The Rising Cards

To begin, have a card secretly reversed second from the bottom. Have a card peeked at from around the bottom third of the deck. Hold a break above the selection and double-cut it to the top. The reversed card is now about one-third from the top.

Have a second card peeked and hold a break with the little finger. While holding the deck in both hands, down-jog the peeked card by kicking it to the right with the third finger.For the third selection, force the card directly above the jogged card, the second card acting as a short card.

Hold the deck in the right hand with all four fingers held together along the side and the thumb at the top edge, opposite the index finger. The deck is actually held loosely by the index finger and thumb of the right hand, with the other fingers resting lightly along the side (Figure 1). Stand with your left side toward the audience holding the deck at the chest level. The face card should be toward the audience. Bring up the left thumb to help hold the deck. The left thumb rest on the right thumb, and the left index finger rests on the right second finger. The left second finger rests on the right third finger. The back of the left hand should be toward the audience, and the fingers should be close together.

Actually squeeze the side of the deck once or twice, making the cards bend. Pretend to give the deck a third big squeeze, and under cover of the left hand, put the right little finger under the bottom corner of the down-jogged card. Kick the card out slightly away from you. (Figure 2, left hand removed). Continue by pushing the jogged corner up the side of the deck until the card rises half its length (Figure 3).

When it has risen as far as it can, give the deck one final squeeze, bending the cards again. Under the cover of the squeeze secretly move the right little finger back to its resting position. Remove the left hand and cleanly display the deck on all sides, providing the card was actually squeezed from the center.

Place the deck in left-hand dealing position. While removing the risen card, lift up on the right side, creating a break along the edge of the eck. Hold the break with the left little finger. Toss the selection face up onto the table. Repeat actions to make the card above the break rise half its length. When this card has completed its rise, pretend it is stuck, giving the deck a couple of real squeezes. Reach up with the left hand and grab the top edges of the card to wiggle it loose. This action will cover the entire deck and allow the right index finger to slip behind the risen card. Simultaneously, the second finger moves up to occupy the space left by the index finger, and the third finger occupies the space left by the second finger.

Move the left hand back down, grasping the deck to squeeze it again. Nothing has changed from the audience's viewpoint. Continue the squeezing gestures and simply push the card up slowly from behind with the index finger (Figure 4). To make the card fall of the deck, slowly straighten your index finger away from you. The card will pivot on the second finger and begin to fall. Before it falls, bring the left hand up a bit so the card leans on the left index finger, and right index finger can slip back into place. Tilt the deck away from you with both hands and allow the card to fall.

Secure a break under the reverse card and squeeze it up half its length. Apologize for the mistake and promise to correct it. Hold the right hand like a gun and bring the index finger down on the reversed card, pushing it flush into the deck. Immediately extend the little finger, contacting the back of selected card (Figure 5). Raise the right had again, bringing the selected card with it. The selection apparently reversed itself and popped back out of the center of the deck!.