In Tom’s own words this simple feat has fooled magicians but is intended for the layman, upon whom the effect is amazing.
You use a pack of about 30 cards which bear your ad but have playing card back. The U.S. Playing Card Company can supply these to your order. The backs are all of one color (say red) except for one card which should be of the opposite color (say blue). The cards are held faces down with the blue one on the bottom. Fan them, without exposing the blue card, and ask a person to take one. Impress upon him that he may remove any card. As he takes one, say that it really doesn’t matter as the cards are all alike! Turn them face up and fan them out.
As the person starts to read the ad on the card in hand, carelessly take it from him, face up, and say “Just a moment. Do you have a pencil in your vest pocket there?” As you say this, point with the card towards his upper left vest pocket, then immediately top-change it for the blue-backed one on top of the face up pack. Keeping this blue-backed card face up, have the person write his initials on it. Push this card into the center of the pack and say that, if he wished to find it, he would run through the face up deck and look for the one with initials. He agrees. Now turn the deck face down and start to fan. Asked if he could find his card now, he says not. Then you remark that it would be very easy, in fact you don’t see how he could miss it! Run through quickly until the blue-backed card is seen among the reds. Push it towards him. He takes it, turns it over and finds it to be the card he marked.
He examines all cards if he desires and you leave the marked blue card with him – a nice ad! Do not emphasize that cards are red to start. It will be noted subconsciously and remembered that he was given free choice. When they are fanned the contrast of one blue card will be effective enough to impress.
Leave a Reply