Trickshop - Zens Card Miracle

ZENS Card Miracle Three cards are selected from pack while in hands of a volunteer assistant and packet of cards is sealed in an examined envelope. The three selected cards vanish from this envelope and appear in another previously examined envelope. No sleight of hand or skill required. Looks like a real miracle. And you have a complete pack at nish to use for any other card effects.

eManuscript © Copyright 2004 by Trickshop.com Inc. All rights reserved.

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ZENS CARD MIRACLE

EFFECT

A deck of cards and a packet of envelopes are on the table. A spectator is invited to come on stage and assist with the trick. Once on the stage the spectator is handed the pack and asked to cut it and to then count off 15 cards onto the table, then to recount them to be sure that there are only 15 cards, no more, no less. Two envelopes are handed to him for examination and he selects one, placing his 15 cards inside and seals it. When this is done he is asked to place the envelope into his inside coat pocket to make sure that the magician cannot get at it. He is now instructed to cut the pack again and counts down another 15 cards and again recounts them as before. He is next instructed to go down amongst the audience and have three persons each select one card and retain it for a moment. While the performer turns his back the cards are held up to allow everyone to see and remember them and they are then replaced in the packet. The packet may be shufed by anyone and the assistant returns to the stage and after examining the second envelope, he places the 15 cards inside and seals it. He then designates a second spectator to come up and help and this spectator is given the second envelope to place in his inside coat pocket. Both of the envelopes have been initialed by the assistants before placing them in their pockets. Performer now states he will cause three cards to pass from the envelope held by the second assistant over to the envelope held by the rst assistant, and to make it as magical as possible, he will attempt to pass the three selected cards which are unknown to him. He then goes thru the motions of plucking the cards invisibly from the second spectator’s pocket and throwing them toward the rst spectator. The second assistant is then asked to remove the envelope from his pocket, to verify his initials and then to open the envelope and count his cards one at a time down onto the table. He does so and nds he has only twelve (12) cards. The rst assistant now removes his envelope from his pocket, opens it and counts his cards onto the table. To his great surprise he nds that he now has 18 cards. Performer asks for the name of the rst selected card and upon being given its name he asks the second assistant to look thru his packet but he cannot nd the named card. The other assistant goes thru his packet and sure enough, the card is there. This procedure is now repeated with the other two selected cards. The two assistants are thanked for their help and are dismissed – all that remains is to bow to the applause. A miracle effect if ever there was one. REQUIREMENTS

Three decks of cards, exactly alike. Now select any 15 cards from one deck making sure that they are well assorted as to suits and spots. From each of the other two decks take the same 15 cards and then dispose of these two packs as they are not used. Arrange all three sets of 15 cards in the same order and place them together and you will have what appears to be an ordinary deck of cards. Next, pick at random another 15 cards from the rst deck, and place 12 of these cards inside an envelope taken from a full packet of about 25 and seal it. Under the ap of another envelope you place the other three cards with their faces down.

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ZENS CARD MIRACLE

Now place the remaining 22 cards in your left hand outside coat pocket along side of a folded handkerchief. Take the packet of envelopes and place half the packet back to back with the other half, so that the address side of the envelopes is showing on both sides. The envelope with the 12 cards inside is placed on the bottom of the stack, address side facing out. The other envelope with the three cards under its ap is placed on the other side of the packet – face out – and the entire packet is encircled with a rubber band to hold everything in order. The packet lies on the table with the envelope with the three cards being on TOP. You are now ready to perform. PRESENTATION

The trick is practically self working, allowing you to devote yourself fully to its presentation. With a little thought and a bit of good showmanship it can be worked up to look like a real miracle. Get the rst assistant up and have him cut the pack and then count down 15 cards. It might be well to mention that you should guard yourself against any shufe or fancy cut which would disturb the order of the cards. With a single cut, no matter where he cuts, when the cards are placed together again, he will get a run of 15 cards without any duplicates. Ask him to recount the cards to impress everybody with the fact that only 15 cards are used. While he is counting and recounting the cards you pick up the stack of envelopes and remove the rubber band and remove the top TWO envelopes together so you can give the audience a ash of both sides of the two envelopes and everything looks honest. Open the ap of the bottom envelope and hand it to the assistant for examination. Also, open the ap of the other envelope, making sure to retain the three cards in place, holding the envelope in your right hand. While the assistant is examining the rst envelope, reach over with your left hand and grasp his hand holding the envelope and sweep it upwards, saying – “Hold it up to the light, see that it’s empty and unprepared.” Just as you do that drop the envelope with the three cards on top of the pile of 15 cards. This misdirection is perfect and you have now added three cards to his pile of 15 cards. After he has looked the envelope over, take it from him, pick up the other envelope on the table and have him examine it too. Now give him his choice of either one. Have him pick up his pile of cards and place them in the envelope, seal it and then you take it from him, place it on top of the stack of envelopes handing the whole stack to him with a pencil and request him to put his initials on the envelope. When he has done this, ask him to put the envelope into his pocket so that you cannot get at it. He cuts the pack again and counts down another pile of fteen cards, then recounts them as before. Again, no matter where he cuts, he will get another run of 15 cards without any duplicates. While he is verifying his count, you casually pick up the remaining 15 cards and drop them into your left hand coat pocket, the pocket with the 22 cards, but on the other side of the handkerchief.

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ZENS CARD MIRACLE

Instruct the assistant to pick up the 15 cards and go down amongst the audience and have three persons each select one card, retain it while you turn your back and then show the cards to the rest of the audience. No matter what three cards are selected, the assistant already has duplicates of these in his envelope, and the trick is over as far as you need be concerned. When the cards have been returned to the packet and shufed by anyone, the assistant returns and once more examines the second envelope, places the 15 cards inside and seals it. You pick up the stack of envelopes and take the one he has just sealed and place it on top of the stack. Holding it in your right hand, ngers on top and thumb below, you ask the assistant to pick somebody else from the audience to come up and assist for the real part of the trick and you gesture with hand holding the stack of envelopes, with a sweep from left to right and then upwards and downwards. Holding the stack so that the envelope with the 15 cards is to your right, and the one with the 12 cards is to your left, as your hand goes up and down – on the return upwards you simply give the stack a half turn so you come up with the envelope containing the 12 cards on top. When the second assistant comes up you hand him the stack and have him place his name or initials on the top envelope and then take it off the stack and place it in his pocket. As he can feel the cards inside there is no reason for him to suspect any trickery. Properly timed and executed this switch is indetectable, and its very boldness makes for its success. All that remains is to announce the passing of the 3 cards as described in the effect, and after this bit of business has been done have the second assistant open his envelope, take out the cards and count them, only to nd that he has now only 12 cards. The rst assistant brings out his envelope, opens it and counts to nd 18 cards now in his possession. Ask the name of one of the selected cards and have the assistant with the 12 cards look thru his stack to verify that it is not there. The other fellow with the 18 cards nds it among his cards. This is repeated with the other two selected cards. While this is going on, you reach into your pocket and bring out the 22 cards that were planted there beforehand and throw them on the table. When the 30 cards are added to these you have a complete deck of 52 different cards which may be used for other card effects or passed for examination should any question arise. This effect is one of the best closing effects we know of and in our opinion to follow it with another card effect would be anti-climatic. It can be used either close-up or on the stage. As a guide to reset the trick again, take the envelope with the 15 cards which was switched for the envelope with the 12 cards, take the cards out spreading them face up and then locate the two duplicate sets of 15 and arrange them in the same order as the rst and you are all ready to go again.

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