Martin Nash - Kings Incognito Written By Stephen Minch

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Kings Incognito is one of Martin's least demanding acts, in a technical sense. The sleights required are ones that will be found in the repertoir of the average close-up magician. Any sleights that you may not presently do can be learned within a reasonable time . The most demanding sleights occur, ironically, during the introductory sequence in which nothing happens. In this prologue to the magic, Martin demonstrates several methods in which people shuffle cards. While doing so, he executes a faro shuffle (which need not be perfect) and a push through riffle shuffle. If these shuffles are not a part of the reader's repertoir, he can substitute any series of false shuffles and cuts with which he is comfortable. Since only an eight-card stack must be retained on top of the deck, such a series of shuffles is not difficult to construct.

Kings Incognito is made up of five well-integrated tricks. The opening item is a quick and striking Triumph-type effect in which the cards are mixed face-up into face-down. In a magical manner, the deck straightens itself, all cards turning face-down except for the four kings. The kings are removed from the deck, only to transform in a startling manner into the four aces.

The aces are then used for a demonstration of expert "invisible" palming, as done by card sharps. One by one the aces vanish from one location and reappear under an obviously empty hand.

Continuing the theme, the aces are caused to disappear again, this time from packets, in an ace-assembly style. Each ace is clearly shown in the packet just before it vanishes. All four eventually congregate under a spectator's guarding hand.

The act is concluded with an Ambitious Card sequence done with a five-card packet.