Pro-Files

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Here is a quick and clean handling for Ed Marlo’s Oil & Water premise, with a nod to Bill Simon and Aldo Colombini’s work on the plot. This little sequence is very clean (hence the name) and quick, making it useful either as a standalone piece (great for table-hopping) or a lead-in to a longer O&W or Red & Black routine.

Effect: For red cards and four black cards are shown. The cards are dealt into a pile, alternating red and black. After a moment, the top four cards are cleanly dealt into their own pile, creating two packets of four cards each. When the packets are turned over, one consists of all four black cards, the other all four reds.

No gaffs or gimmicks, no extra cards; only eight cards from a regular deck are used.

Method & Performance: Remove all of the 8’s and 9’s from the deck and set the deck aside.

Arrange the black cards such that one pair sandwiches the other (8,9,9,8 or 9,8,8,9). Turn this packet face down in left dealers grip, spread it briefly and then square it, getting a left pinky break under two cards.

“I want to show you a something strange that very few people realize. To do this, I’ll use only eight cards.”

Arrange the red cards in the same way and then drop them face up on the left-hand packet. Immediately square these cards and then life all the cards above the break as if they were only the four reds. With the left thumb, slide the top card halfway to the left and then raise the right-hand packet to lever this card face down onto the left-hand packet. Repeat with the next card and then drop the rest of the right-hand packet onto the left, spread the two face up red cards and openly flip them face down onto the packet.

Spread the top five cards. As the right hand takes the top four (still spread), use the left thumb to draw the fifth card flush onto the left-hand packet, catching a pinky break below it in the process. Use both hands to square the right hand’s cards, secretly stealing the card above the break under the packet. Casually (and apparently unintentionally) flash the face of this packet as you table it to your right.

(This whole procedure, from the time you’ve removed the cards from the deck, should take only 10-15 seconds.)

Do an Elmsley Count (showing three as four) with the left-hand packet, as you say:

“These four cards…”

Take the packet in right Biddle Grip and turn your hand palm up to show the face card.

“…the black ones, we will refer to as oil.”

Table this packet directly in front of you. Pick up the packet to your right and do a face down Elmsley Count to show five cards as four, but the count is slightly modified. Do the first two parts of the count as normal and then simply spread the remaining two cards before replacing them to the bottom of the packet. Flip the packet face up and repeat this modified Elmsley Count.

As you do the face down count of this packet, say, “And these four cards…”
As you do the face up count, remark, “…the red ones, we will call water.”

Flip the packet face down, taking it in right Biddle grip. Square it briefly with both hands. As you do, the left forefinger slightly pivots the face card, such that it is angle-jogged at the inner left corner by the width of the index.

The following sequence must flow into one smooth movement. Move both hands forward; as you come over the tabled packet, the left hand takes the packet in the hands to the left, tabling it, while the right hand simultaneously drops straight down onto the other packet (this is the Vernon Addition) and slides it to the right a few inches.

“You’ve heard that oil and water don’t mix.”

Take the top card from the left packet and deal it between the two piles. Then take the top card from the right packet and deal it onto the card in the middle. Continue, alternating between the two packets until there is one pile at center.

“Well, that’s absolutely true, even with a deck of playing cards. If you wait just a while…”

Deal the top four cards face down in front of the existing packet.

“…the oil will rise to the top!”

Turn these four cards over to show they are all black. Then turn over the near pile to show the four red cards to end.

Scott F. Guinn