Lay on the table a red pen, an eraser, and a face up Joker. "This Joker is a Chinese boy who is looking for a bride. Please imagine that these are four ladies--the Queens of spades, hearts, clubs, diamonds--all wearing blue dresses." (display and count the four blue-backed cards.) "Imagine that there are two black-haired sisters and two red-haired sisters [if you don't think there are red-haired girls in China, then you haven't been here recently]. I will remove one pair of sisters; do you imagine they are the red-haired or the black-haired pair? Red? You are right. And I will turn one face up. Is she the heart or the diamond? The heart? You are right."

Now take the eraser and magically erase the ladies who were not chosen. Take the red pen and magically color the back of the chosen lady, because in China brides wear red dresses!

spread the cards and it is so! The Queen of hearts is face up. She has a red back. The other cards are blank. (based on Phil Goldstien's B'Wave or 1/2 the Twisted Sister effect)

alan

Why a Chinese boy? I think he looks more like a Swede.