Ghostatic Touch

:: EFFECT ::

(1) The magus has any person freely select a card from a shuffled red deck, and another select any card from a freely shuffled blue deck. When selected cards are named, it is found that both persons have selected the same cards.

(2) The red deck is shuffled by the spectator and placed in the magician’s inside pocket. The other spectator shuffles his blue deck and places it in his own inside coat pocket. This person then reaches in the magician’s pocket and removes any card. The magus also removes one card from the deck in spectator’s pocket. Once again the selected cards are alike.

(3) The decks are again shuffled by the spectators and a deck placed in each one of the magician’s side coat pockets. The magus reaches in each pocket at the same time and removes a card from each deck. These two cards are once more the same.

(4) The decks are again shuffled and each of the spectators places a deck in his own side pocket. The magician reaches into their pockets, removing a card from each deck, and still the two cards are alike.

(5) For the climax the spectators reach into each other’s coat pocket and remove a card. And to the amazement of all, the two freely selected cards are the same.

:: OPERATION ::

The following cards and decks are arranged. Once made up they may be used over and over, for the effect will be an outstanding one on any program.

1 – Red deck consisting of all EIGHT OF SPADES with a JACK OF SPADES on top.

2 – Blue deck consisting of all ACES OF SPADES with a JACK OF SPADES on top, plus the following three prepared cards at any position in the deck where you may care to place them. FOUR OF DIAMONDS (short card). EIGHT OF SPADES (long card). ACE OF DIAMONDS (wide card).

3 – Red deck consisting of all ACES OF SPADES plus the following two prepared cards at any position in deck. FOUR OF DIAMONDS (short card). ACE OF DIAMONDS (wide card). Before the routine this deck is placed in the magician’s top right vest pocket.

Note : I am sure Mr John Snyder would have a reasonable price for a setup like the above, and you could have any selection of cards.

:: CURTAIN ::

I give you the actual mechanics of the effects as described at the beginning.

1 – False shuffle and force the top card of each pack. Use any force which you can do well.

2 – The only card the spectator can possibly select is one of the EIGHTS OF SPADES. The magus can find the Eight of Spades in his deck because it is a long card. At the finish, bring out the deck in your vest pocket instead of the deck in your inside coat pocket.

3 – Locate both of the FOUR OF DIAMONDS (short cards) and remove from pockets.

4 – Locate both ACES OF DIAMONDS (wide cards) and remove from spectator’s pockets.

5 – This works itself due to all cards in each deck being ACES OF SPADES.

In conclusion : You will find the routine mystifying to magicians as well as laymen. The repetition only serves to heighten the effect and the last coincidence really floors them. Even magicians fail to figure a force deck due to the number of times the coincidence appears. Work this one smoothly and with a bit of speed and you’ll never do a show without it for it’s one of the few card routines that can be presented under any conditions.