The following text appeared in Encyclopedia of Card Tricks by Jean Hugard. You can buy Encyclopedia of Card Tricks in hardbound or soft cover from The Magic Depot.

Probably the earliest device in the way of preparing cards for secret use in performing tricks was the wide or long card. As the name implies one card is a trifle wider or longer than its fellows and therefore projects slightly either at the end or the side. To prepare such a pack have all the cards but one slightly shortened or narrowed by means of a printer’s guillotine. Later came the thick card, two cards glued together and dried under pressure, which can be easily found by the fingers in riming the edges.

Variations of this idea such as cutting the picture of a court card from its frame and gluing it to the face of a duplicate court card, cutting out the spots and gluing them over the spots of a duplicate card, etc., but all of these devices are liable to detection when the deck is handled by a spectator. The most satisfactory method is that of cutting one card a trifle shorter than the rest. Such a card forms an invaluable key card, it can be found immediately by riming the deck and is practically undetectable to anyone who does not already know of it.

As with strippers, to handle the short card intelligently requires some practice and the card should be lightly cut that the difference in length would only be revealed by minute inspection. The use of a card cut so short that the deck divides at it, when rimed, with a loud click, simply ruins an artifice that is invaluable when intelligently used. To any one having a working knowledge of the few indispensable sleights the short card is a very valuable accessory. The danger is that it renders some operations so easy that the beginner especially comes to depend on it entirely.

The drawback to the short card is that it has to be prepared and therefore can only be used with your own deck. On occasion this can be overcome by carrying a small pair of scissors and working an effect that entails your leaving the room. By carrying off one of the cards in use you can cut off a shaving and secretly return the card to the deck. There is, however, a plan for getting the same effect easily and quickly with any deck at a moment’s notice.

This was, I believe, devised by Louis Nikola, the English magician, at any rate he was the first to record it in print in his book “The Nikola Card System” which was published in 1927. The plan he recommends there is to bend up the bottom left hand corner of a card and work it between the thumb and finger until it is soft. Only a small corner is necessary, say to within an eighth of an inch or so of the edge. When the cards are rimed with the thumb across this corner, the cards will break at that point, so that such a card may be put practically too all the uses of a short card.

The following tricks with a short card have been selected from “Tricks with a Short Card", by U. F. Grant, the well known magician and magic dealer. They will serve to illustrate the uses to which the principle can be put. It would be impossible to give more since there is hardly a card trick in which a short card could not be employed. I reiterate that the short card should not be used constantly but only on occasion, when it becomes an invaluable weapon for throwing the spectators off the track.

Learn how to peel the face or back from a playing card. Below is an edited version of the card peeling method found in Expert Card Technique. You need to know how to peel cards to make your own gimmicks. For instance, a peeled composite can have a back glued to both sides in order to make a quick double-back card. You wouldn’t really use these in performance, but they will help you work out impulse ideas that require gaffed cards.

A dry split is the best and quickest method of separating the three layers of a playing card. Tap a corner of the card on the table to fray the edge, and then start either the front or the back layer, being careful not to include the composition layer between.

Hold the piece started down against the table with the tips of the left fingers and peel the upper layers away.

The split should be made diagonally across the card. Once the corner is started, the upper layers should be peeled back swiftly three quarters of an inch or more at a time. The thin paper will not tear if the left fingers move along with the peel and hold it down against the table top; this very fast split does the least damage to the face of the card. If, on the other hand, the split is made slowly and carefully the face layer will be marred with tiny wrinkles. A card can and should be split in no more than eight seconds.

It will be noted that in this method the face of a card is not peeled from the other two layers; it is impossible to do this without tearing. The secret is to peel the two upper layers from the face layer.

Dead Man’s Hand by Henry Christ appeared in Ted Annemann’s Full Deck Of Impromptu Card Tricks. A great book by one of the world’s most renowned mentalists.

When “Wild Bill” Hickock was shot from behind by Jack McCall, in the Deadwood days of outlawry, it stopped the life of a picturesque character, but started the legend of the “Dead Man’s Hand” and made possible this most original card story and routine.

In the Mann & Lewis Saloon of Deadwood, South Dakota, “Wild Bill” Hickock was playing poker with some friends. His back towards the one and only door made it possible for the murder just as Bill was preparing to make his “draw” to a hand consisting of the ACE OF CLUBS, the ACE OF DIAMONDS, the EIGHT OF HEARTS, the EIGHT OF SPADES, and the QUEEN OF HEARTS. This hand has since been known as “Aces and Eights—the Dead Man’s Hand,” and it is with this hand of five cards that a strange story and occurrence takes place at any time or place, and with any deck of cards.

Effect: As you unfold the story of “Wild Bill” Hickock and his untimely end, you tell of the five cards he was holding when shot. Using any deck, you run through the cards, face up, and while talking find and throw out face up the Ace of Clubs, Ace of Diamonds, Eight of Hearts, Eight of Spades, and the Queen of Hearts. These cards have since been known as the “Dead Man’s Hand” you explain, and somewhere, in another world, “Wild Bill” is undoubtedly interested in the group of five upon which he had his mind centered when shot. It can be the only explanation for the experiments to which you shall put them.

A nearby spectator is asked to pick up the cards and mix them face down. He then selects any one at random, looks at it, and drops it on the deck which you cut to lose the card. The remaining four are not shown, but dropped on top, and the pack again mixed.

Now you recall the nickname of the cards, and deal four cards from the top of the deck in a face down row from left to right, spelling a letter with each card—D E A D. On top of these four you deal four more, spelling—M A N S. Four more are dealt, spelling—H AND. Now you apparently call Bill into your presence by spelling four more—W I L D, and still another four—B ILL. You have thusly dealt out five rows of four cards each, the rows being dealt on top of each other successively.

At this time you state that Bill’s interest in the cards invariably results in the location of the one removed by the spectator, for after all, when Bill was shot, he was contemplating on what card he would discard for the draw. The spectator names the card he selected from the five. You turn over the next card on the deck. It is correct.

Continuing, you gather together the deck and give it a bit of mixing. You state that the second strange coincidence is truly that. The “Dead Man’s Hand” only appears by chance once in a million times. And when it does, strangely enough, it falls to a person whose back, at the time, is towards a door! Very deliberately you now deal out five hands of poker to as many persons sitting around the card table. One of them, of course, having his back towards a door, or as close to such a position as possible.

Everyone present invariably remarks about this, and the tension can always be noticed. You look at this person seriously, say that he has his back towards a door and that there’s one chance in millions that history will repeat. Ask him to pick up and look at his cards, imagining himself to be “Wild Bill” Hickock for the moment. He picks up the hand, looks at it, and at that moment a sharp crack of a pistol breaks the silence!

And if you, dear reader, don’t think that the onlookers will jump, and the man holding the cards bounce more than all the others, it’s just because you haven’t tried the stunt, or seen somebody else do it!

Method: The secret working is an ingenious non-sleight method that practically works itself. Take a deck in hand and follow through. It will work the first time for you.

Turn the deck face up and start running it through to find the five cards. Count the first sixteen cards from the face of the deck, and hold a break at that spot while you continue through the deck, throwing out any of the five cards as you come to them. If any are missing, go back and find them among the first sixteen, adding enough more cards to make up for any removed. Turn the deck face down keeping the break with left little finger.

The spectator takes the five cards, mixes them face down and selects one. At this point you undercut off the sixteen cards below the break, have him drop the card on top of the deck, and you drop the group on top. On top of these have him put the remaining four face down cards. You can now give the deck a dovetail shuffle leaving the top 21 cards undisturbed, and finish with a false cut if you wish.

Deal out a face down row of four cards and spell DEAD. Then a second row on top spelling MANS. With the third row spell HAND. With the fourth spell WILD. And lastly spell BILL. That deals off 20 cards. Patter along as heretofore given, and when the selected card is named, throw down the next card from the deck face up. Now pick up the four heaps, one on top of the other in any order and drop them on top of the deck. Put the face up selected card on top, and the deck is stacked automatically for the poker deal!

Left as it is, the “Dead Man’s Hand” will be dealt to the first man of the five who are dealt cards. You have had ample time to note which five you will deal to, among those who are near, and which one of the five has his back towards a door. Thus you can put on top of the assembled deck enough cards from one to four to bring the hand to the second, third, fourth or fifth person as you will. Outside of that it is entirely a build-up of tension through seriousness.

The gun shot?
Just one of many possible gimmicks. All magical novelty shops carry cap shooting appliances for jokers. They have been built in cigarette packages, decks of playing cards, etc., any of which you can put down near you before starting the routine, and merely pick up at the right moment.

Suggested though is one of two appliances that will serve continually and anywhere. One is a small tin box about 1 x 1/2 inches and quite flat. It is loaded with a cap and placed under any object. When the object is lifted, the explosion occurs. In this routine, carry the box set to go, with a rubber band around it. Just before you start, slip it under your foot or the leg of a card table if you work on one. The other gimmick is a very small pistol worn as a watch charm and which sells for about 50 cents. It uses small blanks, is less than % of an inch long, and will make a noise louder than the one that got Bill down.

This tiny gadget can be carried loaded with the hammer down, and just before starting you can cock it. At the finish of the deal, while you are still talking, and all eyes are on the fated spectator who has the hand, you have only to toy with it and pull the trigger on time.

As has been said before, this is one of the most original tricks to make an appearance in many a moon. It hasn’t failed yet to go over with terrific effect as long as the performer takes the whole thing seriously and presents it as a strange thing. And people being superstitious as they are helps one on to success.

You can find this wonderful trick in Encyclopedia of Card Tricks by Jean Hugard. You can buy Encyclopedia of Card Tricks in hardbound or soft cover from The Magic Depot.

A card having been freely selected and replaced is brought to the top of the pack and palmed off. A handkerchief is borrowed and immediately spread over the right hand, thereby concealing the palmed card. The pack is now placed face upwards, on the center of the handkerchief, by which means it is brought immediately over the concealed card.

The part of the handkerchief lying on the forearm is first brought over the face of the cards, which are then raised, still covered. The sides of the handkerchief are brought around to the back in the act of concluding the operation of folding up the cards. The pack is then screwed up tightly and the position of the whole reversed. Performer holding the screwed up ends of the handkerchief shakes it slightly, the chosen card is gradually seen to make its appearance, and as the shaking continues, the card becomes more and more visible, finally falls to the floor. The effect to the onlookers, being that the card actually penetrated through the handkerchief.

Two cards may be caused to pass through in the same manner, but in the process the second card is pushed back up under cover of the first card.

Penetrating Cards

The trick is an improvement on the preceding effect. The cards are placed in their case and a chosen card apparently penetrates the case and the handkerchief.

A pack of cards with a case of the flap variety, and a handkerchief are required. After the cards are shuffled, have a card freely chosen, noted and replaced. Pass it to the top and put the deck in its case in such a way that in closing the case the flap goes between the top card and the rest of the deck. Lay the case, flap side down on the table, show the handkerchief and spread it over your left hand. Pick up the case in the right hand with the thumb on the exposed part of the selected card and throw the handkerchief over the case. Under its cover, the right hand fingers pull the card out of the case as far as possible.

With the left hand take the case from under its covering, the selected card is thus drawn completely out of the case and lies face up on the right hand. Put the case on the handkerchief just above the palmed card, throw the front part of the fabric back over the case, twist the sides so that they retain the card outside at the rear, gather up the four corners and hold them in the right hand. The chosen card is then named and ordered to penetrate the case and the fabric. A gentle shake of the hand will gradually bring the card into view.

Have you seen Screwed Deck by Paul Harris? The magician “screws” two halves of a deck together like a pool cue. Oops! It’s mis-matched! He gives it another twist and the deck becomes an ordinary, examinable pack of cards! Immediately begin your next card trick!

Screwed Deck is easy to learn with very little sleight of hand. You’ll definitely add this to your show and even use it when doing a few tricks for friends! Spencer, A Magic Depot customer from California says, “I use Screwed Deck to start my set everytime I do card tricks. You can’t top Harris when it comes to bizarre ideas!”

For a limited time you can get your very own Screwed Deck for twenty bucks off the retail price! It’s available from The Magic Depot for only $29.95. This special price will disappear Friday! Buy Screwed Deck by Paul Harris!

Have you seen Screwed Deck by Paul Harris? The magician “screws” two halves of a deck together like a pool cue. Oops! It’s mis-matched! He gives it another twist and the deck becomes an ordinary, examinable pack of cards! Immediately begin your next card trick!

Screwed Deck is easy to learn with very little sleight of hand. You’ll definitely add this to your show and even use it when doing a few tricks for friends! Spencer, A Magic Depot customer from California says, “I use Screwed Deck to start my set everytime I do card tricks. You can’t top Harris when it comes to bizarre ideas!”

For a limited time you can get your very own Screwed Deck for twenty bucks off the retail price! It’s available from The Magic Depot for only $29.95. This special price will disappear Friday!

Buy Screwed Deck by Paul Harris!