Forgettable Prediction

Effect:
Magician approaches a table full of onlookers, hands an envelope with a prediction inside to one of the persons involved. A few tricks are performed. Then the magician asks the spectator who is holding the envelope to open it and reveal what is inside. A card is found, say the Six of Diamonds.

Then the magician realizes that he totally forgot to have anybody choose a card. The prediction card is placed back into the envelope. The magician asks the spectators to pretend nothing happened yet (laughing). One person is asked to choose a card as the faces of the deck are fanned toward them.

The spectator sees the cards to be all the same (Six of Diamonds). The cards are tilted downward to have the spectator simply touch the back of one of the cards as a selection. One is touched and placed on top of the deck, then turned face up. To everyone’s surprise it is a Jack of spades. The envelope is opened to reveal a Jack of spades. The Six of Diamonds “prediction” card is gone. Everything can be inspected.

Set Up:
All you need is a one-way forcing deck and 2 duplicate cards, (One-way deck = Six of Diamonds and two Jack of Spades). Place a Six of Diamonds inside of an envelope. Both Jacks of Spades on top of the one-way deck. The one-way deck is boxed.

Procedures:
This one is easy, and rewarding. Hand someone the prediction envelope. Perform a few tricks to create a time delay.

“Will you open up my prediction and show everyone?”

As the prediction is being opened, remove the one-way deck from it’s case, and in your favorite manner, secretly turn the top card, a Jack of Spades face up, keep it neck-tied. Now take the card from the spectator, hold it and with the deck neck-tied, place the Six of Diamonds face up on top of the hidden Jack of Spades.

“Oops. I forgot to hove someone Choose a card.”

Now lower the deck to display the Six of Diamonds. You now have a face up Six of Diamonds. Below that a hidden face up Jack of Spades, and below that is the face down force deck (All Six of Diamonds).

“Could everyone please pretend you haven’t seen anything yet? Let’s start over.”

Execute a double lift, and place the top face down card (apparently the Six of Diamonds, but actually the Jack of Spades) into the envelope. Close it, and hand it back to the spectator. Grab the deck, and slip cut the top card (Six of Diamonds) into the middle of the deck. You are now left with a full deck of Six of Diamonds, the Jack of Spades on top and a Jack of Spades in the envelope.

Fan the faces in front of another spectator. Be obvious so that they clearly see that all of the cards are the Six of Diamonds.

“Sir I would like you to pick any one of these cards.”

Let the others see the deck full of Sixes. Be careful not to expose the top card (Jack of Spades). Lower the deck and ask a new participant to just touch any card.

“Please touch a card, but please do not remove it.”

Remove the card touched, without showing it’s face.

“This is the card you want, are you sure?”

This should create some laughs due to the fact that they just saw that ALL of the cards are the same (Six of Diamonds). This joke also allows you a little misdirection to get a one-card pinky break under the top card. Place the card on top of the deck.

“You could have chosen any card, yet you touched this one.”

Now perform another double lift to reveal the Jack of Spades. Pause a moment for this effect to register – they just picked a Jack of Spades from a deck made up of entirely the Six of Diamonds. Magic Moment Number 1.

Next, execute the KM move to clean up as you place the Jack of Spades face up near the spectator who holds the envelope. Spread the deck face up if a table is available, thus reinforcing that all of the cards are Sixes – at this point they are and can be examined.

Ask them to remove the prediction which they “know” is a Six of Diamonds, but of course when they remove it, they realize that it is a Jack of Spades. Magic Moment Number 2.

Everything can be examined.

Notes:

• This is similar in effect to “McCombical Prediction” by Billy McComb. However, when I created this effect I had no previous knowledge of the McCombical Prediction, and I’ve since learned it to be completely different in methodology.

• There are many different ways to secretly turn the top card over. I prefer to use my left leg when circumstances permit. This also will prevent the one-way deck from being prematurely exposed.

• Now think of what awaits you after you’ve practiced this. You are moments away from performing it for your next audience.

• If you are comfortable with a top change, it may be easier for you to use a top change instead of the secret turn over/double lift. The timing will be very important here, of course, so use your own personal experience and caution with this.

The best of seers is he who guesses well.
–Euripides (fragment)

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