🃏🌴 Packet Trick Paradise #2: Petit Pinetti
Learn a puzzling packet trick based on the flamboyant 18th-century conjurer.
Difficulty: ⭐ (Easy)
Duration: ⏱️⏱️ (3-5 minutes)
Setup Time: 🎯 (Minimal)
I created this easy, self-working card trick while writing about Professor Pinetti, a flamboyant Italian conjurer from the late eighteenth century, in my Legends of Legerdemain column. The full article is available for free on the Ruseletter website.
Legends of Legerdemain: Professor Pinetti
Welcome to the inaugural article of Legends of Legerdemain, a regular column dedicated to exploring the fascinating figures that populate the rich history of magic. In this first instalment, we will delve into the life and work of the flamboyant Italian conjurer Professor Pinetti.
The trick uses a similar concept to “The Nine Card Problem” by Jim Steinmeyer. Any regular readers of the Ruseletter will know that I’m a fan of this trick! (See Monthly Update #12 to explore ten variations of this classic impuzzibility.)
I’ve also included some notes on how to perform it in a “hands-off” manner. In fact, if you have a particularly compliant participant, then it is possible to let them perform the trick without you ever touching the cards. If you want to do it this way, I think it is best to start with the King of Hearts eighth from the top/bottom of the packet and then walk them through a Swindle Shuffle and the spelling/dealing of Pinetti’s name. This will all make a lot more sense when you read the write-up on my blog!
I hope you enjoy performing this simple packet trick. Make sure you also read the article about Pinetti; doing so will help you come up with an entertaining script for “Petit Pinetti”.
Yours Magically,
Marty