My friend Bill Nagler, M.D., an excellent magician, has had a long-standing interest in what has become known as "The Berglas Effect.” It’s the classic “Any card at any number” effect popularized by David Berglas, the great British magician and mentalist. In it’s pure form, a spectator names any card, and then any number from 1 to 52. The magician counts down in the deck to the designated number and the named card is there!

In some recountings of Berglas’ performances, the spectator is allowed to specify whether the counting is to be done from the top or the face of the deck, the spectator themselves do the counting, and the deck is in full view from the beginning. This “pure” effect is probably not possible. With the release of the Berglas book, it seems that Berglas took advantage of many different methods and circumstances to create different versions of the effect, occasionally getting very close to the “pure” effect itself.

                Bill suggested to me that what he wanted was a version that allowed him, in his office or home, to have multiple decks positioned in various locations. Once the card and number were called, he would calculate mentally which deck was needed and then produce that deck. He wanted me to come up with a method to stack the decks and to determine which one was needed.

                Here then, is my solution. To make it practical, the conditions are as follows:

                1. The spectator names the card and the number BEFORE the deck is brought forth.

                2. The performer decides whether to count from the top or the face.

                3. The performer does the counting. (There is no sleight of hand, but this insures that the spectator will not make a mistake, or accidentally drop the cards.)

                Using these conditions, we can achieve the effect with 26 decks. If the counting was always done from the top, or if the spectator can specify whether the counting is to be done from the top or face, then 52 decks would be needed. This seems far too many to be workable. Hiding 26 decks around your home or office will be a big enough challenge.

All decks are in Aronson stack order except that each deck other than the first has been given one straight cut. To keep things straight in your head, the deck number tells you the position of the Jack of Spades. (1 in Aronson Stack.) The decks are NOT 1,2,3, etc. Instead, they are 1,3,5,7,9, ... 51. That's because you don't need a deck where the Jack of Spades is second from the top. (Or any even number) The number "two" is covered by deck 51, but you count from the face. The Jack of Spades is second from the face, which is the same thing as being 51st from the top. One more example: Deck 19 has the Jack of spades at position 19. That was accomplished by cutting the deck between the Jack of Hearts and the Ten of Clubs and moving 18 cards from the bottom to the top. The result is a deck with the Ten of Clubs on Top and the Jack of Hearts on the bottom.

                With the 26 decks hidden in locations that allow you to find the one you need, you’re ready to perform. The spectator names a card at random and then any number from 1 to 52. The first thing you do is to recall the stack number of the card named. There are two rules that you apply to determine the deck to bring into play. There is one additional rule that tells you whether to count from the top of the face of the deck.

RULE ONE. HOW TO DETERMINE WHETHER YOU COUNT FROM THE TOP OR BOTTOM ONCE THE PROPER DECK IS IN YOUR HANDS. Compare the stack number of the card to the number the spectator designates. If they are both odd or if they are both even, deal from the top. If one is odd, and the other is even, deal from the bottom.

This is very simple, as a few trials will show you. So once you finish the mental math that gets you to the correct deck, you can forget all the arithmetic and use this rule to remind you which end of the deck to count from.

Rules Two and Three tell you how to get to the proper deck. Interestingly, it also depends on whether the designated number and the stack number match or do not match as far as odd and even is concerned. You are actually going to apply either rule Two or Three first, and then use rule One. I gave you Rule One first because it’s easier to understand and helps you to grasp rules Two and Three.

RULE TWO. If the designated number and the stack number of the named card are both odd, or both even... Subtract 1 less than the stack number from the designated number. Should you get a negative number, add 52 to it. The result is the deck number.

RULE THREE. If the designated number and the stack number of the named card are one even and one odd, first subtract the designated number from 53. (This will always yield a positive number, of course.) Then subtract one less than the stack number from your result, adding 52 if your result is a negative number. This gives you the deck number.

                Don’t let the concept of negative numbers throw you, or the seeming complexity of the calculations. After you work through a few examples, it becomes quite easy to do and to understand. If you have not worked with negative numbers before, here’s a brief review. If you subtract a number from a smaller one, you really just subtract the smaller from the larger and put a negative sign in front of your answer. For example, if you were to subtract seven from five, the result is –2. (This is said “minus two.”) For our purposes, and following Rules Two and Three above, whenever we get a negative number it is added to 52. For example, if you have a –2, when you add it to 52, you get 50. That’s because when you “add” a negative number, you subtract the positive value of the negative number from the higher number.

It’s easiest to understand this if you do a few examples. In fact, it’s not really necessary to understand why the rules work. Although you will probably be more comfortable with the whole procedure once you do understand.

                EXAMPLE ONE. To ease into this: let’s assume that the card named is the Jack of Spades. Since its stack number is 1, the math is easy. Let’s say that the spectator wants it to be at position 25. First, since the designated number (25) and the Stack Number (1) are both odd, we know that we will be counting from the top. And, for the same reason, we will apply Rule Two to determine which deck we will use.  That tells us to subtract one less than the stack number from the designated number and the result will be the deck we use. Since the stack number is one, one less than that is zero. We subtract zero from 25 and get 25. (This is obvious, of course, we defined Deck 25 as the deck that had the Jack of Spades in the 25^th position.)

                EXAMPLE TWO. Still assuming that the card named is the Jack of Spades, but this time the number called is 44. Because the Stack number (1) is odd, and the designated number (44) is even, we will be counting from the face of the deck. For the same reason, we will use Rule Three.

Following that, we are to first subtract the designated number (44) from 53. That gives a result of 9.  Then, subtracting one less that the stack number (1-1=0), our final answer is nine. We get deck nine and count from the face. To test this, take a deck in Aronson Stack order and cut it between the Six of Spades and Four of Clubs. This produces “Deck 9, ” because the Jack of Spades is ninth from the top. But if you count from the face, you’ll find it at position 44.

                EXAMPLE THREE. This time we’ll assume that the card named is the Eight of Diamonds. And the number designated is 31. Since the stack number of the Eight of Diamonds is 9 (odd) and the designated number is also odd, we will be counting from the top, and applying rule two to determine the proper deck. So, we subtract one less than the stack number (9-1=8) from the designated number. (31-8=23.) So, we produce deck 23 and count from the top. To check this, take your deck and cut between the King of Hearts and the Four of Diamonds. This puts the Jack of Spades at position 23, which is what makes it deck 23. Now, count down to position 31 and you’ll find the Eight of Diamonds.

                EXAMPLE FOUR. This time, we’ll assume that the Jack of Diamonds is named, and the number designated is 25. Since the stack number (36) is even and the designated number (11) is odd, we’ll be counting from the face and we’ll be using Rule Three. So, we subtract the designated number from 53. (53-25=28) Next we are to subtract one less that the stack number (36-1=35) from the result. (28-35=-7). Since we have a negative number, we add it to 52 and get 45. In deck 45, the Jack of Diamonds is the 25^th card from the face. You can check this using the same procedure outlined in the prior examples.

                This may seem daunting at first, but I assure you that all that’s required is some simple arithmetic and after you’ve worked through several more examples you’ll find it much easier to do than to explain.

                That having been said, I’d like to share a few more thoughts. The effect would obviously be far more effective if you could produce the deck in advance. While that’s not possible, perhaps we can create that illusion. Clearly, if we can have a deck in view, and then switch it for the proper deck undetected, we have a real miracle. One interesting solution is a rather complex mechanical device. In your home, you might have a coffee table with a wooden box sitting on it. Inside the coffee table there is a kind of jukebox affair which can locate the proper deck for you, and raise it up into the box mechanically. Perhaps you trigger it with a remote control on your person. When the box is opened, which happens after the card and number are designated, only one deck is seen and it was apparently in there from the start.

While this could be built, is there another way? Let’s say that you’re seated at a table. A deck of cards, which you’ve been using for other effects sits in it’s box on the table in front of you. If you can get the proper deck into your hand, you can pick up the deck that has been in full view, and switch it for the proper deck. This will not be easy since there will be attention on the deck, and how do you get the proper deck? One simple solution is to use a stooge. That person sits across from you at the table. He has, at his feet, a briefcase that holds the 26 decks and also a lazy tongs reaching device. Under the pretext of putting something away in his case, he grabs the proper deck, and uses the reaching device to deliver the deck into your hands or lap under the table.

                Using the same basic technique, you can eliminate the deck switch. Your stooge gets you the deck that you palm in your hand. Standing up, you apparently pull the deck from a pocket. Now you can count to the named card. And, you really have no more decks on your person should anyone check.

                If you do use the stooge version, the stooge might be able to consult a chart instead of doing the arithmetic. This would simplify the headwork, but the two of you would have to practice the delivery of the deck. Or, you could do the math yourself and signal the deck number to your stooge. Finally, it’s possible that your stooge can be in some hidden location. He locates the proper deck, and gets it to you in some sneaky fashion.

                That’s our work to date. We are still playing with notions that will reduce the number of decks needed. Possibly to a point that you can carry them on your person. Rest assured, I will keep you informed in this forum.

                Changing the subject entirely, I’ll like to point out that my good friend Ormond McGill is approaching his 90^th birthday. (June 15^th, 2003) Although he’s had some medical challenges in the past two or three years, he is still going strong. He came out, in the company of his friend Lee Grabel to see a show I did with Chuck Mignosa, Loyd Auerbach, and Robert Kane in Concord California on April 12. Ormond is known as the Dean of American Stage Hypnotists and is the author of “The Encyclopedia of Stage Hypnotism” as well as 32 other books. His autobiography is at the publishers awaiting a release in late 2003. He is truly a living legend and is known worldwide for his writings and his performances featuring Hypnotism, Mentalism and Magic.

                Ormond will be performing and lecturing at the Masters Ultimate Stage Hypnosis Seminar coming up in Las Vegas. It will be held at the Boardwalk Hotel and Casino June 19^th – 22, 2003. There will be an optional magic course on Monday, June 23^rd as well. Other presenters at the Seminar include Jerry Valley, Tommy Vee, Chuck Mignosa, Serena Lumiere, and Christina Kaya.

                Should you wish to attend, you may register by calling 800-418-9664. To read more about the seminar, visit Jerry Valley's web site at: http://www.valleyhypnosis.com

                If you just want to send Ormond a birthday card, you may send it to me at:

                Dennis Loomis

                621 Victoria Court

                Bay Point, CA 94565

                I’ll see that Ormond gets it.

And, feel free to visit my web site to see those commercial items that Loomis Magic has available.

UPDATED OCTOBER 15, 2004