Meir’s Muses
MyMagic eNewsletter #1,052
October 29, 2022
Fr. Cyprian was my friend. I first met him in the 1970s and we immediately got along. I think it was because of our warped sense of humor. But we also performed together, lectured together, traveled together and he used me to tell people jokes using words he shouldn’t use in public while wearing his collar.
One of his favorite jokes to use when addressing groups was: They say that Cleanliness is next to Godliness. It’s not true. I looked it up in the dictionary. Cleanliness is next to Cleavage!
One of his pet card problems, that he always pursued, was the Hofzinser Card Problem as challenged by Karl Fulves. I was reminded of our conversations about that plot while playing with the routine I am introducing to you today.
Although it does not strictly adhere to the challenge it does present most of the phases in a very clean and direct way. I think Fr. Cyprian would have liked this.
â–ºThe Hoff:
This is a very clever handling of the classic Hofzinser card problem with the four aces helping you find a selected card and ending with a surprise transposition. This version is as clean and easy a solution that you will find.
The four aces are produced and used to divine a selected card. A spectator takes the deck under the table and cuts the deck to select a card. With a wave of the hand, one of the aces mysteriously turns face down. When the selected card is revealed, it is discovered that the suit of the selected card matches the ace that has turned face down. After a magical gesture, the deck is spread on the table to reveal that a card has turned face up in the middle of the deck. Impossibly the face-up card in the middle of the deck is the ace that was just face down, and when the face-down card between the other aces is turned over, it is discovered to be the selected card.
Watch and buy: HERE
A few years ago, I released Aldo’ Colombini’s stand-up version of the Hofzinser problem that is self-working, funny, and surprising. It will fit in your jacket pocket and play big. Take a look.
â–ºJumbo Power Aces:
A card is selected from a regular deck (say the Eight of Spades). A prediction envelope is displayed and four jumbo cards are removed in a stack.
The face card is the Ace of Hearts. The spectator is asked if he selected the Ace of Hearts. When he answers no, the cards are fanned as you say, “How about the Ace of Spades?, Ace of Diamonds?, Ace of Clubs?,” showing all four aces in a fan
The fan is closed as you say, “But the suite of one of these aces does match your card, right?” When the cards are re-spread in a fan one of the aces has suddenly turned face down. It is seen to be the Ace of Spades.
The spectator agrees that his card was a Spade. “…Now for the first time, name your card.” When the spectator yells out the Eight of Spades you pretend that you heard the Ace of Spades. “…The Ace of Spades? I thought you said that you did not pick an ace…. Oh! the Eight of Spades.”
The fan is turned over to show that the Ace has changed into the selected Eight of Spades. All four cards can be shown on both sides at the end.
Watch and buy: HERE
â–ºEasy Aces:
The basic routine starts out by having the spectator shuffle a deck of cards face-up and face down. You then use the messed-up deck to cut to three of the Aces. As a kicker ending the rest of the cards are spread on the table to show that they magically straightened themselves out and are now all face down… Except for the final fourth Ace.
Easy Aces comes with a specially gaffed deck of Bicycle Poker Size cards that allow you to perform this routine with almost no skill. The video tutorial includes an excellent self-working four card production.
Watch and buy: HERE
â–ºUpcoming Appearances:
Nov. 12: Comix @ Mohegan Sun Casino: HERE
Nov. 13: Comix @ Mohegan Sun Casino: HERE
Dec. 4: Comix @ Mohegan Sun Casino: HERE
Stay happy, Meir
PS: Added another date to my Comix appearances. Nov. 12 will be special. Will let you know more as we get closer to showtime.
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“Magic does not exist in the mechanics of an effect. It exists somewhere between you and the mind of the spectator.”
…Fr. Cyprian (The Elegant Magic Of Father Cyprian, 1980)
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