The Reverse 'Count-Down' Trick

THIS is one of the easiest as well as one of the most effective
presentations of this often seen effect. The magician has a card selected from a group of cards cut from the top of the pack. An elastic band is snapped around the performer's half of the pack and the selected card is returned to the top of the pack by slipping it under the elastic. Next the remainder of the cut is returned on top of the selected card and under the elastic. A spectator calls out any number, the cards are withdrawn one by one from the top of the pack, and on the number called being reached the selected card turns up. This is particularly mystifying because the magician has made no apparent effort to manipulate the pack, in fact the elastic seems to preclude any tampering.
SECRET. Before offering the pack to be cut the magician has reversed the bottom four or five cards. The spectator cuts from the top of the pack and holds the cut-off portion in such a way that no one else knows the number of cards he has cut. While he is selecting a card you very deliberately snap an elastic around the pack. Now secretly turn over the pack to bring the reversed cards to the top, and offer the pack for the insertion of the selected card. Assist the spectator by lifting up the elastic. Now, while he shuffles the remainder of his cut-off portion, secretly turn the pack over again so that when he returns these cards they go on top of the original top of the pack, and not on top of his selected card as he supposes. Call for any number and withdraw cards from the original top of the pack to within one of the number decided upon. Fan these to show that the selected card is not among them, and under cover of the fan reverse the pack. The selected card is now on top, and you can let anyone draw it off. While they are looking at the card, withdraw the elastic and reset the pack before offering it for examination.