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Effect: The performer, while making no claims, explains the idea of psychic premonition - that it might actually be possible to accurately predict an event that has yet to take place. To demonstrate, the performer shows a mini playing card (just the back!) to be used as the prediction of a card the spectator has yet to select. (Instead of a mini playing card, the performer may openly write a prediction on a slip of paper to be folded and left in full view). The prediction might be put in a small envelope, or a rubber-banded matchbox (my favorite) or simply left in full view face down on the table. One way or another, the prediction is left in full view on the table (or a spectator's pocket!), and the performer emphasizes that it will not be touched again.
A deck of cards is removed from the card box and ribbon spread on the table, or spread between the hands. The cards are initially spread face down, as the performer explains that a magician will typically ask a spectator to select a card from a face down deck, and that this approach is hardly fair! After all, without seeing the cards, the spectator has no way of knowing if it was a free selection. The cards might all be the same, or the magician may be able to use some sort of trickery to influence the spectator in his choice!
The cards are scooped up again and re-spread FACE UP. The performer explains that by doing it this way, there is no conceivable way that the spectator could be lulled into selecting any particular card. He emphasizes that as the spectator can see, all 52 cards are there, and even a joker, so the spectator truly has a free choice of absolutely any card in the deck. The performer states that he will indeed try to influence the selection, but only by sending a mental picture of the card he has predicted. The images of the cards spread on the table are very helpful for that. He asks the spectator to very carefully look over all the cards, and whenever she feels that she has arrived at the card she wants to select, she should simply name it.
The spectator indicates a decision has been made and the cards are gathered up. The spectator is asked to name the card and look at it once more so there can be absolutely no mistake that the card she names and the card she saw are definitely the same card - she can still change her mind one last time! The cards are boxed and set back on the table.
With hands in full sight and no false moves of any kind, the matchbox is picked up and the rubber band removed. The spectator admits that the box has never been out of her sight. The hands are shown empty BEFORE the drawer is removed. The drawer is pushed open, and the miniature card is shaken out onto the table - the performer never touches it. The spectator verifies that nothing else is in the box and nothing went in or came out of it since it was originally sealed.
The spectator is invited to turn the card over with no interference from the performer. Guess what? The miniature card PERFECTLY MATCHES THE RANDOM AND FREE SELECTION!
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