Nikola Card System Order
The Nikola Card System named for its inventor, magician Louis Nikola, born Walter J. Obree Smith in England in 1878. With this system, pre-arrangement seems impossible, even upon close examination. However, since the position of every card must be memorized, there is a significant leaning curve. That's why, in recent years, many magicians have opted for streamlined approaches that eliminate the need for so much rote memorization, such as the Cornelius Card System, developed by two-time FISM winner, John Cornelius.
The Full 52-Card Nikola System OrderTop of deck (1) through to bottom (52).
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. This is process is clearly laid out in "The Nikola Card System" booklet, available in PDF format from Trickshop.com (see description below).
The Nikola Card System
The original, comprehensive booklet (not a condensed overview) on The Nikola Card System, one of the most powerful stacked decks ever conceived. 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. That's why, we are pleased to bring you Nikola's complete, original instructions that detail every aspect of his renowned system - from charts to help you master it quickly to full explanations and patter for a wide array of astonishing effects. These even include Nikola's Thought Anticipated; where a thought of card appears at any position in the pack (yes, Any Card at Any Number - ACAAN), as well as Cards by Weight, Sense of Touch, Unconscious Thought Transmission, The Telepathogram, spelling effects, a poker demo, and more - all made possible by this extraordinary arrangement. 34-page PDF.
