From the Introduction:
Within the pages of this volume, the reader will find many effects which may easily be incorporated into a program of exposes, or as part of a manipulative act. None of the effects discussed in the first section require sleights more difficult than the doublelift. Many a performer will want to credit the occurrences to his own skill – even though none is involved. While at no time should the Lecturer attribute the happenings to "magic", a fairly plausible cause is sleight-of-hand.
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Included in Section II of this volume, I have given the reader an illustrated guide to some actual methods employed by professional card men, and some ruses and gimmicks of my own. The reader may be surprised to learn the simplicity of many of the moves shown, and magicians will find much of the material suitable for card effects before lay audiences.
An Introduction
Section One: "Card Shark Routine"
Effect Number One: How The Dealer Always Wins
Effect Number Two: How The Dealer Uses Assistants
A Valuable Tip
Effect Number Three: Plain-Sight Cheating
Another Valuable Tip To Gamblers
Effect Number Four: The Cut For Deal
Effect Number Five: Apparent Marking Of A Borrowed Deck Instantaneously
Effect Number Six: Plain Sight Palming
Special Bonus: Card To Box Of Miniature Playing Cards
Effect Number Seven: Miraculous Deck Switch (?)
Effect Number Eight: A Blindfolded Poker Deal
Effect Number Nine: Spectator's Choice Of Cards Poker Deal
Effect Number Ten: Another Wild Poker "Deal."
Effect Number Eleven: A Lightning Fast, Indetectable Second Deal
Effect Number Twelve: Feeling A Card – With A Borrowed Deck
Effect Number Thirteen: Invisible Daub
Bonus: Mercurio's Deck Set-Up
Effect Number Fourteen: Another Poker Deal
A Useful Ruse
Effect Number Fifteen: A Poker Deal That Deals Itself
Effect Number Sixteen: Shuffling The Cards Up One's Sleeves
Effect Number Seventeen: Cutting The Aces To The Top Of The Deck
Effect Number Eighteen: Bad, Bad Leroy Brown
Effect Number Nineteen: The Dead Man's Hand
Effect Number Twenty: Still Another Second-Deal
Section Two: Card Shark Methods
Part One: Ruses
The Deck Switch
The Raise
The Bluff
The Turnover
The Extra Card
The Switch
The Short Card
The Crimp
The Loss
The Fake
Additional Ruses
Part Two: Devices And Gimmicks:
The Mirror Ring
Hand Shiners
The Bill Mirror
The Matchbox Shiner
The Detachable Concealer
The Holdout
The Slippery Shoe
The Shoe Holdout
In Conclusion
Appendix
Rank Of Cards In Straight Poker
How To Construct The Special Cards Required For Effect Number Three: "Plain Sight Cheating"
The Cardman's Suitcase
Actual Marked Cards
Quick – Use Glossary
Epilogue
