A spectator predicts the colour of cards as they are removed from the deck. A prediction placed aside at the start of the trick details how many the spectator got correct and lists the incorrect guesses.
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This is (yet) another variation on Paul Curry’s prototypic effect “Out Of This World”. This does not improve on the original trick or premise but varies it somewhat to produce a slightly different effect. I hope it may open a new door or two when you start thinking about and toying with the idea.
This version adds an extra prediction element to the separation effect which can be varied in many ways. It’s also impromptu and owes a lot to J.C. Wagner’s “Prediction Out Of This World” from his Commercial Magic Of book by Mike Maxwell. In this trick, J.C. uses a method that cleverly predicts the number of cards that the spectator gets wrong. I thought about this and realised that if you can influence this, then why not make the incorrect cards specific ones. A tip of the hat must also go to Harry Lorayne’s Impromptu Out Of this World from My Favourite Card Tricks and U.F. Grant’s Nu Way Out Of This World also as these use a similar approach and also helped to inspire this version.
I’ve stuck with J.C’s idea of using only part of the deck to streamline the trick and in this context it adds a little more mystery to the procedure when the spectators go back and review the proceedings.
________________________________________ Preparation
On a piece of paper write:
Fig.1
“Well done on getting the 9 black and 10 red cards correct. Too bad about the Four of Clubs, Nine of Hearts, Seven of Diamonds and Queen of Spades.” This will be used as a prediction. See figure 1.
Control the cards named on the prediction to the top of the deck (the 4, 9, 7 and Queen in our example). Make sure the rest of the deck is well shuffled (a good distribution of red and black cards) or things may get awkward later.
Working
1. Place the prediction onto the table in plain sight or have the spectator place it into their pocket. Palm (at least) the top 4 cards and hand the deck out for shuffling. Retrieve the deck adding the palmed cards to the top in a squaring motion and extend your left hand asking the spectator to cut off about 2/3 of the cards. When they’ve done this, place the remainder still in your hand to one side as these are not needed. Tell them that they can shuffle the packet they are holding again if they wish and that you’re going to use the cards for an experiment. This packet will contain the four force cards.
2. Retrieve the packet and spread it in front of you so that the spectator can’t see the faces. Remove a black and red card (not any of the force cards) and table them both face up, the black to the left, red to the right. Explain that these will be used as markers and that you are going to remove cards from the packet they’ve chosen and ask them to guess the colour. The guesses will then be placed onto the appropriate marker.
3. You’re now going to add in a bit of bluff to sell the notion that you’re going to remove varied cards when in fact in a moment you’re not. Explain that you’ll have a practice to ensure they know what’s going to happen. Remove a red card (again, not a force card) and hold it up with the back to the spectator, asking them if they think it’s red or black. Place it face down onto the corresponding marker and then remove a black card again asking for their opinion on its colour and finally another red card. Place each onto the coloured marker they nominate and then show the 3 cards as an assessment of how they’ve done. Place these cards back into the packet at random intervals and announce that now they know what’s going to happen you’ll do it again “for real”.
4. It’s now that you control the selections by removing 10 red cards singularly, asking their colour and placing them where designated by the spectator. As these cards are removed, you need to contrive to leave at least 10 black cards and the two red force cards at the back of the packet. (Or top of the packet if it were face down). The red force cards have to be within the first nine cards, preferably separated by a few black cards. This is easily accomplished by removing more red cards from this area or blatantly moving cards about as you decide on which ones to remove. In other words, remove a black card from near the face, look at the spectator, appear to change your mind and replace it back into the packet near the back. Try not to be too obvious about removing cards from the same section, vary the area you remove them from as much as possible.
Also, whilst removing the 10 red cards, at some point remove the 2 black force cards singularly also (Queen of Spades and Four of Clubs) as part of this sequence. Do not remove them close to each other as it looks better at the end if they’re separated a little. I normally remove three red cards, a black force card, another four red cards, black force card and finally another three red cards.
This will leave you with 12 face down cards distributed between the two marker packets, two of which are the Queen of Spades and Four of Clubs. Patter that you’ll now let them have a go entirely on their own and turn the cards remaining in your hand face up and spread over a few cards to show a mix of red and black cards, being careful not to expose the run of blacks at the bottom.
5. Take out a red card and place it face up onto the black marker pile and then remove a black card and place it face up onto the red pile. There are a few patter lines you can use to cover this. I say it’s to mark where the spectator takes over. Square up and flip the packet face down, handing it to the spectator and ask them to deal the cards face down onto the packets they think match the colour of each card pointing out that the piles have now changed. Watch them deal and stop them when they’ve dealt 11 cards saying that it looks like the piles are fairly even. Take back the remaining cards and spread them to show a mix of red and black cards remaining before adding them to the remainder of the deck tabled earlier.
6. You now need to show the apparent accuracy of the spectator’s efforts whilst switching the left hand packet. I do this as follows:
Patter that you’ll see how they’ve done and separate the right hand pile by picking up the black marker and the cards above it and placing it in front of the red pile. Remove the black marker and place it with the tabled deck and flip its pile face up and spread the cards towards you revealing mainly black cards with possibly one or two of the red force cards. Patter according to the condition of the cards something like, “All black, well done!” or, “Just one red, not bad.” Now remove the red marker of the packet above and again discard it to the deck and turn over the pile, again spreading and commenting on the condition of the cards.
7. Now draw attention to the left hand pile and pick up all of the cards above the black marker. Discard the face up marker left on the table and turnover the cards in your hand and spread them down towards you. There’ll be a face down marker card in the middle, remove this, flash its face to show the red marker and separate the spread between the cards either side. Again comment on the condition of the cards and congratulate the spectator on doing well. Remove the incorrect guesses and table them face up making sure the spectator understands what’s going on and is clearly following your actions. Place the two red piles together and the two black ones and then as an afterthought remind the spectators of the prediction. Have them read the first part and confirm the correct amounts of red and black cards were predicted by counting each of the piles. Then have them read out the last part detailing the incorrect cards to finish.
End Notes
You can use the full deck for this and not worry about the location of the force cards initially. Just control the two red force cards to within the top ten cards of the deck during the selection process. I feel that by only using part of the deck that is freely selected quickens the trick and adds to the impossibility of the prediction as the spectator shuffles and chooses the cards used.
I’ve even performed this effect whilst strolling, using spectators to hold each pile rather than tabling he cards. You have to be careful with your audience management though as the temptation for them to peek is often too much.