The Nikola Card System named for its inventor, Australian magician and illusionist, Louis Nikola; offers a system that is more advanced than either the Si Stebbins or Eight Kings card systems. With this system, pre-arrangement seems impossible, even upon close examination. All that has been done with previous systems can be done with this one, and much more; since the position of each card in the stack is also identified by a number.

Order of Deck

1. Six of D. 2. Five of C. 3. King of C. 4. Jack of H. 5. Five of S. 6. Nine of D. 7. Nine of S. 8. Queen of H. 9. Three of C. 10. Ten of C. 11. King of S. 12. Ace of H. 13. Four of D. 14. Jack of D. 15. King of D. 16. King of H. 17. Two of D. 18. Queen of C. 19. Nine of C. 20. Ten of H. 21. Eight of D. 22. Two of C. 23. Ace of C. 24. Seven of H. 25. Seven of C. 26. Four of S.

27. Seven of S. 28. Nine of H. 29. Eight of S. 30. Six of S. 31. Six of C. 32. Two of H. 33. Ace of S. 34. Jack of S. 35. Four of C. 36. Five of H. 37. Ten of S. 38. Ace of D. 39. Jack of C. 40. Four of H. 41. Two of S. 42. Seven of D. 43. Queen of S. 44. Three of H. 45. Three of S. 46. Eight of C. 47. Ten of D. 48. Six of H. 49. Five of D. 50. Three of D. 51. Queen of D. 52. Eight of H.

The reader is recommended at this point to take a good look at the chart, which represents the order of the pack as arranged for use. On any reasonable inspection no peculiarity of arrangement is apparent.

Prolonged scrutiny may reveal the fact that the heart suit appears upon every fourth card, but beyond that no regularity is detectable. And this for a very solid reason. There is none. The disposition of the cards is not however indiscriminate. There is method in the madness.

Every fourth card being of the heart suit permits of an all-trump hand being dealt for whist or bridge. On the same deal every second card forms one of a sequence complete as to values but regardless of suits, for the presentation of an elaboration of the trick known as “The Spelling Bee.” (For the reason that a king is not available, in consequence of more pressing demands, a knave has to do duty for such, as will be explained in its proper place.)

The first twenty-one cards are studiously placed for the purpose of a “game of Poker” — to the advantage of the dealer.

The remaining cards have no special significance. The complete arrangement is not even arbitrary: once the principle has been grasped it may be revised to meet individual requirements or fancy, or for partial disguise.

This is the basis of the system, and the rotation of the cards, with their numerical equivalents, must be memorized until as familiar as the alphabet. This, of course, presents a greater immediate difficulty than the “eight kings threatened to save” achievement, but even so, and purely by an effort of concentration, it is not an insuperable task.

Fortunately, however, there is a system of mnemonics by the aid of which it can be made a mental fixture much more quickly and with greater certainty than without.

See Card Control System Books for additional information on the Nikola Card System and other stacks.