Perplexities by Peter Duffie

Contents:

Automatic Aces: A spectator shuffles a deck and performs random actions that lead to the discovery of all four Aces.

Rideckulous: Your invisible helpers become visible and locate a chosen card along with all cards of the opposite color!

Natterjacks: After removing the four Jacks, a spectator selects a card that is returned to the deck. The deck is split, and the Jacks are placed face up on one half. One by one, the Jacks appear in your hands, but the fourth Jack remains. When you spread the tabled half, the Jack is still there, face up, and the card above it is the selection.

Hellish Prequel: A spectator receives an Ace, Two, and Three of any suit, while you hold the two black Jacks. Instantly, the two packets switch places.

Hellraiser 1-2-3: A fast-paced routine where an Ace, Two, and Three magically penetrate two black Jacks, repeated at an exhilarating speed.

Missing Diamonds: Based on Alex Elmsley’s “Diamond Cut Diamond,” this version allows the spectator to deal the Diamonds without any Palm or Second Deal.

Triple Stop By Gene Maze: This routine was shared with me by Gene Maze in 1995 during our engaging correspondence.

Not Your Card: You present four cards as an infallible prediction. A spectator freely selects a card from your deck, which is then lost. They receive the four prediction cards and transfer the top card to the bottom. You reveal that the top card is a blank with “NOT YOUR CARD” printed on it, repeating this for two more cards. Finally, the last card reveals the spectator’s selection. You can conclude here or add an extra twist, revealing that all cards now say “NOT YOUR CARD” before producing the selected card from your pocket.

Too Secret: Two spectators, two selections, and a puzzling outcome.

Last Orders: Duffie explores Dr. Daley’s final trick with assistance from Fred Robinson.

I Me Mind: This provides a solution to a card problem posed in issue 7 of Profile magazine, utilizing a principle from Roy Walton’s Helensburgh Speller, credited to Stewart James.

Lying Low: Inspired by the Lie Detector plot, this method adds to the various techniques I have published over the years.