First let me say that I am a fan of the self working effects of John Bannon and of Nick Trost. “Poker Pairadox” is basically the same effect\/method has “Court Card Conclave” published by Trost in “Subtle Card Creations”, the main difference being the number of cards used. Bannon’s effect uses the court cards and the aces, for a total of 16 cards, and Trost uses just the court cards.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
The youtube videos I have seen demonstrating this trick start with the cards removed from the deck, presenting the effect as a “packet trick”. As a packet trick it is nice because it resets easily when you have completed the routine. You can see one here: https:\/\/youtu.be\/184S9qcstqQ?si=YFt76fgcWhWoCSv9<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n I typically don’t carry packet tricks. When I am performing, if I do carry a packet trick, I only carry one. I prefer to remove cards from the deck of cards I am using, this removes the thought from the spectator’s mind that the cards are “special”. The two “packet” tricks I always perform are Dai Vernon’s “Twisting the Aces” and “The Last Trick of Dr. Daley.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n For this effect I will place the required stack of cards (12 or 16) on top of the deck. Then I add 5 random cards on top of those. Then when I am ready to perform I let the spectator give the deck one good shuffle. I take the deck from them and turn it face up and start spreading the cards (this is described in the Trost version), upjogging the court cards (and aces if doing the Bannon version) as I come to them. I strip the cards out, keeping them in order and proceed with the trick.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Here is the basic effect: The effect begins with the magician displaying a packet of cards dealt into several pairs on the table, where every pair is clearly seen to be mismatched. Despite the apparent disorder, the spectator is given a completely free choice to point to any one of these non-matching pairs. The magician then performs a subtle “Prophesy” maneuver with the chosen card to cut the packet, creating a momentary pause before the reveal. Finally, the cards are dealt out once more, and in a startling transformation, every single card is now perfectly reunited with its matching rank and color mate.<\/p>\n\n\n\n So to setup for the effect, take out matching pairs of cards. For Trost, those would be the face cards, paired by value and color, i.e. Red Kings, Black Jacks, etc. <\/p>\n\n\n\n To perform the effect, take out the deck and let the spectator shuffle it once. This just distributes the stacked cards through the deck with out changing their order.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Now there are two situations here. If you were to look at the faces of the cards you will see that they are in pairs, with the exception of the top and bottom cards which make up a pair. <\/p>\n\n\n\n So if they choose an even number, cut the cards at that point. Now all of the cards from the top down are pairs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n If they choose an odd number, cut the deck at that point. Take the card they selected and wave it over the packet, then place it on the bottom. Now all of the cards from the top down are pairs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n
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