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The Effect
A volunteer picks a card from a seemingly random pile. They then
shuffle the pack, and you are able to pinpoint the card exactly. There's a great twist to
this trick that should get you some cash.
The Method
If ever there was a better demonstration of misdirection, then I
haven't see it! Very simple too. Just follow carfully.
- 1. Give the deck a quick shuffle in front of the audience.
- 2. Now start laying the cards down on the table face up. Ask a
member of the audience to say 'Stop' at any time. Make sure there are a few cards on the
table before they stop.
- 3. While you were laying the cards down. Remember the third card
from the top. It doesn't matter when they shout 'Stop', just make sure you remember the
third card.
- 4. Now collect the pack together again, ensuring the third card
from the top stays where it is. Try and make this bit of the trick look as trivial as
possible. Just please don't lose that card!
- 5. Now you need to arrange the pack into 4 piles. I set them up
like this :
Pile-1
Pile-2 Pile-3 Pile-4
- 6. In the example above, Pile 4 is the top of the deck (The one
with the card you've remembered). You have still remembered it haven't you?!
- 7. Now take the top card from pile 2 and place it on pile 1. Take
a card from pile 3 and place it on pile 1. And take a card from pile 4 and place it on
pile 1.
- 8. Do the above two more times.
- 9. Where's your card? Well if it's all gone well, it should now be
the top card on pile 1. Can you see what you've done? All this faffing around with the
other decks didn't mean anything at all. You've simply taken the third card from the top
and put it somewhere else.
- 10. So now you say 'OK, please pick up the card from pile 1 and
show it to the audience. Remember it, and put it on any pile you like'. Turn away and get
them to tell you when they're done.
- 11. Now collect the decks together and start shuffling. You still
know what the card is right? That means the volunteer can give it a shuffle too. That'll
upset em' !
- 12. Now begin laying the cards face up on the table. Here come the
twist....
- 13. Once you reach the magic card, keep turning a few more over.
Perhaps look a bit confused to really get em' going. Then say 'I'll bet you £20 that
the next card I turn over is your card'. They'll think you've buggered it up as
they've seen the card on the table. Take the bet, but don't turn over the top card of the
deck, turn over the magic card that's already on the table.
- 14. Take the money as quickly as you can, and offer to buy the
loser a drink!
Observations/Tips
The first part of the trick is all important to you, as you need
to remember the third card. However you need to keep it as low-key as possible because
otherwise they'll ask you about it afterwards. Having practised it a few times, you might
start to think that it's too obvious and the audience will work it out. They won't as long
you keep your cool.
Incidentally, I keep saying that it needs to be the third card
from the top. Obviously it doesn't, as long as you remember where it is at all times. My
pile setup could be completely different as well. Just keep swapping cards around the
decks to make it look nice and random. And don't forget the card!
Suggestions
I've never made a penny out of this trick. The reason for that is
because I never get the money out on the table. I just shake their hand. It's funny how
people suddenly claim that it doesn't count afterwards. I suggest this :
- Make sure the bet's a good price, but not one that will get the
volunteer really angry when they lose.
- Get the money on the table so you can swipe it before the
proverbial penny drops.
- Buy them a drink afterwards.
- I know you're not supposed to, but why not show the volunteer how
to do the trick. Perhaps they can make their money back. Don't show it to their friends,
just the poor sod you've fleeced! At least they've learned something!
richard_hawkes@yahoo.co.uk
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d - 17 January, 2000.