Conover — Volume 4: Selections from the Tim Conover Notebooks

Only part of the Deluxe Edition of the Conover set.
2025
Written by Tim Conover
Work of Tim Conover
223 pages (Hardcover), published by Vanishing Inc.
No illustrations
Language: English
204 entries
Cover photograph
Creators Title Comments & References Page Categories
Eric Mead Preface
ix
Tim Conover's Memorized Deck: The Infinity Stack
1
Tim Conover Acknowledgments
3
Tim Conover Introduction
5
Tim Conover Infinity Stack Order
6
Tim Conover Memorizing the Stack
7
Tim Conover Getting into the Stack on the Infinity Stack, outline of different transformations and tricks
  • Getting into the Stack from New Deck Order
    • Darwin's Secret into Si Stebbins
  • Crimping the Locator
  • Return from Stack to Si Stebbins
    • The Halfway Point
    • Examples using the Halfway Point
  • Alternative Techniques for Moving from Si Stebbins to the Stack and Reverse Stack to Si Stebbins
    • Run Shuffles
    • Reversing the 6,5 Blocks
    • Cutting the Blocks to Return to Reverse Si Stebbins
  • Many of the Standard Stebbins Tricks Work Identically in Reverse Si Stebbins
  • Changing Reverse Si Stebbins to Normal Si Stebbins
    • Color, Number, Matching Card
    • Four of a Kind Two Faro Trick
    • Tamariz's Neither Blind nor Silly
    • Deal the Card in a Face-Down Pile
  • Reverse the Stack and Then Cut the 6,5 Blocks to Return to Si Stebbins
    • Methods for Reversing the Stack
  • Si Stebbins to Stack
    • Changing Reverse Si Stebbins to Normal Si Stebbins, then reverse the 6,5 blocks
    • Reversing the 6,5 blocks
    • Si Stebbins to Reverse Stack Order
    • Returning to Si Stebbins from the Memorized Stack Where the Spectators do all the work
Related to 8
Switching the Deck
14
Pocket Switches
14
Tommy Wonder, Simon Aronson, Tim Conover Tommy Wonder Deck Switch (Simon Aronson Justification)
  • Any card at any number
  • Alternative Variation
Inspired by 14
On the Table
14
Eric Mead Memorized Deck in Card Case switch as deck is (apparently) placed in card case
 		14
Darwin Ortiz Red Deck/Blue Deck Subtlety Switch Trojan Deck Switch
Related to 14
In the Hands
14
Jimmy Smith In the Hands (Simple Switch) as hands meet, deck then spread on table
 		14
Bob Stencel In the Hands (Cutting Table Switch) as hands meet, deck then cut onto table
 		15
Tim Conover In the Hands (Cutting Table Switch - left hand steals) as deck is cut onto table, then left-hand steal
 		15
Tim Conover In the Hands (Crossing the Gaze) pocket switch
 		15
Chad Long In the Hands (Jacket Switch) deck in sleeve
 		15
Vanish and Reproduce Memorized Deck
15
Michael Close, David Williamson Cards to Pocket deck to pocket as deck switch
 		15
Tim Conover Pocket Switch Tips
16
Tim Conover Rules for Retaining Order
  • Counting from Face-Down Cards
  • Counting from Face-Up Cards
 		17
Tim Conover Dealing Hands
  • Reverse the Numbers
how to return to original number after a deal
 		18
Tim Conover Returning to New-Deck Order Infinity Stack specific strategies
  • Returning to New-Deck Order From Si Stebbins (Conover)
  • Returning to New-Deck Order From From Memorized Deck (Bypass Si Stebbins)
  • Returning to New-Deck Order From Reverse Si Stebbins (Conover)
  • Alternative Stack Positions
  • The Halfway Point
 		19
Tim Conover The Extended Stack a variant of the Infinity Stack in which a partial faro is added to further hide any patterns, applications are outlined
  • The Extended Stack (Spectators shuffle the cards)
  • Getting into the Extended Stack (-20, +21)
  • The Peek Trick to Return to the Memorized Deck
  • Face card tells the top card (Stack number minus 20; if you can't then add 21)
  • Name a number
  • Name a card
 		21
Tim Conover The Once Removed Even/Odd (+2) Stack partial anti-faro followed by faro as mixing strategy
  • Getting into the Even/Odd (+2) stack
  • The Think of A Card Trick, shuffle, and return to the Memorized Deck
Related to 23
Tim Conover Return to the Memorized Deck (Spectator pushes in the shuffle) outline of stack transformation with Infinity Stack
 		24
Tim Conover The Even/Odd (+2) Stack using the memorized deck in anti-faroed condition
 		25
Tim Conover Named Card Stack Number Calculation in anti-faroed condition ("Even/Odd (+2) Stack")
 		26
Tim Conover Twice Removed (+4) Stack using the memorized deck after two anti-faros
  • The Twice Removed (+4) Stack (prior to performance)
  • The Twice Revived (+4) Stack
  • Return to the Memorized Deck (Spectator pushes in the shuffle)
 		27
Tim Conover Eight Out-Faros Return to Original Order
28
Tim Conover The Three-Card Speller with Three Shuffles in the Middle spelling trick with Infinity Stack and three faro shuffles that ends in stack
 		29
Tim Conover Poker Deals poker deals that are found in the Infinity Stack order
  • Poker Deals in Stack
  • Drawing Cards in the Poker Deal
  • Royal Flush in Hearts (4-handed game)
  • Poker Deals Going in and out of the Stack
 		30
Tim Conover Blackjack Deals blackjack deals that are found in the Infinity Stack order
  • Blackjack Deals in Stack
 		36
Tricks Retaining Order Not Using a Stack or System
38
Tim Conover Triumph not on Triumph retaining the order of the deck
 		38
Tim Conover Ambitious Card with Carlyle's Homing Card retaining the order of the deck
  • Standard Double Lift Sequence
  • The Swivel Rise
  • Transposition
  • Optional Paintbrush Change
  • Optional Spread Rise
  • The Visible Bend Rise
  • The Fake to Center Rise
  • Carlyle Card to Pocket
 		38
Tim Conover Classic Selected Cards Across retaining the order of the deck
 		39
Tim Conover Cut Selection Transposition retaining the order of the deck
 		40
Tim Conover Peeked Speller retaining the order of the deck
 		40
Eric Mead Spectator face-up and face-down shuffle retaining the order of the deck
Also published here 41
Tim Conover Production of Multiple Selections using memorized deck and retaining the order, with several production suggestions
 		42
Tim Conover "Now Think of Your Card"/"The Impossible Dream" two cards at numbers, with incomplete riffle shuffle condition, Fulves Riffle Shuffle Control, retaining the order of the deck
Inspired by 45
Cy Keller, Tim Conover Universal Card retaining the order of the deck
 		46
Tim Conover, Cy Keller Card Under the Glass with repeat, retaining the order of the deck
 		46
Tim Conover Eddie Fechter's "That's it" - Dunbury Delusion just the note that the tricks retain order
  • Eddie Fechter's "Two Cards"
 		47
Tim Conover Card Stab wrapped deck, retaining the order of the deck
 		47
Tim Conover The Quadruple Mystery handling that retains the order of the deck
Inspired by 47
Tim Conover Ten cards to pocket retaining the order of the deck
 		47
Tim Conover Carlyle's "The Gun" note that trick retains order of deck
Related to 48
Eric Anderson Sleight of Mind probably note that trick can retain order of deck
Related to 48
Tim Conover, Eric Anderson "FingerPrint Card Trick" handling that retains order of deck
Related to 48
Tim Conover Any Number Between One and Ten revealing card at seventh position with named number, starting out with cards palmed
 		48
Eric Mead Slop Shuffle false slop shuffle, retaining order
Related to 49
Ace Tricks Retaining Order
50
Tim Conover Conover's Spell Production of Aces (Memorized Deck) retains order of deck
  • Ace Control (After the Spell Production of the Aces)
  • Multiple Shift (Specialized for the Ace Control)
  • Conover's Reverse Order Spell Production of Aces (Memorized Deck)
  • Spell Production of Aces - Free Cut Principle (Conover)
  • Spell Production of Jacks Changing to Aces (Conover)
  • Jacks Vanish, Spelling Production, Aces Final
 		50
Tim Conover Spectator Cuts the Aces (Retaining Order) Ackerman/Wakeman type
 		52
Tim Conover Paul LePaul's Gymnastic Aces handling outline that retains order
Related to 52
Tim Conover Elmsley's 2002 Aces handling that retains order
Inspired by 52
Tim Conover Conover's Slow-Motion Aces (Order Retained) (McDonald's Aces without gaffs) handling that retains order
 		53
Tim Conover Larry Jennings Invisible Palm (Aces) - (Conover's Handling) handling that retains order
 		55
Dai Vernon Twisting the Aces brief
 		56
Tim Conover Earl Nelson's Point of Departure Aces between spectator's palm, selection added, it vanishes and reappears reversed in deck, handling that retains order
Inspired by 56
Tim Conover Earl Nelson's Sleeve Aces brief note, also idea of using double facers
Related to 57
Tim Conover Elevator Aces (1, 2, 3, Last) retaining order of deck
 		57
Tim Conover Elevator Aces (Top, Bottom, Top, Bottom) retaining order of deck
 		57
Tim Conover Larry Jennings Instant Aces note that trick retains order of deck
Related to 57
Tim Conover Collectors retaining order of deck
 		57
Daryl Martinez Daryl's Switch (Indifferent cards to Aces, or Royal Flush) switch choreography on top of deck with block push-off at second-to-last card
Also published here 58
Any Stack Tricks
59
Hands-Off Miracle (Three selections) three chosen cards are divined (two are from top, one placed reversed in center)
 		59
Jimmy Smith Think of a Card card thought of, spectator spreads to it, cuts, and places it reversed in deck, performer divines it
 		59
Eric Mead Three Cut Packets (face selections - highest stack number) - (Sight, Sound, Touch) three spectators cut off a packet and remember bottom card
Related to 59
Invisible Deck Matching card reversed in (stacked) deck matches reversed card in Invisible Deck
 		59
Steve Beam Open Prediction (Force/Prediction/Retains Order) bold force, retains order
Related to 59
The Spectator Thinks and Shuffles card thought of while performer deals some cards into two piles, it is later found via think-stop procedure or else, faro
Related to 60
Tim Conover Psychic Stop Trick spectator deals and stops anytime, selection lost, it is divined and found
Variations 60
Tim Conover, Eric Mead Psychic Stop Trick (Spectator Shuffles) spectator deals and stops anytime, selection lost, it is divined and found, incorporating a spectator's riffle shuffle that is undone via Green's spread shuffle
Inspired by 60
Tim Conover Conover's Hands Off four card selection routine in "Aronson-style", reverse order memorized deck
 		61
Tim Conover Everybody's Lazy (Aronson) how to retain the stack order
Inspired by 63
Birthday Book (Elmsley, Aronson, Close) brief note
 		63
Michael Close Bert Allerton's Card Stab stabbing to any named card, memorized deck
Related to 63
Tim Conover Any Card Spelled To
63
Si Stebbins Stack Tricks
64
Tricks Using the Si Stebbins Stack (Retain Order)
64
Nick Trost Lie Detector Lie Detector with verification
Also published here 64
Tim Conover The Tamariz Quadruple Coincidence (Jewel) (final matching coincidence) one-deck handling that retains order
Inspired by 64
Steve Beam Steve Beam's Color, Number, Matching Card spelling color, number, mate always corresponding to the selection
Also published here 66
Tim Conover Tim Conover's Color, Number, Matching Card spelling color, number, mate always corresponding to the selection
Inspired by 66
Tim Conover, Eric Mead Matching the Cards matching the cards, three random cards are turned over in the deck and then mates of unseen selection are found reversed
Inspired by 66
Tricks Using Si Stebbins Stack (Leaving and Returning to Order)
67
Tim Conover Peeked Card Four of a Kind, All the Four of a Kind or Aces to Top, and All the Four of a Kind all cards matching selection are produced, then whole deck is in quartets, two faros with Stebbins
 		67
Tim Conover The Perfect Bridge Hand with return to Stebbins
 		67
Tim Conover Rene Levand's Oil and Water returning to Stebbins after color separation of deck
 		68
Infinity Stack Tricks
69
Tricks Using the Memorized Deck (Conover)
69
Tim Conover Producing Any Card Called
  • The Top Ten Cards
  • The Bottom Ten Cards
 		69
Tim Conover Spelling: Any Card Spelled To
69
Tim Conover Counting: Any Card Counted To short comment
 		71
Tim Conover Cutting: Any Card Cut To finding named card via improvisation
  • Outs (Named Card in Face-Down Portion)
    • 1. The Controlled Out (Double Lift Change) (Always works)
      • A. The Tabled Toss
      • B. Double Lift Change
      • C. Double Lift Throw Change (Eric Mead)
      • D. Matt Schulien's Revelation
    • 2. Equivoque
    • 3. Ask For a Small Number (Juan Tamariz)
    • 4 . Multiple Lift (sleight of hand) (Less Desirable)
    • 5. Second Deal (sleight of hand) (Less Desirable)
    • 6. The Palm (sleight of hand) (Less Desirable)
  • Outs (Named Card in Face-Up Portion)
    • 1. The Controlled Out (Larreverse) (Always works)
    • 2. An Additional Cut (Changes the outs to outs in the face-down portion)
    • 3. Equivoque after an Additional Cut (selection in face-down portion)
    • 4. Multiple Lift (sleight of hand) (Less Desirable) (desired card deeper in face-up portion)
      • The Cleanup
    • 5. The Palm (sleight of hand) (Less Desirable) (Michael Close)
Related to 71
Stacked Deck Tricks
76
Tim Conover One Way or Another (Marlo/Tamariz Peeks) multiple selection routine involving switch to memorized deck to improvise to cards
  • The Impossible Selections
    • 1. The Forced Selection
    • 2. The Bluff Selection
    • 3. The Bluff Selection Again
    • 4. Actually the Fifth Spectator
    • 5. The Fourth Spectator (final selection)
  • The Extended Shuffle Sequence
  • The Deck Switch
  • 5. The Card At Any Number
  • 4. The Open Index
  • 3. Jazz to the Thought-of Card
  • 2. Jazz to the Thought-of Card or...
  • 1. The Perfect Spell
Related to 76
Tim Conover Thought-of Card in Fan Spelled one of six, Infinity Stack
 		79
Eric Mead Any Card at Any Number (One Deck) Resets Order spectator cuts to a card which is lost, spectator cuts to a card that the performer remembers, any number named, performer names his card and it is found at that number, then spectator's card is found at that number
 		79
Tim Conover Conover's "New" Any Number and Any Card (Thought and Stopped) thought-of and forced card appear at previously named number
  • The Alternative to the Force (miscall)
  • The Reset
 		80
Tim Conover Any Card Shuffled to Any Number (One Deck) any card named, number range given for easy adjustment
 		81
Simon Aronson Any Card at Any Number (One Deck) Aronson (Unknowing Stooge)
81
A Card at Any Number (Two Decks) card forced from second deck
 		81
Tim Conover Rene Lavand's Oil and Water (Using Conover's Stack) getting back into stack after color separation
 		81
Half Stack Tricks
83
Tim Conover Tricks Using the Memorized Deck (Half Stack)
  • The Half Stack System (Three of Hearts)
  • Getting into the Half Stack
  • The Marked (Scalloped) Seven of Spades Floating Key
  • The Jog Shuffle
  • The Perfect Mate Setup
 		83
Tim Conover, Juan Tamariz The Accident Shuffle cards are dropped during shuffle
 		83
The Half Stack Tricks
84
Tim Conover, Jimmy Smith You Do As I Do
  • One Coincidence (Think of a Card) (Jimmy Smith)
  • Triple Coincidence (The follow-up)
 		84
Tim Conover Trick to Return Half Pack to Complete Memorized Deck arranging the cards during a location trick
 		85
Tim Conover The Memorized Deck Effect high-low divided deck is shuffled, performer recites cards in order
Related to 85
Al Koran Al Koran's Memorizing Half a Pack half the deck apparently memorized and recited in order
Related to 86
Tim Conover Stay Stack Tricks intro
 		87
Steve Beam, Tim Conover Steve Beam's Color, Number, Matching Card
Related to 87
Michael Close Stay Stack Routine very brief notes
Related to
  • Michael Close DVD Devious Volume 2
 87
False Shuffles, Cuts, and Moves
88
Full Deck Controls
88
Break Controls to the Top (retain order) controlling a selection while retaining order of deck
 		88
The Peek controlling a selection while retaining order of deck
 		88
Paul LePaul The LePaul Automatic Jog Control controlling a selection while retaining order of deck
Also published here 88
Break Controls to the Bottom (retain order) controlling a selection while retaining order of deck
 		88
Tim Conover JD and Five of Diamonds Control on the shuffling sequence between Infinity Stack and Si Stebbins
 		88
Audley Walsh Ace Control bluff multiple shift, all cards go to same position, fan insertion into same spot
Also published here 89
Frank Thompson Frank Thompson's Diagonal Shift aka Straddle Shift, also for single card (with Arturo de Ascanio finesse)
Also published here 89
Tim Conover The Multiple Shift (retains order) swing cut multiple shift to specific spot
 		89
Add-Ons
89
Dai Vernon Vernon's Add-On
89
John Carney Carney's Versa Switch
Also published here 90
Packet Switches
90
Daryl Martinez Daryl's Switch - (Indifferent cards to Aces, or Royal Flush) switch choreography on top of deck with block push-off at second-to-last card
Also published here 90
False Cuts (Full Deck Control)
90
1. Garcia's Gambler's Cut triple tabled cut
Also published here 90
Frank Garcia 2. Garcia's Affas-Gaffas False Cut triple tabled cut
Also published here 90
3. Center False Cut "(Credit unknown, shown to Tim by Ricky Jay)"
Related to 90
4. Up the Ladder
90
Tim Conover 5. Frank Thompson's Swivel False Cut extension, repeat with remaining third in hand
Inspired by 91
Steve Beam 6 . Steve Beam's Many Packets Ose's Cut with more than three packets
Inspired by 91
Bill Malone, Michael Skinner 7. Malone's/Skinner Table Cut Sequence handling for "false running cut from bottom"
 		91
False Shuffles: On the Table
91
Dai Vernon 1 . Zarrow (Vernon's Double-Zarrow Method)
Also published here 91
2. Shank
91
3 . Gallo's Triumph and Cut Sequence no details, perhaps reference
Related to 91
Dai Vernon, Bill Malone 4 . Push Through (Vernon Revelations)
  • The Riffle Shuffle
  • The Push-Through (The Pinkys Do It All - Malone)
  • The Adjustment (Vernon Revelations)
  • The First Legitimate Cut (Vernon Revelations)
  • The Up-the-Ladder Running Cut (Vernon Revelations)
Also published here
  • Dai Vernon Revelations
 91
In the Hands
92
Tim Conover, Juan Tamariz 1. Conover's Riffle (Tamariz)
  • Vernon Block Addition (legitimate cut before strip-out)
Inspired by 92
2. Sound Shuffle fake cascade
 		93
Tim Conover, Juan Tamariz 3. Tamariz Ruse (Conover Extension)
Inspired byRelated to 93
Tim Conover, Juan Tamariz Tamariz Ruse (Modified Again) "The Shuffle That Doesn't Shuffle", apparently shuffling the card, spread on table, method to set up in front of audience, dated 1984
Inspired by 93
Overhand
94
Eric Mead Overhand Chop Shuffle brief
 		94
G. W. Hunter Overhand
94
Tim Conover Overhand (Full-Deck Control) with three chunks and singles, in- and out-jog
 		94
Tim Conover Overhand Cut Only (Face card changes) - (Full-Deck Control)
94
Controlled Shuffles (Retaining Order)
94
Tim Conover The Faro Shuffle comments and facts
 		94
Favorite Palms
95
Tim Conover Top Palms intro and tip
 		95
Top Palm (Single Card) Left Thumb Pushover brief, no details
 		95
Top Palm (Single Card) One Hand brief, no details
 		95
Paul LePaul LePaul Multiple Top Palm (Multiple) brief
Also published here 95
Squaring Multiple Top Palm (Multiple) brief, no details
 		95
Bottom Palms
95
Edward Marlo, Art Altman Off the Top: Double Undercut Palm
95
S. W. Erdnase Off the Bottom: Erdnase Bottom Palm (Left Pinky Only)
Also published here 95
Favorite Double Lifts
96
Allan Hayden Allan Hayden's Double Lift
96
Dai Vernon Vernon's Double Lift (Daryl's videos) fake push-off illusion
 		96
Secret Glimpses
96
1. All-Around Square-Up (Bottom Card)
96
2. Buckle the Bottom (Bottom Card)
96
Dai Vernon 3. Vernon's Twirl Cut (Center Becomes the Bottom Card)
96
4. Gambler's Bubble Peek (Top Card)
96
5. The Phantom Glimpse (Top Card) heel break
 		96
Glimpse After a Peek
97
Arthur H. Buckley 1. Fan Glimpse (Center of deck after a peek selection) fanning a small packet
Also published here 97
2. Delay Fan Glimpse (Center of deck after a peek selection)
Also published here 97
Eric Mead 3. Spring Flourish Glimpse (Center of deck after a peek selection)
Related to 97
4. Unlimited Delay Fan Glimpse (Center of deck after a peek selection) at step after fan is closed again
 		97
Secret Breaks
98
Tim Conover The Greek Break also as center glimpse in combination with open index work
 		98
Tim Conover The Open Index (Avoiding the Pass)
98
Tim Conover The King of the Card Table story with Infinity Stack
  • The Clean Up
  • Returning to Si Stebbins
  • Returning to the Stack
  • Alternative
  • King of the Card Table and New Deck Order Combined
 		99
Tim Conover Bibliography for stack related work
 		102
Tim Conover Mentalism Programs list of programs that Tim Conover did over the years
 		105
Tim Conover Notecards scan of sixty notecards by Conover with trick lists, presentational ideas and various notes
 		115
Tables of Contents Notations Tim Conover's notes in various books, see following items
 		149
Tim Conover (reviewer) The Life and Mysteries of the Celebrated Dr. Q by Claude Alexander
annotations in table of contents 		150
Tim Conover (reviewer) The New Encyclopedic Dictionary of Mentalism, Volume 2 by Burling Hull
annotations in table of contents 		152
Tim Conover (reviewer) The New Encyclopedic Dictionary of Mentalism, Volume 3 by Burling Hull
annotations in table of contents 		154
Tim Conover (reviewer) Mind, Myth, and Magick by Thomas Alan Waters
annotations in table of contents 		157
Tim Conover Performance Setup Requirements
  • Stage Requirements
  • Close-up Table
  • Tradeshow Stand
 		165
Tim Conover Trade-Show Scripts
  • The Thought Of Cards
  • The Salt and Pepper Shakers
  • The Folded Signed Card in the Can (Color Changing Deck)
  • The Dollar Bill Trick
  • Locking Key Box with Five Keys
  • The Coins and Cylinder
  • The Cards in the Wallet
  • The Cups and Balls
  • The Linking Finger Rings
  • The 11 Bill Trick
  • The Torn and Restored Newspaper
followed by script variations of some of the same effects
 		171
Eric Mead Digital Database Notes
213
Tim Conover Cards Across (Ryan) (Zens) various notes from Conover's digital database
 		214
Tim Conover Q&A (Envelopes) various notes from Conover's digital database
 		216
Tim Conover Walk Around (three coins and shell) various notes from Conover's digital database
 		220
Tim Conover Watches Change Time various notes from Conover's digital database
 		222
Tim Conover Tour De Force (Elmsley) various notes from Conover's digital database
Related to 223
Data entered by Denis Behr, December 2025.