going to prepare for your upcoming

ENTOURAGE revelation of the named queen. First,

transfer the packet from hand to hand
so that the suit chosen by the spectator
EFFECT th upper on rnakcs that situation is at the outer end of the packet
known to y u. Ji r t h e sake of this though obviously still hidden (Fig. 3).
After naming any one of the queens,
explana ti n, th /QC double-facer
a spectator mysteriously divines its
starts on t p, a nd th QH/QD double
position among four face-down cards.
facer starts on th b tt m.
As an additional clmax, all the other
cards are shown to be jokers. PERFORMANCE

PROPERTIES: You are supplied with Spread the packet (Fig. 1).
doubled-faced QH-QD/Joker and QS
This is called Entourage...
QC/Joker cards, as well as with four
regular jokers. On the double-facers, Close the packet and hold it with one
note that the upper ends of the jokers of its long sides facing out (Fig. 2).
are oriented with the heart and spade
ends of the queens on the other side,
helping you keep track of which suits (Notice that in the case of our QS
are where. You will also notice that example the packet will end up with FIGURE 6
as an additional visual check, both the the jokers oriented so they're upside
clown for the spectators.) Under the guise of fairly showing each
wheels of the bicycle on the QS
card, this will bring the top joker to the
QC/Joker are missing a spoke. If you Now that you've adjusted the orienta bottom.
end up revealing the wrong suit, tion of the packet, you're going to
there's really no out, so these checks make sure that the double-faced card Once rehearsed, both sequences are
FIGURE 2
will help you be certain you're ready showing the selection is on the bottom. actually rather simple, and the appro
with the right card in the right position. If it's there already simply spread the priate one should be over as soon as
In a moment this will allow your other
packet from left to right and pull out you finish saying:
SET-UP: The four jokers are face hand to take it with either of its short
clown between the two double-faced ends facing out. Make sure you know the middle face-down cards about Right now, she could be anywhere between
cards, which are joker-side up (Fig. 1). which joker is on top. three inches (Fig. 4). these two royal guards...
... and the most important part of it Once you've extended the four face
happens right now. [Look at a spectator.] down cards, continue:
Would you mind helping out?
... but-without looking-we're going to
[The spectator replies.] Thanlcs.
remove three of the Jace-down cards so
You 're going to name any one of the that she 's the only one left.
queens-hearts, spades, diamonds, or
Look at the spectator.
clubs-and to rnake sure it 's real/y your
own choice, you should /:ake your time, So, if you would, put one out hand lilce
and even cha.nge you r mind if you want. a table. Thanks. [To facilitate the
FIGURE 1 So, go ahead... na.m.e any one of the queens. upcoming sequence, gently move the
FIGURE 4 spectator's hand clown as low as seems
[For thi explanati n, w '11 assume that
The heads of all the jokers, both the But if-as in our example-it's on top, comfortable. If it's already reasonably
the qu n f spad s is named.]
face-up ones and the face-down ones, count each card in the packet from low, do nothing.]
should be oriented in the same direc Is l:ha.t your final d cision? All right, by right to left, reversing their order while
tion. It makes no difference which With your other hand, touch the first one
choosing he1 yo u 'v now made the queen positioning the face-down cards about
double-faced card starts at the top and of spa.des the mosl: irnportant one of all. we 're going to remove.
three inches out from the others (Figs.
which starts on the bottom, as long as 5-6). Withdraw the first choice onto the
the presence or absence of spokes on As you say th line to follow, you're

1 2
spectator's hand (Fig. 7). card.) From my own experience, I can sideration is to not exhibit tension or
promise that if you perform these fussiness; Fig. 10 gives an example of
checks too quickly-or not at all-you an acceptable misalignment.
will end up making mistakes.
...is the most important one of all, the. . .

So now we 're down to only one card

Look up expectantly. As the spectator
which, as promised, ...
completes the card's name, flip the
While apparen tly flipping the remain two cards over as one as naturally as
ing face-down card face up, you will possible (Figs. 11-12).
actually turn over the apparent joker
b neatb i.t at the same time, bringing
FIGURE 7 the chosen gueen into view. Though
FIGURE 13
deceptive, this move works best with
Now touch the second one we're going to moving it with your right hand-which
as much misdirection as possible.
remove. still holds the uppermost joker-up to
To start with, pin tbe face-down card in wbere the face-down card had been
Withdraw the second choice onto the
place with your left thumb and move (Fig. 14).
first one.
your right hand-holding the upper
All right, we 're down to the final two most joker-up to grip the face-down
always a tense mament. Touch the last one card (Fig. 9).
we're going to remove. [The spectator
makes the final choice.] Is that your
final decision?
Withdraw the third choice onto the
first two (Fig. 8).

FIGURE 12 (Alternatively, use your left thumb

Move the face-down card diagonally alone, pushing the double-facer diago
down to come into alignment with the nally up to the right.) During the
You can experiment to see how quickly
lowermost joker (Fig. 10). turnover portian of this sequence, keep
you should move through this
sequence to best maintain the illusion the joker in your right hand close
FIGURE 8 enough to obscure any front or side
that only the top, face-down card is

As you do, block out all other thoughts being turned over. Sorne may prefer view of the queen's other index, but
and double-check that the uppermost the alignment and turnover to blend once again avoid any overly tense or
joker isn't the one with the chosen together fluidly; others may want to tight handling. Even if there's a flash of
queen on the other side. (If it is, you separate them with a distinct pause. the other index, it's highly unlikely to
need to reverse the order of the three be noticed by even the sharpest eye,
The spectator says: queen of spades. especially with all focus being on the
cards.) Then, maintaining absolute
. . .

focus, make sure the lowermost joker As the queen side of the double-facer spectator's naming the queen. Indeed,
is pointing in the appropriate direction comes into view, use your left thumb to your own eyes should stay on the
to reveal the chosen queen. (If it's FIGURE 1 0 immediately push it off to the right spectator's face until the queen has
not, you need to square the packet, (Fig. 13), reached its extended position.
casually rotate it 180, and then It's best if the cards are perfectly W hile allowing a few seconds for your
re-extend the remaining face-down squared, but the most important con-

3 4
audience to react, momentarily move Grasp the packet with your palm-up
the remaining cards over the ones on right hand, pull the top card of the
the spectator's palm to head off any packet slightly to your right, and
premature curiosity. (This is why you then-in an action similar to the two
had lowered the spectator's hand at the card turnover used before-turn over
beginning.) all the cards beneath it (Figs. 20-21).
And since she's the most important one of
all, it makes sense that she 's the only one
with her own...entourage.
Reach over to pick up the top joker
from those on the spectator's palm
(Fig. 15). FIGURE 1 7 FIGURE 2 1

(Turning the jokers side to side-as Drop the right-hand card on top of all,
opposed to end over end-keeps their and then square the packet. You are
heads all oriented in the same FIGURE 20 now reset.
direction, easing the reset.)
RESET
Transfer the upper three cards under The switch used to reveal the chosen queen First released at the 9/24/05 Magic Castle
works best with the cards well below the Swap Meet, Entourage has roots in three
the others (Fig. 18).
eye level of the spectators. In other circum unreleased effects of mine that all use a
stances, the following may be preferable: turnover-based binary out: The Striker, The
(1) Start with the heads of the four face Sure Thing, and Tattoo. For the last two of
down jokers oriented in a different direc these, I went so far as to have the necessary
tion than the two face-up ones, (2) Make cards printed before deciding to go a little
FIGURE 15 sure the appropriate double-faced joker is further down the road (with one of the
on top of the packet, instead of on the bot cards from Tattoo ending up in Entourage).
Turn the joker over side to side, placing
it onto the cards in your left hand tom, (3) Don't extend the face-down cards Later, my friend and very clever creator
for the elimination procedure, (4) When Fenik sent me an unpublished effect that
(Fig. 16).
you're down to one face-down card and are combined the turnover out with the verbal
ready for the switch, spread the three cards methodology from Phi! Goldstein's classic
FIGURE 1 8 to your left, instead of to your right, (5) With B 'wave to create an effect in which a face
your palm-down left hand, grasp the upper down card among three jokers turned out
After squaring the packet, use your left joker and the middle face-down card, (6) to be a chosen queen. At sorne point in the
index finger to push flush the extended Turn your left hand palm up, simultaneous future, I'll describe all these precedents
queen (Fig. 19). ly pushing with your fingers and pulling more completely, perhaps including some
back with your thumb to bring the chosen of the previously printed cards.
queen into view, (7) Place the two cards in
Thanks to Bruce Cervon for pointing out
your left hand back onto the one in your
that the switch used here is much more
right, centering the chosen card. Though
deceptive with the central card beginning
direct, this method is discrepant, and has
and ending in an extended position.
the added disadvantage of making a reset
much more cumbersome. Thanks to Norman Gilbreath and James
Lewis for their help in refining the patter.
If working for seated spectators, tip the
FIGURE 16
packet to avoid exposing the undersides of This effect was originally called Posse.
the cards; if a table is available, use it in Thanks to Max Maven for coming up with
Continue with the remaining two
place of the spectator's hand. a more elegant alternative.
jokers (Fig. 17).
FIGURE 19

5 6
 WHO'S THE FAIREST
OFTHEMALL?

A CLEAN, CLEAR EFFECT

With a Legitimately Free Choice,
Any One of the Queens is Named

With a Legitimately Free Choice,

Any One of Four Face-Down Cards is Selected

First Clmax:The Selected Card is the Named Queen!

Second Clmax:The Other Face-Down Cards Are All Jokers!

REAL-WORLD CONDITIONS
Immediate, Open Reset

Repeatable to the. Same Audience

with Any Named Queen

No Difficult Sleight-of-Hand

NoTable Needed; Perfect for Walk-Around

"This is one of the great packet tricks.

Bravo!"
-David Regal-

GordonBean.com
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Caricature by Laurence Maslon Layout & Cover Design: Steve Mitchell Photography: Hal Beavers

Copyright 2006 Gordon Bean