Card Thought

By Doug Edwards Volumes can be written about tricks and routines based on a red/black separation of the cards. They'd range from the banal to the sophisticated. Obviously, you are past the stage of the banal, and sometimes the too sophisticated can be an audience bore. Well, this one is certainly not banal; I don't know how sophisticated you'd judge it, but it sure is a fooler. I mean you'll fool knowledgeable card workers with it. Set the deck into reds and blacks; it doesn't matter which color is where. In the photos the red cards are above the black cards. Performer

Cut a packet of about 10 or 12 cards from top to bottom.

When you go into the performance of the effect, shuffle the deck keeping the colors separated. Then, cut a packet of about 10 or 12 cards from top to bottom. Make sure your spectator sees you do this, since it is a legitimate cut. Spectator

The spectator thinks of a number between one and 10, then deals that number of cards from top of the deck onto the table. He tables the deck, then picks up the packet and mixes the cards.

Table the face down deck in front of your spectator and ask him to think of a number between one and 10. Then instruct him to count that number of cards from the top of the deck into a face down tabled packet. Of course, you must turn away as he does this; tell him to count/deal silently, and so on. When he's done this, he's to table the deck proper.

The spectator looks at the bottom card of the mixed packet. He tables the packet and at the performer's request cuts the deck and completes the cut.

Now instruct him to pick up the small packet he's just dealt and to mix those cards. When he's satisfied, ask him to look at and remember the bottom card of the packet. Start to tell him to drop the packet onto the tabled deck but interrupt your self: "Wait. You may think that I know the top or bottom card of the deck. I do not, but you can make sure, cut the deck at about center and complete the cut." He does.

The spectator picks up the packet and drops it on top of the deck. Then at the performer's request the spectator cuts the deck and completes the cut.

Performer Then continue: "Now, drop your packet onto the deck. Done? Good. Really lose your card now, give the deck another complete cut. That really buries your card." Let him follow your instructions, then turn to face him. Pick up the deck as you talk about the free and fair selection and so forth.

The performer picks up the deck and fans it towards himself. The bottom card of the deck identifies the color of the thought of card. At the center of the fan are a group of cards of the opposite color from the cards to either side of them. Count the centered group of cards, this is the number. The right most card of the group is the thought of card.

Do a pressure (or thumb) fan, faces of cards toward you. As soon as you see the deck's bottom card, you'll know the color of the thought of card. If you see a red card there, he's thinking of a red card. And, at center of the fan you'll see a small batch of red cards surrounded by black cards. Count those centered red cards. The number of centered red cards is his thought of number since they are the cards he dealt to make the tabled packet. The right most red card of that small batch is the thought of card. Lovely situation. So, let's assume you see seven red cards there, and the right most card is the Queen of Hearts. End like this:

Pull out a card that matches the number thought of. Pull out the thought of card and turn it over to reveal it.

Pull out any seven spot, table it face up, and say, "This tells me that the number you're thinking of is ... seven." Then, pull out the actual selection and as you toss it face up onto the table, exclaim, "And this tells me that the card you are thinking of is the ... Queen of Hearts!" Close the fan, shuffle the deck, and you have fooled all.