If you like to know how PASS-PASS by Mickael Chatelain secret of this new closeup trick is done, let’s explore together.
I do not own this 2023 two-card trick PASS-PASS or PASSE-PASSE with transposition effect by French magician/creator Mickael Chatelain.
This is another post from the Info Ruckus Magic Trick Secrets Revealed series.
Where I answer the popular question: how are magic tricks done?
How magic tricks work, or what is the secret behind magic tricks?
The magicians refer to it as the method; the secret technique uses to create the illusion of a magical effect.
My explanation of PASS-PASS closeup trick is based on viewing the promo video clip.
Like all my so-called magic trick exposé, they are actually my exploration together with my assumption on how the artifices are done.
Anyway, watch PASS-PASS (PASSE-PASSE) card trick by Mickael Chatelain below:
I think both of the cards are gimmick cards or gaff cards.
The Queen of Hearts card has an elastic-thread attached flap, which does the transposition effect.
It has a face of Queen of Hearts on both sides.
Whereas the other card has a concealed slot or pocket at one of its side.
It’s function is to grip onto the Queen of the Hearts card, because of the sudden jolt, when the flap card turns over.
PASS-PASS By Mickael Chatelain Secret
Let’s analyze the Queen of Hearts.
As I have just mentioned it has a flap with elastic threads.
At the beginning of the video clip, I caught a glimpse of this gaffed card with the flap.
At the outset of the video clip, I think Mickael Chatelain’s right hand is gripping tightly onto the flap on the Queen of Hearts card from flipping over.
So is the performer from Ludovic Vlln Magie video.
Next, both Mickael Chatelain and Ludovic carefully slip the other card all the way to the middle of the Queen of Hearts card.
Apparently, they are inserting the flap at the back of the Queen of Hearts card into the slot/pocket at the side of the other card.
Gimmick Cards With Magnets
I presume there is a concealed magnet at both the pivot part of the flap of the Queen of Hearts, and the side of the other card.
Similarly, when they pull the two cards apart after the transposition trick.
You can see that the two cards appears to be magnetically stick to each other.
Watch both of them separating the two cards.
Mickael Chatelain at 0:21 and Ludovic Vlln Magie at 1:14.
Both cards need the magnet to stick them tightly together, because of the abrupt flipping movement of the Queen of Hearts card.
The position of the finger and the thumb holding the cards has to be precise, as seen below.
They are just at the corners of the Queen of the Hearts, which is going to turn over to the back.
To let the elastic-thread-attached flap to flip backward, slightly release the grip of both the thumb and the middle finger.
This image is captured from the video, the front face of the Queen of Hearts card is in the midst of flipping 180 degree to the back.
I think this is the sequence how the flap card flipping over to the back of the other card.
The image below of the flipping flap is taken the second routine when Mickael Chatelain uses his hand to momentarily block the cards.
The second routine, you can see him lifting up his middle finger at 0:30 to let the Queen of Hearts card to flip behind the Ten of Spades card.
In the third routine, he never show inserting the corner of the Nine of Clubs card into the flap of Queen of Hearts card.
He presses down on the front of Queen of Hearts card with his middle finger and his thumb on the flap behind together with the Nine of Clubs card.
He just lifts up his middle finger at 0:37, automatically the Queen of Hearts card flips over to the back of Nine of Clubs card.
Two Queen Of Hearts Cards
How do I know this gimmicked card has two different Queen of Hearts cards, you may ask.
By scrutinizing the face of Queen of Hearts card, before and after the transposition trick.
Look closely at the left black border of both cards, and you can tell they are both different cards.
This is the Queen of Hearts card before it flips behind the Ten of Spades card.
The border line is slightly thinner.
This is the Queen of Hearts card after it gets behind the Ten of Spades card.
The black border line is now a little thicker.
Crease Mark On Queen Of Hearts Card
Next is the crease line running down the Queen of Hearts card.
Before the trick, the Queen of Hearts card is one smooth flat piece.
But after the transposition trick, you can see the thin crease mark in the middle of the card (highlighted with white arrows).
With all these findings, I reckon this is PASS-PASS by Mickael Chatelain secret of transposing the Queen of Hearts card from the front to the back.