Married Without a Cause

Working

1. Remove the Kings and Queens (discard the rest of the deck). Lay out the Kings and Queens in two spreads with both sets in the same suit order. So you can follow this, let's say they run in C-H-S-D with Diamonds at the face of each.

2. Having allowed the audience to see that all are present and correct, you pick up the Queens, saying you'll mix them so they are no longer in the same order—hold the Queens face up and do an Over-Under Shuffle. Take the first Queen in your right hand, take the next one on top, then take the 3rd below, and finally place the last one on top. 

Replace the Queens in a spread on the table. They now run H-D-S-C (Clubs at the face).

3. Ask a spectator to pick up the Kings and hold them face down, then to pick up the Queens and place them on top of the Kings. It is clear to everyone that both sets of cards are separate.

4. Say, "To start this experiment, we need 'any pair.' Not just any old pair, but any pair... In fact, we'll use these very words."

Ask the spectator to spell A-N-Y dealing three cards into a face-down pile on the table - the third card is slid aside. The balance of the packet is dropped on the two remaining cards. Now he spells P-A-I-R dealing 4 cards into a pile—the 4th card is slid aside, and the balance dropped on the remaining three cards.

At this point, it's all over—all four couples are now matched up!

5. Pick up the two selections and tap the packet. Ask the spectator to turn over the top two cards—they are a perfect matching couple. Tap the packet again and ask him to turn over the next pair revealing a second perfect marriage.

Finally, tap his last two cards, saying, "When I say, NOW, we'll both turn our cards over together—remember these are the two cards you picked at the start."(referring to your two cards). You both turn your cards over to reveal two more perfectly married couples.