EFFECT: The performer shows five playing cards that are cut in half width-wise, making a total of ten half cards. He shows that there is a matching card half within the small packet of cards. The performer invites two spectators to help. We’ll refer to as Spectator A and Spectator B. He gives the packet to Spectator A and has him shuffle the cards thoroughly so no one knows the order of the cards.
The performer turns his back and says to Spectator A, “While my back is turned, please deal to the other person; face down, as many or as few cards as you wish. What cards you get is unimportant. This is merely a means of obtaining a random number. Now both of you count your cards and remember the number of cards you have. This will be your secret number I will now turn around and write a prediction.”
The performer turns around, gathers the card halves back into one pile and writes a prediction on an index card and places it face down on the table. The performer picks up the packet of cards (ten half-cards) and holds the faces toward Spectator A, “As I count aloud these ten cards showing you the faces, I want you to remember the card that is at your SECRET number. Remember the card, don’t tell me what it is or even say ‘Stop’. Just remember the card at your number. I will have NO idea what card you are thinking of.”
The performer turns to Spectator B and says, “I am going to do the same thing with you. As I count aloud these ten cards showing you the faces, I want you to remember that card that is at your SECRET number. Remember the card, don’t tell me what it is or even say ‘Stop’. Just remember the card at your number. I will have NO idea what card you are thinking of.” The performer hands the ten half-cards back to Spectator A and asks him to shuffle the cards thoroughly again.
The performer says to Spectator A, “Look through these ten cards and pick out your card and put it face down on the table.” Spectator A does this. Have Spectator A hand the cards to the other person. Say to Spectator B, “Look through the remaining nine cards, pick out your card and also place it face down on the table.” Spectator B does this. You say, “Remember, before you both looked at the card at your secret number, I wrote a prediction on this index card. Let’s see what my prediction is. The Three of Clubs (or whatever you wrote).”
Both spectators now turn over their half card; not only do they match perfectly, but the halves match the performer’s prediction written at the beginning of the effect! An amazing 3-way match has occurred.
This can be instantly repeated for the same spectators with different results. Self working - no skill or sleights. Make this up with any 5 playing cards. Can be made up in jumbo cards for stage, makes a great mental effect when used with five ESP cards.
1st edition 2018, 6 pages.
word count: 1503 which is equivalent to 6 standard pages of text
