spades) as follows: S-P-A-D-E Ace-Two-Three-Four-Five. By means of this method - you are actually holding the card you have named by number at that point in the effect - when you say "AGE" you are holding the Ace, etc. This is excellent for mental, prediction, or "stop" effects. By this method, Cardiste can have the spectator call "STOP" when the correct count is reached, and he will be holding the mentally selected card. The cards need not even be called aloud, and Cardiste need have no idea of the card chosen, - but - if the spectator has been alert on his mental count, the correct card invariably will be the one held at the command of "STOP". Since the only information required is the suit of the card...THIS IS A REAL STUNNERl •JHBHHHHHHHi-

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Currently being advertised is an impromptu "Card Repeat" in which 3 rows of 1$ cards each are dealt..,4. cards are taken away repeatedly and 15 cards s t i l l remain in each row...I haven't seen the secret of this intriguing effect - but the reading indicates this idea might be derived from an old puzzle effect...ABRACADABRA for April 6, 1946 carries an outline of JACK LeDAIR'S "Tricks of a Trouper" wherein he describes a stage effect he worked in 1922 with specially prepared giant matches. I have worked out an interesting l i t t l e story presentation of the puzzle,..This i s n ' t primarily a card trick, since the cards serve merely as counters - and coins, poker chips, matches, etc. could do as well,..'Tis,Called: "SNEAKY PEfe" REPEAT

The complete 52 card deck is used to s t a r t . Cut off or deal 3 piles of 16 cards each and arrange with the 4 remaining single cards in the fashion shown in Diagram "START": 1 2 16 16 Ik 14 1 2 1 16 1 2 14 2 (START) (SAT)

3 12 12 3 3 12 3 ' (SUN)

5 8 8 5 5 8 5

7 4 4 7 7 4 7

(TUE)

6 6 6 6 6 6 6 (WED)

(THU)

4 10 10 4 4 10 4 (MON) 8 2 2 8 8 2 8 (FRI)

Observe that these 7 piles of cards t o t a l 18 in 12 different ways - the 3 piles in any straight line along the 3 sides of the triangle - or the straight lines bisecting the angles or by totalling the 3 piles in any of the 6 interior small triangles..,NOTE ALSO: that this holds true for each of the eight figures shown diagrammed.,.This is a l l you need to know in (9)

the operation of this puzzle effect. The story goes that "Sneaky Pete" brings home his weekly pay envelope on Saturday and turns it over to Kate his dutiful wife - vino is responsible for balancing the family budget. Kate is a devotee of the old school and sets up her budget by dividing her available funds and placing them into jars as shown in the diagram "Start". This is the beginning of the effect with the cards divided into piles representing the dollars dispersed in Kate's Budget Bank. (Shudders from banker JIM THOMPSON I) Our hero, "Sneaky Pete" is addicted to the "Bubbly" and likes to spend his evenings with the boys down at the corner tavern. When he asks Kate for his weekly handout she counts as follows: "PUT - TAKE - PUT - TAKE - PUT - Take -PUT" suiting the action of her words and ending up with 2 dollars for Pete's weekly allowance - warning him not to dig into her budget bank as she is covered by 12 way bank protection. At the first "Put" Kate takes a dollar from one of the jars holding 16 and places it on one of the corners adjacent. She then picks up another dollar from the same 16 pile on "Take". Going clockwise around the triangle, she repeats the operation, taking from each of the larger piles and placing in each of the corners. On the final "Put" a dollar is placed in the center of the layout. (Cards represent dollars). Kate has 2 dollars left over, and the budget bank appears as in Diagram "SAT", still meeting all requirements by adding to 18 in twelve different ways. The story goes that Pete takes his weekly allowance and blows it on one evening's festivities. The following day being Sunday - Pete is loafing around the house and feeling a huge thirst. He keeps thinking about Kate's budget bank and wondering how he can beat her 12 way check-up. He decides he'll follow Kate's procedure of the day previous with her put and take routine. (Repeat as shown above)'placing one card taken from each large pile on an adjoining corner on "Put" (1 card in each corner) and taking next card from' (10)'

the same pile on "Take" - continuing around the triangle and placing the last card in the center on the final "Put" leaving Pete with TITO DOLLARS in his hand1. This amazes Pete who has "Taken" only 3 times while "Putting" U and still leaving him with 2 - but the REALLY. AMAZING FACT is that Kate's Budget Bank is still in balance totalling 18 in all 12 ways. (As shown in Sunday Diagram). Pete, not so strong in the mathematical category shrugs it off and proceeds down to the corner.,.Shortly thereafter, Kate misses Pete and decides to check her bank...All is in order with the twelve-way check-up totalling 18 all ways. The story goes on to show how this byplay was repeated by "Sneaky Pete" for the remainder of the week - by pilfering the "Budget Bank" each day for 2 dollars and still satisfying Kate that all was well with her budget bank system. The following Saturday - another' pay day - and Kate again gives Pete his weekly allowance of 2 dollars...She is satisfied that her budget bank is intact - but she is sorely puzzled how Pete can go out every night in the week and come home so "mellow" on his weekly allowance of £>2 to last him« The handling is optional with the Cardiste...It is necessary that the various lines must remain in balance with cards from the piles at the middle of the lines being placed at the corners - with the extra cards being removed entirely. A total of Ik cards will be taken from the original number - two for each of the seven days of the week - leaving a balance of only 38 cards remaining in the layout from the original 52 - but still meeting all the requirements of the 12 way check-up for totals of 18 in all combinations possible. This effect has magnificent patter possibilities GENE GORDON could go to town on this - and it is suggested that each Cardiste, once he has worked out a smooth handling, develop his own patter potentials...Experience has shown that face-up cards better show the movement about the lay-out and break up the monotony of an ordinary repeat counting effect, (11)

Ono of my favorite magic personalities over the years has been RON EDr.'ARDS, that versatile creator of mathomagical effects up Rochester way,,,Ron and I have appeared over the years on numerous occasions in the old "PHOENIX" - often in the same issue. Ron concocts effects in a manner which has always fascinated me...I am happy to add the name of RON EDWARDS to my list of contributors in "Cardiste" and hope he will continue to send . in his efforts for your entertainment and approbation, AN ODDITY RON EDWARDS

Ron writes: Here is an oddity I discovered. Arrange some cards, disredarding suits as follows: 2, Ace, 3> 6, 2, 4, 3) 6, 8, 4, 3, 6, 2, 9, 3, 6. The series could be repeated 3 or four times. It doesn't matter whether the sot-up is from the bottom to top or vice versa. It may be cut indefinitely, of course. You will note that the set-up consists of these values: 1, 2, 3, 6; 2, 3, k, 6; 2, 3, 6, 9; and 3> 4, 6, 8, Four sets. If four of the cards are removed from any one place in the deck, they must be one of these four sets. Here is what can be done with (A) (B) (C) 12 x 63 equals 21 x 63 and 13 x 62 23 x 64 equals 32 x 46 and 24 x 63 23 x 96 equals 32 x 69 and 26 x 93 34 x 86 equals 43 x 68 and 36 x 84

them: equals equals equals equals

31 42 62 63

(D) x 26 x 36 x 39 x 48

I had thought of writing a prediction: - "THE TvyO ANSV-ERS WILL BE EQUAL" - then having 4 cards taken, say 1, 2, 3» 6, One spectator multiplies as in A and C and adds the two products, A second spectator multiplies as in B & D •rrangements and adds his two products. BEHOLD: The two final (12)

answers of the spectators are BOUND TO BE E JUALl This odd result intrigues me, Ron would like to have those Cardistes interested in Mathemagic with Cards develop this idea, since it has tremendous potential. How'za'bout It?

S-T-R-A-I-G-H-T VIA RUSDUCK DID'JA KNOW: That if you deal four hands of five cards face-upj then picking up the hands as dealt,1, 2, J, 4 and repeating three times -that the cards will be back in their original order - and that this can be continued indefinitely? Remove the A,K,Q,J,10 of each suit, and disregarding suits, arrange them in the following order: A.K.Q.J.1O - Q,J,1O,A,K - 1O,A,K,Q,J - J.K.1O.Q.A Deal four poker hands face-up - RESULT: four AceHigh Straights. Pick up as shown - deal again - RESULT: as before - another pick-up and deal - the same with the next pick-up returning the cards to the original order to repeat. This is the usual Rusduck Dilemma - in an effort to achieve perfection by returning the cards to their original order - I find there is no effective way to "Break It Off". Did you ever aspire to create progressive poker deals? If so - why not use this principle to work out a really eye-popping effect??? Contributions with merit and up to the, .standard of "Cardiste" will be published with recognition to the originator - as well as placing him on the preferred complimentary subscription list. 1/HY NOT GIVE IT A VJHIRL???? (13)

FAVORITES; I wonder if anybody took the trouble to work out the possibilities shown in the Rusduck "STAY-STACK SYSTEM" in the initial issue of Cardiste??? JOHN NORTHERN HILLIARD in "Greater Magic" says: "The first objective, then, is to acquire as perfect a riffle shuffle as possible. To ask for the perfect shuffle would be a good deal like asking the reader to tackle on of the labors of Hercules, It can be done, of course, with patience and pious practice, I know perhaps a dozen card handlers who can take a new pack out of its case and with eight perfect riffles bring the deck back to its original order. They can pick up four bridge hands, put them together, riffle eight times, and deal each card back to its original holder, (NOTE: JNH is in error here, TOO perfect riffle shuffles instead of eight will produce the effect). It is understood of course, that the single riffle, or dovetail shuffle, is nothing more or less than a species of cut, resulting in an endless chain. Each successive shuffle coils the chain into loops. Eight perfectly executed shuffles, however, will uncoil the loops, and bring the cards back into their original order. But such delicacy and absolute precision is not for the many, IT IS THE POETRY OF CARD WORK - AND POETS ARE ALWAYS FEW IN ANY ART." JEAN HUGARD and FRED BRAUE in their classic "Expert Card Technique" say:- "The Master Minds of card magic conjuring, those who aspire to the heights of virtuosity in the handling of cards, have sought for many years to master the perfect riffle shuffle; that is to say, to make the shuffle by interweaving the two packets card by card* By dint of incessant practice some performers have attained sufficient skill to make the perfect shuffle four times out of five but, in spite of all attempts they cannot acquire an absolute certainty of success. By resorting to a subterfuge however, not only is all this tedious practice eliminated, but success is assured every time,.," and then proceed to give two methods of acquiring the knack. Any student seriously intent on learning the perfect riffle shuffle should study "Expert Card Technique" where a complete chapter covers the acquiring of the knack - and several miracle effects possible ONLY with its use - as well as mathematical tables showing permutations, (14)

GERALD KOSKY - One' of the finest authorities on card work of this age, has sent in the following contribution for inclusion to "Cardiste"...We welcome "GERRY" to our midst, and hope you are becoming aware of the superior type of material this modest effort is beginning to attract, ANYONE FOR BRIDGE? GERALD KOSKY

The past few years a small group of card experts have been devoting their time to effects that depend on the perfect (FARO) riffle shuffle. A pleasing effect depending on the riffle shuffle is to ask for a new unopened pack of cards to be* handed to you. You remove: the cards from the case and give it two perfect riffle shuffles. That is: the top 26 cards of the pack is riffle-shuffled into the bottom group of 26 cards so that every card is inter-laced perfectly. This shuffle is done twice, The result is, that when the cards are dealt for a round of Bridge (4 hands), each hand will contain, when it- is shown, a perfect hand ranging from Ace to King, of a single suit. You may prefer to deal a perfect Bridge Hand just to yourself (all Spades), while the others contain mixed suits. To accomplish this, place the stock of 13 spades so that they are grouped 27 to 39 from the top of the pack. Cut the pack at the 26th card and give the pack two perfect riffle shuffles as explained above. Have the pack cut (a straight top to bottom cut) a few times - and - when a Spade shows on the bottom of the pack - deal the cards, and you, as the dealer, will get all the spades. The other three hands will consist of mixed suits* If .you are unable to do a perfect (Faro) riffle shuffle, you can obtain the same results by doing what is (15)

nown as the "MILK SHUFFLE". The "Milk Shuffle" is done s follows: Pack is held in left hand in the same position aa the -way you would hold it to do the glide from the bottom of the pack. With the right hand fingers, you remove the top and bottom cards at the same time together off the pack, dropping the cards that you remove, onto the table. You continue removing 2 cards at a time (top and bottom card of pack) until all the cards are in one stack on the table. This shuffle ("Milking the Pack") is done twice. The final result is the same as that done by the perfect riffle shuffle.

And so, Cardistes, we come to the finish of our second issue - safely over the hump - we hope - in our1 efforts to please.,»Please excuse the "Editorial •We" and .1 assure you this pomposity W O N ' T happen againl 11 I have been very well pleased with the expressions of good wishes, and the submission of contributions - and NOW KNOW - that there i s a definite need for such an effort as Cardiste - and that i t will be accepted and supported so with this assurance in mind - I will get right to work on issue No, 3 and attempt to answer my correspondence which has accumulated since the i n i t i a l appearance. Please rest assured - the policy of Cardiste i s and will remain - the best in card magic - with a dim view on "take-a-card" effects...SO - if you want BETTER card magic - keep talking up Cardiste and supporting i t with subscriptions and contributions of merit* Again, I ask you to bear with me for the time being - and judge "Cardiste" on the contents alone - u n t i l I can improve on the layout and format with practice and experience.,,I can assure you a l l however - that there will be an improvement in the past tardiness in appearance - and Cardiste i s STILL a monthly - instead of the quarterly you i.ust have expected or suspected. - BUSDUCK, "Cardiste", (16)