THE TABLED PASS

What you see is not what happens.
THE TABLED PASS
By Richard Robinson
The magician or a spectator shuffles the cards. The magician takes the deck and riffles one end, asking the spectator to say Stop whenever she likes. When she does so the magician removes the top stock and asks the spectator to take the card stopped at, the top card of the bottom stock.
As the spectator looks at the chosen card, the magician places the bottom stock on the table. He asks the spectator to place her card on top of the cards on the table.
He then places the remaining cards on top of the tabled stock, squares up the deck and moves his hands away. The selected card is now the top card of the deck.
The Tabled Pass is a very deceptive and easily managed pass. The illusion of what the spectators think happens, if they even notice it, is quite convincing.


The deck is held in the left hand and the front end riffled until the spectators says Stop. The top stock is lifted away and the bottom stock moved forward so the spectator can take the top card of the bottom stock.

As the spectator looks at the chosen card, the bottom stock is placed on the table, long edge downstage. The spectator is asked to place the selected card on top of the cards on the table.

As the spectator takes the card, looks at it and places it on the tabled stock, the performer shifts the position of the top stock so it is held at the short end between the thumb and first finger.

The hand is brought down to the tabled stock. The fingers are together and extended. The bottom edge of the top stock is moved behind the back edge of the tabled stock. The extended finger tips contact the front edge of the tabled stock.

The fingers pull back, which causes the tabled stock to slide up onto the top stock. The deck is then squared by the thumb and fingers and the hand moves away.

The top card of the deck is now the selected card.

Performance Notes

This maneuver gives those watching the impression that the magician never touches the deck. It can be practiced in performance by using a riffle force until the handling becomes automatic. Avoid making a grand gesture or swinging the arm in too great an arc. It should appear that the stock in the hand is just placed on the tabled stock and the deck squared up.