Perpendicular Oil and Water

Effect

The performer alternates 4 red cards and 4 black cards. With a snap of the fingers, the cards separate by color. This is repeated a second time with the same result.

In the third phase, the performer alternates the cards again, but turns the black cards face down. With another snap of the fingers, the red and black cards separate once more.

Setup

You will need:

• 1 double-facer (red spot on one side, black spot on the other)
• 3 red spot cards
• 5 black spot cards

Divide the cards into 2 piles:

• Red pile (5 cards): From face to the bottom, the double-facer (red side up), 3 red spot cards, and 1 black spot card. All cards are face up.
• Black pile (4 cards): The remaining 4 black spot cards, face up.

Performance

Phase 1

Pick up the red pile and show the first 4 red cards, maintaining a break above the last 2 cards. Turn the pile face down and spread it again, showing the first 4 cards. Take the 4 black cards and insert them face down, one by one, between the 4 red cards, with the last card on top.

Place the top 4 cards on the table. Hold a 2-card break from the bottom with your left little finger and perform an Ascanio Spread, switching the first and second cards. Turn the entire pile face up and perform an Elmsley Count, showing 4 red cards.

Place these cards on the table. Pick up the other pile and show that you hold only 4 cards, while switching the top 2 cards and the bottom 2 cards. Turn the entire pile face up and perform an Elmsley Count to show 4 black cards.

Phase 2

Place these 4 cards face down on the table. Pick up the red pile. Spread the pile face down, maintaining a break above the last 2 cards. Once again, insert the 4 cards from the table one by one between the red pile, and place the top 4 cards on the table.

Turn the pile in your hand face up and show the first 4 red cards. Turn over the 4 cards on the table and show that they are 4 black cards.

Phase 3

Place the 4 black cards from the table face down on top of the red pile, and turn the entire pile over. Display the 9 cards as 8 cards, maintaining a break above the last 2 cards. Take the 4 face-down cards and insert them one by one between the 4 face-up black cards.

As you square up the pile, get a break under the top 5 cards. Push these 5 cards forward about 1 centimeter, then turn the entire pile over onto the table.

Rotate the 2 packets until they are perpendicular to each other. The spectators will believe that the 2 packets are still interlaced.

Pick up the upper packet and perform an Elmsley Count to show 4 face-down cards. Secretly reverse the bottom card by using an Asher Twist or any secret reversal you prefer, and in the same motion, turn the packet face up to show the 4 black cards.

Pick up the remaining pile face down. Spread the top 3 cards, maintaining a break above the bottom 2 cards, and turn the spread over to show 4 red cards on the other side.

Afterthought

I am not a huge fan of the Oil and Water plot, but I know many magicians love it. I created several routines for people who enjoy this plot, and this is one of them. When designing this routine, my main goal was to conceal the double-facer from start to finish. When I showed it to other magicians, not only were they fooled, but most did not even suspect that a double-facer was used.

A friend once suggested using glue or a friction product in this trick. I personally dislike using such things in card magic, especially in a packet trick. If you like these products, you can certainly try them here, as they might make the handling look cleaner. However, I emphasize "look," because in card magic, "clean" and "dirty" are always in balance. Making a routine look cleaner on the surface often means making it dirtier on the inside. That is why I prefer not to use them. In the end, the choice is yours.