Dead Man’s Hand by Steve Pellegrino

The Dead Man’s Hand is a famous hand of poker that Wild Bill Hickock held when Jack McCall gunned him down in Deadwood, SD. Hickok was playing five-card stud when McCall shot and killed him. He was holding two pairs: black aces and black eights. Lost to history is the suit and value of that 5th card, but that mystery works to your benefit for an entertaining card effect.

The primary effect is you show the Dead Man’s Hand, the Aces, and 8s facing up. One card is facing down. The spectator guesses what the 5th card is. The manuscript describes three different methods for revealing the 5th card, including one suitable for platform or stage.

You will learn three methods, and no sleight-of-hand or equivoque is required!

The attention-getting theme of the effect and the built-in storyline elevate this from an ordinary card trick to something special. While the effect has an underlying poker theme, neither you nor the audience has to know poker to appreciate the effect.