I want to perform a card trick using a normal pack of 52 cards as follows:

Hold the pack with the cards facing down.
Take the top card and move it to the bottom of the deck and say out loud “A”.
Take the top card and move it to the bottom of the deck and say out loud “C”.
Take the top card and move it to the bottom of the deck and say out loud “E”.
Turn over the top card and place it face up on the table and say “SPELLS ACE”.
The card should be the Ace of Clubs.

Take the top card and move it to the bottom of the deck and say out loud “T”.
Take the top card and move it to the bottom of the deck and say out loud “W”.
Take the top card and move it to the bottom of the deck and say out loud “O”.
Turn over the top card and place it face up on top of the Ace of Clubs and say “SPELLS TWO”.
The card should be the Two of Clubs.

Continue to spell out THREE……JACK QUEEN KING and turn over the matching card in Clubs.
Then Ace to King of Diamonds, then Hearts, then Spades.

What is the sequence of the cards I require in my deck to perform the trick?
Give 2 non-computerised methods of solving the problem.

Take 52 blank but numbered cards (from 1 - 52). Move the cards in the desired sequence, i.e., move card#1 at the bottom of the deck, then card#2, then card#3 and then take card#4 out of the deck, mark it as AC (Ace of Club) or 1C and don't put it back, then move card # 5, 6 and 7 to the bottom of deck, and take out card#8 and mark it 2C, and like wise.

At the end of exercise, you'll get the sequence in which cards are to be placed...

Posted by Ayaz on 2005-04-18 07:50:47