I was looking to buy a set of math sticks which are used in a prediction effect (or a super computation effect.) Diamond Jim sells a wooden set for about $15.00. Stevens Magic has a set for $18. Being of Scot blood, I didn’t want to spend that much on a set of four wooden sticks.
Continue reading “Home made math sticks”Mental Math Prediction
This is the prediction of a number from the addition of a series of numbers. It is based on a mathematical principal that I have adapted to a deck of cards. To learn about the principal see https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AZRD5UkAm2Y.
This effect requires a setup to a deck of cards. First remove all of the court cards (K,Q, and Js) and tens and set them aside. Now take the remaining cards and make four sets of three cards, each set adding up to 18. For example, one set may consist of a nine, two, and seven. When those values are added up, they total 18.
Continue reading “Mental Math Prediction”Drawn but not quartered false cut
This is similar to the false cut “drawn and quartered“, but instead of four packets, it only uses three and is a little easier. Below is a video.
Doubly Ambitious
This is a two card ambitious like routine that is very difficult to do. It is based off a two card transposition that I do.
Phase one: Ideally start with contrasting cards second and third from the top of the deck. For this explanation I´ll use the Two of Diamonds and the king of spades, with the two second from the top.
Continue reading “Doubly Ambitious”Four ace control
There are several methods I use for “losing” the aces into a deck of cards and controlling them to the top. Several involve cutting the deck into four piles and losing the aces, one in each pile. One day I was looking at some magic sites preview videos and saw a different method that I thought looked good. So I deconstructed the performance, figuring out what the magician had done. While I can’t be certain that this is the same method, I think it is close.
Continue reading “Four ace control”Only a second, almost
This is similar to “Only a second” so I suggest you look at that one as well. This one distributes the aces with two faro shuffles, hence the “almost” in the title.
Continue reading “Only a second, almost”CHaSeD order
I just noticed something about the Club, Hearts, Spades and Diamonds suit order that is used in many different deck stacks. Since stacks are cyclic, this order of suits is equivalent to Diamonds, Clubs, Hearts and Spades. Which is a numerical progression order if you look at the “points” of the pips of the suit. Diamonds has four points, Clubs has three, Hearts has two, and Spades has one. So instead of looking at a suit and using the mnemonic CHaSeD to figure out the next suit, you can simply look at the “points” and subtract one. Thus a Heart (two points) is followed by a Spade (one point). Diamonds (four points) is followed by a Club (three points).
Only a second
Another “find the aces” trick. This one is good for practicing your second deal.
Begin with secretly having the four aces on top of the deck. I typically have the spectator shuffle the deck, and then use my two-step cull to get the aces on top. Riffle or overhand shuffle to add eight more cards on top of the deck. I usually use two riffle shuffles to add four cards at a time.
Continue reading “Only a second”Ten card poker deal
There are a lot of ten card poker deals out there. The basic plot is that for the final hand of the evening your opponent suggested playing a hand of five card poker with only ten cards, but the spectator gets to choose which cards they get. You, the dealer ends up winning with a pat hand, usually a Royal Flush.
Continue reading “Ten card poker deal”Finding the Aces – the hard way
Here is something I am playing with.
The starting position is two aces on top and two on the bottom. Shuffle the deck keeping the aces on top and bottom.
Continue reading “Finding the Aces – the hard way”